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Fran Roberts
144 Plays3 days ago
In our latest podcast episode, Michelle chats to Fran Roberts, who’s diving back into marathon training after a nine-year hiatus! Fran’s preparing for the Paris Marathon, driven by her love for running, a renewed sense of community, and a personal goal to beat the five-hour mark. She shares her journey from beginner to marathoner, her recent return to the running world, and how she found motivation in her local club’s support. Fran also gives insights into marathon prep, race memories, and her advice for runners starting fresh or returning after a break.
Join us for a chat that celebrates the joy of running, the power of community, and a glimpse into Fran’s inspiring journey to Paris!
You can follow Fran on:
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Transcript
Introduction to Fran Robert and her running journey
00:00:00
UKRunChat
Hello, welcome to this episode of the UK Run Chat podcast. Today, we're bringing you another community member podcast, and we're excited to have Fran Robert join us. Hi, Fran. Thanks for coming on. How are you?
00:00:14
Fran
Hi, I'm very well, thank you, how are you?
00:00:16
UKRunChat
I'm good. I'm very good. I'm just back to running myself today because I've been ill for a week, which is never nice, is it?
00:00:22
Fran
Oh, bless you.
00:00:23
UKRunChat
Yeah, so how how are you? How's your running going at the moment?
00:00:26
Fran
Yeah, it's going well, I'm training for a marathon, so it's it's all go, you know, all the stops are pulled out and and we're going great guns for it, so.
00:00:36
UKRunChat
Oh, fantastic. Which marathon is that?
00:00:38
Fran
It's going to be Paris in April next year.
00:00:42
UKRunChat
Yeah, so is that kind of is that first marathon? Are you a marathon kind of to do lots of them?
Fran's marathon goals and training approach
00:00:48
Fran
It's a second marathon, um but my first marathon was nine years ago now, so it's a big gap in between. It's been a while since I've been been running that sort of distance. So I did a half marathon the other week, um just as a bit of a practice run. I'm going to do another half marathon um race before the big day, and then and then hopefully I'll get a good time.
00:01:13
UKRunChat
Yeah, so so what does a good time look like for you? Do you want to share that or is that personal to you?
00:01:18
Fran
I'm quite a slow runner, um which I'm okay with, um but I definitely want to get a sub five hour. I think that's that's just my aim at the moment is just, I don't want to be the last one out there.
00:01:33
UKRunChat
Yeah, so how how's training going for it at the moment then? You said you did a couple of halves, is it is it all looking good?
00:01:40
Fran
Yeah, really good, really good. um'm I'm using the Runner app, um to kind of coach myself through um different things. So intervals, hill um reps, things like that, that will hopefully get me quicker as well. So because it's been such a long time since I've been running that sort of distance, it's it's getting that endurance up, but also that speed back up as well.
00:02:07
UKRunChat
Yeah, it's difficult to factor in everything during marathon training, isn't it? Because it's it's quite and it can be quite intensive.
00:02:14
Fran
It is very intensive. The long runs become your whole personality by the end of it.
00:02:20
UKRunChat
ah Yeah, I like that actually, you're right.
Fran's early running influences and lessons from her dad
00:02:24
UKRunChat
So let's, do you mind if we go back to kind of the beginning of your running journey? let's Let's start there, shall we? And tell us about when you first started. and
00:02:32
Fran
So I've never been much of a sporty person. um i now I joined in in PE in school and that was about the extent of it. um And then about I'd say about 15 years ago now. ah my My dad is a triathlete, and he said, right, I'm getting you out, you you know, stop sitting in front of the TV kind of thing. And we started just going for walks. And and that was fine. But I want to use you start to kind of get a little bit of an itch. And you kind of want to keep going and seeing how far you can go. And so we started
00:03:10
Fran
run walking and then we started running and then we just started upping the distance by going to 5k races. And then, you know, we were going, okay, what else can we do? Okay, we'll we'll go up to a 10k, we'll do a 10 mile, you know, we'll do a half marathon and we did a few half marathons. And then I said, right, I want to do the big one. I want to do a marathon. um And I went to university in Bath and they have a great half marathon there, really good half marathon.
