Welcome to not another Runner podcast a running and health-related podcast created by a run-of-the-mill. Yes pun intended every day Runner join me for all things running health and well-being related for the highs and lows of Life Training and chasing girls. This podcast is designed.Keep you motivated and enthusiastic on your journey to health and happiness. Every time I run I discover something new about me and about life be a reason why I run or a discovery of myself. I genuinely find gratitude through Runnin. I am able to stay healthy and fit through the execution of my passion, but furthermore I'm able to achieve peace presents growth and Discovery and I love to hear all your stories on how running has changed your lives and what it's brought to you. I want to connect like-minded people through the power of podcast.I want to tell you all about run one and the elevated energy pack of supplements, which is what I'm currently trialling and loving at the moment. They provide a daily dose of nourishment packed in individual recyclable sachets there an eco-friendly product and they belief is better for you better for the planet. They Pride themselves on providing the required nourishment for Less waste being friendly at for the planet, which ILess waste and more recycled equals the better for me. The individual sachets really makes for an easier way to approach your Wellness routine and also perfect for busy Lifestyles, especially if like me, you're forever Russian between one thing and another be that wig trained in club Jim and your next daily tasks or chore Honestly though. I am more inclined to take in them daily when they are packed in this way. I have always been bad for buying various vitamins minerals and supplements All In Separate plastic bottles and then it's just a fact of having to sort through them in the morning remembering to take them to work remembering then to take them with a meal during my short tea break. I'd follow the routine for a couple of days and then just forget and not continue then it'd be a waste and I'd have to check them away. But with run ones in juniors idea, you can pop one of the packs in your lunch bag or box for work or even your kit bag. If you're an early bird catches the worm type who hits the gym first thing and has breakfast during your commute to work because I know A lot of you do so. Yeah. It's just so much easier. I also love the idea of conscious Wellness sits really well with me the elevated energy, which I am currently trialing includes an ultra vitamin ginkgo biloba for memory and focus tumeric for a feel-good and anti-inflammation vitamin D3 and calcium for feel good and bone health, which I always take vitamin D3. So I'm thrilled that that's included in the park glucosamine chondroitin and MSM. For joint health and stay Supple. So I'm going to take these daily supplements for a while. See how I get on for me. It's come up perfect time. I'll be very honest as I was there the day my exercise diet and routine has taken a slump recently, but none of us are perfect. And neither is life. I guess it's how we Face the adversities and Imperfections and choose to overcome them. So it's very fitting to start this now while I'm motivated again to get going again with my exercise. Diet regime especially when I read on their page a quote that reads the best way to change the world is to change yourself and I absolutely love that quote. I'm going to have to remember this because it reminded me in my recent world that the only way I can change my situation is by me changer and what I can and to change in myself. So I shall accept the things I cannot change and make every effort to change the things I have control of so if you guys want to have free Trial pack a 10 day free trial I will include run ones story and the link to this site in the show notes as well as the link for the 10 day 10 day free trial if you do trial before you buy let me know if you are and how you get on with the project because I'll yeah be really interested to know. I was so grateful to catch up with today's guests Victorious tears, especially given just how busy her life currently is her daily commute takes four hours out of your day and yet Victorious still manages to find time to fit in her training running at least four times a week attending a bar class once weekly and often getting out on her bike and do an Open Water swimming and she dedicates time to her local Sailing Club. She throughout the year Victoria is Alex front-runner a Suunto brand ambassador and a very very Speedy Runner with an incredible PB for the half marathon tune in to hear all about Victoria's Adventures including winning first lady at a 50 kilometer ultramarathon and why she's motivated by the outdoors and why she coaches herself. Hello, and welcome to not another brand a podcast. I am really excited to introduce today's guests to you. It is Victorious tears a wife an avid Runner cyclist swimmer the occasional triathlete from Hindi and an A6 front-runner and Suunto brand ambassador. Oh and also part of the local Sailing Club, so welcome Vic. Thanks for your time and joining us today. Thank you for having me really excited to ask all these questions today. So For those who aren't sure or perhaps haven't come across you just yet. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do for a living? Yeah. Sure. So I'm 30 years young and like you've already mentioned. I live in Kent, but I actually commute into London each day because I work for a place called some of these Institute of Art and we are leaders in art World education and we have campuses in London and New York, and I'm the deputy director of global. Missions and recruitment for them through that sounds really interesting. Do you enjoy it? I do. Yeah. I mean, I think it sounds a little bit more glamorous than it actually is it's a lot of hard work. It's a lot of traveling but that can be pretty exciting. I don't like to stay in one place for too long. But yeah, it's a really really great place. It's full of very interesting people and I get behind the scenes access of the auction house and I get privileged access to say It was and auctions that I'd love to do some of that might actually yeah, you get 50 first dibs on some of the things as well only I could afford them. You know, you said you I mean, obviously you travel a lot with your job. I can imagine that makes it quite difficult than if you're if you're training for something big. Yes, I have to admit so I've only been doing this job for a year now, but I feel like in my races this year. I perhaps gotten lucky rather. Rather than have actually put in the hard work before it which is you know, a little bit of a shame but you kind of have to work with what you're given. Yeah. Oh, yeah, definitely, especially if you if there's something that you can't change for example, if you are traveling or you're away, you know, you can't you have to like, you know be able to adapt to you know, your situation or your surroundings and just you know, get on out do what you can so could you tell us how it was you got into running and how long have you been running for? Yeah. Sure. So I was always The kind of kid that wanted to get out of PE lesson, so I would fake letters from my mum because I never really wanted to do like communal sport. That being said. I was always the runner at sports day. So do cross country and track event was never particularly good at it, but just kind of enjoyed running just for the hell of it. And then when I got to University I started to run more regularly, so I was 18 years old and I would be going out every day. But I would never run more than five k. So that was kind of my thing and I just found it so difficult to get beyond that point and so I just kind of assumed running with one of those nice things to do each day didn't really have any concept of racing or anything like that. And then when I was about 22, I think I started to do some races with my cousin who was a triathlete at the time and we started to do 10K races. Have an oh my gosh. It just felt like the most difficult thing in the world. I still maintain that 10K is one of the most difficult distances to run and then when I turned maybe 25 if I decided to get into Triathlon myself and did that for a couple of years and then running took over because I just loved it so much and then you've never looked back. No indeed. It's just a part of who I am now, but I mean when you were in Only and you were you said you're running everyday was that joke, really? Yeah. I mean I think running 5k Every Day is not the end of the world. But I am quite prone to move training which they have to watch in myself a couple of years ago. I was in a pretty bad headspace and I ended up running 10K every day and you know, that's just not normal and not healthy at least not for somebody like me. But yeah, you know 5k Every Day at University. I hope to fill the time. Yeah, and I did we did you take us low then the 5K which not adjusted and space. Absolutely. I mean, I was probably running 5K in gosh, maybe about 35 minutes. So it was a really really nice easy run worked. Now I run 5K in like 22 minutes. Wow, which is really fast. I'm wondering and you when you started in uni when you were 18, did you did you used to use anything to track the Run? Did you literally just you know head out the door with your trainers? Jean and you know no watch no phone. Yeah, literally I had no idea what running properly was. So I think I took my phone with me just from a safety perspective, but I didn't have a watch I had slip on trainers, which I probably would never ever even we're just to walk around it nowadays and I just used to wear really really big heavy t-shirts. I just Didn't know what running kit was but you know, I think it was like that, you know, just you know, yeah those men, you know, because I would be new new roughly the same time as you then and I remember my friend who was a runner like heading out the door. No watch big baggy t-shirt shorts from she's had four years since like secondary school and I like just mapping the run before heading out on map my run just so that she could see right. Okay, I'm gonna go for six miles. This is where I'm going to go and that's just the way it was. Yeah, and I would listen to the The Same album as well. It was a Miley Cyrus album with mortified to admit now. I would just listen to the same songs over and over again. So I knew exactly where I was in back run so you could kind of like compare it then the next time yeah, it's weird. Isn't it? Help it when you start running. I remember when I first started and I was doing a 5-kilometer loop, I would just do the same route, but I would only start like at the same exact spot so I can like come here the time and all you know, yeah. Yeah. So you said that you should try and get out of PE lessons when you're at school. So obviously then you you know Sports active lifestyle of you weren't as interested as you aren't because nowadays, you know, I look at your Instagram and you're literally like in between one and another I can see you're swimming in open water. And then you're part of the Sailing Club and you're running. You've got a massive a big bike ride coming up as well this this year in August. Yeah, I I've got a lot of energy and it kind of needs to be burned up somewhere. So I wasn't really interested in sport and the teenager as a child and that being said I did the usual stuff. You know, I went to dance classes I went to karate because I've always been quite a hyperactive person. So I needed some kind of outlet but it didn't really I didn't enjoy doing sport at school. Although I was on the fencing team so actually fenced for a different. School to mine and I started winning all of the competitions and so my school decided to adopt a fencing team and I was the only person in it so fencing was my sport is a teenager and I wish that I still did it now, but I'm a qualified fencing instructor so I could get back into it if I wanted to gosh. I didn't realize you were qualified fencing instructor as well. Yeah. I just love fencing is such