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Andrew Hulbert | Ella-Léonie Mehegan
208 Plays2 months ago
This episode of the UKRunChat podcast is in 2 parts. With the Pareto FM Shrewsbury half and metric half marathon coming up soon, we find out more about headline sponsors ParetoFM.
First up, we chat to Andrew Hulbert - Vice Chair of Pareto FM - about the company's approach to the health and wellbeing of its employees, and why these kinds of initiatives to get staff involved in events are important to the company.
Secondly, we chat to ParetoFM employee Ella about how she's getting ready to tackle her first half marathon at the Shrewsbury Half, together with some of her co-workers, and how Ella is feeling as the race approaches.
Enjoy!
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Transcript
Introduction to UK Run Chat and Sponsors
00:00:00
Speaker
A very warm welcome to the UK Run Chat podcast. This episode is in two parts with the Shrewsbury half and Metric half marathon coming up very soon. We find out more about headline sponsors Pareto FM. First up, we chat to Andrew Hubert, Vice Chair of Pareto FM, about the company's approach to the health and wellbeing of its employees and why these kinds of initiatives to get staff involved in events such as the Shrewsbury half are important to the company.
Interview with Andrew Hubert: Health Initiatives at Pareto FM
00:00:29
Speaker
Secondly, we chat to Pareto FM employee Ella about how she's getting ready to tackle her first half marathon at the Shrewsbury half together with some of her co-workers. First up, Andrew.
00:00:41
Speaker
Welcome to the UK Run Chat podcast, Andrew. Thank you for joining us and a huge thank you from us for sponsoring the Shrewsbury Half and Metric Half Marathon once again. It's your second year as our headline sponsor. and Now last year, your team were a huge part of the event and we've already had Adam um on the podcast telling us his fabulous story. He was lead bike and lots of your team were in the start and finish funnel and in race HQ as well.
00:01:07
Speaker
Can you tell us a little bit, Andrea, about Pareto Athens' approach to corporate social responsibility and, you know, looking after the wellbeing of your staff? Yeah, absolutely. ah Firstly, just thank you for the opportunity to sponsor last year and again this year. It's something that's been genuinely magical for us. ah For anyone that has their own business or works in another business, there's something incredibly special about being stood on the start line of a race and looking round and realizing that everybody's wearing your logo you know for for an amazing cause and and something that's pretty special. So it it was great and it was a no-brainer for us to come back and sponsor again this year because it was such a success.
00:01:45
Speaker
It wasn't just that the team that ran in the event, it was also everybody that helped out, as you mentioned. I think for us, and Pareto, since I founded it, was all about trying to, we knew we were going to be a great business, but it was about trying to create great opportunities for the amazing people that work for us. And we knew from our staff surveys that people's health and wellbeing wasn't always what they prioritised,
00:02:09
Speaker
So we knew that they were stressed, that they didn't always get the right amount of exercise or didn't eat correctly. So for us, Pareisa was all about trying to create those opportunities to do amazing things, and but also put health and wellbeing at the centre of that. So sponsoring and and creating opportunities for our teams to get involved in this type of event is exactly the sort of thing that we love to do.
Pareto FM's Employee Health Strategies
00:02:31
Speaker
It actually started for us back in lockdown. Chris Barnes and I started just a virtual running event called FM10, which was all about just getting people out there, doing any type of activity and earning a medal. And we tried to make that as open and and as accessible to everybody as possible. So, yeah, for us, this type of initiative is what we love and it's a core part of Pareto's strategy around our people.
00:02:54
Speaker
Yeah, that's fantastic. You mentioned Chris there. He's obviously a big part of yeah our UK Run Chat running club as well. yes and So, I mean, how how does that, how does the looking after staff wellbeing and getting them involved in in kind of running events, how does that work on a day to day basis? Do you, you know, do you have kind of a a staff running club that they can go along to, or do you just encourage people to you know perhaps just be more active in their lunch break? How does it work practically? Yeah, well, the thing with Pareto is because we work across about 65 different customer sites, our staff are all spread out all over the place. and There's over 500 staff now across Pareto, so it's really grown from the couple of us that started right at the beginning.
