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Priya | Co-Founder of Phoenix Manchester
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In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, Michelle speaks with Priya, co-founder of Phoenix Manchester, the first Indian-born woman in the 100 Marathon Club, and one of only two South Asian women race directors in the UK.
Priya shares her journey from cheering at the London Marathon to completing 100 marathons, discovering the power of Jeffing, and creating Phoenix Manchester with her partner Paula to offer inclusive, low-pressure running events for all abilities.
Links mentioned:
➡️ Phoenix Running website: phoenixrunning.co.uk
➡️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phoenixrunningmanchester/
➡️ Instagram Manchester Galloway Run Walk Run: https://www.instagram.com/manchester.runwalkrun/
➡️ 100 Marathon Club info: 100marathonclub.org.uk
➡️ Jeff Galloway Jeffing info: jeffgalloway.com
➡️ LDWA (for long-distance walking events): ldwa.org.uk
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Transcript
Introduction of Priya and Her Achievements
00:00:00
UKRunChat
Hello, welcome to the UK Run Chat Podcast. I'm Michelle and today I'm joined by Priya. She's co-founder of Phoenix Manchester. She's the first Indian born woman in the 100 marathon club.
00:00:12
UKRunChat
Wow. And one of only two South Asian women directors in the UK. Really excited to be chatting to Priya today.
Priya's Passion for Running and Overcoming Cultural Barriers
00:00:19
UKRunChat
and She and her partner Paula aim to open the doors wider, encouraging more South Asian women into running, helping people discover the power of jeffing as well.
00:00:27
UKRunChat
We'll be talking a little bit about that in this episode. so and fundraising for rescue animals along the way. Hi, Priya. Thanks so much for joining us.
00:00:35
3E4YZ
Thank you, Michelle. Really appreciate this opportunity. Thank you so much.
00:00:39
UKRunChat
Yeah, you're very welcome. Would you like to start just probably the best place to start is to tell us how you first got into running really.
00:00:46
3E4YZ
Yeah, sure. So I've always loved sport in general. um I've done bits and pieces of sport when I was growing up. didn't I would say I didn't always have a healthy relationship with it, though, because I grew up in India where sometimes culturally it's very different to for a woman doing sport in India, um you know, there are still barriers that that exist. Obviously, recently, the Indian women cricket team on the ah we won the World Cup, the Cricket World Cup for the first time. So I'm hoping that that changes a lot of things for women in sport in India over the next you know
Discovering 'Jeffing' and Marathon Community Support
00:01:22
3E4YZ
generation. um
00:01:23
3E4YZ
ah So I always enjoyed sport, loved tennis. Rafa Nadal is my absolute hero. And we were when I was studying at university, we'd pop down to London to cheer on some runners at London Marathon well over 10 years ago. And one of my acquaintances at the time, i just said in passing, oh, I'd love to do this one day. i had never even run a 5K at the time. And then she said, you could never do that. Do you know how much training it takes?
00:01:53
3E4YZ
and And I think it just made something, you know, in me go like, you bought... And I was just like, that's it. ah And then um I sort of, you know, did a few triathlons, did the old 5K, 10K, and then it it went from there, really. And then um I did Manchester Marathon in 2017 for the first time. Saw one of the runners wear a 100-marathon club t-shirt, and then my brain just went, that's it. That's going to be you for the next five years now. So...
00:02:27
3E4YZ
but
00:02:28
UKRunChat
So was it just kind of let's get them all done? How like did you do did you repeat marathons or travel all over?
00:02:35
3E4YZ
yes so im Yeah, so yes, I was actually very lucky because I already discovered jeffing well before 2017. I was already jeffing, which is run, walk, run in intervals quite a bit. And I would not have been able to complete that first marathon without the power of jeffing. So um that's how i I knew that it would be possible for me physically and emotionally to do these. And I ended up you know looking for small race organizers up and down the country, mostly around London at the time where we lived. There's some lovely small race organizers down south and all over the country really, but I was loving living in London. So there was SVN, which is Saxons, Vikings and Normans. They are no longer going, but they are huge in the running 100 marathon club community, really respected name and organizers.
00:03:28
3E4YZ
There's Phoenix running, obviously, ah back then, Rick had already started Phoenix running in Bolton. So, you know, these little pockets of organizers saturn running as well. They do ah sort of very small, wholesome local events. um So I started doing many of them, you know, racking up the numbers that way and meeting loads of people along the
Celebrating Marathon Milestones and Community Representation
00:03:51
3E4YZ
way. So, you know, it's almost became Like a friendship thing as well. Are you running on Saturday? Oh, I'm running on Saturday. All right, then can I run with you? And then it just went from there. So you make friends, you make connections and that becomes, you know, of a part of your life really. Um, I couldn't have done it without everybody I met along the way for sure.
00:04:11
UKRunChat
Yeah. So so did did do you tend to see the same sort of people who are also aiming for 100 marathons along the route? You make friends that way.
00:04:19
3E4YZ
Exactly. And I can almost confidently say at least 50% of my, but well over 100 now, but on the on the road to 100.
00:04:20
UKRunChat
yeah
00:04:30
3E4YZ
There were many races where you just feel, you know, weather is, you know, rubbish most of the time, October to March or in the summer, you we've had some horrific heat waves as well.
