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Francesca Baker-Brooker: Training for London Marathon
17 Plays30 minutes ago
In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, Michelle speaks with Francesca Baker-Brooker about her powerful journey with running and anorexia. Francesca first started running as a student, but what began as a way to fit in soon spiralled into two decades of illness, hospital stays, and setbacks.
Now 38, Francesca has rediscovered running in a healthy, joyful way. She shares how support from her husband and family helped her start again, why her first 10k was both awful and life-changing, and how running has shifted her relationship with her body.
We talk honestly about fuelling, relapse fears, and the importance of building a life worth being well for. Francesca is training for the London Marathon in support of Coach Core, a charity creating opportunities through sports apprenticeships.
Please note: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, hospitalisation, and fuelling struggles. Listener discretion is advised.
Resources:
- BEAT Eating Disorders: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk
- RED-S Project: https://red-s.com
- Coach Core: https://coachcore.org.uk
Follow Francesca
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Transcript
Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
00:00:00
UKRunChat
Hello, welcome to the UK Run Chat podcast. I'm Michelle and my guest today is Francesca. Francesca first turned to running as a student, but soon found herself in the grip of anorexia.
00:00:13
UKRunChat
and She's now training for the London Marathon and has come on to chat to us today about how she's found a healthier, stronger way to live. A quick note before we do start, this episode does include discussion of eating disorders. So that's something that you find difficult, then please listen with care.
00:00:28
UKRunChat
and we'll pop some support resources in the show notes.
Francesca's Background and Relationship with Running
00:00:32
UKRunChat
Hi, Francesca. Thank you so much for joining us on the UK Run Chat podcast today. Would you just like to introduce yourself to our listeners, please?
00:00:41
Francesca
Yeah, sure. So I'm Francesca. I'm 38. I live in London with my husband. And job wise, I do PR and communications. I'm a freelancer.
00:00:51
Francesca
um I'm running. I've had a tumultuous relationship with it, really. But ah now it brings me joy. But it hasn't always been that way.
00:01:00
UKRunChat
I can be difficult sometimes can't it so just um when you first got in touch with us about your story you described it as an up and down one so what's what's we'll get on to what it what it is what's made you want to share it now.
00:01:15
Francesca
I think
00:01:20
Francesca
because I'm on an up, I guess, is the, yeah, it feels good now. and You know, i feel strong. I love running. and But so so that, you know, it feels quite positive.
00:01:34
Francesca
But also there's a lot of like, I feel like diet culture and women slimming and stuff is coming back into trends and and And, you know, even within the running community, I sort sort of like, you know, low carb diet to run or how do you lose weight running? And actually it shouldn't necessarily be about that.
00:01:53
Francesca
um So maybe just, you know, if there is a little way of sort of kind of countering that in some way, um I want to do my part.
00:02:00
UKRunChat
Yeah. Oh, no, that's great. Yeah. It does seem to be coming back into fashion at the moment, doesn't it especially with the weight loss injections. There's a lot of noise in media around those, isn't there?
00:02:06
Francesca
Yeah.
00:02:09
UKRunChat
Yeah. So, so thank you. So can you take us back then to when you first started running? So what was life like for you at that time?
Challenges at University and Diet Culture Impact
00:02:16
Francesca
Yeah, so as a teenager, hated sport, I would usually be, you know, sports day, I'd be found under a tree with the enemy smoking a cigarette or something, just wasn't for me.
00:02:27
Francesca
um When I was 18, like most people, I went to university, ah i grew up in a working class family in Kent. I went to Durham, which is an incredibly posh, incredibly privileged university.
00:02:39
Francesca
And if everyone there was beautiful and thin and rich. And I just did not fit in and I felt absolutely rubbish compared to everyone else. and But what a lot of them did was like run, they were quite sporty.
00:02:52
Francesca
I was quite miserable for kind of my first six months or so. Well, the first whole three years, to be honest. But yeah, and, you know, so I'd go out, I'd drink quite a lot. I'd have my pizza, da-da-da.
00:03:04
Francesca
Um, and I gained a bit of weight, but I noticed like it was, um, catered halls and I noticed the other girls didn't finish their food. Like, you know, the other girls would only eat half a croissant for breakfast, whereas I'd go up for like seconds or thirds. And, um, yeah, just, I just started notice that. And like the other girls would go out early for a run. So I was like, oh maybe I can start like eating a little bit less and move my body a bit more. So I started running at first. I loved it. It was great.
00:03:34
Francesca
Um, but I quickly got into a, you know, I'm burning this number of calories. I can not eat that. And, you know, I'll lose some weight. Um, and I lost a lot of weight very
Struggles with Anorexia and Seeking Help
00:03:44
Francesca
quickly. so at the start of my second year, i mean, I'd never been a big girl. I was always like, you know, size 10, perfectly healthy. Um, and then I, yes, I lost a lot of weight. Um, I went to see my doctor, um, and it said that I hadn't had a period in a few months.
