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| Edinburgh Marathon 2012 |
Below is an insight about me and how I got into running...
Well I'm just a normal 33 year old lad from Darlington. Or at least I would like to think I am! I have a wonderful girlfriend Charlotte and 2 daughters Talia and Alana. I work full time as a commercial vehicle parts supplier. A boring job but being out in the van all day on my own I get plenty of thinking time, sometimes get to see some nice scenery and have a lot of podcast listening time. Other interests and hobbies include spending time with the family, keeping fit and going to the gym, WWE wrestling, UFC, mixed martial arts, watching TV, Internet, commercial aircraft, poker and the occasional evening out when my finances allow me. Love a lot American TV series stuff like 24, Lost, Prison Break, Smallville, Heroes, The Walking Dead and Homeland. Big fan of British comedy sitcoms like Only Fools & Horses, The Inbetweeners, Benidorm and The Royle Family. I'm a big lover of coffee, pizza and chocolate!
Achievement's to date and personal best times.
In my time of running so far I have vastly improved over various race distances and terrains. I have also won the following awards:
- Quakers Running Club 10k League 2010 Div 4 winner
- Quakers Running Club 10k League 2011 Div 3 winner
- Quakers Running Club 10k League 2012 Div 2 winner
- Quakers Running Club 2010 Most Improved Male Athlete of the year
- Quakers Running Club 2011 Senior Male Athlete of the year
Current Personal Bests:
- parkrun 5k - 18:14
- 5k - 19:06
- 10k - 38:34
- 10M - 67:31
- HM - 86:16
- 20M - 2:15:51
- Mara - 3:11:39 (3:03:26 ran at MOTN but 264m short)
How did it all start?
I first started running back in June 2009 and became an affiliated running club member of my local running club 'Quakers Running Club'. The reason behind this at the time was simply a bit of motivation to keep fit and to train for the Bupa Great North Run. This was a lifetime ambition of mine. No time target just to take part and complete it was the objective. Although I did a little running at school I wasn't what you would call a good runner nor was I interested in it. I remember competing in a 1500m race at Clareville Stadium at Middlesbrough in town sports and running for my school in cross country. If only if I was more into it back then then who knows where I would be now.
How did I know running would be for me and a sport I would love to compete in? Back in 2004 I made one of the best decisions in my life which would change my life forever. I stopped smoking! After being a smoker for 5 years I successfully kicked the habit after numerous attempts. This came with consequences though. I accumulated quite a lot of weight. My lifestyle was far from active and healthy. I hardly exercised if any at all. I binged on takeaways, was addicted to high juice and fizzy drinks, breakfasts would consist of fry ups, bacon sandwiches or toast, all my meals were very large portions, deep fried chip pan chips would be a main source of carbohydrates and eaten very little fruit and veg. I could go on and on about the stuff I used to eat but after I stopped smoking I became a major lover of food. Maybe this was all part of me breaking the habit of smoking but plenty of research suggest a lot of people tend to gain the kite after packing in the fags.
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In 2006 I was currently living in Felixstowe, Suffolk. I decided to get off my lazy arse and join the gym. I was put on a simple cardio and weight training program. I also joined a weekly weight in Weight Watchers style program at work with the incentive of winning £10 for whoever lost the most weight in that week then a bigger winning at the end of the program. So this gave me some motivation to make some lifestyle changes. I ditched the fizzy drinks for water, started eating porridge and toast for breakfast and ditched the fry ups, eaten more fruit, had healthier lunches such as salads, soup and a healthier evening meal. At my biggest loss I was losing 2-3 lbs a week and won the weekly £10 a few times. With work at the gym contributing too I was losing the weight. I remember people commenting on how I lost my pot belly and face looking more defined which was pleasing. At the gym I was doing more running and I'm only talking 20 minutes here!
In summer 2007 me and the family moved back to Darlington. I joined Total Fitness and carried on my get fit regime but found myself doing more cardio. More running! I eventually found myself running up to an hour at a time. As you can imagine especially you runners this was getting extremely boring. As time went on I was getting bored with the gym and got talking to a couple of the Quakers coaches that I knew from outside the club and was invited down to the running club to try it so I plucked up the courage to venture down. Like I said earlier I was also wanting to get more involved with running as I wanted to train for the Great North Run.
I still remember my first ever session. It was a speed work pyramid session on the track at the old Carmel School base. It was a nice summer evening for it too. I can't remember the exact structure of the session but I just remember getting faster and faster then slowing again. One of the Quakers coaches Steve that I knew outside the club took me on his wing for the session. I remember watching all the faster runners flying round lapping me and thinking wow this guys can run! I loved my first session and I knew then I would be back for more. Just 2 weeks later on Sunday June 21st I found myself running my first ever race. This was a last minute decision. I remember hearing a club announcement by Jeff about a friendly, flat and fast local 10k race at Newton Aycliffe. This was a club 10k league race so it attracted quite a lot of Quakers. So I went on to fun my first ever race which took me 51 minutes and 13 seconds. I crossed the line gasping for breath, shattered legs but very proud. An awful course for a first race really. From here onwards I got the "race bug" and couldn't wait for my next race. I was getting addicted to running! Not long after that race I purchased my Garmin Forerunner. For non runners that's a gps watch that's worn by runners or cyclists which measures your time, distance, calories, current speed/pace etc. A great piece of kit that admittedly I never run without. So I guessed everything stemmed from that life changing decision of stopping smoking.