00:04:41
3E4YZ
I could not have completed so many of the events, at least 50% of them, had I not been surrounded by people who I knew were achieving and on the goal.
00:04:51
3E4YZ
to wanting to do the same things as me and giving you that moral support and even slowing down their pace just so you completed your race. um You know, so I would not have been able to do it without all the friends I met along the way. And you do end up meeting the same people. And that's how friendships grow. And it's a really lovely community, I think.
00:05:12
UKRunChat
Yeah. So what was your 100th marathon like then? Talk us through that.
00:05:17
3E4YZ
Yeah, so um it was back in 2023. since Rafa is my hero, I did it on his birthday, which was in June 2023. And I did it with all my friends who I ran many of my marathons with. It was very lovely of them to come and support me. And it was perfect weather, you know, 17, 18 degrees in London at the time. um no rain, which was amazing because...
00:05:45
3E4YZ
I absolutely hate rain, but I don't have a choice living in the UK but to run in rain.
00:05:49
UKRunChat
No.
00:05:51
3E4YZ
And yeah, it was really lovely. Ate lots of cake. That's a huge part of running, I think, as well, eating a lot of cake. um So yeah, I was really, really pleased to get there.
00:06:02
3E4YZ
And, um you know, also being the first Indian-born woman to get there as well was really important for me because I hardly ever saw any representation around me.
00:06:13
3E4YZ
of people like me. So I always used to get so excited when I saw one another South Asian woman, you know, in a race or we could chat and ah our cultures are sort of like similar.
00:06:24
3E4YZ
We come from like the same background. So, yeah, that was really important to me as well to to get, you know, so people see people like each other participating and that their possibilities exist for everyone.
00:06:38
UKRunChat
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Phoenix Manchester's Mission for Inclusivity in Running
00:06:39
UKRunChat
I mean, it it must be hard not seeing other people that that look like you. Just talk us through that. Like, what's that experience like? And what are you trying to do to change that with Phoenix Manchester then?
00:06:50
3E4YZ
Yeah, sure. So, yeah, it it is hard to, you know, not always see people like you, ah simply because, you know, you you have that connection, culturally, language, food, everything.
00:07:04
3E4YZ
And it it almost becomes a thing where you don't have to explain certain things. you know, about the culture and the background that we come from, whether it's music, whether it's films, you name it.
00:07:16
3E4YZ
So for us at Phoenix, Manchester, you know, I, from all the hundreds of events I've done over the last 10 years, I never saw a South Asian person leading or organizing an event personally.
00:07:29
3E4YZ
Yes, they've They have come about in the last, you know, five to six years, I would say. Predominantly, i would say in London because there's a huge community down south of South Asian runners, you know, like South Asian Run Club in London and Legacy Races is another half marathon.
00:07:40
UKRunChat
Thank you.
00:07:47
3E4YZ
that's organized by people of color, ah trying to get people of color doing these things in different ethnic ethnicities. So it was really important for me that if I can do this, then I would love to see people from my community and, you know, generally the South Asian communities, because I understand the challenges they face personally.
00:08:09
3E4YZ
culturally, emotionally, everything they may be going through. Obviously not not all of them, but I do i have seen them, ah you know, personally by as ah as a person of, you know, colour as well as a queer woman as well.
00:08:19
UKRunChat
Thank you.
00:08:24
3E4YZ
So I have many layers that I can understand the experiences they go through. So I want people, hopefully, okay, Priya is a South Asian woman, so she might understand some of the things that we go through and we try and make an environment where people can enjoy themselves, you know, through the low pressure, no pressure, relaxed environment, ensuring there's changing rooms and toilets, you know, wherever possible.
00:08:52
3E4YZ
Like that's one of our main focuses. When we select a venue, we always try to have somewhere where there's a proper toilet um and somewhere to be for people just to get changed.
00:09:02
3E4YZ
you know, after an event, things like that. You know, we also have relaxed. um We don't really have start times, so we don't enforce a start time. So people have responsibilities like care, you know care responsibilities, childcare, families, anything of that sort. It doesn't put you under pressure to be there at a certain time. We have a very relaxed rock up and run. As far as you're finished by half past three, all good. You know, you could come at two o'clock, to to get a 10K in and that's fine because you could only get there at two. of but um I'm not going to stop you. um
00:09:38
3E4YZ
The main thing is you came to the event. So, and you'll still still still see people on the course, you know, doing their marathons and ultras. So you're not going to be alone. We try and do, um yeah, so these type of policies, we try and, you know, incorporate as much as possible and that's led to a 60% participation, so 60% of our participations are women.
Planning Inclusive and Accessible Running Events
00:10:03
UKRunChat
Wow, that's brilliant.
00:10:04
3E4YZ
Yeah, yeah, yeah, which is much higher than a lot of races you see around.
00:10:05
UKRunChat
Yeah, well done. Yeah.
00:10:10
UKRunChat
Yeah, that's fantastic. I mean, that that is ah just thinking there when you were saying toilets on the start, that I was chatting to somebody who went and did a race on Sunday, they'd driven about 100 miles, there was no toilet at the start, and they had to kind of the toilet, oh sorry, the way to stop them, they didn't open.