00:03:37
Fran
but they did a marathon from Bristol to Bath back in 2015. Now, unfortunately, I don't think they got funding or something happened where they've never done it since. um So I've done the one and only Bristol to Bath marathon because I was like, I've got to run in Bath, it's got to be done. um So yeah, so that's kind of where it began, is is my dad sort of dragging me out and and making me pound the pavements.
00:04:04
UKRunChat
Oh, that's fantastic that you started running with your dad. So was he new to running as well then?
00:04:10
Fran
No, he's a triathlete. So he he's an expert at run, bike, swim. That's his thing. um He's he's a bit of a sprinter as well. So he's very, very quick. um So where my pace was a bit slower, i you know, we kind of matched each other quite well, because he pushed me and then I'd slow him down so that he wasn't doing it too fast out the gate. And then, yeah, so it kind of went from there, really.
00:04:38
UKRunChat
Yeah. Oh, that's nice. So what, what should I brought to you kind of as, as a, as a coach almost from a triathlon background? Is it anything different you think that you've learned from him?
00:04:49
Fran
think so. I think the the endurance side of things, you know, making sure that you remain injury free, that you kind of new ah nutrition wise, making sure that that's all correct and um things like that. So he's he was a triathlon coach as well. So he was, he he knew how to kind of write training blocks, and and and do all of that sort of stuff. So I left him to the technical stuff and then I just went out and followed the training runs.
00:05:21
UKRunChat
Yeah, oh that's perfect, because that's often something we struggle with when we start running, isn't it, that we kind of we get excited and and move a bit too quickly, perhaps. So he's kind of held you back a little bit and and made sure that you've done it all injury free.
00:05:28
Fran
yeah
00:05:33
UKRunChat
That's fantastic.
00:05:36
Fran
yeah
00:05:36
UKRunChat
Yeah, so so you did the Bristol to Bathmore, that sounds wonderful, actually. Was it all on road or was it a trail?
00:05:42
Fran
All on road. um it was quite hilly, as you can imagine, um but we ran out to the Clifton Bridge and then, so we started in the centre of Bristol, went out to the Clifton Bridge, ran back and then ran sort of back roads all the way through down to Bath and then we finished in front of the Royal Crescent in Bath.
00:05:51
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:06:04
UKRunChat
Oh, lovely.
00:06:05
Fran
So it was really, it was beautiful and it was perfect, you know, crisp bob October day. So it was, it was absolutely stunning.
00:06:14
UKRunChat
And how was the experience of your first matter of things? it's It's quite different. I asked this question of a lot of people on the podcast and I get some quite varied answers. How was yours?
00:06:26
Fran
Well, I cried a fair amount usually during training. I loved it. I absolutely loved it. I wouldn't be doing it again if I didn't find some joy from it. um I think it really tests you and I became really impressed with how resilient I was and how much kind of power I had over my you know over my body and And over my, my endurance and things like that, I've just thought, wow, I can really do this. And this is something quite phenomenal. You know, not everyone can do it and aren't I lucky really.
00:07:09
UKRunChat
Yeah, that's that's fantastic. it It does make you feel like you can do anything, doesn't it, running a marathon?
00:07:15
Fran
It does definitely.
00:07:17
UKRunChat
So what were your thoughts on finishing that marathon? Obviously, you've not you've not done another, but was it kind of, oh, never again? Or was there was there a reason for such a long break between marathon?
00:07:25
Fran
Um, so it wasn't never again, it was, it was a, I've done it, I've ticked the box, I've done that now, you know, what's the next challenge? Um, and I ended up moving, um, house ah sort of not long after, um, the marathon and I just thought, I'll take a couple of weeks off just to recover and then I'll get back to running. And then nine years later, I went, Oh, I just haven't been running and I really miss it. And you do miss this, this part of your life that brings together an amazing community and amazing people and, you know, gives you so much. Um, I can't think of the word.
00:08:19
Fran
It gives you so much power over yourself. You know, you become much more confident, you become much more in in other parts of your life as well from running because you go, well, if I can do that, I can do anything. um So I really missed it. So at the beginning of this year, I started running
Joining the Northampton Roadrunners Club and its impact
00:08:38
Fran
again. um Just I i'd moved to Northampton and I wanted to kind of get out and meet people. So I joined a running club with the Northampton Roadrunners who have taken me from you know from couch to 5K, as they say. So um it' it's been really good and and we've done a few races together and we I'll go to Parkrun on a Saturday and see everyone there and things like that. And it's become a real community for me. um
00:09:09
Fran
and that's kind of where I i started. it was just like you know I wanted to meet new people. I wanted to be fit and healthy again and and all of that. and um yeah it's and um'm I'm quite competitive with myself. I like to kind of give myself a challenge and go, right, what next? What next? What next?
