Sign up to get updates from us
00:09 - Women's Running Journeys
14:10 - The Mental Strength of Running
21:47 - Personal Transformation and Running Inspiration
33:26 - Advice, Encouragement, and Running Experiences
42:34 - The Importance of Running Support Networks
Speaker 2:
Welcome to the Start Line, a podcast about running, eating, life and everything in between. Hello.
Speaker 3:
Start Line family. Hey guys, it's time for the second episode in our bonus series of conversations recorded live at the National Running Show over the weekend of the 20th and 21st of January this year at the Birmingham NEC.
Speaker 2:
You know I always, always say this, but I am really, truly excited to share this episode. I mean, what a brilliant conversation we've got lined up for you TSL fans. We were joined by two absolutely phenomenal women, our friends Rachel McCoy and Dr Zandi Novlu.
Speaker 3:
Dr Zandi.
Speaker 2:
Who shared how they both started running in lockdown.
Speaker 3:
Yes, and they were both at a stage in life when many not you not, I not- Rachel, or I was going to say. Or Zandi, but many might think it's time to put their feet up. But you know, rachel was in their mid 40s and Zandi just 1050, and seriously, both of them started running at that point in their lives and confounded expectations of their own and anyone else when they ran their first marathons last year.
Speaker 2:
Just shy, I think of three years after starting running. Yeah, yeah, roughly Phenomenal, phenomenal. I can't even tell you how many years it took me before I ran my first marathon. So, yeah, absolutely amazing.
Speaker 3:
Well, I mean, it's been 20 plus years for me and it's not a money, just about that. I started that comparison thing, didn't I? Not a good thing, no, no, but I'm just saying, it's 20 years and I have only just decided to run my first marathon. So yeah, they're phenomenal.
Speaker 2:
And do you know what? I absolutely loved hearing the absolute power and confidence that each of them has, which I think running has either reinforced in the case of Rachel or reignited in the case of Zandi.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, yeah, definitely. I loved that. They were just so, so, so powerful in their conversation and their confidence. But you know what I loved, really loved hearing I really loved the way that for me Zandi sister, who's in the audience, she was so proud of Zandi and is so proud of her, but she was wearing her proud big sis ELC hoodie that she got for the London Marathon and I just was wondering how come you've never worn anything like that at any of my races.
Speaker 4:
What do?
Speaker 3:
you mean Like that you've never worn anything.
Speaker 2:
There's only been two races that you've raced, that I haven't raced, which was the Vitality 10K here, and then the Valencia Half Marathon. That was pre us getting our t-shirts made no, no, no, no, no, no.
Speaker 3:
You could have gone your own t-shirt, but I'm just saying, I'm just saying, I'm just saying I mean, you know it's always.
Speaker 2:
I don't need a t-shirt to declare that I'm a proud big sis.
Speaker 3:
Anyway anyway, anyway, anyway, we digress, we do yes, we do so.
Speaker 2:
I should warn our TSL listeners that the episode comes to a rather abrupt and sudden end. There's no thank yous, no goodbyes, and that's because the batteries on our trusty Zoom recorder run out.
Speaker 3:
You know that is a real error. It's the second time it's happened. You know, I don't know if you remember the last time we were recording the women's panel discussion for International Women's Day, that happened and you think we'd learn.
Speaker 2:
Bring an extra set of batteries, people but the main thing is that we were able to capture the love, the laughter, the connection, the absolute joy of running that both Rachel and Zendie shared with us. That day.
Speaker 3:
It's true, it's true, it's true, and we really, really hope that you are loyal TSL listeners, that you enjoy the episode. If you do, don't forget to follow the start line on Apple Podcasts, spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts, because that'll make sure you won't miss an episode when it drops. And please, if you like it, take a minute to share the conversation with someone you think will enjoy it Please share, please share. Sharing is caring, after all, and it really helps us to widen the citizenship of the podcast, and you can also take a minute just rate or review us if you haven't already. It really really does help. Please do, please do.
Speaker 2:
And now time for the conversation. Enjoy, guys. Here we are at the National Running Show. Thank you so much. First of all, everyone for joining us. We've got a little audience here with us this afternoon. Welcome audience.