00:03:42
Speaker
and So for us it's about making sure people are aware of the benefits of eating healthily and and and you know doing exercise and managing their stress and sleeping well. So we do lots of work around trying to promote that and we do lots of initiatives around things like you know giving free access to certain apps so that people can improve certain elements of their life.
00:04:04
Speaker
The other benefit to working across so many different customer sites is some of those do have running clubs themselves. So there's a major online retailer that Pareto works with and they have a running club and some of our team are part of that and we have posted about the work that they've done together previously on there.
00:04:20
Speaker
And also, Pareto has always tried to be very flexible with our policies. So many of our staff support staff work from home, and you know we're really flexible about time that they need off to do various things, whether that's parenting or whether that's doing exercise.
Andrew's Personal Running Insights
00:04:36
Speaker
So it's just about trying to create an environment and a culture where people know that they can go and prioritize this area of their life because we know happier ah sorry healthier staff are happier staff and ultimately they will deliver a better service for Pareto. And selfishly, you know wishing that everybody is happy enables us to do a better job for our customers and and that's a real success for us.
00:05:00
Speaker
Yeah, that's fantastic. I think just taking that pressure off staff to so that they know that they can go and be healthy. That's, that's a huge deal, isn't it? yeah Like you say, it's it's so easy to get stressed and caught up in work and think I don't have time to do this or yeah it's not a priority.
00:05:14
Speaker
I think that's half the battle, isn't it? oh sizing it yeah I always think as well, for me personally, the hardest step of any run is the first step, right? It's actually getting out there to make sure you do the first step. And there are so many psychological things that go through our heads about, you know, if we're going to go and do exercise or not, and if we're going to prioritize. Personally, I have to do it in the morning.
00:05:39
Speaker
I'm one of those where I wake up and before I can think about anything else, I'm downstairs, shoes on and out the door before I've even thought about it, still wiping the sleep from my eyes and sometimes as I'm out there. And for me, that just works. I'm one of those that I want to do it. But for others, you know, lunchtime runs or evening runs are are amazing things as well. But yeah, for me personally, I just have to get up and go before I think about it too much.
00:06:03
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, I'm the same. Although I can't go out too early. I need I need a little bit of time to wake up. i think So I mean, what are the benefits that you observe then in your in your staff when they they take part in and yeah you know, events like the Shrewsbury half. The benefits, you know, is the engagement aspect of it. um I think, as you said, we all get very busy in our lives and we're always so focused on work, which obviously we're so grateful to the Pareto team that do that for us. But there has to be other things that we aim for. And what I really, really loved about last year was the volunteers from Pareto that were there. They were so proud, you know, they were really integrated into what was going on.
00:06:45
Speaker
they were really proud that it was a Pareto event as well and you know they were also watching their friends run in the event and they were there to give them a medal at the end and there's something very wholesome about that and and something very special.
00:06:58
Speaker
And I know, you know, the really keen ones like Adam out on his bike at the front, you know, as he's probably a little bit of category one and two, just heart rate exercise for him doing a little cycle around there, nothing too strenuous. But actually, there's great pride. and And one of the benefits that we see is people talk about it. And when people are at work, they start telling other people that it's happening. And I think, as I mentioned, because Pareto works across so many different sites,
00:07:26
Speaker
We have the ability to spread the message to quite a wide audience. It's not just one office that we have. It it can go across lots of different brands. And Pareto is very fortunate to work with some of the biggest brands in the world. So we you know we we have a great reach in terms of what we do. It's similar. and We do a skydive every year at Pareto. So I think we've done eight or nine now. I've lost count. But it's one of those things that people just talk about in the lead up to it because everyone's a bit nervous about doing a half marathon or a marathon or doing a skydive.
00:07:55
Speaker
And um it's one of those that people talk about and they can just bond over. And certainly the final benefit is we find that people meet each other from within the business that wouldn't necessarily have met each other otherwise. And I think that's quite special to create those connections with different people who, you know, one may be down in Plymouth and one may be up in Edinburgh, but they come together for this type of event
Sponsoring the Shrewsbury Marathon
00:08:18
Speaker
and they meet each other. And that's really special from our perspective.