00:09:31
Fran
um um You know, I had to do another marathon. If I was going to be running, I had to do another marathon.
00:09:37
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:09:38
Fran
So um we, we signed up um through Shout, ah which is a mental health tech service um charity.
00:09:50
Fran
And they had a couple of slots for Paris Marathon. I wanted to do London, but you can never get into London nowadays.
00:09:56
UKRunChat
yeah
00:09:57
Fran
So I thought, well, what, what brilliant excuse to see an amazing city at the same time. So yeah, um I'm looking forward to it. I'm nervous, but I'm looking forward to it.
00:10:07
UKRunChat
Yeah, that'd be wonderful. Have you been to Paris before?
00:10:10
Fran
Not since I was about 11. So it will be a very different experience, I think.
00:10:14
UKRunChat
Oh, that'd be incredible. So what what kind of things you have to put in place before you do a marathon abroad in Paris? Do you need kind of medical kind of notes or things?
00:10:27
Fran
I mean, If you have kind of medical conditions and things like that, you obviously have to make sure that everybody's aware of that and all of the usual kind of things as you would be going into any race.
00:10:39
Fran
um i I've obviously got insurance and things like that for for travel, um but it's it's not quite the same as as going somewhere, you know, a bit further afield that might have inoculations you need and things like that.
00:10:43
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:10:56
UKRunChat
Yeah, so you don't need like a certificate from your GP or anything to run there anymore.
00:10:56
Fran
i
00:11:00
Fran
No, no.
00:11:01
UKRunChat
No. No, that makes life a bit easier, doesn't it? And it's just it's a short hop on the plane and no jet lag.
00:11:04
Fran
Certainly does. Yes, no jet lag. um So a few of us are all going out, so I've got a little team supporting me. um And then, yeah, ah it will be a nice sort of long weekend in Paris, I think.
00:11:21
UKRunChat
Yeah, I know that'd be great. So tell us about kind of restarting running. How was it and how different was it this time round?
00:11:30
Fran
I think I found it harder this time around because I knew what I could do. I knew where I'd come from and I thought, and and you almost go into it going, well, I know how to do that, so I'm going to be able to do it again. And it's a bit of a shock to the system to go, actually, I can't even run 5K anymore. So you have to really start right down at the basics again, you know, run walking, making sure that you're doing all the correct stretching and all of that sort of stuff. You know, you you become a little bit and sort of, not lazy, but sort of relaxed about things as you get used to running. And you have to be really strict with yourself again, when you're starting out running and write, I'm going to definitely run on these days. I'm definitely going to do this distance. I'm definitely going to do these stretches and this warm up and cool down and
00:12:20
Fran
You know, I'm making sure I'm eating correctly before and after and all of that sort of stuff. Even though it's just 5K, I don't think there's such a thing as just 5K. But, you know, after you've done a marathon, you think, oh, 5K is easy. And it's not, it's it's it's another test for your body.
00:12:41
UKRunChat
Yeah so how, I mean how has the whole club experience been? Did you sign up to, her was it a specific Character 5k course that they were running or did you just go along and get involved?
00:12:51
Fran
Yes, so they do a couple of times a year, they do something called um Fast Track to 5K, where you can um sign up for £20 and they'll do, I think it's a 16 week, you know, start from the very beginning, get you up to 5K and they they do their own training programme, they don't call it Catch to 5K, but it's it's a similar idea. um And then you obviously have the option to become a full-blown member. And i I just thought, this is brilliant. you know there's
00:13:25
Fran
I think it's about 300 people in the club and and every single one of them is absolutely lovely. So why wouldn't I want to be a member and and go go along to all the events that they do and they do pub runs on a Friday where you start and finish at a pub and they do social runs in the local park on a Monday. And ah you know and they've got gym sessions on a Tuesday that are specifically designed for runners.
00:13:51
Fran
So they've got a real community about them and they definitely helped with my confidence to begin with. um I want to shout out Chris Potter for kind of getting me around my first um park run when I moved to ah Northampton. um He got me all the way around with very little complaining, a little complaining but very little.