Speaker 3:
So it's ERC conversations around empowerment, representation and community taking place at the National Running Show at the Run Club Hub sponsored by England Athletics. Thank you so much for joining us today. This is the second in our series of three talks today. We've got another three talks taking place tomorrow, and today's focus is around how you go from not doing any running at all to becoming marathon running beasts, or beastesses in this case. So this session, beastesses. Did you say beastesses.
Speaker 6:
Are we?
Speaker 3:
Vixens. Vixens. Oh, I love that.
Speaker 2:
Running marathon, running Vixens I would have said queens really, but you know.
Speaker 7:
Empresses yes, warrior princesses, warrior Vixens, warrior queens Okay, be whatever you want to be right, thanks.
Speaker 2:
Exactly, exactly. So we have two beautiful women here with us today, zandi and Rachel, and we're going to ask them to introduce themselves and tell us a little bit about the wonderful ladies that you both are before you start embarking and sharing with us your running journeys. So tell us a little bit about yourselves Zandi first, sure.
Speaker 7:
So yeah, my name is Zandi. My parents were political activists, so it really kind of describes my personal values. They came to the UK in the 60s so were immigrants. And yeah, a little bit about myself. I was born in the UK and raised here. I've lived in South Africa for a number of years. I lived in Zim for a bit and the UK now. So I am here at the national running show in Birmingham for the first time. Thank you, Publicly speaking yes.
Speaker 2:
And Rachel.
Speaker 6:
Hi everyone. I'm Rachel, born and bred Londoner, so, but I love all parts of the UK, not just London centric. What about me? I am a fierce Aryan. I think my star sign pretty much sums it up, is the kind of the little powerhouse of me. I'm a mum of two, a boy and a girl. It's my daughter there, leila, and this is my third year at the National Running Show. I've been a member of ELC for about four years now, coming up four years now, and we'll get into it. But yeah, it's just been the catalyst and the absolute fuel to my running journey and just yeah, it just enhances every element of my life. So we'll get into that. Lovely.
Speaker 3:
So I was just going to go back to your running journeys and how you began, because I think you both started running during lockdown. Yeah, is that right? Yeah. Do you want to tell us what made you start running at that point? Had you thought about running before and why, at that time, you decided that running was something you wanted to try?
Speaker 6:
Well, for me it just happened by accident really. I lived next door to Country Park and when lockdown started it was just so stressful managing multiple teams. I've got quite a stressful job, quite a lot of responsibility in my role and it was just all colliding in terms of timelines and deadlines and there's a lot of high net worth business in what I do. And I just had to go out first thing in the morning just to walk around. And I used to have calls from about seven o'clock in the morning from my lightest sec directors on the phone like what are we going to do on this, what are we going to do on that? So I just paced round it's about a K round a field, a boggy field down in South Newark Country Park and then through it. Then I just found myself kind of jogging a little bit, like a bit faster, I don't know stress relief, and then it just crept up. Then I just thought I wonder if I could just run from here down to where that pushes. And then it just went on and on and then I knew Denise we're lawyers, so it's through our legal circles and we were talking at a social thing and she was saying about her running, which I knew she did and she said would you like to join? Do you want to join our WhatsApp group? And that's how it's just progressing, progress from there.
Speaker 7:
Wow, and Zandi, how did you I've got well. The two reasons, really, that I started running in lockdown. One was Boris Johnson, and that's the only thing I'm grateful to him. That's the only time you'll hear me saying that, but him letting us out literally for an hour forced me to go outside. The other person that I can thank is my sister, who found the app Couch to 5K, which was a program that's sort of a nine-week program where you have to run three times a week, and we started this program and, honestly, it starts at 30 seconds walk and 30 seconds run and you could see the entire nine-week program, the schedule, and I think it was like week three or something. They said that you had to run for five minutes, which was just so daunting just the idea of actually running for that long. So, really, yeah, my running journey started that way and I couldn't believe to be. After the nine weeks that we ran 5Ks, it was just astounding to me that I could actually keep going. Do you remember that? It was like my sister's here in the audience nodding, but yeah, that was the start of my journey.
Speaker 2:
And I mean the fact that there were parallels there, right? So you both started in lockdown and did you find it essential in terms of your mental health at that time and the things that you were going?