00:04:02
Francesca
So that was, March 2006 was my was my last period ever. I still haven't ever gotten back. and And he was like, you are, you know, you are a bit slim. like's wayy you but So he referred me to an eating disorder specialist.
00:04:17
Francesca
and And I went to see them and they were like, you know, we see girls way worse than you all the time. Yeah, like, yeah, you're a bit slim. but It's not like you're, you know, chronically ill. Don't worry about it. um and then about three months later I was absolutely emaciated uh the university asked me to leave or like to take some time out I refused to you know I'd worked really hard on this um so so I started kind of seeing a counsellor on a regular basis um and so that time I had to stop running like I just wasn't physically able
00:04:51
Francesca
and but I would still, you know, I still swim quite a lot or I'd still just walk a lot. And I made it through university and I restored a little bit of weight and then I moved to London.
00:05:03
Francesca
and and I didn't know anyone, um, for my first year i was doing okay, actually. Like I was quite kind of like, this has always been my dream to live in London. i worked on my dream job in marketing.
00:05:17
Francesca
i was really excited. and And then my boyfriend at the time moved down to join me.
Relapse and Recovery Journey
00:05:24
Francesca
I don't know it was just like old habits slipped in, but again, i started running and I started losing weight.
00:05:31
Francesca
um And I got quite sick again. So I saw a specialist for about about three or four years. and i I split up with him, oh gosh, 2002.
00:05:44
Francesca
2012 2013 maybe um and I went traveling it was bit of a you know kind of fuck you I can do what I want now um so it' traveling around southeast Asia and Australia um it's all food I didn't know like I'd got so used to eating my kind of staple diets um I felt incredibly lonely i was 26 and everyone else out there who seemed to be doing kind of traveling circuit was 18 and Obviously 26 isn't old, but compared to an 18 year old, you feel like you've lived a lifetime.
00:06:12
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:06:15
Francesca
Um, and again, I started running. I would go out for walks of like 13, 14 miles. Um, and I lost a lot of weight. Uh, so when I got back about three months later, i ended up in hospital. Um, I was told that if I didn't go in, and I would be sectioned.
00:06:30
Francesca
So it was kind of, you know, voluntary in a way.
00:06:34
Francesca
Um, i was there.
00:06:34
UKRunChat
Yeah, that's scary to hear though, isn't it?
00:06:36
UKRunChat
Yeah. yeah
00:06:37
Francesca
Yeah, I was in hospital in North London for about 16 months. and i I never got back up to a healthy weight. and And then after about six months, I had a whole other relapse and was kind of a lower weight than I'd ever been before.
00:06:56
Francesca
So again, was kind of told the same thing. a bit of a negotiation. it was just a few weeks before my 30th birthday. and I was like, well, what if i if I leave London, leave my job, move back to my parents?
00:07:08
Francesca
So not what any 30 year old wants, you know, you have your kind of dream mapped out and suddenly you're in your like, you know, parent's spare room on bed rest.
00:07:12
UKRunChat
Yes, ma'am.
00:07:16
Francesca
Uh, so that's what I did. and and then uh, ah today ah so I wasn't running at this time.
Rediscovering Joy in Running
00:07:26
Francesca
Um, I think, I think I'd done had like a few races in my mid twenties and I was kind of okay, but and You know, never particularly strong.
00:07:38
Francesca
um And then in 2018, I met a guy, we ended up chatting for bit, he became my best friend and he was training for London Marathon.
00:07:49
Francesca
But he'd also like, he like came to my birthday party the night before and had three pints and was dancing.
00:07:54
UKRunChat
Yeah. yeah
00:07:54
Francesca
And yeah, he would like, you know, we'd go out and he'd eat an entire pizza to himself and he'd be absolutely fine. it that And 2020, he became my boyfriend. ah During lockdown.
00:08:07
Francesca
um And I moved in in November 2020. And like his like one saving thing during lockdown was I could go out for a run. And he loved it so much. And he would, you know, he'd get back and be so energized. and I was like, I'm so jealous, but I've got, you know, such a complex relationship with it now. Like, could I ever just run and it be happy?
00:08:25
Francesca
Would it be a slippery slope? and So I probably spent about a year arguing with him and my parents about like, really want to try it again. You know, what do you think?
00:08:33
UKRunChat
Thank you.
00:08:35
Francesca
and so And then in the end, I just started going out for sort of like, you know, a kilomere or two kilometre two kilometres. We'd run together and, you know, kind of walk running. and A year later, we moved to London.
00:08:47
Francesca
By this point, I probably, you know, made up to 5K. Yeah. and I got injured and had to take a few months off and I was just like, like so sad and I wanted to start again. so So, I just built up from there. i did my first kind of 10 K back about three years ago. it was slow.