a beautiful sport. Wow, and now obviously, you know, we chatted earlier when you said that with regards to the Sailing Club, then you you helped out with them yearly as well with several events. Yeah, absolutely. So part of the membership means that you have to volunteer for for events throughout the year, which is fine. Although I've kind of got myself into this routine over the past two years. I've been paying my membership, but I actually haven't had any free weekends to sail myself in any of the races because I'm so preoccupied with Racism and stuff like that, but I still have to do my duties. So I tend to just go down and help out on the safety boat whenever I'm allocated Duty instead, but I'm not actually benefiting from the ceiling at the moment. Unfortunately, it's hard to fit it all in there. Isn't it really hard? Absolutely and you have to balance your sporting commitments with family and everything else as well as a real juggling a I feel guilty a lot of the time. Yeah, because I mean, what does your weekly structure look like at the moment with running Etc? So I mean so I probably only run three or four times a week. I've got a 4 hour commute each day though. So I have to fit everything in around that and get some sleep as well. I also try to go to a bar class once a week. I'd like to increase it to two times a week, which is what I used to do. But at the moment I just can't fit in any more than once but that's really good because that's my strength training and I try to cycle once a week and I try to see swim once a week as well if I can. But the swimming and the cycling a probably more inconsistent in the running for me because we're running is always a main priority. Yeah. Yeah, which makes sense and I remember seeing about you go into the going along to the bar class. So when did you start that then so I started that about three years ago and it actually coincided with me getting faster at running. So I was always such a plodder. I think I started going to parkrun I said started going to park one. I've been to park one. Five times in my life. So I'm not a regular girl. I wish I was but I can't make up that early but when I went the first time I I think I got like a 32-minute 5K and then I went back after I had just started doing my Barre classes and all of a sudden I was down to 25 minutes and then I chipped off from the time as the other part grounds that I did and I just think it is one of those really really amazing and class. Has to do because it's helped me so much. I'm so much stronger and my body really changed in terms of how it looked. I started to get more definition and it was good for my back as well to my posture isn't great. So I am a huge advocate of our classes. And because what made you go along to that then was it do you have a friend that was going or new as an instructor? So I've always been interested in Bali. I love ballet class, but I'm not Actually, very elegant. I've got really long limbs that are a little bit awkward. I'm very clumsy, but I'm quite good at those representative movement and like being in your own head and challenging yourself in that way. So I thought I would give it a go because I noticed a class was starting in the area and and I went along and our instructor pick up. She's absolutely incredible. She's a real force to be reckoned with and so she does two classes in the local. Area in different locations and I know she's one of those people that you just want to be around her energy because she's just amazing. Yeah. I remember seeing a post about that and I was like really interested to see you know, if he was still doing it. So I'm glad you've mentioned that bill which is quite good A lot of people do, you know promote strength training and using the body weight for their strength training for running and obviously as you know, it's worked for you with regards to your speed. I think you know perhaps the cycling's got a good part to play in it as well because cross-training is always a great great thing in order to improve our endurance and aerobic capacity. And so keeping that going as well as well as the swimming it obviously is going to pay dividend for you and you're running exactly. I mean, I'm always confident but I've got a general base thickness. And so I think once you've got that bass Fitness a lot of what happens on Race days what is going on in your head? And so I'm confident with my body knows how to approach a race properly. You know, I know what my tactics are in a race. I know what works for me and it won't work for everybody. But I'm confident that the things that I'm doing throughout the week just keep my fitness levels ticking over even if I'm not actually pushing myself into unknown territory in terms of speed and things like that, but you know speed isn't everything either. It's about having a good time. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. I'm sure you mentioned you've got four hour commute. Am I right? That's really my it's still destroying I keep saying so every now and again, we have a meet the train manager session when you get to the station Inland and every time that happens at my station I go up to them. They say what you need to do is replace one of the carriages replace the seats with treadmills and you can use the energy the electricity generated from that to power something like the Wi-Fi in betraying but it means that those people who Who have to do the commute but want to be active can actually be doing something productive? It's it's so horrible. I would never recommend Community to anybody unless you can commute on your bike. Yeah, I mean, is there an option, you know later down the line where you could perhaps? You know, I don't know where work would be closer to you or you could be closer to work. And so I do work from home one day a week which makes a big difference. Realistically. We wouldn't move to London just because we're so out. Rosie we need to be by the Sea and it's just good for our mental health in general to be around this area. So a man is one of those sacrifices