00:14:18
UKRunChat
Are you a regular park runner then? Is that something you do a lot?
00:14:21
Fran
Yes, I go park run every Saturday now um so there's several around Northampton and I go to the kind of central one at the race course which is the the nearest park to me and I always see other road runners there and you know I've met various people. I had one when I when i first went to that particular one um there was a ah lady that we ended up running next to each other and she just started chatting to me and it's just it's just such a lovely atmosphere because everybody's out there just to have a really good time um so i haven't seen her since but you know it's been nice to to meet new people along the way it really is
00:15:03
UKRunChat
Yeah, it's such a lovely community, isn't it? How do you attempt to approach parkrun then? Because I remember, I've i've not done a marathon for for a long time, but I remember kind of factoring parkrun into my long runs and using it as kind of time trials. How how do you tend to work parkrun into your routine?
00:15:22
Fran
Um, so I tend to, um, sorry, I've got fireworks going off in the background. Is that.
00:15:30
UKRunChat
Yeah, I can't hear them. They're going off here as well, actually. We're recording this the night before bonfire night, if anybody's interested, but yeah.
00:15:34
Fran
We are so everybody's setting off fireworks in the background.
00:15:39
UKRunChat
but They're the same day, I think.
00:15:40
Fran
Um, Sorry, so I tend to include it in a long run, so I'll i'll kind of run there or do a ah longer stint just before it and then include it in my in my run and then kind of run run home again. I find that easier because I ah tend to get quite bored on my own.
00:16:04
Fran
So it's quite nice just to have people to chat to whilst you're going around, especially on a long run when you're just going for miles and miles and miles. so
00:16:04
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:16:12
UKRunChat
Yeah, it definitely helps, doesn't it? And I guess in a club of 300 runners, I'm sure, theres is there a lot of you doing Paris?
00:16:18
Fran
I don't know if any of the others are doing Paris actually. So I'm doing this not as a as a club member, I'm doing this as a charity place. So it will be interesting to see who who else is going out.
00:16:28
UKRunChat
Yeah. Yeah.
00:16:33
UKRunChat
Yeah, but there'll be lots of other marathon kind of people training for other marathons, right? They're like London. And when is Paris? Is it in April, did you say?
00:16:40
Fran
Oh, definitely. It's in April. So it's the 13th of April, which I think is about i think it's about a month.
00:16:44
UKRunChat
yeah Yeah, I know we've got, we certainly have. I was thinking in London and Manchester are the end of, they're the end of April, aren't they?
00:16:52
Fran
Yeah. Yeah.
00:16:54
UKRunChat
But yeah, is it one of the earlier ones?
00:16:56
Fran
Yeah, it is. Yeah. So Yeah. I mean, if there's, if there's a race somewhere in the UK and abroad, there's probably a Northampton roadrunner doing it.
00:17:05
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:17:07
Fran
Um, so we have people in New York marathon. We have people in Dublin marathon over the last few days. So yeah, there's always, always somebody going around and about, and then we've, we've got a lot of ultra runners as well.
00:17:20
Fran
So, you know, they're doing 50, 60, 70, 90 K and, and keeping going, which is phenomenal. So.
Fran's marathon training routine and preferences
00:17:29
UKRunChat
yes Wow, is that that something that interests you Fran in the future?
00:17:29
Fran
Maybe that's my next... No! I keep saying no, but I think I might end up doing it one day.
00:17:39
UKRunChat
It's easy to get swept up in these things, isn't there? I think, especially when you're part of a running community, like a a club with people who are going out doing local events, I think it's so easy to get involved.
00:17:51
Fran
Definitely, definitely. Because you see how much fun they're having doing it, you know, and it... there's There's a particular race called, and it its name escapes me, but you you start at midnight and kind of run through the night, rest during the day and run again at midnight the following night. And you do it for about, I can't remember how many days, but a number of consecutive days. And it's a real test of endurance and and ability.
00:18:21
Fran
And everybody had the time of their lives. They said it was just so much fun because everybody's in it together. You know, you're running with head torches on and you're all slightly sleep deprived. So you're all slightly mad at the same time.
00:18:32
Fran
And, you know, it's, it's great fun. I thought, Oh, I could, I could do that.