00:09:07
Francesca
ah but I got round and then that year we aimed for, I wanted, really wanted to do, i was like, I've always wanted to do a half marathon. One day I'll a half marathon. Um, so we went for an interim race and I did the great South run kind of 10 miles and I was,
00:09:22
Francesca
like I just really enjoyed the training for it. um and And it turned out I was like, you know, relatively fast for a woman in her mid thirties and that's what brought me like quite a lot of joy.
00:09:33
UKRunChat
yeah. yeah.
00:09:33
Francesca
and And then ah i anyway, about three months later, so in January, we got offered a place to do London landmarks.
00:09:45
UKRunChat
yeah
00:09:45
Francesca
ah So that was two years ago now, we're offered place to do that. and And I was so nervous and we like did some fundraising and I was like, I just want to run the distance to see if we, if I can get around.
00:09:58
Francesca
Um, and I it went for a training run. I did 13.1 miles and I got back and I like, like went to go in the shower and it was the first time I'd actually looked in the mirror, like while I was in the bathroom, cause I'd always avoid it.
00:10:12
Francesca
And I was like, do you know what?
00:10:12
UKRunChat
yeah
00:10:13
Francesca
I'm so fucking proud of my body today. And it was just the first time that I had ever felt that, um, which is amazing.
00:10:17
UKRunChat
wow
00:10:19
Francesca
And I realized yesterday, this is the first like summer of my life where I've run in shorts and I'm 38.
00:10:25
UKRunChat
you
00:10:25
Francesca
Like I'd never have done that before. and so it just feels like it's been such a journey now where like I genuinely like, you know, I'm just so proud of my body that it can do these runs. And yeah, like, you know, I'm not the fastest in the world. I'm not the strongest in the world, but like my body I've hated all my life is letting me do amazing stuff.
00:10:47
UKRunChat
Yeah, yeah, that's that's quite a journey, isn't it? So where do you, like looking back to when you first started with running, how has your relationship changed then?
00:10:58
UKRunChat
What's been the turning point for you to have that kind of, for that relationship to turn into a more positive one rather than using it as a way to kind of be thinner and lose weight?
00:11:09
Francesca
and
00:11:13
Francesca
I don't know if a little bit of it is like age, just like I'm so fed up of like hating my body and all of those kinds of things.
00:11:18
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:11:25
Francesca
So, you know, so it's not like the only thing I've changed in my late thirties. I also like party a lot more than I used to, cause I'm like, why did I never do all of that stuff?
00:11:31
UKRunChat
yeah
00:11:33
Francesca
And and you know, all of that kind of things. um
00:11:41
Francesca
But I think, I'm not even sure it's like the relationship with running that's changed so much. It's the, um
00:11:50
Francesca
but like I'll fuel myself for it now. Like, you know, I'll be like, oh, I'm going for a run.
00:11:52
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:11:54
Francesca
I better have a decent breakfast today. and i mean, I still struggle so much and I will like weep over my cereal.
00:11:59
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:12:01
Francesca
and But so much of that has changed and I honestly think it's to do with running. Yeah, so it's still kind of,
00:12:08
UKRunChat
Yeah. So do you still kind of, ah you would you still consider yourself to have anorexia then and struggle with kind of what you're eating?
00:12:14
Francesca
yeah yeah yeah definitely
00:12:19
UKRunChat
you think you will ever, ever get over that? you can obviously recognise it but it must be so frustrating for you to think I can't I find it difficult to to get over it
00:12:32
Francesca
yeah i mean i've had it all my adult life i was 18 and like i've had it longer than i haven't had it um
00:12:42
Francesca
Yeah, I think I probably will, but I feel the strongest I've ever felt and kind of...
00:12:53
Francesca
Yeah, the less in the grips of it than I've ever felt in the past.
00:12:57
UKRunChat
Yeah. So that that time you spent with kind of the the professional, shall we say, when you were like admitted to hospital, did they give you any kind of tools to get over it or what was what was their advice to help?
00:13:11
Francesca
Um...
00:13:14
Francesca
We did, mean, there was lots of, you know, lots of therapy. i mean, there was lots of bed rest and eating, to be honest.
00:13:20
Francesca
And the idea is that once your body's recovered, your mind will switch into gear. And and maybe that's why, maybe that's why I haven't recovered like fully because I've never actually got back up to a weight where, you know, my body
00:13:20
UKRunChat
Yeah.
Training for the London Marathon
00:13:33
Francesca
will have periods.
00:13:33
Francesca
So I've never got up to what's healthy for me.
00:13:36
UKRunChat
Hmm.
00:13:36
Francesca
um
00:13:40
Francesca
I had an amazing occupational therapist. ah She was brilliant and was talking about like one of the things she used to talk about a lot was like building a life to be well for. So I was allowed to like go and do volunteering or I was allowed to go and do yoga.
00:13:54
Francesca
and And that's always stuck with me because I think. ah Now that's why I like I do more stuff and I eat more because I'm like I want to eat so I can concentrate at work and, you know, have a successful career.
