Run Leader interview with Kristy

Read our interview with Run Leader Kristy, who ran with ICR for three years before March 2020’s lockdown.

How long have you been running with ICR?

I’ve been running with ICR for three years in February 2020. 

How and why did you start running?

I started running on a c25k app in January 2017. My main reason was because I wanted to lose weight. I started by constant running, then my friend Tink (another run leader) told me about ICR and my first session was Valentine’s Day 2017. It was a hills session and I fell in love with it. It helped that Emma was there. I remember her saying hello to me and I was so happy that she was the lady whose club it was - she made me feel safe and comfortable and I was so happy to see someone with some meat on them at a run club, not what I was expecting to see. I thought it was going to be a bunch of skinny, really fast ladies. All were really welcoming. 

The more I ran, the more I realised it wasn’t about losing weight. It was me time. I didn’t need to be a mum or wife, I could be myself and that was what it became. Headspace and getting fitter. I was asked to be a run leader after being at the club for a month; I remember feeling very honoured as I’d only just started running myself. 

How long have you been a Run Leader and how did you feel first time out?

I started helping at a beginners course in March. I felt so nervous, so scared, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I had never Jeffed up until that point and I actually quite enjoyed it. I was trained as a lIrf Run Leader in the May (I think). I felt quite sick with nerves before leading my first session. I wrote cue cards to myself too. There were 50 women the night I did it! I was shaking like a leaf but once I got going I loved it, I was so proud of myself. I wanted to make other women realise that you don’t have to be a skinny rake to run - it’s just moving, getting out the door. I wanted ladies to feel as amazing as I did. I did my first 5k run at Martlesham that year and raised nearly £400 for St Elizabeth Hospice. I signed up for my first half marathon and a 10-mile run in the September. When I started training I was in a lot of pain and Emma suggested I tried Jeffing properly. I found it very odd as I knew everything about the benefits and all the background but it took a while for my brain to click and say you’re still running - walking is ok. I tried it and felt so much more comfortable. I was second to last to finish the Coastal 10-mile run but it felt so good to finish: I made a video of me in tears and it somehow went nuts, I couldn’t believe that it got the reaction it did (N.B. You can see Kristy’s powerful, unedited video here - it’s a raw moment so there is some swearing!). I then did the Great East Run nine months after starting, I jeffed 60:30 and walked more/ran more if needed. I did it in about three hours. I love a mud run too, always do a mud run!

What's your favourite ICR route/training session? 

I love the route around the outside of Christchurch Park, this is because I ran my first ever 5k there, twice round the outside. I felt  so amazed at myself after, I was buzzing! 

How do you combat front-door-itis?

Front-door-itis is a tough one, I’ve currently been going through it myself. The longer I’ve been running, the more I’ve realised a lot of it is actually your mental attitude. If your brain is saying ‘no, you can’t do it’, if you aren’t in the right place you’ll go out and hate it and probably have a ‘f- it bucket’ run. If you feel just ‘meh’, go out for a walk with your trainers on; it might turn into a run or, you know what, don’t beat yourself up. Go for a swim, to a keep-fit class or just sit and do something you love to do. I desperately want to get back out running but I’m using every excuse under the sun. We are all guilty - to be totally honest I’ve been going through a difficult time and I know running will help my head, it’s just the confidence I have to run is low at the moment so I’m doing what I can, when I can. Don’t beat yourself up; grab a friend to run, walk, swim with - just do something. I find listening to some motivational music in my ears gets me out, I also love a rainy run! Did I mention, I love a mud run... it’s so much fun!