00:08:22
Speaker
Yeah, that's fantastic, actually. That's something I hadn't considered, like the internal networking, really. That's so important, isn't it, for you know team dynamics? Yeah. Well, it is because also everyone's nervous. And i what I really love about these types of events and the running and the skydiving is we're all just humans then at the end of the day. It doesn't matter what your level is, what your pay is, how long you've been there. Everybody's about to do something that's going to be really difficult.
00:08:49
Speaker
and And there's going to be a real level of success at the end of it. So it just levels the playing field. And and that's what's really, really brilliant for me. And obviously, as the founder, I've always really enjoyed just being amongst it. I'm not someone that likes to sit in that you know in a big office, hidden away from everybody. I've always wanted to be there. Unfortunately, most of the time, I've got donuts with me, which isn't always good for ah for running. But so yeah, it's always been part of of our structure, really. so That's why I love doing those events and yeah just everybody being on a level playing field and everybody just trying to make it to the end and that's a really special feeling. Yeah so I mean why why the Shrewsbury half and Metric half in particular then what motivated you to sponsor? I think and Pareto although we're born out of Oxfordshire originally and we do a lot of our work in London and Pareto is UK wide and in six or seven European countries as well
00:09:43
Speaker
So for us, we wanted to find a location that was going to be convenient for people across the UK. We didn't want to make it too sort of southern centric. So for us, it would give the opportunity for our colleagues from all over the UK to come and get involved. I think the challenge with most organisations is they are very London centric as they get bigger. So it's important for us that we seem to be working across lots of different regions and things.
00:10:08
Speaker
um and also it's a beautiful place to run around for anybody that hasn't done it I would recommend it it is a bit hilly I think it's fair to say ah but you get to run along the river you know you've got some beautiful architecture in the middle of it and when I was running last year you know the people coming out they were playing music they were so passionate and supportive and But there was one big hill in particular, as I remember, which was particularly difficult. and um But yeah, it was ah it was a great place to be. And as you came back into the the starting area, it was just such a good vibe. But yeah, for us, you know we we have some business in Shrewsbury ourselves, um as we do across a lot of the UK. So it was just a natural one for us to get connected to.
Leadership and Diversity in Health at Pareto FM
00:10:54
Speaker
Yeah, that's fantastic. And on a personal level, you know, what motivates you to run these events? Oh, it's ah it's a good question. Personally, for me, um I want Pareto to do things that other organizations in our sector don't necessarily do. And I don't see many facility services businesses, you know, sponsoring big running events like this. And for us,
00:11:18
Speaker
Pareto is always about trying to do things that are different and trying to be the first to do them. and So this is just easy for us in terms of we love it. It really goes with what we're trying to achieve as an organization. On a personal level, you know I use running to to help my health and to control my weight. That's ah that's certainly something that I've done over the last 10 years or so now. and As I just mentioned before we came on here, I've just been on holiday for a long time and ate far too many croissants whilst I was there.
00:11:47
Speaker
So running really helps me to get back to a good state of fitness and a good state of weight. um But also on a mental health level, I just think it's so positive for all of the endorphins and the wellbeing and the great feeling and all of the app information that you get back.
00:12:04
Speaker
And this ah earlier this year, when I really got into running again, I've i've been smashing my personal bests that I hadn't achieved in like seven years or so. It's the quickest that I've ever been. And there's some real brilliant feeling that comes with that. So yeah, for me, it works on a corporate level, but also on a personal level as well. So really happy to support it.
00:12:25
Speaker
Yeah, and I guess you're setting a good example to all your staff as well, aren't you? That's that's the idea. I think Pareto, you know people look up Pareto and have a look at us, but for me, showing diversity at a senior level and showing the right thing to do at a senior level has always been a core part of our business.
00:12:45
Speaker
And we're very fortunate that you know the top fifteen or so people in Pareto is incredibly diverse ah but it just so happens that a number of them are also runners you know people like Chris Barnes and and Frankie that we have within the team and people like Neil Hobson you know we've we've got some incredible people and and Adam as well. So I think for us it is about leading by example.
00:13:05
Speaker
and and showing what is possible. But we also understand that everybody is trying to balance life and trying to balance family and money and everything else that goes with it as well. And it's not always easy to prioritise health, but it is certainly possible and and something that is important.