00:10:25
UKRunChat
until 15 minutes after the race start. So they had to kind of delay the race start and run a shorter distance.
00:10:28
3E4YZ
Thank you.
00:10:30
UKRunChat
and it's It's that kind of thing, isn't it? Like it's so simple to to get right, really. and it's this sort of thing every race director should be thinking about really, isn't it?
00:10:40
3E4YZ
Yeah, because toilet I mean, just think what the first thing I ask any race, toilets and parking. well Those are the two things I want our runners to not have to worry about.
00:10:46
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:10:51
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:10:51
3E4YZ
kind Like that's we address that in every race briefing. We address that in every email, every description of an event. There are toilets and parking and where the parking is and where the toilets are, because that's really important for us, ah for me as a person and as a runner to not have to worry about.
00:11:10
3E4YZ
those things and I'm sure especially women runners do worry about these things
Encouraging Participation Through Unique Incentives
00:11:15
3E4YZ
and we don't want you to worry because we want you to have a nice enjoyable day out that's that's the key for us.
00:11:15
UKRunChat
we do.
00:11:22
UKRunChat
Yeah, i was i was looking on your website and your your events, they're just really they seem really relaxed, you can do whatever distance you want. They're kind of lapped events, aren't they? So you're in a loop. So you can kind of do is it am I right in saying you can do as little as 5k or up to an ultra distance?
00:11:31
3E4YZ
Correct.
00:11:37
3E4YZ
Exactly. So one lap typically would be about 3.28 miles, so over five, just over 5k. And then you decide if we've seen so many people, they they say, oh, i'm I'm going to do just one lap today.
00:11:50
3E4YZ
And then they come back from the first lap and then their friends are like, no, actually, should we go out again? So they, they you know, stop by at the aid station, have a bit of cake, you know, have some Jaffa cakes and off they go again.
00:12:01
3E4YZ
so again, it's, they don't come thinking I'm going to do my first 10k today necessarily. But seeing people around them and just the relaxed nature of not, you know, being pushed into it, they're doing it out of their own.
00:12:07
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:12:17
3E4YZ
i really want to do this. So and they enjoy it. And then we've seen so many people from our first event when we juned and math launched in June. in Manchester in June, um started off doing one lap and now they're regularly doing half marathons every time they come back. So because it gives them that opportunity to see how, can I just go one more today? Without that, you know, pressure, you have seven hours, you know, so we've had people literally wait and do a lab, wait around for their friends. And their other friends will join them, give them a boost and then off they go again. And before they know it, they've done half marathon or over, which they didn't really intend to do when they started the race. So, you know, it's it's all part of growth, I think, and confidence and resilience. And we we love to see that with our runners.
00:13:09
UKRunChat
Yeah, and and you do, um if people want to do park run first, then that counts as a lap, doesn't it, as well?
00:13:15
3E4YZ
Yes, correct.
00:13:15
UKRunChat
That's brilliant.
00:13:16
3E4YZ
yeah So we are very lucky where Sailwater Park is literally across the street from us. ah Well, we are in the same park in theory, Sail and Cholton. It's just the council has decided that the river would be a boundary.
00:13:25
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:13:28
3E4YZ
But in theory, it's the same park. So we'll have people usually just pop over to Sailwater Park, you know get their park run stamp, time, whatever they need, and then they'll walk across and then they'll continue the event.
00:13:43
3E4YZ
So... because for us they have done a five gauges across the road so you know parkrun is a timed established event we want you to not miss out where you can parkrun because a lot of our events do happen on a saturday as well um so so yeah again trying to get people you know to incorporate the things they enjoy if you enjoy parkrun we want you to still enjoy and you can then still get your amazing phoenix medal and aid station and see your friends and continue your distance as you want as well.
00:13:47
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:14:16
UKRunChat
Yeah, and you do do some very nice special medals as well, don't you? yeah
00:14:20
3E4YZ
then
Increasing Diversity and Representation in Running
00:14:21
3E4YZ
Yeah, well, all the credit for our medals has to go to Rick, who is the brainchild of all the designing. he is a creative genius when it comes to these medals. So ah that's all thanks to Rick. And we are very lucky to have his, you know, mentorship and guidance. And obviously Phoenix Manchester wouldn't exist without his help. So um So, yeah, the the medals are amazing. um We love them personally. I've got a loft full of medals. So, ah ah so you know, it's it's always nice to to get something, you know, that's different and unique. And that's one of the USP of our events as well.
00:15:00
UKRunChat
Yeah, and i I know some people really love kind of getting a really unique medal, don't they? That's brilliant. and So just coming going back to kind of the under-representation, are you seeing more more representation now in the areas you're trying to focus on, like the South Asian community?
00:15:06
3E4YZ
Yes.
00:15:16
UKRunChat
is Is that happening? I know it's never going to be a quick quick fix, is it? Hmm.
00:15:22
3E4YZ
Yeah, I think it's definitely improved, I would say, in the last five years. um So there are a lot of smaller run groups that are popping up around the country, I would say, you know, in places like, obviously London typically tends to see lot of the run groups really thrive from different communities simply because of the population densities, you know, and things like that.
