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Besides running So after my poll the other day many of you voted for this blog post. After a year of thekeanbeanrunningmachine I thought it would be interesting to know what else I do. On my Instagram, I usually post food, running or race photos which I really enjoy doing + I have met some lovely people through it, however I do do more than just this. 1. Music I have been playing the saxophone since I was 11 years old and I am currently working towards my Grade 6; I am planning on taking it this spring/summer. I initially started playing the clarinet but after going to a West End show with two girls playing the saxophone I decided that it was the instrument I wanted to play. Since then I have enjoyed playing (even if I don’t practice as much as I probably should) and it is different to all the other activities I do. I used to play the piano but I had to stop when GCSE exams approached because I simply did not have enough time to do everything. 2. Dance I think I have mentioned before that I dance. I have been dancing since I was little, firstly in Southsea (where I used to live) and now in Emsworth. I have always done tap, ballet and modern but in the last few years I also started contemporary which is actually my favourite. I dance every Thursday and volunteer with the little ones on Tuesdays (they are all so cute – “good toes, naughty toes”). Since I began running I have found that dance works different muscles and stretches out the ones that get very tight during running – mainly my hamstrings. I also have some great friends at dance so it is nice to catch up with them! 3. Cooking So yes this relates to my Instagram but it is a hobby I have always loved doing; since day 1 (well basically). I have always been busy in the kitchen with either my mum or grandma, learning how to make simple things like Victoria sponge and pasta bake to the more complex dishes and bakes as I got older. I now enjoy creating my own recipes – in other words that means throwing in a bit of this and that and wait to see how it turns out. Usually they turn out well but I can never say how much of each ingredient I actually put in. 4. Academic side As most of you know now, I am studying Biology, Chemistry, Maths at A-level. I am also doing an EPQ research project on exercise and mental health. At primary school I was very unsure what I wanted to be when I was older, from a teacher to an architect to an author to a ‘firewoman’ but since studying at secondary school and going further into different subjects I decided that I want to study medicine. I have always had an interest in hospitals and I love hospital dramas (Holby City, Casualty, Good doctor and of course Grey’s Anatomy) but I also like helping people. After achieving grades that I am very proud of in my GCSEs I would love to study at Oxford or Exeter (both with good XC teams) hoping that I get the grades at A-level and the correct work experiences as I know that university, especially oxford is so competitive. I would also like to try and continue learning languages as one of my regrets is not taking French as well as Spanish at GCSE and not continuing Spanish at A-level ( I thought it would be too much as well as everything else I do). 5. Swimming According to my mum I have been a swimmer/water baby since my first swimming lesson aged 6 months. I used to swim for a club when I lived in Portsmouth and I continued when we moved house but it started to become difficult to get to Portsmouth in time for training so I had to stop. Unfortunately I have never got back into training with a club. I would really like to but I am not sure I have any more time at the moment. However I still really enjoy swimming and since my knee injury I feel I have improved my stamina. I try and go twice a week, 1) because I enjoy it 2) because it is a good way of cross training for running. I also really like swimming in the sea, preferably in summer but fun fact for you: each year on New Year’s Day we run into the icy sea – crazy I know! (Unfortunately we didn’t do it this year but bring on 2019) 6. Other bits and bobs
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I put a poll on my Instagram story yesterday so you could vote on my next blog post. It came to 50/50 and stayed like that for most of the day, so I decided to chose between the two and wrote this one, however when I looked at the results last night, "life without running" had more votes but I had already written the Sussex Schools XC race recap so I am posting this one today and next weekend "life without running" will go up. I am so sorry to all those who voted for the other blog post - I promise it will be up next week. I hope that you still enjoy reading this - sorry for the lack of photos, some were taken but I can't find them online.
Wednesday 17th January 2018 Coming into this race my goal was to qualify for nationals. After seeing how far I had come in 2017, I decided that wanted to go to English Schools 2018. We left school for Waterhall, Brighton at 1030 to get there with enough time for the Junior girls to warm up before their race at 1215. On arrival we set up a base with our bags and took a trip to the trusty port-a-loos. It was freezing, I was wearing lots of layers plus gloves, scarf and a hat (which I looked stupid in however Beth managed to pull off the hat look 😊) . We then got our numbers before heading off for a course walk (we could have taken multiple course walks if we really wanted; we had 3 hours before the senior girls race). The conditions were perfect; bright sunshine, soft ground (but not too slippy) and not at all muggy. Those who have raced at Waterhall before know of the hill and for those who haven’t – lets just say A week in training I have been really stuck on what to write for my upcoming blog posts recently- I want to mix it up a bit - not always race reviews and recipes. A few weeks ago, I wrote a long list of blog post titles but I have completely lost it; so annoying. Anyhow I thought that perhaps writing a week in training would be interesting and maybe helpful. A couple of days ago I made some polls on my story of which many of you voted for training plans. This week wasn't leading up to any races at the weekend and was just an average week of school and training. I was inspired by @energisedellie to do the running tag with my chums. Ellie did hers with her dad so if you