Advice for Businesses on Staff Involvement in Events
00:13:23
Speaker
Yeah, and and all the better with support from your workplace as well. and So just thinking about advice for other businesses who might be thinking about getting the staff involved in external events like this, yeah you know, what what would you advise them? if you come again If you come up against any challenges, for example,
00:13:41
Speaker
study the three staff and Yeah, my advice to businesses would be do it 100%. You know, regardless of what sector you're in, it's a great way to just create a buzz. It's a great way to give people to talk about things. And as I said earlier, it's a great way for internal networking. um And as I said, it doesn't matter whether you are the most junior employee or in the C suite, you know, you are all there together trying to run them. What I love is the the more junior staff tend to be much faster. than the C-suite staff, so they can get one over them over them on there. From an advice perspective and and any challenges, I think picking your location is an important one, just to make sure that as many people can get there as possible to make it accessible, as I mentioned earlier on. um And also, probably just considering things like, are you going to reimburse people for their travel, for example, to reach the destination to make sure that it's accessible to everybody?
00:14:40
Speaker
ah And that said, it's also about making sure you run events, lots of different types of events, because obviously running ah a half or a metric half or whatever, there are only certain types of people that are going to be able to do that because it's such a physical achievement to be able to do it. So it's just making sure you run other types of events as well that are going to make sure that everybody can be included. And there's a level of inclusivity to that.
00:15:05
Speaker
But yeah, my out and out advice is um do it, look up sponsorship opportunities. I'm sure UK run chat have other opportunities to sponsor different half marathons as well. And yeah, it's been brilliant for us and something that we're looked to continue with as well. Yeah, that's fantastic. and You mentioned obviously making the challenges achievable for all. Have you have you found that people um have perhaps taken part in the first half marathon since you've been sponsoring the Shrewsbury half, do you do you have that data?
00:15:35
Speaker
um It's not something that we've tracked, and but I do know personally from everybody that was there, there were some people that that was their first half marathon. That was my first half marathon as well. How was it? Yeah, it was. i So generally my running has been up to about 10k or so. That's sort of where my sweet spot has been. So I got my 10k time under an hour, for example, which was a big achievement for me. I'm a big frame as a runner.
00:16:00
Speaker
And so, yeah, for me, that was a big one, which is why I laugh about the hills because I wasn't quite aware of how hilly it was. And it was just it was that one particular hill where we stood at the bottom and looking up and thinking, oh, dear, how are you going to get to the top?
00:16:17
Speaker
But um no, so for me, that was a big thing and and just making sure that you know there are those opportunities for other bits as well. But yeah, um that was ah that was the first time for me doing a half marathon and I really enjoyed it. ah This year I'm doing the half marathon again, um but i'm I'm from Oxfordshire originally. I'm also doing the Oxford half as well, which I haven't run before. So off the back of this one, I'm hoping to be fit enough to do the Oxfordshire one as well.
00:16:43
Speaker
which will be a real sort of nostalgic tour of my childhood as as I go around. So yeah, looking forward. Yeah, oh that's lovely. So how how's your training gone for Shrewsbury Half this year then? Yes, yeah, training's been good. and As I mentioned, I always use Couch to 5K to get going. i I'm a very obedient person when it comes to exercise. So if I've got Laura in my ear telling me what to do, when she says run, then I run, which is good.
00:17:10
Speaker
And I find within a few weeks, I get to a point where I can pretty much run nonstop at that stage because my fitness gets to that certain level. And then I, yeah and then I continue to run from there. So for me, um yeah, I'm in about a week, four or five of couch to five K at the moment. So feeling good in terms of getting my fitness up to that level and, and then to to keep going from there.
00:17:34
Speaker
and But yeah, i I won't lie. I am looking forward to December time when all the running was finished and I can enjoy all the Christmas parties and things Everything that's going on and then and then hopefully potentially look for some sort of marathon distance next year But there's always that step up from half marathon to marathon, which I think is a scary target at this stage Oh, it is. And that's a big step up as well, isn't it? So you you mentioned that you have a you have a complete break from running, do you? Yeah, that that's my style for me personally, I really have to be in the zone to to do it. And so for example, right now, when I wake up in the morning, every other day, I'll go and do seven to 10k at the moment, every so every other day without fail.