00:15:44
3E4YZ
But I have seen definitely an increase in South Asian women, especially feeling more confident, being
00:15:51
UKRunChat
yeah
00:15:52
3E4YZ
more encouraged by, you know, you you also have to feel encouraged by the people around you, I feel as well, because you can't just do it on your own if other people around you are not that interested. So we have seen an increase. um I just wish it was a little bit more. And this is why I became a running coach as well, because want women to feel, you know, like they can actually do these things. And South Asian women, almost feel like they can't or they shouldn't, but you absolutely can. If you can walk, you can Jeff.
00:16:27
3E4YZ
I always say that because it's a huge part of what enabled me to do anything running related and it can be you too, if that's what you want.
00:16:38
UKRunChat
Yeah. So, I mean, what prompted you to kind of start up Phoenix Manchester then? Where did that spark come from?
00:16:45
3E4YZ
So to be honest, Misha, I mean, a lot of it came from the lack of ah representation around me where why aren't people like me leading events when we have the experience or we may have lived experiences of being a runner and we might have some in-cling business experience.
00:17:08
3E4YZ
sense as well to be able to do it so um we were very lucky that you know rick um helped us with with a lot of things setting up phoenix manchester with his guidance and paula and i are really passionate around you know all these things around how how do we make it easier for people and how do we make their day out enjoyable you know that's that's enjoyment is an extremely important part phoenix people don't go back to events because they got a pb did they enjoy it they will
Challenges and Strategies for Organizing Inclusive Events
00:17:45
3E4YZ
go back if they enjoyed it and they got a pb great you know that's that's a bonus but oh i got a pb but i didn't enjoy that race and i've heard that so many times and so we want enjoyment and a welcoming safe inclusive space to be at the heart of Phoenix and Paula, my partner and business partner as well, obviously she's, you know, had um some chronic health conditions.
00:17:45
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:18:08
3E4YZ
So she comes from a, from a point of view of as a person with chronic health conditions or a disability, what other things I would like to see to make these events inclusive to people who may have hidden disabilities and may not want to speak about them and things like that as well.
00:18:25
3E4YZ
So we come from two places and that's where we wanted to make that space as safe, fun, inclusive and welcoming as possible for people from all walks of life.
00:18:35
UKRunChat
Yeah, it sounds brilliant. And it would have been so easy for you both to go, Oh, no, we we can't do it. Like, you know, there's there's barriers in place for us, we can't possibly do it. What what was it that kind of like, what what made you kind of go, no, we can break these barriers down? Like, I'm really interested, because there must be people out there who are thinking the same, I really wish we had something like this in our community.
00:18:55
UKRunChat
and you know, what what would you say to them? What what helped you overcome those?
00:19:00
3E4YZ
I think you have to back yourself sometimes, you know, and i i never thought I could even do one marathon, let alone 100. So it's it's possible. you just have to sometimes make a plan and have a, you know, have a good...
00:19:16
3E4YZ
think through about what are the, I mean, we thought about the pros and cons in terms of time, energy, all these things as well.
00:19:23
UKRunChat
Thank you.
00:19:24
3E4YZ
And we were just like, we have to do it because if we don't do it, we'll never know if we could do it. So it if it is definitely a risk. um You know, it was a risk for us. It is a financial risk for us, of course. It takes time. It takes a lot of initial investment to to get something like this going. And it's a lot of emotional and psychological work as well that people don't realize behind the scenes how many hours you put in thinking about. the things you want to go right, you want to do. um
00:19:55
3E4YZ
One of the, I would say the unseen barriers has been, ah it's different it's not commonplace to see a mixed race couple doing an event like this.
00:20:10
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:20:11
3E4YZ
and then There might be a couple. I mean, we have a lovely couple in Hampshire, Phoenix, Hampshire, Ellen and Kasia as well. They have started Phoenix Hampshire down south.
00:20:23
3E4YZ
So I think the diversity of Phoenix is already showing. that possibilities are endless with with the type of people that are in the community. So one of the unseen things, funnily, it's ah it's a tricky one to explain, but it's almost like we have sometimes felt the need that we need ah male cheerleaders to validate the... um I don't know, to validate our events or the quality of our events. So we've been very lucky to have some exceptional, you know, male runners. And I'm saying male for that, for that in that context who have accomplished a lot and, they have come up to us and said, we absolutely love your events. And, you know, they've been all over the world and it means so much to us that they would come and say to us and then go and tell all their friends about it. And then who then come to see us? Because, I mean, women have been super supportive from the start. All our marshals are women. 98% them have have been women. So that's almost like a natural base we've got there. But it's been interesting to try and
00:21:33
3E4YZ
get some of the male runners to come and actually experience it and see it because yeah it's it's a tricky one to explain till you're in it ah but we again we're very lucky that we have met some incredible runners who have come time and time again and almost come to every event now that we do so we couldn't ask for anything more you know the runners will vote with their feet at the end of the day
00:21:51
UKRunChat
Yeah, yeah.
00:21:58
UKRunChat
Yeah, they will. And that that validation is really important, isn't And I guess the repeat custom for you tells you that you're doing something right. So do do you see a lot of people compete completing like the first marathons and ultras with you guys as well?
