Interview With Tracy Owen
Tracy is a runner, who also loves to walk and cycle and adventure. She is a gifted sports therapist and a photographer…
I met Tracy nearly thirty years ago on the ‘running race circuit’…
Here she talks candidly about her sports, her life, her philosophies, and her encounter with serious illness...
The photographs of scenery are taken by Tracy as she runs...
We also recorded a podcast together, click to listen to Tracy Owen's podcast
I was Born on April 29th1964… My Irish father disappeared when I was thirteen months old, and I didn’t see him again until I tracked him down when I was forty two years old.
I enjoyed a ‘great fun and mischief’, street kid childhood. My family life was poor, with not much love, but the kindness I found in others made up for it. I was however taught good morals and values.
I left home at sixteen and found myself in bedsit land with very little in qualifications, and I fell into accountancy… I was given a chance with Revlon to study AAT at night school. I figured that if I joined the ‘Public Sector’, they would fund my study, and pay me a wage.
I was a tad wild…!
I was twenty to twenty two years old and I discovered music and alcohol! I was given the chance to DJ on Saturday nights in Eastbourne and Brighton’s Gay Clubs.
Meanwhile I went onto study CIPFA (public sector Accountant qualification).
In between all this, at about nineteen years old, I found I liked to run! I entered a social club team into the Eastbourne 10mile event (Our team was called the lazy Aardvarks).
However, I was slowly becoming a functioning alcoholic. At the time I drank litre of vodka a day, plus cider, and anything else I could get my hands on, so running was not up to its best - Ha ha! When I was twenty five years old, I had a major epileptic fit, and I have never touched alcohol again.
It was one of my life’s turning points... I had major debts, and my life seemed a complete mess.
I gave up alcohol and Suddenly the running improved and I was doing well in events. I had joined Arena 80 AC, and I was also still studying through all this… I had moved on with the Accountancy and I was specialising in Auditing, data interrogation, analysis, and managing a team of specialist staff.
Having achieved my running goal, which was a sub 3 hour marathon in 1999, I did a year’s part time course to obtain a Sports Massage Diploma...
The rest is history!
It was time to change career!
Life begins…
My career changed and I started to work with people as a sports therapist. For six years I provided Sports Massage to the Lawn Tennis Association International Tennis Competitors, The Davis Cup, and the Australian Cricket Team, with Michael Clarke as my focus.
Participating as a member of Arena 80 AC, helped me to achieve personal best times of 36.38 for 10k, 61 mins for 10 miles, 2hrs 12 mins for 20 miles, and 2.59 for London Marathon.
The ‘power of ten’ website has my best times on record…
I won The Seven Sisters Marathon in 2000, and to date I have completed 28 marathon events, and one ultra marathon. I also feel fortunate to have been selected for many Sussex and Southern events both over cross country and on the road, and I ran for England in the European road relays in 1996 in Italy.
My cycling has never been competitive, and I usually enjoy off road cycling…
I have cycled ‘The South Downs Way’ twice, from ‘Lands End to John o Groats’, and from ‘Dieppe to Paris’ and ‘The Coast to Coast UK’....
These events were all about the adventure, rather than speed.
I took part in ‘The Three Peaks challenge’ too, which became two peaks - Ben Nevis and Snowden – as a group member broke her leg, so Fort William hospital became the middle peak!
I have also taken part in walking adventures as part of an informal group called the ‘Decade Dames....’ These adventures have been 100k events, mainly on South Downs Way in 22hrs 40 mins, and The Chagford Challenge 30miles in 12hrs 40mins, and various other walking marathons.
Recently Photography has become a major feature in my life. It has always been there, but only in my minds vision of what I see... Until now, I had not thought about capturing it, to share with others, so that they might also enjoy the beauty that nature provides each day.
Being in nature through my sport, meant that I experienced the beauty myself… But now I can capture a moment of it through a simple lense, and share it with others. I bought a ‘cheap as chips camera’, to take my photos with so that I can run free with it!
Music has also been important to me, but my creativity within this comes from the heart expression and dance movement.
Growing veggies in containers in my back garden, is a creative expression for me too, especially possibly, because I choose unusual varieties and grow them from seed.
I also enjoy visiting Art Galleries and creative places such as Charleston, (The Bloomsbury set), and Farley Farm (Lee Millar and Picasso). I love to see other people’s creations, whilst reading about what made them tick.
I would describe myself as childlike, in that I have maintained the curiosity, passion and enthusiasm of a child and I am interested in many beautiful and things, albeit mainly simple and creative things.
I believe in, and hold good morals and values, and I think others would also say this about me too. My driving force is to help people be the best they can be as human beings
I live my life by the Buddhist philosophy; which is to stay in the moment, and be kind to others and yourself.
Many people have influenced my sporting life, almost too many to mention without being inconsiderate to those I omit….
My competitors, in particular You, (Julia Chi) Libby Jones, Jane Boulton. I used to run on my own all the time, although now I find Heidi Arno, who has amazing endurance capacity, is integral to my sport. She shares to my love of nature, animals, and wildlife on the long runs, and the micro adventures we get up to.