00:18:20
Speaker
because i'm just in the zone i'm eating healthily i'm really focused on my fitness and i'm focused on improving the running hydrating well you know eating lots of protein all that sort of stuff and but i do enjoy the christmas period and i'm very fortunate to be invited to lots of awards and dinners and things over christmas so i find it really difficult to balance the two things out so i tend to let myself have december off and then come back in January and and go and do it all again and and get up to the level of fitness.
The FM10 Virtual Race: A New Initiative
00:18:50
Speaker
um That's personally what works for me. Yeah, and I guess it's it's finding that balance, isn't it? You can't do everything well all of the time, can you? No, and and it's always it's always a thing. I think
00:19:05
Speaker
even just going through routine. I think I'm a real routine person. So if I know that every other day you know I need to go down, get my shoes on, you know get my get dressed, get make sure my watch is charged, all that sort of stuff, then when when I'm in it and then I can do it. um If anyone's read the chimp Chimp Paradox book, it's an interesting book,
00:19:25
Speaker
But it's sort of this idea that we all have an inner chimp inside of us that we can either choose to control or choose not to control. So I try and make sure that most of the time I'm controlling my chimp and I'm going running and doing all those great things. um But for maybe a short period over winter, the chimp takes over and has a great time during that time. That's brilliant.
00:19:49
Speaker
but Let's just finish by just chatting about and other events that you do, because you run a virtual race, don't you? for the facility yeah history so Yeah, so we'll bring it back next year. So it's called FM 10. So the idea is that it's a completely accessible event. So effectively, we put out a call out online and people go and complete any type of activity.
00:20:13
Speaker
So that could be a 5K run, it could be a wheelchair race, it could be a cycle, it could be a certain sudoku or something like that. It's something that's completely open to everybody of every aspect so that they can complete a task.
00:20:28
Speaker
And then they come back to us with evidence that they've completed it. And then we send them a medal and a Freddo in the post. And the Freddo is very important. People like Freddo more than the medal a lot of the time. And um we've run that, I think, three or four times now. And and it's been a great success. We have over 100 people complete it every time we do it. um And we get the medal specially made every year. So, yeah, look out for that. It's hashtag FM10. And we'll be running it again next year.
00:20:55
Speaker
And as I say, it's something it was Chris Barnes's idea originally, and it's just something that we made happen. And um actually, do you know what, it's not that hard to do, you know, you can get medals made, you know, relatively cost effectively.
00:21:09
Speaker
And, and then you can easily send them out in the post for about three pounds. It costs us to send them out. So it doesn't cost anything really. And yeah, it's a great thing. And we know with the runners that will be listening to this, people love to collect medals as well, right? yeah ah So we try and make the medals quite interesting. So they're a little bit different to the other ones that people have in their collection. So yeah, look out for that next year.
00:21:33
Speaker
Oh,
Interview with Ella: Her Running Journey Begins
00:21:34
Speaker
that's fantastic. Well, thank you so much, Andrew, for coming out and chatting to us. It's been lovely hearing about, you know, what what motivates you to keep your staff healthy. I think it's a fantastic initiative. And and we'll look forward to seeing you all at the Shrewsbury half. Do you know how many staff members you've got coming along? I'm afraid I don't. They don't let me stay in charge of running these things anymore. So but much more important people than me are will know that information that Now, I just wanted to say thank you so much to UK Run Chat and thank you for the opportunity again to sponsor. It is something that we love and we take a great deal of pride in. So yes, thank you for the opportunity to speak to you. It's been great. Next, we chat to Ella, who's taking on her first half marathon at the Shrewsbury half, all about how her training has been going and how she's feeling as the race approaches. Hi, welcome to the UK Run Chat podcast, Ella. Thanks for coming on.
00:22:25
Speaker
Can you start just by telling us a little bit about yourself and how you got into running? Yeah, sure. So, and oh, it was it's quite a while ago now, about three years ago, I'd say, I was introduced into running with a housemate and um i I couldn't run for longer than 20 seconds. i I honestly felt like it was something that they made look really easy, but somebody was keeping a really,
00:22:54
Speaker
It's hidden secret from me. The penny didn't drop for a while with the breathing. But yeah, I think maybe six weeks into it, I realized what everybody else realized. And the yeah, it's been it's been a journey. But it's it's something that I find it's physical and mental and and It's just you. You don't have to have any kit. You don't have to be part of a club. You can if you want. You don't have to have anything. It's just you get out there with the elements. 5K, 10K, whatever you want. It's my little private moment.