In 2006 I was currently living in Felixstowe, Suffolk. I decided to get off my lazy arse and join the gym. I was put on a simple cardio and weight training program. I also joined a weekly weight in Weight Watchers style program at work with the incentive of winning £10 for whoever lost the most weight in that week then a bigger winning at the end of the program. So this gave me some motivation to make some lifestyle changes. I ditched the fizzy drinks for water, started eating porridge and toast for breakfast and ditched the fry ups, eaten more fruit, had healthier lunches such as salads, soup and a healthier evening meal. At my biggest loss I was losing 2-3 lbs a week and won the weekly £10 a few times. With work at the gym contributing too I was losing the weight. I remember people commenting on how I lost my pot belly and face looking more defined which was pleasing. At the gym I was doing more running and I'm only talking 20 minutes here!
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| Member of Total Fitness gym 2007/2008 |
In summer 2007 me and the family moved back to Darlington. I joined Total Fitness and carried on my get fit regime but found myself doing more cardio. More running! I eventually found myself running up to an hour at a time. As you can imagine especially you runners this was getting extremely boring. As time went on I was getting bored with the gym and got talking to a couple of the Quakers coaches that I knew from outside the club and was invited down to the running club to try it so I plucked up the courage to venture down. Like I said earlier I was also wanting to get more involved with running as I wanted to train for the Great North Run.
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| Bupa Great North 10k in Sunderland July 2009. My 2nd race |
I still remember my first ever session. It was a speed work pyramid session on the track at the old Carmel School base. It was a nice summer evening for it too. I can't remember the exact structure of the session but I just remember getting faster and faster then slowing again. One of the Quakers coaches Steve that I knew outside the club took me on his wing for the session. I remember watching all the faster runners flying round lapping me and thinking wow this guys can run! I loved my first session and I knew then I would be back for more. Just 2 weeks later on Sunday June 21st I found myself running my first ever race. This was a last minute decision. I remember hearing a club announcement by Jeff about a friendly, flat and fast local 10k race at Newton Aycliffe. This was a club 10k league race so it attracted quite a lot of Quakers. So I went on to fun my first ever race which took me 51 minutes and 13 seconds. I crossed the line gasping for breath, shattered legs but very proud. An awful course for a first race really. From here onwards I got the "race bug" and couldn't wait for my next race. I was getting addicted to running! Not long after that race I purchased my Garmin Forerunner. For non runners that's a gps watch that's worn by runners or cyclists which measures your time, distance, calories, current speed/pace etc. A great piece of kit that admittedly I never run without. So I guessed everything stemmed from that life changing decision of stopping smoking.
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| Me, Michael, Nick & Brian |
Biggest running achievement to date?
This would have to be without a doubt the 2011 Adidas Thunder Run. I ran this in a pair with Darren Stockdale and formed one half of "Quakers Team Dark". Between us we clocked up 21 x 10k multi terrain laps through a 24 hour period. I still say to this day that's the hardest thing I have ever accomplished. The event started at midday and the weather was scorching. So immediately we had the possibility of sunstroke or dehydration against us. Thank goodness for jacket potatoes though! That seemed to have sorted Darren out after a minor stumble in the afternoon heat. But in all seriousness I can't describe in words how mentally and physically tough it was. Having to resort to the run/walk during the night, making sure I was adequately fed and hydrated and timing everything for a smooth change over. I'll never forget when sunrise came and things suddenly started to feel alright again then running that final 10k lap.
Other running achievements that I am most proud of and I feel I can't leave these out have got to be my first ever half marathon race at the 2009 Bupa Great North Run and my first ever marathon at Edinburgh in May 2010. The Great North Run was the main influence to me joining Quakers and pursuing my running more in the first place. On both of these races, I'll never forget the nerves, excitement, anticipation and emotions that surrounded these events. I'll never forget getting to mile 10 at the GNR and mile 24 at Edinburgh and thinking "Can I do this?!?" then crossing the finish line, indescribable.
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| Quakers Team Dark at the 2011 Adidas 24 Hour Thunder Run |
Other running achievements that I am most proud of and I feel I can't leave these out have got to be my first ever half marathon race at the 2009 Bupa Great North Run and my first ever marathon at Edinburgh in May 2010. The Great North Run was the main influence to me joining Quakers and pursuing my running more in the first place. On both of these races, I'll never forget the nerves, excitement, anticipation and emotions that surrounded these events. I'll never forget getting to mile 10 at the GNR and mile 24 at Edinburgh and thinking "Can I do this?!?" then crossing the finish line, indescribable.
My favourite race?
Defiantly the Darlington 10k. My home town race. A race that the Quakers Running Club dominate! A race where I get to run with the little one in the family fun run which is ran prior to the main 10k race. Greatly supported followed by a good knees up with fellow runners and friends. A great day on the whole.
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| Powering down the final straight at Darlington 10k 2012 |
Least favourite races?
I could name quite a lot races I dislike but to name a few. Locke Park 20. I'm not a fan of multiple lap races and 20 x 1 mile laps is a bit much! A certain 10k that involves running around a large industrial estate. Marathon of the North but I won't get into that!
Favourite running terrain?
Easily the trails and fells. Just love off road running! Admittedly with me being a competitive runner I don't run or race on this terrain as much as I would like. There is nothing better than running the winter fells on a crisp winters day or a sunny spring morning running through woodland and trails. Plan to get back into more off road stuff this year. Watch this space!
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| Glaisedale Fell race in March 2011 |
Races I would like to run?
There are lots of races I would love to run. Virgin London Marathon, New York Marathon, Amsterdam, Boston, Paris marathons. I could go on and on with city marathons. I want to run them all!
Closer to home, more fell and trail races such as The Hardmoors ultra series.
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