Mandy (on the right) and Rachel on the podium at the LAMM 2008
Petit Trot
HOW DID YOU GET INTO RUNNING?
Got into running after I stopped rowing competitively as a senior in 1998. I needed something to keep me fit and running was very flexible. Normally rowers hate running, but I had always been an Ok runner.. for a rower! Had always thought fell runners were completely mad, so I am amazed to love running off road now. I have always loved being in the hills and even when rowing 10 times per week we always spent our holidays in the mountains walking, so trail running was simply a speeded up version of fell walking!
SO WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A JOB AND HOW DOES RUNNING FIT IN?
To earn a living I head up the global IT function for a the supply chain of a major pharmaceutical company. This takes me around the world, but not ofetn to the hills and makes training for ultras a logistical nightmare at times, but I have done some early morning runs in some interesting places around the world ! Have also organised the Macclesfield Half Marathon for the last two years. I am married to Martin who was for many years a rowing widower, but after He got fit to support my Bob Graham in 2000, and then completed his in 2003,we have a shared passion for off road running. We are lucky to live just outside Macclesfield, where we can be on the top of our local hill, White Nancy, in less than 20 minutes. I do most of my long runs straight from our backdoor and I can usually wear myself out, though for Big hills Scotland is best!
WHAT KIND OF RUNNER ARE YOU?
I could never be described as fast, but enjoy running on the trails and fells and years of rowing endurance training mean that I can keep going for a few miles! My favourite places are the Lakes and Scotland in the UK and love running on the trails in the Alps as well as getting to the tops of a few mountains. We have also run in Colorado and New Zealand and they are seriously big and remote hills.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE SO FAR (like your races, records,achievements)?
Bob Graham Round in 2000 which was my first introduction to long distance running. I have completed the UTMB 3 times in 2005, 2006 and 2007. My best result was 2007 as 3rd Vet and 10th female. It was also great a few weeks later to win two medals at the World Masters Rowing Championships in Croatia. It was a great to win the Fellsman and Pumlomun in 2007 and was very disappointed that I was injured this year for the Fellsman. Winner of the Ladies A Class with Rachael Lawrance at the 2008 LAMM. Also had a mixed win in the Old County Tops with Julian Brown a few years ago (2004?).
THE SERIES THIS YEAR - WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND WHAT YOU INTEND TO DO?
Completed Manx MM, Calderdale and Osmotherley. Have entered Long Mynd and hope to do either Pumlomum or HP40.
WHAT OTHER RACES/EVENTS YOU INTEND TO ENTER?
The Petite Trotte A Leon - read the race report here. I also have a desire to win a medal at the World Masters Rowing Regatta in Lithuania just a week after La Petite Trotte as me and my crew are reigning World Maters Champions in our age category for Eights and Fours.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR TEAM KIT?
Vasue Shoes - I seem to get on best with the Blurs and have raced in them at Calderdale and Osmotherley. The fit is quite good although they are quite wide and go a bit loose when they get very wet...it was very wet at Calderdale and Osmotherly! They are feel quite good to run in although are quite hard in the forefoot, it would be good to have a bit more cushioning for long trails. I think they are better than the Montrail Continetal Divides which were very stiff but not quite as cushioned as the Montrail HardRocks which I wore last summer. For a trail shoe they have quite a good grip especially on wet rock. However for the really gnarly fells, they cannot compete with a proper fell shoe, so are of limited use say in Scotland.
I have also been training in a pair of Velocity VST's, but they are too wide for my feet and do not seem to give any support in the uppers as they feel a bit soft. So I would not feel confident racing in them over a long distance as my feet would roll around in them.
Capestorm Kit - The ladies T-Shirts and Thermals are a nice fit. Not been out in a really hot day to test breathability! Did not experience any chafing problems with SS T-shirt. I was a bit surprised that they did not have flat seams, but did not seem to be a problem when running.
The windproof top is lightweight and handy to take the chill off. However as a versatile piece of kit it is not as good as the grey Mountain Hardware tops from last year. But that Is oe of my all time favourite bits of kit. The podium tops are very smart, but cannt judge their technical merit.
Thorlo Socks - I have worn them for years and my favourites are the lite weight black ones..as they don't show the mud. I used the trail runners a lot last year, which are also good but I have worn holes in several pairs which hasn't happened with the roadrunning ones.
Clif Bars - Like the peanut butter flavour ones and the oat ones, but not seen them for a while!
Team buffs may be an idea as I think they are good for advertising and another brilliant bit of kit.
Vasue Shoes - I seem to get on best with the Blurs and have raced in them at Calderdale and Osmotherley. The fit is quite good although they are quite wide and go a bit loose when they get very wet...it was very wet at Calderdale and Osmotherly! They are feel quite good to run in although are quite hard in the forefoot, it would be good to have a bit more cushioning for long trails. I think they are better than the Montrail Continetal Divides which were very stiff but not quite as cushioned as the Montrail HardRocks which I wore last summer. For a trail shoe they have quite a good grip especially on wet rock. However for the really gnarly fells, they cannot compete with a proper fell shoe, so are of limited use say in Scotland.
I have also been training in a pair of Velocity VST's, but they are too wide for my feet and do not seem to give any support in the uppers as they feel a bit soft. So I would not feel confident racing in them over a long distance as my feet would roll around in them.
Capestorm Kit - The ladies T-Shirts and Thermals are a nice fit. Not been out in a really hot day to test breathability! Did not experience any chafing problems with SS T-shirt. I was a bit surprised that they did not have flat seams, but did not seem to be a problem when running.
The windproof top is lightweight and handy to take the chill off. However as a versatile piece of kit it is not as good as the grey Mountain Hardware tops from last year. But that Is oe of my all time favourite bits of kit. The podium tops are very smart, but cannt judge their technical merit.
Thorlo Socks - I have worn them for years and my favourites are the lite weight black ones..as they don't show the mud. I used the trail runners a lot last year, which are also good but I have worn holes in several pairs which hasn't happened with the roadrunning ones.
Clif Bars - Like the peanut butter flavour ones and the oat ones, but not seen them for a while!
Team buffs may be an idea as I think they are good for advertising and another brilliant bit of kit.