00:14:09
Francesca
I want to eat because we're going out tonight and I want to dance all night. I want to eat because I want to run and it makes me happy. So that was probably the most useful thing that anyone ever said to me. Not like, you know, you need to eat because you just do.
00:14:23
Francesca
It's like you need to eat because you want to fun. And that's really important. Yeah.
00:14:28
UKRunChat
Yeah, it is, isn't it? it's It can be, it's really hard, and like the relationship we have with our own body image and how we can project that onto other areas of our life. I think what what you said about fueling properly for running now really struck actually.
00:14:46
UKRunChat
So what what do you do differently now and that shows you're kind of making progress with your illness?
00:14:52
Francesca
Well, the idea, like in my 20s of like taking fuel on a long run, like, hang on, I'm trying to burn calories here.
00:14:59
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:15:00
Francesca
Why would I put calories into me?
00:15:01
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:15:02
Francesca
Like, this is ridiculous. um Yeah, just that kind of concept. And I only did it for the first time maybe a year ago. and I was just like, wow.
00:15:13
Francesca
But also it makes it so much easier and like you're not as exhausted. And yeah, it really does help. Breaks it, you know, if you're running 15 miles, it breaks it up a little bit as well.
00:15:22
Francesca
Um, yeah, so I think that's, that's probably one of the biggest ones. Um, and knowing when to rest as well. I don't need to run every day. So I run probably four times a week now, whereas it used to be like literally every day, same route and just to like a punishment thing.
00:15:23
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:15:33
UKRunChat
yeah
00:15:39
Francesca
So, yeah.
00:15:40
UKRunChat
Yeah, yeah that's that's hard, isn't it? Using running as punishment. And so it's it's really good that you've got through that actually and are finding some joy in it again.
00:15:49
Francesca
Yeah, exactly.
00:15:50
UKRunChat
So what do you what do you most in enjoy at the moment about running?
00:15:50
Francesca
and I broke my shoulder at
00:15:57
Francesca
Well, I think I trained for Glasgow half marathon last year and I think I got a little bit burnt out with it. But then I just took some time off and I was like, I fancy intervals today. I'll do that. or I fancy an easy today.
00:16:10
Francesca
that variety was good. But so the start of January this year, i fell on some cobbles and broke my shoulder.
00:16:17
UKRunChat
Ouch.
00:16:17
Francesca
So and because of the anorexia, I have quite severe osteoporosis. So it kind of crumbled. Um, and I wasn't able to run for, you know, a few months.
00:16:30
Francesca
And when I got back, I was like, this is like the best feeling in the world. Even going for like a 30 minute 5k. I was like, this is amazing. Like I am never going to moan like, oh, I have to run today. I'm like, oh, I get to run today.
00:16:43
Francesca
so that's been like really good this year. what I enjoy about it? I dunno. I just get a bit of a buzz. You know, sets me up nicely for the day and I can't run in the evening. I'm always a morning runner.
00:16:54
Francesca
Like, and because I freelance, I can be quite flexible. So like half past 10 on a Tuesday is like my perfect running time.
00:16:57
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:17:00
Francesca
and Yeah. Just, I don't know. It's just, it just feels so exciting.
00:17:07
UKRunChat
Yeah. And that that's a nice place to be, I think, isn't it? Yeah.
00:17:10
Francesca
Yeah.
00:17:11
UKRunChat
Yeah. So tell us about the London Marathon then. So you're training for that the moment.
00:17:15
Francesca
Yeah. So I'd always been like, I'm not doing a marathon. It's ridiculous. Like it's such a long way. I'm like, sorry, impatient. And I'm like, I get really bored. Like, what would I do? and then, like, every I go and see it, I just, like, literally burst into tears. I'm like, everyone looks so happy. Like, look at all the crowds. It looks amazing.
00:17:34
Francesca
So I applied for the ballot. Obviously, didn't get into the ballot. um And now I am running for a charity called Coach Corps. So they so i guess there's two strands that think that I'm quite passionate about.
00:17:49
Francesca
So they use sports apprenticeships to like energise people, give people a purpose. And I feel that like, you know, having movement in my life has really energised me and makes me feel more driven and all those kind of things.
00:18:03
Francesca
and But they also, those apprenticeships are then to help with social mobility, and which is something obviously kind of, you know, my experience at like Durham and stuff and kind of some of the, I like, I work a lot in some
00:18:12
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:18:17
Francesca
like regulated professions and it's quite, you know, I guess there's still that you go into a job and you kind of network, you know, the right people. So that kind of social mobility part I'm really passionate about.
00:18:28
Francesca
And just like now I freelance and have a career I love. That's kind of really helped me and really helped my health actually, because I think when I was working in office and, you know, wasn't necessarily loving it.
00:18:43
Francesca
you know, everyone's talking about diets all the time or you're like in the office till 8 p.m. So you can't have dinner or, you know, it's like, oh, you pick up a biscuit and everyone's like, oh, you're being naughty. Whereas now like the food that I have is in the kitchen.