haven't read it, head over to her blog after reading this. 1.How long have you been running? Alice: Since year 9 seriously but in year 3-6 I did it once or twice a year for a yearly fun run. In years 7-8 I did the school cross country but I did not run out of school. Beth: I have been running since I was 10 but I took a break from running at the age of 12 and started again when I was 15. Imogen: I have been running since year 9 after doing a sponsored run challenge with my friend which motivated me and then I got in the habit. I did the odd Race4Life with my mum before that. 2. Why did you start running? Alice: Not really sure, I used to eat unhealthy things so I suppose it was to get healthier bbut I also think that XC at school made me eager. Beth: I initially started running when I joined a running club with my friend, but I then stopped. The reason why I started again at the age of 15 was to de-stress and a way to get outside and explore during GCSEs. Imogen: After a sponsored run challenge I did. It revealed my love of running to keep fit, de-stress, clear my head and enjoy myself without any other worries. 3. What is the furthest distance you have ever ran? Alice: 20km Beth: 14miles/22.4km Imogen: 14miles/22.4km 4. Cross country, road, track or trail? Alice: Road but trail for the scenery. Beth: I mostly run on road, but I do love the odd trail run because the scenery is stunning and it is a great way to explore. Imogen: Road but I love trail running as a weekend long run as I love exploring (which often includes getting lost). I also really like XC races as it pushes me and challenges me further. 5. What is your best running memory? Alice: Great south run 100%. Beth: First out of school XC – Sussex champs 2017 at Bexhill Imogen: Great South Run or Loughbourgh XC – it was my first higher level XC 6. What is your favourite distance to run? Alice: I do really like a cheeky 10km. Beth: 7 miles because I prefer running at a moderate pace for a longer duration and it also gives you enough time to see new places. Imogen: 7 miles (to just fit in a run) but I prefer 10 miles because I much prefer long runs as it gives me time to think and as Beth said you can explore more on longer runs 7. What is your least favourite distance to run? Alice: Anything much more than 10 miles at the moment, especially if it is fast. Hopefully that will change because I would like to do the London Marathon Beth: About 4miles as I find it hard to know what pace to run at. Imogen: 3-5 miles at a regular pace. If it is fast (speed sessions) I don’t mind it but I feel as though I never get into it if it is not. 8. Favourite training session? Alice: Long run!! Beth: 600m fast x4 with 2minutes recovery inbetween. Imogen: Long run 100% but I also love going to training with Chi Runners. 9. What shoes do you run in? Alice: New Balance 840V7 Beth: Saucony omni 16 Imogen: Hoka Ahari / New balance vongo 10. Do you have a running partner? Alice: No unless when I meet up on Thursdays with Immy and Beth or running with my mum at parkrun. Beth: Imogen and sometimes Alice too. Imogen: Beth, sometimes Alice too and occasionally my mum. 11. What is your favourite place to run? Alice: Kingley Vale Beth: South Downs, Cornwall and where I live Imogen: Cornwall and the South Downs 12. What is your favourite running accessory? Alice: Lace tags, simple but powerful, when I look down it remind me to just keep running. Beth: Karrimor Xlite running gloves as they stop my hands from freezing in the winter + my lace trainer tags from Alice ‘keep on running’ Imogen: Of course my Garmin 13. Do you like outdoor or indoor running? Alice: Outdoor Beth: outdoor because you can explore! Imogen: Outdoor 100% - I hate running inside 14. What is your favourite time of day to run? Alice: Between 8:30am-9am Beth: Morning as it makes me feel refreshed and awake for the rest of the day but I also like running in the evening with a sunset. Imogen: In the morning because it wakes me up and sets me up for the day. 15. What is your favourite race you have ran? Alice: Oxford XC 2017 Beth: Bexhill XC January 2017 or Lancing XC 2017 Imogen: Great South Run 16. What are some other exercises that you enjoy? Alice: Swimming, cycling and just dance on the Wii Beth: Swimming, cycling and I love netball Imogen: I love swimming! I also like cycling and dance 17 .Are you currently training for something? Alice: Always for XC races but soon Chichester half marathon. Beth: I am not currently training for a specific race but I am signed up to a few 10Ks, a half marathon and the Great South Run. Imogen: XC season and I will also begin training for my half marathon and the Great South Run (I am aiming to beat 69minutes) 18. What is your favourite running brand? Alice: New Balance shoes and Nike clothing Beth: Nike or New Balance Imogen: Nike clothes and New Balance shoes, as Alice said. 19. What are your current and future goals? Alice: Complete the London marathon before university. Beth: To introduce more interval and tempo sessions into my training. I would also like to achieve a sub 22minute 5K by 2019 and a sub 23minute 5K by April 2018. I would also like to complete 5 10Ks and a half marathon in 2018. Imogen: A sub 19minute 5K in 2018, to beat 69minutes over 10miles in the Great South Run 2018 and to try and get to English School XC this year. My future goal is the same as Alice, I really want to do the London Marathon. 20. Proudest running achievement? Alice: Great south run- the furthest and fastest race draws with representing Sussex on three occasions. Beth: Achieving a 22minute 5K PB and increasing my mileage over the last year or two. Imogen: Huge PB at Great South Run as well as getting to higher levels of XC after only doing it for a year – I never ever expected that… ever! 21. Advice for new runners? Alice: Just get out there and try it – you will soon catch the running bug. Beth: Start with some relaxing runs to establish a love for the sport, then if you want introduce training sessions that are harder. There is no point training intensively if you don’t enjoy it. Imogen: As Alice said, just get out there, no matter how fast or slow you are – a mile is a mile! Remember you are lapping all those on the couch! It took me a while to type up this post so I hope you enjoyed reading it xx Imogen |
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August 2023
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