Interview With Liz Laird

I met Liz at a Running Crazy trip in Cyprus... We enjoyed one another's company over the weekend, and as we had both won places on the podium, we spontaneously created a celebratory dance!

A dance, which you might spy us doing post race, whether together or apart!

Here Liz shares with us her running journey to date...

How it all began! 

At school I had been involved in every sport possible; everything from netball, rounders, badminton, tennis, swimming, life saving - I was a qualified lifeguard and also taught - I ran in cross country events, and many of the the track and field events too. I represented the school regularly in many of these, and even held the school record for shot put for a number of years! 

I then went to catering college aged sixteen, so some of the activities fell by the way side until they ceased completely when at eighteen I started working full-time in the hotel industry. 

It was on my thirty fifth Birthday that I came to the conclusion that my sedentary lifestyle may have served me well up to this point, but it wasn’t going to continue to do so long term so I had better do something about it… 

After my lightbulb moment I started going running/walking early in the morning, under the cover of darkness, and six months later I ran the Bristol Half Marathon... 

I still remember that amazing feeling as I crossed the finish line, I wore my medal for a week after and had a beaming smile even though my legs were in agony…! 

Never did I dream that eleven years later the tally would reach sixty five half marathons.

Having watched the London Marathon on television for years it was the ultimate dream to run it and a year after taking up running, I secured a charity place and ran the London Marathon in 2005.  After crossing the finish line I vowed never again, and I was true to my word until 2008 when I was persuaded to go to Rome for the marathon; I still remember the cobbles!  It then took another two years before I dipped my running shoes back into the marathon world when I ran two more.

From there it has spiralled and the total has now reached twenty marathons!

Two years ago I was asked if I would ever run an Ultra, I exclaimed that would be absolute lunacy and never…

I have now learnt that I should never say never, as last year I ran the 100km Race to the Stones Ultra over two days, which was an enormous achievement, some more experienced runners said that I was crazy to do it over two days…  

I thought this would be the easier option, but this year I plan to run/crawl it non-stop... Then i will be able to pass judgement on which option is ‘easier’! 

In March this year, 2015, I ran the furthest I ever have in one go, and that was a forty mile Ultra in The Gower, possibly my greatest and most emotional achievement to date. 

I am yet to work out what my next goal is after this year’s Race to the Stones, maybe it might be a 5k!

However shorter distances, 10k or less, have never been enjoyable in my view!  It all seems a bit too much like hardwork; all that heavy breathing, effort and immediate exhaustion! 

Until last year, like most people, I was forever targeting that next PB or trying to run that elusive ‘good for age’ time for the London Marathon until I suppose I had an epiphany… 

I started running off-road races and discovered the camarderie, beautiful scenery, the food at the feed stations, and just a wonderful atmosphere! I remembered why I loved running, it wasn’t about knocking ten seconds off of last month’s time... It was about meeting new people, running with friends, seeing new places...

It was all about enjoying running! 

On the odd occasion I still target a race but the experience is normally less than enjoyable, and it will be a while before I’ll want to repeat the event!

Like everyone I have suffered the odd injury, mine are normally IT bands that are grumbling and complaining. 

I do believe cross-training really helps with improving running, and strength, and keeping injury free too, as well as giving the opportunity to make new friends. 

During the week, as well as running, I also go to the gym, take part in a spinning class, go swimming and attempt yoga…! 

I say attempt yoga, as this is new to me this year, and even though I really enjoy it, so far only my wrists have improved with flexibility! I am therefore hoping that the rest of my body will start to follow suit soon, as currently I am as flexible as a plank of wood!

I only decided to join a running club five years ago, not so much to improve my running but to meet new people. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Through the running club, Chippenham Harriers, not only have I met the most amazing people, made some wonderful friends and met my boyfriend, but I have been given the confidence to take part in events I never thought I could… I found my love for off-road running, and with the ‘effort sessions’ actually improved my running as well!

I rarely get nervous before a race, what will be will be, not every race will be a great one you just have to take the rough with the smooth.  If every race was easy then we’d never learn from our experiences.

Last weekend I took part in my first Aquathlon... Who knows what is around the next corner? I just keep an open mind….unless it involves bikes…..I don’t do bikes!

Through running, I have travelled, met wonderful people, made friends for life, found love and I am now fitter than I was twenty years ago...

As long as that continues I will be a happy!