Training and Environment: Ella's Approach
00:23:33
Speaker
It's amazing when you like that, isn't it? I love it too, as well, as as we all do at UK. We're in chat.
00:23:39
Speaker
and You mentioned breathing there, it's really funny. I think that that does seem, it should be something that comes naturally, shouldn't it? But it does seem to be a challenge for many people when they're starting running that they struggle to breathe. what What's the issue there, do you think? How did you get over that? and I just think maybe we just don't know how to breathe properly at all. No, um with with myself, um I actually used the couch to 5k app. So and there was some you know helpful tips and steps along the way. But um I think the coach that I chose suggested that you should have every breath you take, you should be able to do four to five steps. Yeah. So um of course, when I tried it out for the first time again, it seemed impossible. But yeah, I think breathing
00:24:34
Speaker
steadily and like actually letting in your breath carry you I don't know it's similar to the yogi practice I guess yeah I think it's about relaxing into it isn't it and just going with the flow yeah yeah yeah breathing and breathing rather than panting that's always good ah you're training for the Sri's behalf marathon aren't you this year which is coming up very soon yes what did you need to take on the challenge there Um, so I had taken the challenge to run the Windermere Full Marathon in May, but I, I bottled it. I couldn't, I couldn't bring myself to do it. I felt hugely underprepared to do a full marathon. So the opportunity to run with work and and do the half seemed like a better, more realistic goal. Yeah, that's fantastic. So how, how a work supported you in that then?
00:25:28
Speaker
and we We have some chats, you know, but it's just it's just a safe space, a fun group to kind of share what we've how how we're training or, you know, I think i think there's five of us running it. yeah and are Are they all kind of, are some of them more experienced at half marathons or what's the group like?
00:25:50
Speaker
So to my knowledge, I probably am the least experienced, I'd say. um We have this little app um at work where you kind of compete with your step count. Yeah. And um a few of the boys that are running this marathon are literally first, second, and third. They've got the podium all year round. Their step count is phenomenal. And I'm like the ocean. Edson Flows, you know. Yeah. and how's How's training going then?
00:26:20
Speaker
and Summer, I really, really like running in hot heat and sunny weather, so I've been probably better the past couple of months than I will be for the next couple of weeks. um I find something think really difficult about motivating myself when it's cold. Not so much wet, but cold. and But yeah, training's going well. I've gone from doing general 5K runs with my favourite because they were my easy run, but now I'm definitely more around eight, nine with an easy run. And my pace is still quite good. um But yeah, I need to, I need to be more adventurous with the route planning. I seem to just be running around in circles a bit at the minute. Are you doing kind of the same route? Yeah, it's, um I live in South Manchester and we've got a beautiful park, but and yeah, I find it's, a
00:27:15
Speaker
I think once I've, When you're running 8k around the park, that is probably you know about 2k in width. You kind of get bored by the last bit. But and then um I don't know whether I'm... I can't be the only person that would say this, but running from A to B, I don't know. Sometimes I feel like it's gonna defeat me, so I'd rather do laps.
00:27:43
Speaker
Yeah, to kind of so you know where the finish is and you can easily tick those loops off. I guess it's different for everybody, isn't it? Yeah, I know people that like can only do um well, their preference is to run from A to B and to do laps is boring. So I think, yeah, it's whatever works for for you. But um'm I'm all about the environment that I'm running in. And yeah, the park I've got next to me is beautiful. So very lucky to have that. But Yeah, maybe I should go further afield and see see what what else I can find out there. Yeah, it's gorgeous down there. I've been exploring a bit of South Manchester recently, actually. We've been and doing the Greater Manchester Ringway as a family okay down near the Mersey and walking sections down there. And it's so it's a lovely area that you're in. It is. It's really nice. It's really nice. So going, you know, you can go from Alexandra Park down to Chawton Walk Park. That's quite a nice
00:28:44
Speaker
route I'd say yeah it's beautiful yeah we were in Chalton water park and a few weeks ago it's lovely yeah very lucky to have that quite close to home so what kind of and training have you been doing have you just kind of been building your distance or have you been doing specific workouts to help you improve pace or you know hill work so I actually got I got on board with the running the runner runner app oh brilliant yes And yeah, live
Preparing for the Shrewsbury Half Marathon
00:29:12
Speaker
and swear by it. So, um, I mean, I'm not, I'm sure you're familiar, but they give you pretty much everything, you know, your warmups, your cooldowns. They educate you if you like on the different types of runs that would be best for your truck, your specific training. Um, they you put your date in, they tell you if it's feasible to get you to where you want to be in in time for race day. And yeah, that's been my holy grail past couple of months.