00:18:57
Francesca
Like, you know, i know that I'm not going to have a meeting over lunchtime because I never accept meetings at lunchtimes, like all of those kind of things. So just having a bit more kind of control over my day and not being around that kind of constant food and diet chatter has really, really helped.
00:19:12
UKRunChat
Yeah, yeah, that does make a difference. then I noticed that when I left kind of a full time employed position to freelance, it does make a huge difference.
00:19:18
Francesca
Yeah.
00:19:21
UKRunChat
It's just it's about control, isn't it?
Support System and Social Media Environment
00:19:23
Francesca
Yeah, definitely.
00:19:23
UKRunChat
and How does um kind of all the the noise on kind of social media, how does that impact you on a day to day basis?
00:19:31
UKRunChat
Because you've obviously listening
00:19:32
Francesca
Yeah. If I'm having a bad day, I'll fall down a bit of a hole.
00:19:36
UKRunChat
Yeah,
00:19:36
Francesca
But generally, I try and feel like I think generally the running community is pretty kind of body positive and, you know, very celebratory. And if I ever go to a run club, there's like pizzas afterwards rather than
00:19:45
UKRunChat
Yeah. Yeah.
00:19:47
UKRunChat
yeah
00:19:48
Francesca
You know, I think it is, you know, all of those kind things or like you know, hash runs where it seems to be more about the number of points rather than number of miles. Like, I think generally the running community is great. see So, yeah, my feed is kind of full of but of that kind of stuff, really, and that kind of joy, which I really love.
00:20:05
Francesca
Yeah, so I try to soak all of that up. And i on the marathon, like, hey, I'm working with my therapist at the moment moment because um she did say to me a few weeks ago, she was like, it won't happen unless you start eating more.
00:20:17
UKRunChat
yeah
00:20:17
Francesca
um So we're kind of really like focused on that. And, you know, it is a but is a long way and the mileage is going to go up. And so kind of, you know, building bit a better for structured meal plan. So yes, there's still plenty of work to be done, but it just feels like a really good, I feel like the foundations I've got over the last couple of years will really, really help me. Like there's no way I could have run a marathon three or four years ago.
00:20:40
Francesca
i mean, not just because didn't particularly want to but like I just wasn't in a place where I would have been able to fuel for it.
00:20:40
UKRunChat
no
00:20:47
UKRunChat
Yeah.
Family Support and Marathon Excitement
00:20:48
UKRunChat
So how does how does that work? Like, will the therapist give you kind of a a calorie goal or on ah do you kind of get a meal plan?
00:20:55
Francesca
Less about specific calories, but more about like, you know, the structure of the day and um these kind of snacks you could put in or these kind of portions and and trying to move me a bit away from like i I sort of obsessively, I sort of, I do like I obsessively like weigh my food and things like that.
00:20:56
UKRunChat
How does it work?
00:21:00
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:21:14
Francesca
And just being like, you know, you're running a marathon. It really doesn't matter if you're over by, you know, X amount like it. Yeah, it's not going to kill you. um So that kind of stuff, yeah, is helpful.
00:21:24
UKRunChat
Yeah, I mean, there'll be there'll be days when you're going doing long runs and expending lots of energy, won't there?
00:21:27
Francesca
Yeah.
00:21:29
UKRunChat
Then you'll just need refuel it.
00:21:31
Francesca
Yeah, exactly.
00:21:32
UKRunChat
So, yeah.
00:21:32
Francesca
Yeah.
00:21:33
UKRunChat
How difficult will that be for you, do you think?
00:21:37
Francesca
ah
00:21:40
Francesca
I think it'll be hard. I think my my brother and sister, who are like my best friends, I adore them, they're a bit like, We'd kind of rather you weren't running it.
00:21:50
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:21:51
Francesca
um But you're going to anyway. And we're going to support you. And like, you know, I'll kind of checking in. And yeah, just kind of will be like making sure that i but I'm doing okay. And Andy, my husband, is brilliant and very supportive. And, you know, yeah, even little things. Like he lived he works like 10-minute walk from the office, from home.
00:22:12
Francesca
So he like, you know, he's coming home at lunch. So I know that there's like, Yeah, that kind of structure for the day, really, and that check-in is really helpful.
00:22:21
UKRunChat
Yeah, it's good to have people there who kind of have got your best interests at heart, isn't it? And who couldn who are there to support you.
00:22:25
Francesca
Yeah, exactly, yeah.
00:22:28
UKRunChat
So they'll obviously all be... Will they be cheering you on on marathon day as well? Are they coming down with you if you thought that far ahead yet?
00:22:32
Francesca
I hope so, yeah. I mean, it's bit of a logistical nightmare, isn't it, kind of?
00:22:37
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:22:38
Francesca
and Yeah, but no, hopefully. where We're going up to the Great, and we're running the Great North Run next weekend. i don't know when this
00:22:45
UKRunChat
Oh, yeah, okay.