00:18:36
UKRunChat
That sounds interesting. Yeah, you'll have to let us know what the name of that is.
00:18:39
Fran
Yeah.
00:18:41
UKRunChat
I'd be interested to have a look at it actually and see whether any of our other UK and chat community have done it.
00:18:41
Fran
Yeah.
00:18:47
Fran
yeah
00:18:48
UKRunChat
So how's your how's your marathon training structured at the moment then? What does a typical week look like for you?
00:18:54
Fran
So a typical week I have um the club run on a Wednesday night um and I'll usually do anything between five and seven miles on that night. um Obviously I do my long runs on Saturday for a round park run. And then I try and get at least two other runs in during the week. So um depending, um I tend to work from home, but sometimes I have to be in London, so that affects my routine. So,
00:19:23
Fran
Um, it, it really depends on, on kind of what's going on during the day because I like to run in the morning. Um, so it's, I find it much easier, i get it out and done out the way. Um, but sometimes I have to run in the evenings because mornings are taken up with getting ready for work or something like that. So, um, yeah, so I've i've got kind of two anchor points, um, which is the club run on a Wednesday and then park run on a Saturday.
00:19:53
Fran
and I kind of build everything around those two points. um I also go to the gym quite a lot um and do classes at the gym. So um if the mood takes me, i'll I'll do a class as well. And I might run to the gym and do the class and run back or something.
00:20:09
UKRunChat
Yeah, and it's it's nice to have a little bit of variety in a marathon, especially a marathon routine, isn't it?
00:20:12
Fran
Definitely, definitely, definitely. It's you need that that flexibility as well I think is you know even if you are working from home and you just think oh I can roll out of bed and be at my desk it's you definitely have to to get yourself motivated and to do that you have to have fun with it I think it's it's very difficult if you just go oh no not another run and oh no I've got to do seven miles today and oh no I can't do that and you just think actually no if you keep
00:20:47
Fran
running exciting and go, oh, isn't it great that I've got the time to run an extra mile today? you know is's It keeps it much more much more and entertaining, I think.
00:20:58
UKRunChat
Yeah, so so you mentioned that you were following the runner plan and earlier. They've been on the podcast a couple of times, actually.
00:21:02
Fran
Yes.
00:21:04
UKRunChat
and How are you finding that? It's quite an intelligent system, isn't it? does the Because the plan kind of updates with you.
00:21:08
Fran
Very intelligent.
00:21:10
UKRunChat
Is that right?
00:21:11
Fran
Yes, so it it adapts to what you're doing really and it kind of recognises, so I find I sometimes struggle with my pacing because obviously I'm still coming up from, um I want to go faster because I know I can go faster because I have in the past but it's it's trying to get that pacing without kind of blowing up halfway around the run. um So it will tell you when you're going too fast or too slow and things like that. So it's really, really good. I really enjoy it. um I think I've got a friend who's just started her running journey from scratch and she's using Runner and she absolutely loves it because eight it evolves as you go. you know It says, right, okay, you absolutely smashed that run.
00:22:01
Fran
we're gonna test you a little bit more for the next run or like, okay, you struggled on that run, let's try it again. um And I think it's it's really good in that respect, yeah.
00:22:12
UKRunChat
Yeah, and is it kind of giving you enough rest and recovery as well? Because that's important in a marathon plan, isn't it?
00:22:17
Fran
Definitely, rest and recovery is key for marathon training. I think, you know, putting your feet up with a good cup of tea and a book is is essential training.
00:22:29
UKRunChat
While we're on the subject, what's your favourite kind of post-long run snack or treat?
00:22:37
Fran
Um, so I've, I make a peanut butter and jelly protein shake, um, which sounds kind of revolting, but it's absolutely delicious. Um, and I, I, I'll make a big, you know, almost like a pint glass, um, worth of, of that. And just, cause it's all made with like frozen strawberries. So it's nice and cold as well. Um, but for a snack, I would say a and nice ripe nectarines fresh from the fridge.
00:23:07
UKRunChat
Cool.
00:23:08
Fran
Yeah, it's it's just really satisfying because it's got that extra kind of juice that you kind of get from it. It's lovely, yeah.
00:23:17
UKRunChat
Yeah, I would not have heard that one before, that's a new one.