00:29:41
Speaker
Yeah. Oh, that's great. Yeah. We've had Runner on the podcast a couple of times actually telling us all about it. So it's good to hear for someone who's actually using it. Oh, it's a game changer. I feel like you feel really supported, you know, in that there's a template, if you like. Well, a plan that's for you, not just generic yeah to to get to a certain distance, but for your abilities in your timeframe. And yeah, like,
00:30:08
Speaker
the knowledge that they they can provide to you as well like understanding the different types of runs you know i used to just go out there not being able to breathe and try and run really fast for as long as possible um and then i realized actually that's not the way to do it but so what might be the most important thing you've learned then during the training plan would you say the the cooling down is just as important as the warming up um the right shoes definitely and intervals. ah Okay, tell us tell us more about those. Well, you know, like I say, I used to just try to pelt it down the street. It just didn't make any sense. Whereas I think when you can see where where you're improving and how you're improving, it's more motivation. And you can see the steady progress from where you were when you started. So like the intervals for me were the
00:31:08
Speaker
the biggest area of which I could see improvement. So yes, you you just varied pace for different laps. Well, intervals. Yeah. Posting, I guess as well that not everyone runs the same either, doesn't it? you've You've got a focus, a different focus for every everyone. Yeah, exactly that. Exactly that. I've done the hill reps are the hardest. I'm not a fan of and running up a hill, but it's vital, so we do it. And it is at Shrewsbury, yes. Yes, yes. I've been told, I've been told good things are bad things. So what are you, how are you kind of fueling yourself? Are you training? How are you planning to fuel on the day? um So this is something that I'm actually not too sure about just yet, because I i
00:32:02
Speaker
I've heard that people are quite okay with carb loading the night before. yeah And then just making sure you've got the hydration on point throughout the run. um But yeah, I haven't prepared my plan for that just yet. I'm still still stroking the beard on that one. It could be a very individual thing, can't it? So what's the furthest you've been running and training them so far?
00:32:31
Speaker
The furthest I've done at the minute is 15. Yeah. Oh, that's that's good then. So what's it going up to? So it's not long left now, is there? No, no, not at all. We've got the difficult thing for me is I go to Greece for a week um and I'm not sure how much running I'm going to be doing there. Obviously, I'm going to I'm going to prioritize it, but it's still 30 degrees over there. So the last couple of weeks, I've kind of absolutely booked a holiday, but yeah, the last few weeks of the of the running plan, I'm going to have to really persevere because the runs get longer um and probably just for myself, not anybody else in Britain, but the weather's going to get hotter. So yeah.
00:33:20
Speaker
So how are you preparing physically for the half then? Have you done any kind of mental preparations? So again, like the the longer than the distance, the more I actually enjoy it on ah on a mental level. I think it's really um mentally wise. I don't have much preparation to do. It's something I generally enjoy. But physically, it's just um I'm only running like alternating days. So some of my friends will do all of their running before the weekend. and And then, you know, they have the weekend to do their thing. Whereas I am just trying to not burn out and not not push myself too hard. um And I'm considering getting some new trainers just shy of two weeks before so that they're nice and broken into.
00:34:12
Speaker
Yeah, you'll need to make sure you've done some longer runs in those, won't you? Definitely. And it's the socks, though. I think it's the socks a little bit more than the shoes. No, I agree, actually. Yeah, socks are so important. Yeah, yeah. So get get some socks. And I hope for the best.
Post-Race Reflections and Advice from Ella
00:34:32
Speaker
So have you got a specific kind of strategy for race day then? Have you have you thought about how it might go and how you're going to pace yourself? Just in the hills.