Speaker 7:
through. Yeah, definitely for me. So I think that when I met you guys, which was in 2021, two months before that, I'd made a decision personally to to divorce my husband of 15 years, and it was a bit of a build-up to that. So it wasn't just that it happened then, but it was probably like four years in the making, and running just gave me so much mental space to be able to process what was actually happening. And I remember one of the longest runs that I'd done maybe it was like a 10K and running through that and crying and reflecting, but every, every kilometer almost that I ran, I just almost dedicated it to a part of me and left it behind. That was, and just kept looking forward and then leaving things behind. So it was a real process of being able to just be myself and be comfortable myself and and has been a process of self-discovery, because I was really, really scared. I was 50, I was turning 50 that year, so to make those huge changes in my life I was running was a huge part of being able to do that.
Speaker 3:
I was going to say for you, rachel, how has running kind of changed, how you view yourself, if at all?
Speaker 6:
I think what it gives me is total alignment, and I think everything needs to be in balance, so kind of from the mental side, spiritual side, physical side, it gives me like real focus. I mean, I'm quite determined, you know, as I said, I'm like you know that, true, arian, but it just gives that full alignment. So when I'm running and I'm in full flow, it's almost like an out-of-body experience. I've left, I'm in another zone and I love the challenges of it just going. Yeah, I'm going to boss this, and you know that kind of, you know that kind of prep talk and that inner voice that you give yourself and I just think, I just feel I can do anything, and it just bolsters that, that your mind is so powerful that you can just literally say, well, I'm going to do that and climb that whole mountain and I'm going to address an audience of thousands, I don't care, I'm just going to go and do it. And it just gives me that extra. It's a magical, wonderful free buzz. I mean, you know I exist on exhilaration then kind of a little bit crazy at times, but it just gives me that. You know, I need it, need the buzz of running.
Speaker 2:
So you have both gone from literally not running at all to achieving the most amazing running experiences of your life. Can you tell us a bit about that? You?
Speaker 7:
know what I'm talking about. London marathon, absolutely. I mean. I never in a thousand years would I have thought that I could complete that. Both Rachel and I did it at the same time which was helpful to be, able to do that.
Speaker 4:
What year was?
Speaker 7:
that Last year, 2023, we did that and I remember the year before talking to you, Jules, about we were a bit drunk, we were a little tipsy, a little tipsy, we were in Lisbon. And yeah, we decided the half marathon we decided after completing it was my second half marathon that we'd put ourselves in the ballot for London. You did as well.
Speaker 3:
No, not last year, no I said you should do it.
Speaker 7:
Yeah, so did that. And I remember it's probably about seven or eight weeks out and I came to UD and I was like I don't think I can do this. And you were saying to me no, you know what, you can always pull out, it's fine, don't put yourself under too much stress. But, like Rachel says, there's something about being sort of competitive and saying to yourself well, actually, I've come this far, I've managed to do 10k, I've managed to do half a marathon, let me try this, let me just go for it. So the Discipline Nike Training app was really helpful. It was free, guides you step by step through the process and yeah, did it. Amazing, unbelievable.
Speaker 2:
Unbelievable One of our first moments and Rachel.
Speaker 6:
So I came to support 2022, and quite a few of our crew did the marathon then and I thought it was just such an amazing event even just to go along. I mean, a big part of what we do in the RC is volunteer volunteer as well. It's really important to us. So it's not just about us running, it's we love the whole running community and just seeing the joy and excellence in people that it can really bring that peak performance. So I was just so buzzed up just from like cheering everyone on and just going oh my god, this is amazing. And I did say in my head I'm going to do this. If I get a slot next year, I'm doing it. And I remember being at the finish line waiting as Taz came through. So just because she's in my eye line, it's just so. I mean, what an achievement. But if you asked me, in my life, would I ever do a marathon? Well, no, because I've never run up. That wasn't my bag at all, absolutely not. But I just kind of believe it sometimes when I think back or so, as you get into, you just get used to it, the people go. I can't believe you run those distances. Yeah, because it's just what you do. It just becomes natural. But it is. It's so awesome. It is absolutely one of my proudest moments and having the kids and everything waiting and they're just like yeah, and I felt so strong after. I was just like I was just like this, just normal, so yeah.
Speaker 2:
You are different, Like just.
Speaker 6:
I love you.
Speaker 2:
I love your work ethic and actually your ethic in everything that you do, because it's just like you commit yourself 100% to it and you believe you can do it. And you do it, you go and you boss it, and there's a lot of women that could take strength from that and learnings from that, because we're always kind of we can't do right, we often say we can't do because of whatever reason. But the fact that you both have stepped up and said, actually, I can do this, I am strong enough to kind of put all those doubts to the rack of my mind and all of that kind of self-talk that you give yourself right, I can't, I can't possibly. Oh, yes, you can and you have, which is to be celebrated.