00:22:10
3E4YZ
Yeah, know we've we've had loads. We've got this really ah great thing at Phoenix called the PP horn. It's a massive horn. So every time you get your first longest distance marathon, ultra 5K, 10K, we've got this massive horn that you have to honk. ah So we always say you have to squeeze the horn at the end. So we've seen many, many people do their first 5Ks, 10Ks. And on the spur of the moment as well, that's been, you know, the most interesting thing where but they didn't come to do that that day, but then they saw everybody around them and said, actually, no more, I'll just, just one more lap. It's always just one more lap. And then before you know it, you've done eight.
00:22:52
UKRunChat
Yeah, it's funny, isn't it? Because you think you say to somebody go run a marathon and they'll go, such a long way. But then I guess if you're just doing
Mental Resilience and Pushing Limits in Running
00:22:59
UKRunChat
in little loops of just over 5k, it is easy to go, oh, yeah, I've got another I've got another 5k in me. And we often have, haven't we?
00:23:07
3E4YZ
Yeah, yeah, exactly. And there's the aid station there, you know, so you're not carrying loads of kit. The course is marked. It's a fairly straightforward course in most places or it's fully marked. We try and mark it as much as possible for everyone. So it is a psychological interesting way. On the one hand, you could, you know, do a marathon because you like you said, break break it down. On the other hand, you could also stop.
00:23:33
3E4YZ
You know, of so it's like pushing past that mental barrier you might have or or I must stop after seven.
00:23:33
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:23:41
3E4YZ
You know, if you say that constantly to your body, you probably will. So, um again, it's testing your mental resilience. Can I continue but when I could stop as well, which also I think makes for a stronger runner mentally the long term as well.
00:23:55
UKRunChat
yeah Yeah, absolutely. What's the longest distance anyone's ever completed on one of your races?
00:24:02
3E4YZ
I think that must be, i have a feeling, Alan Merch, who is one of our cheerleaders. Thank you, Alan. Great guy, you know race across Scotland type of runner. um i think he's done 12 laps before, and that was on one of the hottest days in June ah as well, when we had that heat wave that just went on for weeks, it seemed. um Yeah, I think it must have been 12. So we have a track event in April next year, which will be 12 hours. so it'll be interesting to see
00:24:36
3E4YZ
who gets what if they do want to push themselves in the 12 hours.
00:24:40
UKRunChat
where is that happening?
00:24:42
3E4YZ
That's at the Stockport Harriers running track in Stockport.
00:24:44
UKRunChat
yeah
00:24:47
3E4YZ
so we are interested to see who brings the goods that day, because there'll be pizza and there'll be cake. So there will be no excuses.
00:24:57
UKRunChat
I've heard about these track events. Have you done what have you done one yourself?
00:25:00
3E4YZ
I have, yes, I have. Interesting. My shoes were red at the end of it, let's say, because you'd be surprised how much of the track you pick up when you're running on a track.
00:25:10
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:25:12
3E4YZ
I was like, what have I done? and then I was like, of course, I ran the track last week.
00:25:18
UKRunChat
Yeah, i mean, I don't know, 400 metres circles is must be very mentally tough. What's what's your tips for someone like wanting to get through that? That's that's hard.
00:25:28
UKRunChat
Do you kind of swap directions every so often?
00:25:30
3E4YZ
Yeah, so we'll swap directions every three hours. you're not running on the same, you know, side of your hip as well for, for physically. But I think, again, track events sound boring, but they're incredibly fun. Because again, you keep passing the same people, you stop for a chat, you know, you just know mentally that you you want to do that distance, and you have to push past the mental barrier of I can just stop anytime want, but how to keep going. And If you listen to music, put your music.
00:26:00
3E4YZ
If you listen to podcasts, otherwise there's a bit of music. there's There's going to be pizza, there's cake.
Empowerment Through 'Jeffing' and Community Support
00:26:06
3E4YZ
There's other runners who are doing it. So it's almost like, ah you know, in a gym class, you don't want to stop because other people are around, you're doing it.
00:26:10
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:26:13
3E4YZ
So you just continue and you get a fabulous B, spinning B medal we have for that event for Manchester. So, yeah, I think a lot of people will come specifically for the medal.
00:26:24
UKRunChat
Oh, yeah, that so it sounds great. And it sounds very, very different and unique. So yeah, good luck with that. Yeah.
00:26:31
3E4YZ
Yeah, thank you.
00:26:32
UKRunChat
yeah So just talk us through Jeffing then, because we mentioned that earlier. And I think I was saying to before we started recording that there's every now and again on social media people crop up and go oh you've not run a marathon because you've walked bits of it and i don't know about you but that does not sit easy with me because if you've completed a marathon distance as far as I'm concerned you've you've done a marathon whether you've walked bits or not just so talk us through kind of your your thoughts on that and kind of jeffing because you're you know specializing it don't you you've you've trained up as a coach is that right
00:27:08
3E4YZ
Yeah, so Jeffing, um I disagree gatekeeping sport in general. You know, people don't get to decide if you walk, you're not a runner or if you run slowly x y Z number of miles, time, whatever. You know, we don't get to decide. Everybody's journey is different. It's totally unique to that person. you know, they may have had a serious health condition, which meant they couldn't get off the couch.