00:34:44
Speaker
So I'm just going to, I'm splitting. In my mind, so I'm going to split the race into three. And the first is slow and steady. The second, I want to get to my comfortable, easy run pace and the last the last leg of it. Just try not to cry.
00:35:05
Speaker
and but But no, I do want to finish on a high, so I'm going to try and preserve some energy for the last leg. But yeah, I think If I break it into segments and don't look it as one big run, I should be fine. Yeah. I think, I mean, i I think, I remember my first half month and I remember being very emotional on the finish line, but kind of proud of myself. So I think you'll be feeling pride rather than ah anything else that makes you cry. Yeah. hope I hope so. I hope so. I won't, I won't mind if it's one or two blisters, but I do want the the pride tears as well. Yeah. I'm sure you will. Yeah.
00:35:41
Speaker
So what what would you say has been the biggest lesson that you've learned from training so far? And would you change anything now that we're so close to the race, do you think? um Just generally, like the biggest thing I've learned about running is that it's so much more achievable than you think it is when you first try. um And then preparation for the race, I would say consistency. I definitely would have changed the day of my holiday fine if I couldn't. and But yeah, being consistent because as much as I just said, you know, it comes very quickly. It also leaves very quickly. So, you know, um it's good to be to have balance and, you know, you don't want to train too hard and prioritize it and miss out on stuff that you would maybe not train on the same day for.
00:36:36
Speaker
But i I would say if you if you're training for an actual goal, then commit to it because, you know, it's easier. It's more enjoyable when it's easier. And yeah, it leaves just as fast as it arrives. Yeah, no, it does. That's really good advice. You know, consistency trumps everything, doesn't it? Have you have you found it's helped having sessions laid out for you there in in a plan as well? Yeah, 100%, 100%. It's like,
00:37:02
Speaker
all of the work's done for you. You've you've got the easy bit, to be honest. Just, yeah, I think, I don't know, I just think that running is something that is so much more enjoyable than it is anything else. And, you know, as long as you have a little bit of understanding of what you need to, how you need to stretch, but how you need to move your body before and after, the run itself is the easy bit. Try the breathing and Yeah, it's all good. I guess if if you're enjoying it, it's not hard to motivate yourself either to get out there, is it? No, like I said, it's just it's just the rain the cold, not so much the rain, but the cold, I think. um But yeah, if you warm up correctly, you're warm and then you know you don't feel the cold.
00:37:52
Speaker
So will will you keep training after Shrew's behalf or something else do you think? Have you got anything else? I feel like I'm a runner. I feel like after the Shrew's behalf, I'll just go back to, I maybe won't be doing huge distances, but I definitely will keep running a minimum of three days a week. Cause it's just, it gives me something, nothing else can. Yeah, it's it's brilliant, isn't it? that So if you've got a specific race in mind, do you think, or you're just going to keep, keep that consistency up?
00:38:20
Speaker
Well, so when I signed up, of I was completely enrolled on the Windermere. And like I say, I just felt a bit off more than I could choose. So let's hope to get the Shrewsbury complete. And then I think I'm going to aim to run the race that I'd never could. I'll do the Windermere next year. I've heard very good things about that race. I've heard it's just beautiful. Yeah, that's that was why I picked it. It's just a stunning location.
00:38:50
Speaker
um and it's not it's not too far from me where I am now so yeah I think that's probably a good site to set my site to a good place to set my sights. Yeah oh well thank you Ella for coming and chatting to us about your your kind of Shrewsbury half marathon goal and would you can we finish just by giving Alice and us some advice if they're thinking of maybe tackling the first half marathon what would you tell them? I mean I just feel like everybody should. I feel like it's cool to impress other people, but it's really cool to impress yourself. And, you know, like running in general is really fun. I think there's lots of perks. There's, you know, people can draw out cons if they want to, but overall it's it's just a positive. Whereas if you run and train for an actual race,
00:39:47
Speaker
you get to be a part of something bigger. you get its It amplifies all of the good stuff of feeling like you've achieved something and feeling and like you're a bit of a bad-ass. Yeah, I just think everybody should give it a go. And then even if you give it a go and it's not for you, at least you've given it a go. Yeah, at least you've tried, right? Yeah, definitely. Oh, fantastic. Thank you so much for coming on and sharing your experiences. We hope that all you out there listening have enjoyed this episode.