Speaker 3:
I was gonna just ask you both how much importance is there in terms of in being mentally strong as well as physically strong when you're running? Do you feel that running has increased your mental resilience, and how has that impacted your journeys as runners?
Speaker 7:
Yeah, I think the mental part, because half of it I'd say probably 80% of it is mental and the rest of it is body. But I think that the support, particularly for me anyway, the support from the ERC, was really I couldn't imagine doing this by myself. This is no way that I could have done it by myself. And I remember Terz because she's also now in my eye line. But when I met her at the running show like 21 or 22 or something I had just run 10K and that was the furthest I'd run, and she said to me with such confidence, you're gonna do a marathon. I was like you're joking. You're like yeah you're joking. But if it wasn't for people and the support around me and the encouragement and even doing the long runs on Sundays, we'd do some of those together. But there were days where I'd have to go out by myself and I quite liked it. But there were days where you just had to get the strength somewhere mentally to be able to say let me just get my shoes on and just start running. And those are probably the most difficult times. I remember running through Battersea Park. It was one of the ones at the end, you know, when you got to do like 30Ks or something and it was running through Wandsworth Park Because I would go as far as I could go, then turn back. So I was on my way back. So people were awake by then and walking through the park and ambling along, taking their dogs for a walk and I was thinking what am I doing? I should be out here enjoying myself like everybody else, normal on a Sunday afternoon but here I am. So, yeah, it's a lot of mental strength to be able to do it, yeah.
Speaker 6:
Yeah, I mean, I think it's definitely more on the mental and I think that's what I love about it and you know, just like the coaching that you listen to and one that I listen to, always says every finish line is just the next start in line, and I love it Because it's just in everything. Yeah, this is next. It's just like a continuum. But I just love it that you can just say I'm gonna do this, because I said I'm gonna do it, and then you just do. And it's so emotional sometimes when you do those long ones and then it's just like done, done, done, like yes, like I don't know. It's just like, oh, it's amazing. But yeah, definitely, it's that mental strength and challenge and I think that's what. That's probably what is really attractive about it for me. Yeah.
Speaker 2:
And how have you found running has counted the lack of belief or confidence that you might have had in yourself? Rach, I don't know how, to what extent you suffer with that even, but I'm gonna ask a question anyway, because it's natural to do that right. It's natural to. How has running helped you to overcome those kind of self-talk that we give ourselves?
Speaker 7:
Yeah, I think it was been for me anyway, I think because I was going through the divorces I mentioned before. But even before that I think that in the last sort of 20 years I have been the wife and I played a particular role and I put myself in a box of what that meant. So I wasn't really myself and it took a while for me to admit that that was what was going on for me. So that process of sort of self-discovery was helped a lot by running. If you met me four years ago you wouldn't recognize me.
Speaker 2:
But even I think I remember when we first met you in films and I remember the person that I was walking next to and talking to is not the person that I see here before me today not at all Like you were very shy and timid, just asking me so when you cut your hair, and it was just very and this sandy that I see now. This is you in your full glory.
Speaker 7:
Yeah, it's been an unbelievably liberating journey. And I get a bit emotional because I just I mean, you were part of that, you were really part of that To just discover who I am, because I was so fearful. I was really fearful that just walking this journey alone and just turning 50, you know, and kind of going through that by myself, yeah, the layers are peeling back, and aren't they amazing Rage.
Speaker 6:
Rage has always been comfortable in that?
Speaker 4:
No, it's not no, it's not that.
Speaker 6:
I think I've just always been a fighter, so I'm a cage fighter.
Speaker 2:
Yeah.
Speaker 6:
Yeah, I think that's the way to describe it. I think, through just hardship, you know, just experiences growing up, it makes you like really resilient and I just think, well, I've been through that. Yeah, this is nothing you know. So it gives you just a sense of, well, what's the worst? I've already been there Like I don't think anything, you know. So I think it's that. So it's not, it's just different. So I think it's just more enriching for me. It just gives added zeal and vim to kind of those kind of qualities that I have. So I just take the best from it and it's an enriching. You know, experience, yeah.