00:27:32
3E4YZ
I'm not going to tell them you took 45 minutes to do 2K. That means, you know, you didn't do anything. So um I find that very negative and unnecessary. And I just don't like gatekeeping things. It's just not necessary. Sport is for everyone. Physical activity is for everyone if they want to do it. So Jeffing is, um I was very lucky to discover it because I kept getting injured. And then I came across Jeffing and I trained um as a runner with the Jeff Galloway team back in, that's how I started, 2016, 2017.
00:28:06
3E4YZ
ah seventeen it's a set number of run walk inter intervals. So it's based typically on your fitness and pace, the recommended recommended ratios, we call them. So for somebody like me, i typically run 12 minute a easy sort of pace miles. I would run like a 40 second run, 30 second walk. So they seem incredibly short, but they're incredibly effective because you end up having more energy on the run section. And if you brisk walk the 30 second walk section, you still end up hitting the average pace over the, ah you know, over the the time that you want to do because your legs are fresher, your muscles are not fatigued. And it enabled me to keep going back to marathons for that reason, because I wasn't fatigued all the time, incredibly from just running continuously. and
00:28:59
3E4YZ
I encourage everyone, no matter the pace. I mean, the great man, Jeff Galloway himself, has been obviously an Olympian. He has, you know, done two 10 marathons, you know, things like that. And he has walked, but you know, in so many marathons. even after he retired from professional sport. So, um and he's got some great times. So if he's doing it, who am I to question, you know, anything at all at at that level. So he's done a lot of research into it. His team do actually do a lot of research into, you know, the run-walk intervals, the ratio. So there's actually a lot of science and technique that goes behind it. It's not just simply walking when you're tired, because if anything, when you start walking when you're tired, that's game over. Your legs are already drained at that point. We we want to walk right from the beginning because you're conserving the energies and the muscle fibers that are going to feel fatigued anyway after mile 20 of a marathon, if that's what you're doing. um
00:30:05
3E4YZ
So it has enabled so many people that I know to feel more confident. Oh my God, I can do this. Like I've actually, you know, just recommended it to some people who said, I've always wanted to run, but i I just, I don't think I can. And I was like, you can do it. Just do this, just run for 30 seconds and walk for 30 seconds. And they've messaged me the next day and they said, I am never running continuously ever again.
00:30:34
3E4YZ
I just don't see the point because if I can do a 5K like this, why would I do anything else?
00:30:40
UKRunChat
Yeah. Wow. That's, that's some great feedback. Yeah. I mean, I guess there's a there's a mental difference, isn't there between like you say, if you say that run for 20 miles and then are so tired that you're walking and you're stiffening up to actually making a decision to do some,
00:30:57
UKRunChat
walk breaks right from the very start there is a difference isn't there i guess
00:31:01
3E4YZ
Yeah, absolutely. you know, again, i think people get sucked in by everybody running around them.
00:31:06
UKRunChat
yeah
00:31:07
3E4YZ
And it's very important. Those first five miles are crucial, especially in a marathon or ultra. that's where you will end up either doing really well or the strategy goes out of the window.
00:31:19
3E4YZ
So you have to really be disciplined to follow your run work runs wherever you can, as much as you can, of course, in crowded spaces, it can be difficult. But as soon as you have the spaces opened up, like get on it, we use a a really handy device called Gymboss.
00:31:36
3E4YZ
It looks like a little pager that we used to have back in the ninety s And you can set the intervals on there and it beeps really loudly or you can set it on vibrate mode. It's up to you. So it we call it Sergeant Gym Boss in the community yeah because you do as the sergeant says.
00:31:49
UKRunChat
of it
00:31:52
3E4YZ
So as soon as it beeps to run, you run. As soon as it beeps to walk, you walk. So again, you're not thinking, you're just doing what it's almost like they're telling you to do it. So you can change it on the fly and it's so effective. People need to change the mindset of, You're not cheating. You're not a less of a runner because you're jeffing. I've got some of my best times jeffing and I could not do it running at all.
00:32:19
3E4YZ
I can say that confidently personally.
00:32:21
UKRunChat
Yeah, and i there were a few other people who have similar experiences, particularly in like the marathon distance, that some, you know, setting themselves some run walking, they can actually run ah quicker time than they would if they were just running the whole thing.
00:32:30
3E4YZ
Yeah.
00:32:34
UKRunChat
It's yeah, it's it's incredibly powerful, isn't it?
00:32:35
3E4YZ
Yeah.
00:32:37
3E4YZ
Yeah. And it's so mentally empowering to know you can do that and you can do that over and over again. Because if I told you, can you run for 30 seconds? Most people would tend to say yes. So just keep doing that and see, you know, before you know it, you will be running 20 minutes, half an hour, an hour. And then the possibilities are endless.
Charitable Initiatives and Community Contributions
00:32:59
UKRunChat
Yeah, I would love to know if you're listening out there and you've got experience of jeffing, we'd love to know your thoughts. So yeah, do do let us know. and So talk to me Priya a little bit about your, and you do fundraising for animals, don't you, with your Phoenix Manchester.