00:22:46
Francesca
So, yeah, that'll be exciting. And my sister, my sister lives on, like, the south coast of Kent. She was going to come up just to make sure I have my snack afterwards. and ah Like, you come all the way to Newcastle. We were like, I think we'll probably manage. Like, it'll be okay. But, yeah, it does just show, like, the the level of support I have in my family is astonishing, really. And I'm, yeah, very lucky for her.
00:23:09
UKRunChat
Yeah, that's incredible. yeah So ah with the the Great North Run will have already passed by the time we we put this episode live.
00:23:14
Francesca
Yeah, yeah, of course, yeah.
00:23:16
UKRunChat
and But what are you most looking forward to about that then? Have you done that one before?
00:23:20
Francesca
Never done it before. I was hoping to PB, but um three weeks ago I fell over 11.84 kilometres into a 12k run and bruised my ribs.
00:23:28
UKRunChat
no. oh no
00:23:29
Francesca
So I am not PBing, but what I will be doing is pacing my husband. who um So it's a beautiful full circle story really. because he was So he did a 330 London marathon six years ago.
00:23:43
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:23:43
Francesca
Uh, and then during COVID or maybe no after COVID, maybe like when we kind of moved London, his running kind of fell off a cliff. So now I am much faster than him, which is very exciting.
00:23:52
UKRunChat
Right.
00:23:53
Francesca
So, um, yeah, so I'll, I'll be pacing him to a, a sub COVID, a post COVID PB, which would fun.
00:23:53
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:24:03
UKRunChat
yeah Oh, that'll be exciting. Oh, well, best of luck.
00:24:05
Francesca
Yeah. So we'll run it together and we'll like have the vibes and, and, um,
00:24:05
UKRunChat
I hope that, yeah.
00:24:10
Francesca
I ran hackney half in May, but again, like I'd only been back running.
00:24:13
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:24:15
Francesca
So sort of three or four weeks after my shoulder. So I paced a French for PB and stuff like that. So yeah, this year is maybe not my year for half PBs, but, um, I can help other people.
00:24:28
Francesca
that's good.
00:24:28
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:24:28
UKRunChat
well And you can consider it part of your London training as well, can't you?
00:24:29
Francesca
so
00:24:31
Francesca
Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
00:24:33
UKRunChat
Yeah. So what are you most looking forward to for London then?
00:24:37
Francesca
I just think the crowds and stuff. Yeah. Everyone just looks so happy. I think just the crowds and kind of staking it in. And a couple of my friends are like, ah like you could definitely get this time. And I'm like, but I one will but don't want to.
00:24:48
Francesca
Like, I just, I just want to go around and enjoy it like rather than, you know, push myself to the absolute limits. So, m yeah, I just think it looks like a really jolly day out.
00:24:59
UKRunChat
Yeah, I think that's the best attitude.
00:25:00
Francesca
But I'm not, okay yeah.
00:25:01
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:25:03
Francesca
um i'm not a winter runner really i don't really the winter so um that's the bit i'm not looking forward to like long runs in the pissing rain and stuff like that
00:25:10
UKRunChat
Oh yeah. it's more It's more the ice over winter that you have to watch, isn't it?
00:25:14
Francesca
yeah and no one wants to run we do yeah it's a gym up the road i got membership but no one wants to like a 20 miler on a treadmill do they so um yeah but again like
00:25:14
UKRunChat
With long winds. Yeah. Have you got kind of an indoor plan, a bad weather plan?
00:25:27
Francesca
The flexibility I have with my job means I can go out for a Monday run if that's the best day or something like that. So I can sort move stuff around and yeah.
00:25:36
UKRunChat
Yeah, yeah.
00:25:36
Francesca
Very lucky.
00:25:37
UKRunChat
So what kind of running do you do most? Is it mostly on roads or do you do any trail running?
00:25:41
Francesca
Yeah. Mostly on roads. I'm not a massive fan of trail running. I don't if it's just because I don't like hills.
00:25:46
UKRunChat
Yeah, maybe.
00:25:47
Francesca
Uh, I dunno, it's just, it's hard work, isn't it?
00:25:50
UKRunChat
Yeah, it is.
00:25:51
Francesca
We did do a, a trail last summer, i think it was last summer, a Prosecco run. So it was at Denbys in, um, in Surrey, like a vineyard there. And so was like multiple laps. And then after every lap, you got Prosecco.
00:26:10
Francesca
So went with friends to do that. It was quite fun, but it was like 33 degrees and very hilly.
00:26:15
UKRunChat
um Yeah.
00:26:16
Francesca
And I was like, maybe trail running isn't for me, but I dunno. Yeah. I like, I like variety. So, um, yeah, I'm always up for a bit of an adventure.
00:26:27
UKRunChat
Yeah, I think that's key, isn't it? So have you got any more races planned in between the Great North Run and London then?
00:26:29
Francesca
yeah
00:26:33
Francesca
Just a couple of, we've got a couple of 10 Ks, um, kind of this year. And then like, there's a run through women's what one, I think I'm doing it in October.