Speaker 2:
And staying with you, rage. So you're a mother to two? Yes, amazing, amazing children. I'm looking at Lai. How has your running influenced your children?
Speaker 6:
Oh gosh, so much so Laila. So Laila does park runs now and she loves it and she is embraced running she's like volunteered at. Is it London landmark? She does with you guys, but I was running it, she was part of the volunteer squad. She's done Black to the Trail so she likes trail running and I think it's for her. And I wasn't sporty as a kid, I wouldn't be doing anything. You know I'd dodge out of swimming. So I was like, oh, not doing that, so I didn't do, I weren't really sporty. The only thing I loved is netball and badminton. Yeah, but when you're really tiny, like me, not what you can be, but I weren't really good at those things but I gave it a go. But for her, she really just loves the whole energy of ERC. She's our youngest member, the family and, yeah, it's just having that healthy discipline, isn't it? Of movement and fitness. My son's really fit anyway, but even his running you know you'll get out and run and he's done a few things with us as well. So I just think it's in terms of role modeling it's just really important to be healthy and they see mum out there doing it and just living her life as well, with exuberance and you know, as a mother, daughter, dynamic, want her to be 100% just confident in everything she does and just own her space in this world and she will do. I think running as a discipline, as a sport, wow, it just gives you all of that. You know the polish, and when I meet a lot of really successful people, a lot of them, there's always something they like. Some they run or they're cyclists or something, and I think that is the discipline of sport.
Speaker 3:
It's really really important, isn't it? Yeah, yeah, I was gonna ask because obviously we were in our 20s, in our minds no-transcript. But in actuality we're not. We all came to running. I started in my thirties, you, I think D, started in your 20s, but I started in my thirties. Troj did A lot. Of us in ERC started later.
Speaker 6:
I started in my forties, mid forties. You started in your forties.
Speaker 3:
You started, just you know your late forties.
Speaker 7:
I started at 50. Yeah, 49.
Speaker 3:
Do you think, do you wish that you ran earlier, or do you think that you needed to be older to have the ability to really appreciate the discipline of running?
Speaker 6:
I just for me. I just think, everywhere, every, everything is where it's meant to be. So I don't really do that to say, oh, I wish I did this and that. Well, I'm doing it now. And this is the time when maybe it's all aligned, where I can do amazing things, like, you know, run a broad run overseas. I've got that time capital. I'm more established, you know, in my career, in my sense of self, and I can just diarise and do what I need to do. So I think, well, it's just now. So no, it's just, I was meant to do it now and I think I've accelerated so much within that tiny window doesn't make a difference Like I could have been running from in my 20s and 30s and maybe I still wouldn't have got into the kind of long distances that I'm into now.
Speaker 3:
So yeah, I think that is a brilliant way of looking at it, because I think some people think they get to a certain age and they're things that are closed off to them, exactly, instead of thinking I'm at a certain age, so doors are open to me, I have more time, I have more resources, I have more understanding of what I need to do. And I think the way that you kind of turn that on its head is something that a lot of us could do with, because so many times you do look back and you think if I had started running in my 20s, then I would have been able to do a two and a half hour marathon or whatever. But actually would you have? Would you have had that discipline? Would you have?
Speaker 6:
been able to do that, and I think that reads across to all facets of life, isn't it? It's about now what you're gonna do now, not about yesterday or tomorrow. Like, actually, now, that's all we've got, so just capitalise on it. That's what I intend to. I'm going out disgracefully.
Speaker 3:
I'm gonna be enjoying every moment.
Speaker 6:
That's just it. Yeah, that's me. And do you think?
Speaker 7:
that, yeah, I think I don't look back and think I should have, I could have, I would have. But what I am excited about running in my 50s is that it's unusual, it's something I didn't expect to be doing, and I'm so amazed by my body's ability to just be able to do what it does. If you treat it with the kindness and care I mean. If I'd run in my 20s, I would probably be a wreck.
Speaker 6:
You've got to be all injured. Yeah, exactly, you've got to be all injured and not be a mashup. I'm a bit more sensible.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I'm a bit more sensible.
Speaker 6:
Mashup.
Speaker 7:
I'm a little bit more sensible so I'm like I'm not the fastest person. I take my time. I remember when we went to the running show, the marathon expo.
Speaker 6:
The expo yeah.