00:33:14
UKRunChat
Talk to me a little bit about that and why you've decided to fundraise.
00:33:18
3E4YZ
Yeah, so ah we've always loved rescue animals. So Paula and myself have always had rescue animals. And I grew up in India, which unfortunately has many strays. And we, I had a lot of stray animals adopted growing up. And it's just always been a passion of of ours. We just love animals and love helping, you know, rescue organizations in any way we can. So last year I did fundraising and I called it Curry for a Cause. So I sold sort of like chicken and veg curry and I sold probably 80, 90 at the, within, within six months um ah to fundraise for various rescues that I was, you know, fundraising for at the time. So when we started Phoenix, we had already decided that if it's got to be something
00:34:07
3E4YZ
that's close to really reflects us as people.
00:34:09
UKRunChat
Thank
00:34:11
3E4YZ
So we ring fence a pound from every entry um to a rescue. So we select a rescue for a particular race, for example, the race gone by at Remembrance Day, we invited war paws.
00:34:23
3E4YZ
So they actually help animals affected by wars globally. um And obviously considering, you know, animals were a huge, you know, not only did they help war efforts, you know,
00:34:34
3E4YZ
but back in the day they do so now but they're also unfortunately the silent casualties of many of these difficult conflicts and situations in the world so um the lovely trustee from warpaws Helen she came along to the event and you know sold a bit of merchandise to fundraise for the charity and we donated obviously from all our entries as well. So we sort of try and do these things, you know, where we can. We did a Halloween fun run for Cholton Cats Rescue called Hiss and Howl at the end of October, which was a lot of fun. um So we we really want to help the communities that we live in and
00:35:16
3E4YZ
There'll always be something close to our hearts and we we couldn't see doing it. I think if you have the power to do something good, then you should. So for us, that's really important. And, you know, doing the decent thing important.
00:35:31
3E4YZ
above all, i think, in business and it shows through to other people. So that's just who we are in in terms of what we want to do for the communities around us.
00:35:41
3E4YZ
So, um so yeah, we I think I'll bring back curry for a cause because we did end up fundraising quite a bit. So I think it'll be a nice addition to, you know, if hungry runners want to buy a curry at the end of of their run, then, yeah, it all goes towards a fundraising pot for the rescue that we are fundraising for.
00:36:00
UKRunChat
Wow. Sounds amazing. so you got Have you got any specific fundraising events coming up?
00:36:06
3E4YZ
So all our events have, we select a charity for every single event that we do.
00:36:08
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:36:12
3E4YZ
So we typically pick a local you know rescue or charity like Manchester Cheshire Dogs Home was one. We also request all our runners to bring a tin of pet food to the event.
00:36:22
3E4YZ
So we've donated about 20 to 30 kgs of food so far to local rescues, which has been amazing because you know it's like a tin you more and most of our runners have pets so they only are bringing a you know a tin from what already exists at home and you know if if you are in a privileged position to be able to uh you know give a little something extra then i i really think you know people should um you know if they can so so yeah uh we we uh for the next one i think it's going to be rescued kitty's manchester I think that we are donating to.
00:36:59
3E4YZ
So we select one at every event, wherever we, ah well, we select one irrespective. Sometimes we select two if we really, you know, if there's somebody who really needs our help.
00:37:10
3E4YZ
So always happy to help where we can.
Envisioning a Diverse and Supportive Running Community
00:37:13
UKRunChat
yeah oh that's lovely oh it's cause close to my heart because I've got a rescue dog so yeah I'd yeah exactly so i mean just thanks I think we've had a really good overview there of what Phoenix Manchester is and that you're you're clearly very much a big part of your community aren't you um
00:37:17
3E4YZ
thank you for rescuing. Adopt, don't shop.
00:37:34
UKRunChat
If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about how our running community is, like for you know for example, how it approaches diversity and inclusion, what what would you change? What would you do?
00:37:48
3E4YZ
I think being non-judgmental and also embracing walking. That is, i think, those two things together because ah nonju being nonjudgmental comes into accepting people from different communities' beliefs, no matter what they wear, how they present, and then embracing walking because that could be, you know, the the the push people are looking for in order to get into running. So to really embrace walking and not dismiss it. But yeah, definitely being nonjudgmental overtaking
00:38:23
3E4YZ
ah accepting. i think acceptance is a huge one because when we accept other people, they instantly feel you know comfortable with you and they almost feel like you're not tolerating them, but you're actually accepting them.
Priya's Personal Goals and Phoenix's Impact
00:38:39
3E4YZ
So I think those two things, again, go hand in hand in being non-judgmental as well.
00:38:44
UKRunChat
Yeah, yeah, I think you're spot on that. I think the judgment kind of comes from a bit of ignorance, really, doesn't it? And not seeing and people. And, you know, just I think we need to get outside of our own bubble sometimes, don't we? And become more diverse so that we can accept everyone within our community.
00:39:03
UKRunChat
Yeah, yeah. Thanks, Priya.
00:39:04
3E4YZ
Yeah,
00:39:04
UKRunChat
So what's up next personally for you as a runner? Because you must be really busy with Phoenix Manchester. Do you find time to do your own training and running?