00:26:44
Francesca
doing Shoreditch 10K in September, ah with the finish line is actually about 100 metres from my flat, so that's quite nice.
00:26:52
UKRunChat
Oh, that's handy.
00:26:52
Francesca
and Yeah, know, it'd be really nice kind of running past it in, like, the last few strides.
00:26:53
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:27:00
Francesca
No, I don't think I do, really. i Doing the Kingston breakfast run next March, so that's quite a classic one for, like, spring now.
00:27:09
UKRunChat
Is that, is that a long one in prep for marathon?
00:27:10
Francesca
like Yeah, it's like, 20...
00:27:13
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:27:13
Francesca
20 miles I think yeah so that'll be quite good one um but yeah I think just I like going to like you know random meetups or I'm also one of the so one of the other things I do very much love as well as running is wine so I'm doing a run on wine as a fundraiser so we'll all like meet and then you will go out and do it go and do it
00:27:15
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:27:34
UKRunChat
Oh, that's a good idea. yeah Yeah, you can, it's it's balance, isn't it?
00:27:37
Francesca
So that idea of like balance and it doesn't mean like, oh, you have to be my body as a temple or my body as a nightclub. You can kind of have, have both. Yeah.
00:27:48
UKRunChat
Yeah. So what will that involve?
00:27:48
Francesca
Exactly. yeah
00:27:49
UKRunChat
Would that involve kind of multiple stops on the run?
00:27:53
Francesca
And no, more like we'll just do like a route.
00:27:55
Francesca
I'll take people around kind Shoreditch in the city. So where I live, it's quite lucky. You can like in a 5k loop, you can run past St. Paul's and bank and,
00:27:56
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:28:07
Francesca
like the Tower of London and like, yeah, so it's a really nice route. And then we'll all meet up and do a bit of a wine tasting. So yeah, that'd be pretty cool.
00:28:15
UKRunChat
Yeah, that's a really good idea for fundraising, actually. I know people just struggle sometimes with just asking people for cash.
00:28:18
Francesca
Yeah.
00:28:20
UKRunChat
So it's a nice it's a nice idea to do something a bit more fun and a bit different.
00:28:21
Francesca
Yeah.
00:28:25
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:28:26
Francesca
Yeah, definitely. yeah I think that's the thing I'm most stressed about, like raising the money because it's it's quite a chunky amount, isn't it, that they ask for?
00:28:30
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:28:32
Francesca
mean, I know they have to just,
00:28:32
UKRunChat
Yeah. how How much are you having to raise?
00:28:34
UKRunChat
is it It must be a few thousand pounds.
00:28:36
Francesca
Two and a half grand, yeah.
00:28:37
UKRunChat
Yeah. Yeah.
00:28:39
Francesca
a but yeah
00:28:40
UKRunChat
Yeah, but you've got plenty of time. And if we'll pop the like we'll pop the link to your fundraising page as well in the show notes so that if anybody you know if anybody and does want to donate, if your cause has kind of struck a chord with anybody, and then they can they can contribute, can't they?
00:28:42
Francesca
Yeah, exactly.
00:28:46
Francesca
Ah, that'd be lovely. Thank you.
00:28:50
Francesca
Yeah.
00:28:53
Francesca
Yeah, that'd be amazing.
00:28:56
UKRunChat
and So yeah is there anything that you're particularly not looking forward to about marathon training?
00:29:04
UKRunChat
Apart from the bad weather.
00:29:04
Francesca
Just cold mornings, cold, dark mornings. Yeah, I think that. Or just like, I don't know, getting in my head before it and be like, how can I possibly run 18 miles?
00:29:11
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:29:12
Francesca
I've never run this far in my life. And then I just actually enjoy it. Yeah.
00:29:16
UKRunChat
Yeah. But then when when you do, it's a great feeling.
00:29:17
Francesca
My favourite, I like doing intervals and I like doing long runs.
00:29:18
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:29:22
Francesca
They're my two like favourites.
00:29:22
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:29:23
Francesca
So I use the runner app. So I have like intervals, tempo, easy and long.
00:29:27
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:29:30
Francesca
And yeah yeah, I always always really enjoy it. I get so worked up about intervals and long and then I actually always really enjoy them. So, yeah.
00:29:36
UKRunChat
Yeah, yeah. it's It's nice to have kind of a session goal as well with the intervals, I find. And then you kind of look at it, don't you think, oh, my God, that looks hard.
00:29:40
Francesca
Yeah.
00:29:43
UKRunChat
And then when you've done it, you think, yes, I feel so good now.
00:29:46
Francesca
So proud of yourself. Yeah, exactly.
00:29:48
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:29:49
Francesca
Yeah, 100%. No, thank you so much.
00:29:51
UKRunChat
Yeah. Oh, yeah. well Well, thanks so much for coming on and chatting to us today. and i mean, you're very honest in saying that you don't consider yourself fully recovered, and but you're obviously making good progress.