The biggest lesson I have learned from others is... ‘Live life now’!
I have had many experiences of being in the flow, experiencing being totally in ‘the zone’; some significant memories of this would be…
Laying on my stomach on the cold beach pebbles capturing a sunrise through the lense…
Working with an injury, and feeling the tissue become pliable and flowing again…
Cycling Lejog.... Each day, was an unknown quantity, cycling 70-80 miles a day in both torrential weather conditions to beautiful scenic places, knowing that cycle climbs up Glen Coe and Rannoch moor were a step closer to the destination.
Buddhist beliefs, and mindfulness factor into my life where practical in this western world. I also believe in the Universe, and Guardian Angels, I do not think I would be here now without them looking out for me. I say 'thank you' every day.
I believe my strength is that I have a gentle, childlike, fun, nature, combined with a determination and self-belief to complete what I set out to do.. I know I have the capacity to adapt to still get there.
Others probably see the gentler side of that determination, and see it as quietly focused.
A belief that sustains me is a that ‘it is ok to be who I am’.
I believe I am limited on occasions by an anxiety that I do not fit in with western world and these social beliefs. I do, however, feel this less so now... Being in my fifties is fab, I have become more true to who I am, and realise that everyone is unique and different, with their own limitations
I feel the process of planning your event or activity is essential… Fail to plan, then plan to fail is the outcome! I feel this approach has served me well. I have a little bit more of ‘going with the flow’, as I have learnt that circumstances do/will change, and we need to bend with them… It’s part of our destiny.
This is a difference within me now to twenty five years ago, because that part of me has changed, and I am now more open to change, and to accept that change is okay.
I also have more acceptance of failing to achieve what I had hoped for, which is linked to the above comments. I have a belief that life must be leading me this way… I may not know why at this moment, but I will understand in due course, and it is okay.
The universe will only give us what we can handle.
And, so in these situations, I evaluate my emotional thoughts and work with them via meditation.
When I experience good things and success, I embrace them, but no longer cling to them. I am just thankful for the moment. I then build upon the success, sometimes by sharing with others, or encouraging them that they can do anything they desire. I also consider what I might like to experience that I haven't already.
When I have got injured or ill, I always determine a recovery plan...
I had a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma two years ago.
This meant I had to have a large group of manky cells removed from near my sternum, just above my left breast… A skin flap neatly covered the hole with thirty one stitches.
It is something I now have to live with, as the cells can do the same inside my internal organs, on anything with a mucous membrane (stomach, bowels etc).
I still have a regular three month hospital check. The experience terrified me, as I had thought I was indestructible.... honestly, a little android!
I still had so much to share with so many people, so many things in life to embrace, this was all too soon to be leaving this earth. I learnt to accept each stage of healing, enjoy each moment that I was still here, and the value of real support from good people.
It was a very huge process for me, especially as in difficult times, I do tend to internalise and retreat into my cocoon, in my home with my dear cat Jack, who has been my companion for over twelve years. He is a great support to me, I love to brush him, cuddle him, and he sleeps with me too!
I tend to assume a normal persona until the worst is past, and then I can expose the wounds freely as I know I am on the better side of the set back.
Looking back at my long sporting career, I would say that my greatest success was being the 1st female home in the ‘Seven sisters marathon’ in 2000.
I had never run an off road marathon, I had no expectations, the conditions were mega mud, rain, and wind - the whole works! The race was in my home town, and I did not know I had won it until I crossed the line. Upon reflection it was my own statement to myself that I was actually quite good at something.
Working with the Buddishm, I realise my personal success is to enjoy life and the people around me. What holds me back is the fear of rejection or losing someone I have given my heart to. My on definition of success is to embrace the experiences of life, in all its aspects, and to enjoy each moment.
I have learnt through sport that determination pays off, and that there are no social barriers… We are all out there doing the best that we can, and share a mutual respect of each other, and that everyone has a story line...
I ran the Beachy Head marathon in October 2012 with the squamous cell carcimona at its weeping cauliflower floret best… I had the operation to remove it three weeks later. My thoughts were I have nothing to lose, and at least running has always been what I know best and has always been my grounding. That still stands, and I am still thankful for every day I can go out and run, and still have the same wonderful people around me.
And my overiding feeling was ‘I am blessed to be here’.
I now practice my sport with no goals as such. I just want to enjoy life experiences, micro adventures, and capturing each brand new day - with the camera lense in my hand - and most importantly being out there moving freely!
I am motivated to train each brand new day, and because I can.
At the moment, I am running approximately 55- 65 miles a week, taking a yoga class, walking probably 30-35 miles a week and cycling 15-30 miles a week… Being a sports therapist is also physical and mentally active.
My advice to anyone starting out on a fitness plan, or a goal to a race would be to plan it, use tested knowledge, and slowly, slowly look to improve on your foundations and build that dream.
This applies to anything in life…
Nothing is impossible... The very word says 'I'm possible'.