00:23:19
Fran
yeah
00:23:21
UKRunChat
and So what would you say, you've obviously got Paris Marathon coming up, what would you say your favourite race has been so far that you've participated in?
00:23:31
Fran
Oh, I did. Well, I'm going to put a side bristle to bath because I think that's difficult because I haven't got a comparison for that one.
00:23:36
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:23:40
Fran
But I did fleet half marathon a few times and there was one year when I got a PB and I ran it with my dad and we just got it absolutely spot on, on the day.
00:23:57
Fran
And you, you know, when you've hit that sweet spot, even before you finished and you just think, yes, this is the perfect run.
00:23:58
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:24:03
Fran
And I, I haven't experienced a perfect race like it since. So I think that was probably my favorite.
00:24:10
UKRunChat
it' It's fantastic when it just a race comes together like that, isn't it? It's such a good feeling. Yeah, okay. and What about your preferred race distance?
Favorite races, future goals, and running preferences
00:24:22
Fran
probably a 10k i think that's a nice it's a bit more challenging than a 5k but it's not quite as intense as a half marathon so 10k is like my perfect distance that's that's my favorite one to do
00:24:38
UKRunChat
And apart from Paris Marathon that's coming up, obviously, and you mentioned London, are there any kind of specific races that you'd like to do in future or or challenges?
00:24:46
Fran
Do you know what? I'd love to do Athens marathon just because it's the original, right? So you've, you've got to do it at some point.
00:24:51
UKRunChat
yeah
00:24:53
Fran
You've got to say, I actually ran from marathon to Athens and, and did that. Um, the other one that is really intrigued me was I follow a lot of kind of running influences and things like that on, on Instagram.
00:25:10
Fran
And a lot of them went out and did Valencia and that looked so much fun.
00:25:16
UKRunChat
yeah
00:25:16
Fran
Absolutely stunning you know help with it was stunning weather but it you know it looks so much fun so maybe Valencia next.
00:25:25
UKRunChat
Yeah, it's it's an incredible city and obviously they're coping with horrendous flooding at the moment, aren't they?
00:25:30
Fran
They are really horrendous.
00:25:32
UKRunChat
<unk> forla yeah Hopefully they can get back on their feet because it's an amazing city. I'd i'd love to run there actually. It looks amazing. So yeah, we wishing them all all the best.
00:25:43
UKRunChat
and So right, we're gonna we're goingnna kind of mix it up a bit and go into a bit of a quick fire round with some quick fire questions for you.
00:25:48
Fran
Sure.
00:25:51
Fran
Yeah.
00:25:51
UKRunChat
and So preferred running surface, road, trail or track?
00:25:56
Fran
Road.
00:25:58
UKRunChat
at music or no music?
00:26:00
Fran
Oh, it's gotta be music.
00:26:02
UKRunChat
What's on your playlist then?
00:26:04
Fran
ah i've got all I've got a real mix on my playlist, but my favourite one to run to is Run Boy Run by Woodkid.
00:26:13
UKRunChat
Okay, that's not one I know, but ill I will look it up.
00:26:16
Fran
Oh, it's got an amazing beat that just when you just need that little pickup, it just gets you going again. So yeah, definitely.
00:26:24
UKRunChat
Yeah, I think finding the right kind of tempo music can be hard for a specific run.
00:26:25
Fran
know Yeah.
00:26:29
Fran
Yeah.
00:26:30
UKRunChat
Yeah, that's great that you've got to go to. and What about running pet
Running challenges and aspirations
00:26:34
UKRunChat
peeve? Is there something about running or racing that annoys you or makes you cringe?
00:26:40
Fran
Ooh, this one's really petty, but how much do running trainers cost?
00:26:47
Fran
It really annoys me that you have to have the best, you have to have the right running trainers to get the best from your runs, right? So it would make sense to make them cheap, but no, they're, they're extortionally expensive and that annoys me.
00:27:04
UKRunChat
Yeah, that is fair enough. They are a lot. Do you tend to have a lot of running shoes?
00:27:06
Fran
Yeah.
00:27:07
UKRunChat
I confess I've got so many running shoes. I'm a bit of an addict. Do you have a lot?
00:27:12
Fran
I am a bit of an addict. I'm a bit of a shoe addict full stop. So um had I had somebody come round and they said, have you got enough shoes? And I was like, no, not quite, not quite. So yeah, I'm a bit of a running running trainer addict. um Terrible, terrible habit to have.