Speaker 7:
And we met a few people who were like you know you're gonna get to 30Ks and your legs are just gonna go.
Speaker 6:
No, they said 20. We're gonna die, we're gonna kill that All this, like you go and when I got to 20, I was like something meant to be happening. Yeah, yeah, nothing's happening.
Speaker 7:
Yeah, yeah, we just carried on. All right yeah. All you have people who sprinted off to start with and talk about the hair and the tortoise. The hair and the tortoise. That's my favorite mantra, Hair and the tortoise. Yeah, so I mean there were people who went ahead, who, by the end, by the 5K to go, Mark that you were catching up to and passing. So there's something to be said about just running your own pace.
Speaker 2:
It's learning about pace. Running your own pace, yeah, yeah, running your own pace, running your own thing.
Speaker 6:
Yeah, it's not about comparison.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, and then just a question for you you have a wonderful sister for me. How has your running kind of inspired her and encouraged her and just yeah, how is it?
Speaker 7:
Well, we probably need to ask her that question Just sitting right here, yes Over the queue for us.
Speaker 8:
How has it inspired me? So I've said, definitely, I'm going to do a marathon before I'm 60. Yay.
Speaker 3:
You had it here first. It's a start line exclusive.
Speaker 7:
But she's being shy. So I mean, it was for me. We found Couch to 5K for me, so she's inspired me more than probably I have inspired her. I think it's kind of. I think it's true and she's been there with me all the way. I mean, if you see her T-shirt now, it's this proud big sis.
Speaker 2:
She's there with me. Oh, it does. It's proud to be on 60.
Speaker 3:
That's the marathon she took me to the start I think it was for me who found ERC. Actually, she found ERC.
Speaker 7:
She's the one who found ERC. She's the one who put us on the vitality. Do you get interior there?
Speaker 2:
Oh bless her.
Speaker 7:
And because it's just the two of us. Both of our parents had passed a while ago, so we're there for each other. You know we support each other. We're five years apart and as kids we would fight like cat and dog, but as we've got Tom and Jerry, that's what we'd be called. But as we got older we got so much closer and really inspired each other. So love you.
Speaker 2:
Oh bless, okay. So I mean we haven't even spoken yet about your next big challenge for this year, both of you. She says what You're doing the London, oh yes.
Speaker 7:
I am doing London again. It's not even a challenge. It's like a part one now.
Speaker 2:
Look at this, look at this, I mean.
Speaker 3:
I'm doing the second year of the MAGNESO.
Speaker 2:
I mean some people will die for that right.
Speaker 7:
Oh yeah, yeah, it's happening here, no, look, I don't take it lightly at all. I'm really delighted that I'm going to get a chance to do it again, I think because the crowds I mean the crowds are incredible.
Speaker 4:
It's such a privilege to be able to do to run that again.
Speaker 7:
So I'm excited. I'm going to try training slightly differently. So I'm going to try with that runner-up.
Speaker 3:
Yes.
Speaker 7:
And also just fueling differently. Taz has been helping me a lot with my fueling because I'm not very good at taking gels and stuff like that. So trying to listen to my body more and just do the bit more strength work on my knees and stuff like that.
Speaker 2:
Mmm, yeah, and Rachel.
Speaker 6:
So yeah, so I'm so excited I'm off to Tokyo.
Speaker 2:
To do the Tokyo marathon, not just to visit Tokyo.
Speaker 6:
So, yeah, I mean again, I'm just so like, I feel so blessed to be given the opportunity to do that through ERC again, you know, and yeah, I'll be there repping and turning up and showing you know, in your later life and you can do these things that you know. You have to just surrender and go, that's it. I've raised my pit near them and done my bit. Oh no, this is my time. So, yeah, I'm so looking forward to it, and then I'm doing London as well, so I'll come back and then, six weeks later, then I'll be doing London.
Speaker 2:
Crazy Madness. Right Before we turn the questions to the audience, one last question for you both. What one thing from your running life thus far do you say and share to encourage young women or women of our age who are just starting out on their running journeys? So what one piece of advice, inspirational, would you give a young woman coming up doing running, or even women or a woman of our age?
Speaker 6:
I mean I just in a certain you just got to do it. I mean you're like, just dispel those fears. And I'm like, oh, I look stupid. Like, do I look stupid? I remember when I first started running and it was all in the park and that was fine, but I was like, but I want to go out on the road and I was thinking, do I look stupid when I'm running? It's a silly thing, but I just thought when everyone's in their cars, do I look stupid? Like are they thinking, oh, look at her, she looks so stupid. She. It's just nonsense.