00:29:56
Francesca
na think and mom
00:30:01
Francesca
Yeah, I mean, I guess, yeah, maybe that's a ah thing to like leave people with
Advice for Overcoming Eating Disorders
00:30:08
Francesca
if they are struggling, like, you know, don't jump into, oh, I have to exercise because what I'm meant to do.
00:30:08
UKRunChat
yeah
00:30:14
Francesca
Like, make sure you get yourself to a a strong enough place where it's not hurting you. Like the first few, the first year where I went back to running, I was injured so much because I jumped into it too much and I wasn't fueling myself properly and it just wasn't sustainable.
00:30:27
UKRunChat
yeah
00:30:29
Francesca
and Yeah. Make sure you have a good support network. My, the gym I go to, like if I book a class, you know, there's like a 24 hour cancellation fee and stuff like that.
00:30:41
Francesca
I have a, I spoke to them and there's like a note to my system. if I get in touch and I'm like today I am. like I would be coming to his class the wrong reason i would be doing it for an ED reason, not for joy.
00:30:52
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:30:53
Francesca
Then they're just like, no questions asked, we'll take it off. Um, and yeah, if you have experience of eating disorders or exercise addiction, then make sure you've got therapist on board or like someone you can talk to, and think would be really important.
00:31:06
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:31:08
Francesca
Yeah.
00:31:08
UKRunChat
Yeah. It's just important to make other people aware, isn't it? And who can help you?
00:31:12
Francesca
Yeah, definitely.
00:31:13
UKRunChat
Is is there any resources that you found particularly helpful to you over the years?
00:31:17
Francesca
and I think the Red S project is really good. So slightly different from an eating disorder, but you know, that very much talking about the importance of fueling in sport.
00:31:21
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:31:27
Francesca
So they're really brilliant. and Beat, the National Eating Disorder Charity, have lots of good resources.
00:31:27
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:31:32
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:31:34
Francesca
And then just, yeah, surround yourself with running people because they're like the most positive.
00:31:36
UKRunChat
yeah
00:31:39
Francesca
Yeah, they're all about the flapjack. So um yeah, embrace yourself. Embrace that.
00:31:43
UKRunChat
Yeah. And but that is a good reason to get into trail running actually, because that is all about the group.
00:31:46
Francesca
yeah yeah Yeah, exactly.
00:31:46
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:31:48
Francesca
yeah
00:31:49
UKRunChat
So if you could go back and talk to your 18 year old self now at university, what would you say?
00:31:57
Francesca
probably just like eat the damn pizza or something.
00:31:59
Francesca
Um,
00:31:59
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:32:04
Francesca
say what would I say? Um, I think I'd just be like, just like you do you like, rather than kind of always comparing myself or,
00:32:16
Francesca
And one of the best things, actually, and it is quite related to running at the time, my, so my, so when I was 18, my sister was seven, it's bit of an age gap.
00:32:27
Francesca
And I was like, she, it was like lunchtime. So I would jump for lunch. And, you know, she, I like sat her up on the worktop and like, okay, these the types of bread we've got, which do you want? And she started reading the back of the packs.
00:32:38
Francesca
And I was like, oh, shit. Like, she's obviously seen me doing this. And she were like, oh, what are these cook all things? And I was like, oh, they're units of energy. and You know, it's just about kind of how they measure them in science.
00:32:50
Francesca
So she went for the one that had the highest calorie, which was like wild to me. So I was like, well, why why do you want that? and she was like, because I've got lots to do today. and you know, he kind of ran off and started playing. She was like, i need to have energy. got lots to do. yeah, if I'm maybe having a bit of a, like,
00:33:06
Francesca
shitty moment i always go back to that and i'm like well and i need energy to to do all the busy stuff in my life because i really enjoy it yeah mouth of dave
00:33:15
UKRunChat
Yeah, that that is such a good kind of quote to finish on, isn't it? Yeah, that's brilliant. ah Yeah. ah Thank you so much. and So, yeah, but we'll we'll pop some resources in the in the show notes and, yeah, you can refer to them.
00:33:24
Francesca
no thanks so much for
00:33:31
UKRunChat
But obviously, if any listeners out there are struggling with an eating who disorder, then and do do seek some help and and and talk to somebody about it. ah Francesca, thank you so much for sharing your story so openly and honestly. and And i'm I'm so pleased to hear that running is a positive force again in your life.
00:33:49
Francesca
okay
00:33:50
Francesca
Yeah, thank you.
00:33:50
UKRunChat
and So yeah, yeah.
00:33:52
UKRunChat
and Enjoy, enjoy the London Marathon and do let us know how you get on.
00:33:55
Francesca
Yeah, will do. Yeah, I'll definitely know.
00:33:58
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:33:58
Francesca
Thank you.
00:33:58
UKRunChat
All right. Thank you so much. And thank you so much to everybody for listening to this episode of the UK Run Chat podcast. And until next time, happy running.