00:27:31
UKRunChat
Yeah, as I struggled to kind of say goodbye to old pairs. So I still have trainers have been wearing for years and years.
00:27:35
Fran
Yeah.
00:27:37
UKRunChat
What what and trainers are you wearing for marathon training at the moment?
00:27:37
Fran
Yeah.
00:27:41
Fran
A6 GT2000s.
00:27:44
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:27:44
Fran
So I overpronate and that is the best one for my pronation. And i've I've worn those for races for years and they're but absolutely brilliant.
00:27:56
UKRunChat
Yeah. Okay. Most unusual or memorable running encounter? any funny stories for us.
00:28:04
Fran
Oh, that's a good one. Most unusual memorable running encounter. has to be... ah So I was doing a 30 kilometer training run through the middle of London and now London is huge. It's got millions of people in it. So how did I see the same person five times on a 30 kilometer route?
00:28:35
Fran
I just thought, are you following me? This is very, very bizarre. And by the end of it, we were sort of smiling and nodding at each other, but it was just, it I saw the same person five times. That's the weirdest experience I've ever had.
00:28:48
UKRunChat
Yeah, that's that's unusual, I guess, isn't it?
00:28:51
Fran
Yeah.
00:28:53
UKRunChat
Okay, if you could run anywhere in the world, where would it be? We mentioned Athens, obviously, have you got anywhere else?
00:28:57
Fran
Nathan's the big one.
00:28:58
UKRunChat
like
00:28:59
Fran
I have to probably say New York for, you know, it's just being New York marathon and that always looks super fun. That one looks amazing.
00:29:11
Fran
Tough, but but really good.
00:29:14
UKRunChat
Yeah. That's, I think that's quite an unusual one as well, because it starts quite late, doesn't it?
00:29:19
Fran
It does, yeah.
00:29:20
UKRunChat
Yeah. So often if if you are a slower runner, you are, you you might be finishing when it's quite dark.
00:29:27
Fran
Yes, yeah yeah i did um I did a moonwalk half marathon um in Edinburgh and I think the weirdest part of being in the dark is
00:29:27
UKRunChat
So that would be different experience, I think. Yeah.
00:29:41
Fran
is other people doing different things. So, you know, obviously for moonwalk, you start at midnight. So by the time you're about halfway round, people are getting kicked out of the clubs. So there's all the club is coming out and you're walking there in your trainers with your running, you with your walking stuff. And, and you know, it's, it's a a weird experience to, to be run like running or walking in the dark. So.
00:30:06
UKRunChat
Yeah, cities kind of, they're very different at night, aren't they? I can imagine that was quite a strange experience.
00:30:10
Fran
Yeah.
00:30:13
Fran
Yeah.
00:30:14
UKRunChat
and If you could have one superpower to enhance your running, what would it be?
00:30:19
Fran
oh um
00:30:25
Fran
um'd I'd go for stamina. I want more stamina.
00:30:28
UKRunChat
um
00:30:30
Fran
I want to be able to keep going and going and going and going and going. um I think that would be because I just enjoy running so much.
00:30:35
UKRunChat
and
00:30:39
Fran
You know, I just get such joy from it even
00:30:39
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:30:42
Fran
Even on the bad runs, you know there's always something good to take from it. And those endorphins at the end of it, when you just think, I'm an absolute goddess, aren't I brilliant? you know It's that that kind of feeling. And i I want to capture that feeling as many times as I can.
00:30:57
UKRunChat
Yeah. Oh, I love that. That was where I wanted to finish actually just reminded me of the question that I had in my head, which was what is your philosophy on running?
00:31:01
Fran
them
00:31:05
UKRunChat
um Has it changed now compared to first time round?
00:31:10
Fran
I don't think it's changed. I think, I think I understand it more now after having that break of finding the joy in running and finding, you know, you are going to have bad runs and that's okay because there's going to be really good runs as well. And you can't stop running just because you've had a bad run, you know, because the next one might be an absolutely brilliant one. And I think that's,
00:31:37
Fran
That's kind of my philosophy is like I'm just chasing the next good run.
00:31:42
UKRunChat
Yeah, and i guess when I guess you've always got that fleet half marathon in your mind as well of the kind of perfect the perfect run that we want to try and emulate.
