Runner Profile

Hi, and welcome to another Runner’s Profile, by Werrington Joggers. Today we are profiling a triennial club member.

So, whats your name, and how long have you been a member of Werrington Joggers ?

I’m Laura, after years of running round Werrington, passing so many of you coming the other way, I joined WJ in 2022.

When did you start running, and what was your motivation to start ?

I’ve always been active, mainly climbing and mountaineering, but after having children I needed an activity closer to home, that I could manage around family life. In 2015 a friend asked me if I had ever done a park run. I hadn’t even heard of it. So, I turned up in walking trainers and after a very hard 38:24 minutes, I had completed my first 5km run. After my first 50 park runs, I was getting the hang of it. I joined a ‘be a better runner group’ and started setting my sights on working towards running a 10km. 

How many pairs of running shoes do you own, and which is your favourite ?

I’m sure that is on the same list as asking a someone their age. I own multiple pairs of trainers, but most are in different phases of retirement. I’ll always have a pair of in condition road shoes and trail shoes on the go.

My favourites are my La Sportiva Mutants. The way they lace up holds the instep of your foot snug, whilst still allowing your toe box to be roomy enough for the down hills, but holding you stable from those inevitable boulders that move. They also have a mesh to tuck in the laces, so I have never been caught up by my laces on brambles.  But I think I love them the most for where they take me.

What was your favourite ever run, or race ?

This question has me stumped and because I run so many different types of runs or events I couldn’t narrow it down to one. But for the sheer joy of running, it has to be the Dovedale Dash. It’s less than 6 miles, bringing the best community of runners together for an hour or water, mud, hills and a roast dinner. For an amazing day out it has to be the Edale Mountain Rescue 9 edges, a 20 mile charity run or walk. There is a non-competitive early start that I like, heading out traversing from Lady Bower Reservoir in Edale south through the Peak District, over 9 stunning edges to a pint at the Robin Hood Pub in Baslow near Chatsworth. But the for the one I will never beat, the one I had on my to do list for years, it has to be The Wall 70 mile ultra of Hadrian’s Wall, I will live on the endorphins I got finishing that beast for years. 

What kind of distance is your ‘happy place’ when going for a run, and what speed to you tend to run it at ?

I love a long run, especially with good views, the odd climb and excellent snack spots. I am at my happiest running in the Peak District and a good 10 miler tends to hit the sweet spot. I sometimes get complacent navigating, or just inquisitive of what’s round a corner or over a hill, so what I plan to run, and what I actually run rarely match.  Luckily there are plenty of honesty boxes, cake sheds, and tea rooms in the Peak to sustain any runner.

 I don’t have a pace, it’s always been about the achievement of doing something. The ‘what time did you do’ question is never as interesting as the ‘what was it like’ answer.  I’m also always changing what type of running I am doing so I will slow down for longer runs, then recover, then build up some pace again. I do set myself occasional time challenges for road races, mainly so I don’t stop after a big challenge, and consistency is key, so I’ll always try and get back to road running at just under the 10 min miles pace. But when it comes to trails you never have the same conditions twice, so why worry about pace. I also think trying to hit a pace adds pressure, and although sometimes I can thrive on pressure, I run for the enjoyment and freedom, so I ignore the pace.

For new runners, what would be your advice on what to avoid ?

We all have good runs and bad runs. Avoid over thinking the ones that didn’t go to plan and just move on to the next one.