Run to the Beat 2010
We're running to the beat!
The team behind the magazine gets ready to pump up the volume at London’s iconic half marathon www.runtothebeat.co.uk
The Women’s Running team has signed up for Run to the Beat a half marathon starting and finishing at London’s O2 Arena on 26 September. We all have varying levels of fitness but one aim in common completing the distance on the day and having fun. Here we talk about our reasons for taking part. Keep your eye out for blogs and training updates over the coming months.
Peta Bee
Contributing EditorWhat made you decide to enter Run to the Beat?
I thought it’d give me a kick up the backside to do more training.
How long have you been running?
Eeek – around 30 years!
What do you enjoy about running?
Escapism and the pleasure, pain thing.
What sort of distance or time do you typically cover in a session?
Up to 90 minutes – but usually only 40 minutes.
Where do you normally run?
Grass and road.
Have you entered any races before?
I’ve run everything from 400m to marathons.
Are you going to raise money for charity?
Yes, the Prostate Cancer Charity.
What made you choose this particular charity?
My Dad has prostate cancer.
What are your expectations and hopes for the day?
To push myself as hard as I can. And not to get distracted by the bands – I don’t like running to music!
What mental tactics will you use to help you?
Once you’ve run a distance, you can always run that distance.
What’s your advice to other women thinking of taking part in a similar long-distance event?
Believe you can do it and you can.
Christina Neal
Editor-in-ChiefWhat made you decide to enter Run to the Beat?
I took part last year and loved it. The atmosphere was amazing.
How long have you been running?
On and off, since 1995. I overtrained in my late twenties and had to give it up for a few years, but I’m now back into it in full swing!
What do you enjoy about running?
The freedom, stress relief and feeling of euphoria.
What sort of distance or time do you typically cover in a session?
Between two and five miles, depending on how much time I have.
Where do you normally run?
The park or the treadmill. I enjoy both.
Have you entered any races before?
I did a slow time at Run to the Beat last year as I hadn’t trained properly due to family pressures. I want to improve my time this year. Last year, I hadn’t trained beyond four miles and I want to be ready this time!
Are you going to raise money for charity?
Last year, I ran for Cats Protection. This year, I’m raising money for Guide Dogs, which is such a worthy cause.
What made you choose this charity?
I love animals, so I’m always happy to raise money for animal charities, and Guide Dogs does such great work.
What are your expectations and hopes for the day?
To enjoy it as much as last year, and to improve my time.
What mental tactics will you use to help you?
The knowledge that I completed it last year and the fact that ‘The Wall’, should it arise, is only temporary!
What’s your advice to other women thinking of taking part in a similar long-distance event?
Believe in yourself. So much of running is about mental strength.
Anne-Marie Lategan
Fitness EditorWhat made you decide to enter Run to the Beat?
Being part of the Women’s Running team.
How long have you been running?
Since the age of six.
What do you enjoy about running?
It gives me time to myself and takes me away from my busy life. The more I put into running, the more I get out of it.
What sort of distance or time do you typically cover in a session?
I run 10K in 50 minutes.
Where do you normally run?
Concrete or gravel footpaths.
Have you entered any races before?
I love racing. It’s the reward for all my training. I’ve done everything from the London Marathon to local running club races. I like 10Ks the most.
What are your expectations for the day?
To do it in less than two hours.
What mental tactics will you use to help you?
Music, switching off and enjoying the atmosphere.
What’s your advice to other women thinking of taking part in a similar long-distance event?
Don’t be scared to enter. Even if you can’t run the whole distance, you’ll be able to finish it, as long as you mentally prepare and don’t set unrealistic goals.
Heidi Wilson
Advertisement DirectorWhat made you decide to enter Run to the Beat?
I love that my colleagues are also doing it. It’s exciting for us all to be involved and to motivate and inspire each other.
How long have you been running?
About 10 years.
What do you enjoy about running?
I love how it makes my body and mind feel. I also love to challenge myself and see how far I can push myself!
What sort of distance or time do you typically cover in a session?
I’m training for an Ironman (a 3.8K swim, 180K bike ride and 42K run) in July, so my sessions are very varied. They range from a series of 400m sprints, to runs of about 16 miles.
Where do you normally run?
On the treadmill or on concrete.
Have you entered any races before?
I’ve run many events, from 5K to 175 miles. So my times vary from 17:40 for the 5K to six days!
What are your expectations and hopes on the day?
I hope to get under 1:30, but I’d love it to be nearer 1:25.
What mental tactics will you use to help you?
Pain is only temporary. You can always push yourself further than you think. And afterwards you’ll be lying on your sofa with that amazing post-race feeling.
What’s your advice to other women thinking of taking part in a similar long-distance event?
Don’t run off too hard – it’s much better to run the first two miles slower than normal, and gradually pick up the pace. Most importantly, try to enjoy it. If it’s your first race, just have fun. Chat to people on the way around, ‘high five’ the crowds and smile! The feeling when you cross the line is amazing.
Rhalou Allerhand
Online EditorWhat made you decide to enter Run to the Beat?
Doing it with my colleagues is a great incentive, as we can all encourage each other. And it’s late enough in the year to have time to train… gulp!
How long have you been running?
About four months.
What do you enjoy about running?
I love having time alone with my thoughts in the great outdoors.
What sort of distance or time do you typically cover in a session?
I usually run for 40 minutes.
Where do you normally run?
On the pavements and at the local park.
Have you entered any races before?
Nope!
Are you going to raise money for charity?
I’d like to raise money for the MS Society, a charity close to my heart.
What made you choose this particular charity?
Someone close to me has MS, and there’s so little known about it. I think more money for research is vital.
What are your expectations and hopes for the day?
It would be nice to run without stopping too much, and to keep pace with my colleagues so I don’t get lonely.
What mental tactics will you use to help you?
Distraction! Hopefully, we’ll all be on a high so it’ll whizz by in a blur…
What’s your advice to other women thinking of taking part in a similar long-distance event?
It’s given me a long-term goal and something to train for, so it’s already making me push myself further than normal. Everyone should step out of their comfort zone once.