00:39:12
3E4YZ
yeah so I am actually, i have decided to switch legions. So there is 100 Half Marathon Club.
00:39:19
UKRunChat
Oh.
00:39:20
3E4YZ
So for everybody out there, if half distances are your passion, then ah get a spreadsheet, write down all the halves you've done and you never know. So I'm going to be aiming for the 100 Half Marathon Club next because I just feel um it's less time spent out in, ah for me personally, bad weather.
00:39:41
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:39:42
3E4YZ
know i'm not a fan of that so i think i've done enough hours in the rain and sleet and cold and hail so um i'd like to maybe cut short my time but still enjoy running and it still gives me a goal because i just always like you know like a goal to aim to um so there's about 300 people in 100 half marathon club already so it's it's definitely growing it's
00:40:02
UKRunChat
Oh, okay.
00:40:05
3E4YZ
an achievable distance for a lot of people you're not spending hours out there on your own you can find far many more half marathons to do as well around the country so yeah have a look at 100 half marathon club because that's what i'll be doing for the next four years
00:40:24
UKRunChat
Yeah, wow. you've already planned it out. Is that going to be your kind of most weekends then? Sorry, you work weekends, don't you? I'm guessing with the events, but...
00:40:31
3E4YZ
Yeah. So yeah, so the weekends where we don't have an event, I'll be running on my own half marathon. So...
00:40:38
UKRunChat
So what's what's the process of getting into the 100 Club then, whether it's marathons or half-marathons? Do you just need kind of proof of – need like a ah proof from the organiser of every race you've done?
00:40:49
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:40:49
3E4YZ
Yes, so 100 Marathon Club has a spreadsheet on their website that you can download, which needs the most, ah you know, basic information around your event. And we've got a great committee who will actually vet all the runs.
00:41:01
3E4YZ
So they actually go through every event that you've done, make sure you're on the finishing time list, your name and things like that. So and there's certain criteria for a marathon to count.
00:41:13
3E4YZ
So make sure you check the FAQs before you sign up to a marathon because I have done one which which didn't and I was not very happy about that. But that's my point.
00:41:23
UKRunChat
Oh no, that's annoying, isn't it?
00:41:25
3E4YZ
Yeah, it's my fault entirely. So there are certain criteria in which the marathon has to qualify for the 100 marathon club. Same goes for the half as well. But the beauty of the 100 half club as well is that any distances from 13 miles up to 25 miles count. So there's loads of lovely low key LDWA events, long distance walking association events. That will be 20 miles, 25 miles, thereabouts. So they will count as well. So there's FAQs on both websites. You can start making a spreadsheet and then, yeah, off you go. So you're very straightforward. You just have to do the running then.
00:42:04
UKRunChat
Well, yeah, there's just that. That's the easy bit. We'll tell ourselves.
00:42:07
3E4YZ
yeah
00:42:08
UKRunChat
but
00:42:08
3E4YZ
well
00:42:09
UKRunChat
Or the fun bit anyway.
00:42:10
3E4YZ
Yeah, exactly. And if you come to Phoenix, there'll always be cakes. So you're never going to be sure of fun things to eat.
00:42:17
UKRunChat
Yeah. Oh, sounds good. Oh, well, thanks so much for sharing your story and for just for everything you're doing to make running more inclusive. I think it's really refreshing to hear, actually. and so yeah, we should be.
00:42:27
3E4YZ
Well, thank you so much. I really appreciate the opportunity and thank you so, so much for having me on.
00:42:33
UKRunChat
Yeah, wish you all the very best. I may pop down, as I said to you before we started recording, i'm not I'm not too far away from you and I've got some longer events to train for.
00:42:40
3E4YZ
Yeah.
00:42:41
UKRunChat
So i may well see you on a start line at some point in the spring.
00:42:42
3E4YZ
Yeah.
00:42:45
UKRunChat
and am do yeah.
00:42:46
3E4YZ
Yeah, perfect. Yeah, but we've got Donut Dash, if you like donuts, in January, where there'll be donuts at the aid station, Krispy Kreme donuts. So...
00:42:54
UKRunChat
Who doesn't like doughnuts? Yeah.
00:42:58
3E4YZ
Yeah, with an amazing donut medal as well. So, so yeah, that's one of our most popular events from last year.
00:43:03
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:43:05
3E4YZ
So we're bringing it back when people are not on holiday this time.
00:43:08
UKRunChat
Yes, fantastic. Sold. That sounds amazing. and Where can people find you online then Priya?
00:43:14
3E4YZ
Yes, so we have Phoenix Running Manchester on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, you name it. Phoenixrunning.co.uk will have all events from all over the country. There's Phoenix franchises in Scotland, Bedfordshire, West Sussex, Hampshire. So there's usually a franchise within, I'd probably say 60 to 80 miles of most people now. And it's it's one team under Phoenix and you will get the consistent experience throughout and I can guarantee it'll be a fun day out no matter what you choose to do.
00:43:48
UKRunChat
Fantastic. Thank you. If you've enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to share it with somebody who might need a boost of inspiration and do check out Phoenix Manchester and the rest of Phoenix Running to support their events and their fundraising.
00:44:00
3E4YZ
you.
00:44:03
UKRunChat
We'll see you on the next episode.