00:31:46
Fran
I have.
00:31:49
Fran
Perfect run. Perfect run. Fingers crossed for Paris, I think.
00:31:53
UKRunChat
Yeah, hopefully you can have an amazing run there.
00:31:56
Fran
Yeah.
00:31:56
UKRunChat
So do you think this is kind of you running forever now?
00:31:57
Fran
Yeah.
00:31:59
UKRunChat
Is that the goal? You're not going to stop again.
00:32:01
Fran
I'd love to. I'd love to. um I'll run it for as long as I possibly can now. Um, I think, you know, I'll still be in a nursing home going out for jogs. Um, uh, it will be, it will be me, me and running to the death, the worst part.
00:32:11
UKRunChat
the
00:32:16
UKRunChat
yeah i So what's what's the one thing that you think you can do to keep you running kind of into your 70s, 80s?
00:32:25
Fran
I think there's, there's sort of almost two things. So there's nutrition and there's strength. I think, you know, people,
00:32:38
Fran
make the mistake of just running. And actually what you need is that strength around it as well. You need to have a body that can endure that kind of pressure on it. um Because even a short distance, there's still a phenomenal amount of pressure on your body to do that. So um i would I do a lot of weight training and things like that that really helps. As I said, the club does ah a gym night on a Tuesday.
00:33:06
Fran
where we learn we learn how how our body fits together and how it moves and and what's best for the body. So I would definitely say strength and I would definitely say nutrition as well.
00:33:20
Fran
um Making sure you're putting the good stuff in the body is is half the battle, isn't it? you know it's It's lovely to sit with a pint of ice cream and and cry in front of the TV for a trashy film.
00:33:26
UKRunChat
is
00:33:33
Fran
but ultimately, you know, if you're putting the right stuff in your body, you'll get the right stuff out of it. So thank you.
00:33:39
UKRunChat
Yeah, no, that's really great advice. So it's been, it's been lovely talking to you tonight Fran and really enjoy kind of hearing your view on running.
00:33:46
Fran
and
00:33:47
UKRunChat
And so I just wanted to finish with because obviously you've had the benefit now of starting running twice.
Advice for new runners and social media presence
00:33:54
Fran
Yes.
00:33:54
UKRunChat
So is there any advice that you have for people out there that are thinking of either starting it for the first time or getting back into it after a long break?
00:34:03
Fran
Um, I'd like to say that a run walk is still a run. It still counts. I think people go, Oh, I have to walk a bit of it. And you go, no, that's absolutely fine. You know, you, you start from somewhere and if you can run a few paces and walk for a few paces and run for a few paces, that's a win. That's an absolute bonus. Um,
00:34:32
Fran
Come to Parkrun. Parkrun is brilliant. Look if and see if there's a running club near you because they're always brilliant. I think just find your tribe, you know, find find the people that but find it as exciting as you do. I think that's key really is just being able to kind of talk sports watches to someone without looking like they're going to nod off.
00:34:59
UKRunChat
yeah Yeah, theres there's somebody out there, there's a there's a running club out there for everybody, isn't there again?
00:35:04
Fran
I think so, I think so.
00:35:05
UKRunChat
Yeah, or a running community, a park run.
00:35:09
Fran
Yeah.
00:35:09
UKRunChat
Yeah. Oh, well, thank you so much. It's been lovely chatting to you.
00:35:12
Fran
No problem.
00:35:13
UKRunChat
And where can people find you on socials if they want to?
00:35:17
Fran
So I'm Catwoman Fran um on Instagram and X after the superhero um or super villain, I should say. um And yeah, come and find me. I will,
00:35:33
Fran
i chat to everyone.
00:35:36
UKRunChat
yeah Yeah, we loved having you on the UK lunch hour as well. Thank you.
00:35:39
Fran
It was great fun.
00:35:39
UKRunChat
for Yeah, ah so yeah, we'll so go and follow Fran and see how she gets on with her Paris marathon training.
00:35:40
Fran
It was so nice.
00:35:48
Fran
and Thank you.
00:35:50
UKRunChat
So we hope you've enjoyed listening to this episode. Do share with your friends and do subscribe and do get in touch and let us know if you'd like to come on as a guest and chat to us.
00:36:01
UKRunChat
And we'll see you on the next episode.