Part 2 of the series with the focus on this interview with Wanda, who has won the Ladies Championship for the last 10 years!!
| Best Times | ||||
| Distance | Time | Where | When | 2013 times |
| 5k | 21:31 | Hyde Park | 2010 | 21:52 |
| 10k | 00:43:17 | Abbey Dash | 2009 | 00:46:37 |
| 10 miles | 01:10:14 | Snake Lane | 2006 | 01:15:54 |
| Half Marathon | 01:34:49 | Brass Monkey | 2006 | 01:38:50 |
| Marathon | 03:39:49 | London | 2010 | 03:41:09 |
| Triathlon | All different- course dependant | |||
| Questions | ||||
| What challenges or goals have you left to achieve/fulfill? | ||||
| I’d like to do a half Ironman Distance triathlon (hopefully this year) and some more long distance events. Plus, its always good to do a race I haven’t done before. | ||||
| What’s the best piece of advice you have given? | ||||
| I don’t really know the answer to this but I guess it would be the piece of advice that was heeded by the recipient and they gained from it! | ||||
| I would say that enjoying running is more important and will stay with you longer than a fast time. | ||||
| From Julie James, why can’t I run as fast as you? | ||||
| Because I’m your big sister and you know better than to beat me 😉 | ||||
| What’s your greatest running achievement? | ||||
| Another difficult question! Finishing my first marathon in 1986 as an unattached runner was special – it took me 17 years to join a running club because I thought all club runners were really fast. | ||||
| Crossing the line as first lady in the Harewood 10k, 2012 was a good feeling too 🙂 | ||||
| How nervous were you prior to your first triathlon? | ||||
| Not nervous at all. I wanted to enjoy it and had no expectations so I just turned up and did it. | ||||
| What advice can you offer to someone who might be interested in training and competing in a triathlon? | ||||
| Depending on your abilities, enter a sprint triathlon. As long as you can swim 16 lengths (any stroke), can cycle 10/12 miles and run a 5k you can do it. Don’t worry about special kit- you only need a roadworthy bike and helmet, swimwear and running clothes. | ||||
| You can cycle on any bike and wear your running trainers. You can pull a T shirt and shorts over your swimsuit and you’re away! Also, talk to someone who’s done one about transition. | ||||
| How many miles a week do you swim, bike and run? How do you fit it all in? | ||||
| I cycle to work (about 40/50 miles per week), swim roughly 3 times per week (about 4 miles in total) and run 5 times per week (about 40 miles when I’m not marathon training). | ||||
| I swim before work and on a Saturday after my long run and I run in the evenings on a Tues/Thurs/Fri/Sat+ either Mon or Sun depending on if I’ve got a race planned. | ||||
| Has your running got affected by the triathlon? | ||||
| No, I don’t think so- I haven’t really changed my running pattern. My running is affected mainly by weather. I’m not good in heat and am scared of slipping on ice. | ||||
| When did you start running and how old were you? | ||||
| I started in about 1981 -young 😉 | ||||
| I stopped from 1986 to 2002 to look after my kids. | ||||
| What was your motivation to take running up? | ||||
| I can’t really remember (it’s so long ago!) but probably, as a teenaged girl, it was to lose weight even though my weight has always been stable. | ||||
| What was your first race? | ||||
| I think my first race was a ‘Women’s Own’ (from the magazine) fun run in about 1983. I placed in the top three! After that I did a half marathon at Easingwold. I still have the results list and Chris Gill and Alan Schofield amongst others were on the list. | ||||
| How does your pace consistency come about? Was it learnt or natural? | ||||
| I think my pace is natural. I just run as fast as I run and tend to run the same pace at the end of a run as I do at the start. I completed my first marathon on 4 hrs. 2 mins and Amsterdam last year in 3hrs 55 mins. | ||||
| Have you ever walked during a race? | ||||
| Yes, lots of times especially up hills and in marathons. I don’t worry about walking, I’m there to get enjoyment out of the event. | ||||
| Have you ever wanted to punch someone during a race? | ||||
| No- strange question! Why would I? I’m too busy doing my own thing. | ||||
| What is your favourite race and why? | ||||
| I don’t have a favourite but I like hills and good trails – not too muddy or slippy | ||||
| What’s your favourite race to watch as a spectator? | ||||
| Triathlon is a great thing to watch but I’d rather be taking part than watching. | ||||
| I do love watching MotoGP and Formula 1 though. | ||||
| You’ve been ladies champ for 10 straight years now. What meant more to you, the first or last? | ||||
| Neither, each year I never knew how it would finish and each championship was as important as the last. | ||||
| What do you eat before a race and do you have a pre-race ritual? | ||||
| I have porridge for breakfast and a cup of peppermint tea. I’ve had a few collapses because I struggle to keep my blood sugar up which means I always carry an energy drink and gels. I’ve been investigated for it and can’t have caffeine before or during races so I always look forward to a coffee afterwards. | ||||
| Who is your inspiration? | ||||
| I think the Brownlees are inspiring but I run for myself so I would do it anyway. | ||||
| Is there anything you do to try and avoid injury? | ||||
| Be consistent. I don’t push too hard in training and always try to run steadily. I leave pushing it for races and that seems to work for me. | ||||
| And finally, what did you have for breakfast this morning? | ||||
| Peanut and jam in a wholemeal roll along with a Berocca type drink after swimming. Yum 🙂 | ||||