The new year means people across the country are busy putting their running shoes on and hitting the road to burn off those Christmas calories. As you can imagine, Christmas is very different for a professional athlete. I managed to squeeze in a Christmas Day lunch with the family, but it was a normal day at the office with a 10 mile run in the morning – at six-minute-mile pace – followed by five miles in the evening.
That might seem like torture to some people, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. For me, going for a run is far more enjoyable than sitting around the house eating, drinking and being merry. The first thing I did on Christmas morning wasn’t to open any presents, but to put my trainers on and get running. As a professional athlete, I feel motivated to train, whether it’s Christmas Day or the week before a major championship.
At this time of year, I often get asked for tips from people who want to improve their running or fitness. I think getting into that professional mindset is something that every runner can try to do, regardless of their ability. I appreciate that it’s difficult to balance training around a full-time job, but if you want to run faster times, making an extra effort to stick to a set training regime will make a huge difference.
When starting any new fitness programme, pacing yourself is really important. I’m sure we’ve all seen people hit the gym like a maniac in January and then run out of steam or pick up injuries. You need to start a new training programme slowly, and build up as the weeks and months go along. When I started training, I was running 30 miles a week but am now up to about 85.
If you want to improve your running then try simply doing a five-mile run four times a week. Then, as the weeks go on and you get used to the mileage, start covering a little more distance in your sessions, and adding some new types of session.
Setting specific goals for the year will also provide motivation. Planning your 2015 is something I’d advise any runner to do. It allows you to set targets and build on your achievements, knowing not to get carried away because the next event is just around the corner.
Like most athletes, I only like to focus on one race at a time – but I’ve also got a long-term plan of the events I’m going to compete in this year. Last weekend it was great to be running at the Great Edinburgh cross country but I will now start preparing for the Cinque Mulini race in Italy. Then I’ll look to run at the Sainsbury’s Indoor Grand Prix, before competing in the World’s Best 10K in Puerto Rico and the World Cross Country Championships in March
I love running the cross-country events as I think they are the purist form of athletics. It’s you, the athlete, taking on the elements – the weather, the hills, the mud – and it separates the wheat from the chaff.
I’m sure many runners will feel the same excitement when battling the weather to put one foot in front of the other this January. People new to distance running will find it an exhilarating form of exercise that helps to release stress and find personal space to clear the mind. There really is no better way to keep fit.
Gemma Steel works with Sainsbury’s, a proud partner of British Athletics. Sainsburys.co.uk
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