Local Bristol Interview: The Mad Runner
LivingBristol.co.uk recently interviewed Dave a local Bristol marathon runner. Dave recently competed in the Bristol half marathon and runs at various events round Europe. His blog is an inspiring read.
Q: So Dave, you are involved in running in Bristol. What opportunities are there to run in around Bristol? When did you start running and why?
I mainly do my own thing running training wise with the odd club session. I’m a member of Bristol and West AC and take part for them in various local and regional events when required. There are a few good local clubs with more cropping up these days so I think there are a lot of places to go and get involved with running, some more serious than others.
As to what got me started, I ran the Bristol HM in 2001 to raise money from Crohns Disease (an illness I have but haven’t suffered with for many years, not while I have maintained my reasonably high level of fitness). Being of a competitive nature that first race got me hooked (just under 2hrs) as I knew I could go quicker. Each race I did was never enough and now I just love to race.
Q: For anyone interested in starting out doing some running in Bristol what steps would you recommend they take?
The best thing you can do is find others to run with. It really keeps you motivated and gets you out the door. Sometimes after a had day at work you might not feel like putting on the running shoes and going for a run but if its your club training night or you’ve made an appointment to run with friends it’s the motivation you need to get on out there. As I said, there are plenty of running clubs, search the web and you’ll find one that’s close to you.
Q: You recently completed the Bristol Half Marathon. What was it like? Do you feel this is an important event for Bristol?
The course this year was reasonably fast but I do wish they would pick a route and stick to it. The course has changed every year for the last four or five. For the charities and fun runners it’s a great event but first and foremost it needs to be a race for runners. I feel they need some input at the top level from runners. It is after all a race and not just a charity event. Having said that, it was at least a reasonably well organised event. But what good is a tin of soup in a ‘goodie’ bag. Normally a runners goodie bag contains, say, an energy bar you cram down after you’ve just used up 1500 calories not a tin of soup. That’s just another example of the non-running nature of the leadership at the top. Events like these have to create a balance to be enjoyed by the serious and not so serious runner. The Bristol HM was really just a training session in my quest for my first sub-three hour marathon which I shall be attempting on the 30th September in Berlin. I ran a reasonably controlled race this year, and although a minute slower than my PB, I was sufficiently relaxed that I managed a quick thirty minute session on the exercise bike down the gym afterwards. If all goes well this time next month I shall be the proud owner of a sub-three hour marathon certificate.
Q: What is next for you in your running career?
The Bristol HM was really just a training session in my quest for my first sub-three hour marathon which I shall be attempting on the 30th September in Berlin. I ran a reasonably controlled race this year, and although a minute slower than my PB, I was sufficiently relaxed that I managed a quick thirty minute session on the exercise bike down the gym afterwards. If all goes well this time next month I shall be the proud owner of a sub-three hour marathon certificate.