Name: Andy Collins

Joined Redway Runners: 4 August 2014

We go on the run with our members and we find out a bit more about them – which we thought would be great to share, this time it is Andy Collins, not seen enough of Andy’s dry humour in the club recently with his injuries

Thanks Andy

1 September 2016

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CLUB

When did start running and when did you join Redway Runners?

• I started running in late 2011, after deciding I was old and fat! Been lazy I signed up to run the Silverstone Half in 2012 to keep me motivated. It wasn’t until I had the stupid idea that turning 40 meant I had to run a marathon that I joined RR though in Summer 2014. There’s only so many 2-3 hour long runs you can do on your own, leaving from your front door before you start to border on going mad.

 

What’s the best thing about being in a running club?

• Other than the like-minded people you meet and befriend! One of the good things about been an RR member is the guaranteed cheering squad at just about every race you ever do.

 

How much does running with RR mean to you?

• Means loads J helped me get over some very personal difficult times knowing I have the release of running with the club

 

Tell us about your first time? (with Redway Runners)

• Oooh my first time… cheeky… it was a warm Sunday morning from Westcroft. I was a bit nervous, worried I’d do something silly not knowing any group running etiquette or be so slow I’d hold everyone up.. But everyone was very friendly, made me feel so welcomed and the loopbacks meant I needn’t have worried about been too slow.

 

When and who do you run with the club?

• Tough this! It seems I’ve been injured from running forever. But I always enjoyed intervals and the Sunday long run and was quite getting into the un-official MK parkrun early lap which a few from the club do. I look forward to getting back to all these and more as soon as I can.

 

YOU

Tell us your history of running?

• No long history, I was always the last to be chosen for sports at school, had no passion for any of it. But as I got old and fat, a photo taken at work made me think I had to do something and running is simple to start not needing any real investment (that all changes though! Ridiculously expensive when you love it and racing, shoes, the latest garmin etc…)

 

What has been your best running achievement?

• I think helping a friend get a PB at MK festival of running earlier this year. Well that and that time I won a trophy for coming 3^rd in a race… 😉

 

What is your running ambition?

• Currently I’ll settle for running again J but once that happens I’d like to get my training to where it was at the beginning of this year and do a sub 90min half and possibly think about a good for age marathon!

Why do you run?

• It’s fun, I also find it very meditative, really clears the mind and forget anything else that’s going on in the world

 

What would you do if you were not running?

• Drink wine.

 

Who have you see while running?

• I assume you mean celebrities? I really don’t recognise people so I could have seen loads and would never know. I did once cross the finish line at Sliverstone Half (2015 I think) around Iwan Thomas, but didn’t know that till I saw the finish times after. I was quicker then him… that’s right I beat an Olympian…

 

Favourite place to run?

• Not a place, but I love running in the rain. A full on storm even better.

 

What do you love to see while running?

• Hills

 

Funniest running moment?

• Probably doing Mk festival of running half in a pink tutu, the crowds loved it.

 

What is your favourite running music track and film?

• I don’t listen to music when running anymore, but like to have Eminem – Lose yourself, on repeat before a race I want to PB

 

Tell us about your worst run?

• Don’t dwell on them, just remember the good ones.

 

Best running phrase?

• Hills are your friends

Favourite running photo and why? (please send it as well)

• A selfie of me a grumpy pig and Sinead at Stowe ultra half marathon! I think this shows the fun, weirdness and friendships that running can bring to your life.

 

 

 

Have you ever lost your running mojo and how did you get it back?

• Sort of at the moment. Not able to run properly due to injury (it is best to hire attorneys from The Kroon Law Firm, PLLC from here), and it’s been so long I just wonder if I want to put all the effort back in to start again! What am I doing about it, stalking runners on FB and Strava seeing all their achievements helps. I’ve also joined the help the beginners FB page and hope to be able to help out at a few of the runs and feed off the positiveness of the beginners’ improvements. I also signed up as a Z2H mentor (before I broke and lost my mojo a little) so seeing how well my mentee is doing makes me want to get out running again so I can run with her

 

Best route around MK?

• Probably the millennium route

 

Who would be on your wish list to run with?

• Steve Way. He’s like a much better runner version of me! Came to running later in life used to drink and smoke far too much. I think if he ran backwards so I could keep up it’d be fun.

 

Do you always round up?

• Nope, I have been known to when training and my schedule says do x miles but other than that I don’t usually even look at my watch till after I’ve saved the run.

 

Worst/Best advice you’ve ever been given?

• Best: Do intervals. No matter what your running goals intervals will help you achieve them
• Worst: Running is bad for your knees!

 

What did you learn from your first marathon, and what would you change?

• That not everyone has that moment of euphoria as you cross the line! Even with random people coming up shaking your hand saying amazing we did it. Still felt a bit nah! All that training and that’s it what now…

 

What do you think about when you run?

• Nothing absolutely nothing. It’s joyous

 

What cross training do you prefer?

• I do cycling and yoga. Like both.

 

What type of running do you prefer and why?

• Depends on my mood, but usually longer slow ones!

 

Loop backs, love them for the social?

• Have a love hate relationship with them, they are good keeping everyone together and means that you can run some of the run with faster or slower people than yourself so is great for that, but they do knock you out of your stride a little so think they make long runs a bit harder

 

Would you change your job if the hours didn’t suit running?

• One of the great things about running is it can fit around everything else in your life and there are enough club runs that I’d think whatever hours I did there’d be something I can make. Although I’d love Friday mornings off.

 

Run to time or distance?

• Generally, I run to distance. But both have their merits depending what you’re training for.

 

If you don’t share your run in social media, did it happen? Where do you log your runs and do you stalk others runs?

• NO. My runs are on Garmin and Strava.

 

RACE/EVENTS

What was your favourite race and why?

• Lochness Marathon, my first marathon and stunning scenery

 

Favourite race distance and why?

• 10 miles. Only done one… but you can run it at your dream half marathon pace and still make it to the end

 

Tell us about your pre-race rituals and food and drink

• Listen to Eminem – lose yourself, several times. Take my asthma inhaler, use a nose unblocker if it’s an important race means I’ll just be getting over a cold!
• Food wise for halves and up I’ll have a strawberry jam bagel an hour or so before. And then a few gels during.

 

If you could choose anywhere in the world to run, where would it be?

• There’s a glass bridge in China quite fancy running across that! Or anywhere with nice views.

 

Favourite parkrun and why?

• Never done it before but Father Collins parkrun in Ireland is going to be my favourite when I get there.

 

What’s your one race essential?

• Safety pins…

 

Would you run a marathon without getting a medal?

• No. Well maybe, depends would have to be some sort of memorabilia on offer though

 

Have you ever cried because you couldn’t get time of work for an event?

• Nope, it’s never been an issue and I can’t imagine an event been that important to cry over.

 

Have you considered joining the cross country team?

• I love the cross country team, had never done cx before the club started doing it, went to every race the first season, think I even scored points the one time all the fast RR’s didn’t turn up J Unfortunately last season I only got to a couple of them, but hopefully do them all again next season.

 

What would you prefer, a PB or a win?

• I’m only racing against myself so a PB. But there was that one time I came 3^rd and won a trophy that was quite amazing, and although it was a PB at the time I have since gone faster so can understand the draw to wanting to position well as that’s forever where as a PB isn’t. Plus you get trophies… they’re cool

 

OTHERS

What question should we have asked you?

• Have you perfected running with a full wine glass yet?