Katie started running around 2016 when a friend convinced her to go along to a session at Hyde Village Striders …. And the rest is history! Before long she had signed up to the club and had booked her first half marathon! Katie really enjoys being part of the club; she says she has got lots of support and advice over the years but particularly enjoys the social benefits that running for the club brings, having made lots of very good friends.
Katie tends to prefer running over longer distances and describes herself as a ‘plodder’; having one pace regardless of the distance! However, she has said that she will maybe challenge herself over the shorter distance (5k and 10k) to see if she can improve her speed, so watch this space …..!
Katie doesn’t race often, but when she does she tends to prefer to go for the more local, trail based runs, not being too much of a fan of pounding tarmac! That said, Katie has now run London marathon 3 times and says she absolutely loves this race. She describes the atmosphere as being absolutely electric and like nothing she has ever experienced before. Another of her favourites events is the Tour of Tameside, which again she particularly enjoys because of the amazing atmosphere of the running community.
In July 2021 she completed her first ultra marathon, the Heights Ultra Trail 50 mile marathon – which she absolutely loved! She says this is definitely where her passion lies – being out in the hills and running off road, over the longer miles. Katie plans on running more ultra’s, but thinks she may stick to the 50 miles and nothing more than this …. again, watch this space!
As well as appreciating the physical benefits that being active brings, Katie is a big advocate for using exercise, particularly running, to help manage psychological wellbeing. Katie admits that she is someone who finds it difficult to switch off from the ‘busyness’ and hustle and bustle of daily life and running is an outlet that allows her to switch off and ‘let off steam’!
Aside from running, Katie enjoys spending time with her two children, Finlay and Tilly – who interestingly both HATE running! She also enjoys socialising with friends and as you may come to realise from the podcast, is a bit of a foodie!!!
Club: East Cheshire Harriers
PBs
5k – 20:01 (Alexandra parkrun # 55)
10k – 45:43 Tameside X trail (Tour of Tameside, July 2021)
Half – 1:37:48 (Stockport trail ½ marathon, February 2019)
Marathon – 3:35:21 (Virtual London marathon, October 2020)
50 mile ultra: 12:46:10 (Heights Ultra Trail, July 2021)