Speaker 4:
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what you say in my head.
Speaker 6:
But then I just thought actually, well, I look really good. So you might be thinking who is that? Like you know, wow, look at her. And then it's so true, because then other women would go give me a nod, like on the school run, like I'm running going, yes this. Or like you know I need to get doing, I go, you need to start, come park for a new. You can start. Just make a start, exactly, just break through that initial. How do you do it? Just do it Like you're just absolute. Yeah.
Speaker 7:
I'd say something pretty similar and that, and it's not for elite, it's not an elite support, and you don't have to look a specific way or be a specific frame or shape to be able to do it. So just to start getting your shoes on and start walk, run a little bit, walk a little bit and keep going, even though we look like four, like three little smaps.
Speaker 3:
I feel like a giant.
Speaker 6:
You don't have to be the same frame.
Speaker 2:
I'm the outlier here, you know, you don't have to look like that. We come in all shapes and sizes we do, we do. So that that that it's it's, get on the start line Right.
Speaker 6:
Just do it.
Speaker 2:
Plug, plug, plug. Get on the start line.
Speaker 6:
Get on the start line. Absolutely Listen to the start lines, very good. Listen to the start line.
Speaker 2:
Absolutely so. Questions from the audience. Yes, Taz.
Speaker 9:
Hi. So, taz, thank you for sharing your journeys. They're incredible. I have a question. When I'm running, I often crave food, right? So after a race, what's your? The one thing that you think you're always craving, what do you? What's your go-to food after a race?
Speaker 7:
I have an omelet. I don't know why, but it's just like I. That's what I want is. I don't know whether I'm craving the protein or something, but it's an omelet. I look forward to having that.
Speaker 6:
I don't know if I crave it so much. In the mornings I need to have a coffee, I need to have a milk one when we used to run like later in the day. But I've been really good this time round. This is not, you know, to endorse all this, but it'd be like Prosecco, and they will tell you that I like alcohol. So, I'll have a drink, I'll have a Prosecco. Even relaxing the bathroom Like where's the Prosecco? Even after the marathon, I was like where is where? Listen, I've been waiting for this countdown. I was like I've got that bottle. At the end, yeah, so I really liked that, but this time because going overseas I've been so good so I'm not drinking at all until afterwards, which for me is quite mega, as I think friends would test us.
Speaker 7:
Although in in when we were in Atlanta yeah kilometer one, was it? Oh yeah, kilometer one at 5am or 5.30am there was a woman in her in her pink no-bending gown giving out the Prosecco.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, but yeah, which we have that. That led to a couple of personal bests in the group. Thank you, Lady Can you say your name.
Speaker 5:
Hi, I'm Donna. Thank you, Rachel and Zandi. Really lovely, inspirational talks. So we were having a debate earlier just around shorts or long leggings. I'm a long leggings girl and we were just wondering what do you wear all year round?
Speaker 7:
Long leggings mainly, but in the summer I have tried short shorts. Yeah, they're quite comfortable, but you have to make sure you know you got all your bits covered. I'm shorts.
Speaker 6:
Yeah. Like normally, in all weathers as well. Yeah, I love it 50-50.
Speaker 2:
Any other questions? Yes, yes, tony, so we got. Oh Okay, for me this gentleman here. My name's Fred.
Speaker 6:
You've completed your challenge. How do you?
Speaker 8:
motivate yourself for the next race, rather than saying I've done it and then relaxing basically.
Speaker 7:
I mean, I was on such a high after the London marathon, I couldn't walk, you could walk.
Speaker 6:
I was like but we went to the Port House, didn't?
Speaker 7:
we, then we went for a celebration. A day later we got our medal framed and everything. We were so excited, yeah, and that in itself was just a motivation to go for the next one.
Speaker 6:
I think I naturally need like adrenaline or some kind of high, like all you know all legal highs, I should say but I really get excited for the next, like I scope out what's next. We do a lot of running as a family, so we're always in the group like there's some event. So in terms of motivation it's more because I just I'm so pumped up and I get such joy from it. I don't, it's just I can't wait, I will seek out what's next. So I think I need the thrill of it, so yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 2:
I think we should make Rachel a T-shirt. Thrill seeker yeah.
Speaker 3:
That's her name. Yeah, she just writes. She just writes, okay.
Speaker 2:
So we had a question from Foons and then Tony.
Speaker 8:
Hi, I'm Foonie. First of all, I think I need to correct Sandy and saying it was an omelet, because what I remember from the London marathon finish was I need meat, red meat.
Speaker 4:
Yeah.
Speaker 8:
So yeah, we were hunting for anything bloody for her to quench that tongue of. What I want to say is you've both been blessed in that you've been able to run in different parts of the world with ERC. If there was anywhere that you could run, where would you choose to do it?
Speaker 7:
I want to go on the continent Africa. I want to some African country. I think there's plans there are to go to West Africa, to Ghana, but also South Africa, and I mean 50 plus countries to choose from. But I think it'd be amazing. We will do it. We will do it, it's happening.
Speaker 6:
Gosh, I think it would be Iceland. I've looked at that one before. You can go in the spring, and I love Iceland. Lila loves it too, don't you? So probably there, because it's just like. It's just the most beautiful. It's like it's like Nirvana or God's blessings and heaven in ice, I don't know when. I've been there. Just look it out. I've just moved to tears. It's absolutely stunning. So, yeah, so that's probably where it'd be for me.
Speaker 2:
We need to take down a list of these bucket list places and add them to the ERC list. Thank you for Tony.
Speaker 8:
Hi, it's Tony here. How important is it for you to run with people that look like you, and how has emancipated run crew enhanced your running experience? Thank you.
Speaker 7:
I didn't realise how important it is to run with people who look like me. Until I started running with people who look like me, I don't think I would have entered the races. To be honest, I think I probably would have stuck with couch to 5k and possibly not gone much further once the doors of lockdown were open. So it's really, really, really important, I think, having the support of ERC, not just do the training and stuff, but being there at the start and being there at the end, even more importantly. So people wait for you. I remember for me when you came in that one time and we were all standing there.
Speaker 4:
It was the winter run.
Speaker 7:
And there was a group of 15, 20 people and you came in and we just all went crazy. It was just the most incredible experience to have people just there for you and people who look like you as well helps.
Speaker 6:
Yeah, I think what's beautiful about ERC is it's this family. So we're not just it's actually more than just a run crew. We're actually like a support network, a family, such strong nexus you can't even give it justice just in words. It's like a feeling, it's like an energy. So I think that gives you the feeling that you can almost take on just anything, to be honest. So you kind of taking the energy of everyone in the crew like the collective, and you just feel like you're invincible. So I think that is very, very important Feeling comfortable wherever you are as well, to just be you is what it gives. So I think that is it can never be underestimated, that, because it's just something so innate that you just feel it right in your core. So it's a spiritual thing.
Speaker 7:
The one thing I'll never forget is us doing candy at the beginning, the beginning of the big half. Yeah, I need to let people can do that.
Speaker 2:
Thank you, I mean, that means a lot.
Speaker 3:
Any other questions from anyone?
Speaker 4:
Hi, my name is Dina. I just have a random question. Running is hard to a lot of people and what do you think has kept you going through the hardest journeys during your running journey? Like, what, like, if you've got any advice for, like any beginners that are just starting out, what advice would you give to them if they're just starting in their running journey?
Speaker 6:
I think it's important, if you're just starting out and you just feel a little bit like nervous about that or have got any reservation, find a crew, like a collective, that support that can give you that networking in. It's like a big hug, you know, so in our virtual space, so we're, you know, we've got our halo app now, before that, our WhatsApp, within that community. Then you just see people posting their run and you're like, oh, okay, or even being vulnerable, talking about I'm injured and this is how I feel, like I can't get out there. This run was really pants, or you know just so much. And then others can give their tips, their encouragement, and then from that you can just say, okay, I can work steadily, because everyone starts some way. You don't just wake up and go, oh, that's just it. It don't work like that. But I think that support and just allowing yourself to take in others is really important. I think, just in kind of the pandemic and just every kind of like the legacy of that, people really lost a bit of connection with others and it's been really difficult for everyone. So I think having that space where you can just network in, you know, to the motherboard really, really is powerful, so that's what I would suggest. Don't do it on your own, don't need to. We're here and there's so many other groups like us out there doing similar work.
Here are some great episodes to start with...