that I have to make because you know, I'm a little bit power-hungry in terms of my career. So I just need to make sure that I'm looking after myself but that I've got a bit of a balance going on in terms of things that keep me happy. Yeah. Yeah, and I think generic credit where credit's due for you to do a commute like that. And then still, you know be able to fit in your three to four times weekly runs your cycling once a week C swim in and your Barre classes. Well, I think welfare played you because I can be easy, especially when you've trained for longer distances. So if anyone's listening and think I know I'm tired this week or you know, really think at all, you know, am I going to be able to get out the door and of this run? Oh, I'm too tired after work blah blah blah. Well, just think of Victoria here who's doing? Or L will commute. I'm still getting it done. I mean everybody has their own time constraints don't be so I guess it's a very apparent or something like that. You could similar restrictive timetable, but it's just about doing what you can as long as you feel okay at the end of the day and I actually find that even though I get off the train and I feel like an absolute zombie if I get outside it does make me feel better. Yeah. Yeah, I think sometimes I you know, I haven't gone commute like yours, but even on the most Just tired days or tired weeks where perhaps I might not have slept well or Works been stressful or I didn't know what it may be as soon as I've you know, pleaded with myself and got out the door to go for a run or go to gym class as much as I was exhausted before I started about she got more energy for doing it. So yeah, you don't regret it when she wants you gone. No, no, no and you know, what, if you're not having a good time on that run or training session, you just cut it short at least you've given it a try. I always have them this one mile rule. My head so I'll go out. I'll Attack the session and if after a mile, I'm still not feeling it then that's fine. I can go home. Yeah, that's a good that's a good thing to do because actually they say, yeah well and the first 10 to 15 minutes of your running is it's never it's never delightful. It might be okay, if that more often than not it's quite uncomfortable. But once you've got past the 10-15 minute barrier where you've warmed up and you've got the blood pumping tall them. Muscles you are more likely to then continue and continue to finish your workout because you've warmed up and you're ready to go now. Exactly and you already sweaty. So you might as well finish. Yeah. Yeah exactly as I get, you know, keep keep going and get the feel-good endorphins. Absolutely. So you mentioned about you and your husband and that is good for you both to be living where you are and near the coast. So what does I'm Gareth is your What is he interested in sports like yourself? So he absolutely hates running. Although I do occasionally sign him up to things and then I feel terribly guilty afterwards but he's really really into cycling and he's also into kayaking and wakeboarding powerboating stuff like that. So he is really really outdoorsy perhaps in different ways to me sometimes but a good mix and the both of ya. Yeah. I mean, we always like to have an adventure ER I think that's what keeps our relationship really fun. You know, if one of us says, oh I'm going to head up this mountain, you know, he might cycle along side me on his mountain bike or something like that. And when I'm doing my long runs on a Sunday, he'll sometimes Comer alongside me and his bike just so that we can have a conversation while some training. Yeah, that's pretty intense and it's going to still actually having time together, but you're still getting the training done and you'll get you both getting outside and getting the It benefits of exercise and fresh air. So that's that's great. Yeah, and I've got to ask there's this photo when he posted it like I looked as like, oh my God, and you posted was a photo outside the the start-finish line for in chamonix in France for the marathon Du Mont Blanc. Yeah. I need to know which one you did because I saw that there was like, oh my God, I can't believe you were there and you were doing one of them. Yeah, so I actually did two of the races. So and this was when there was a heat wave in France as well. So pretty unpleasant conditions and but on the Friday afternoon, I did the vertical kilometer which was incredible. It had been on my bucket list for about four or five years. And this was finally the year when the stars aligned and I was able to fit it into my schedule and it was just the most surreal challenging and inspiring race. I Ever done and I didn't really have much Mountain experience. We've got a place in Wales as well which we occasionally go down to but to be honest with you. I don't tackle the big mountains. So this was a complete unknown for me, but it was absolutely brilliant and I would highly recommend it to anybody and then on the Saturday there's a race called the duet to Ali which is a nighttime race. It starts at eight o'clock in the evening and you have to run it with somebody else. So you're in a team of two. And it's 20 kilometers in distance and about 1,400 meters of elevation. And it was just magical that you can see all of chamonix lit up down below and you could see Mont Blanc in the distance. You were running towards it and it was a really really busy race. It was quite frustrating on the technical Parts because it was slow but two of the most surreal races but I've ever done I just didn't know that scenery like that. It was just a brilliant weekend does I'm so jealous that you got to do that or don't do the Genesis of like weird. But like just yeah just while because I'd love to do one of them up the I do I would be a bit apprehensive mind because I mean there is some serious elevation gain in the law of those and lot of those races with Marathon to Mont Blanc and I just think of all they look grueling. I mean the vertical kilometer you It off of switch back switch. I was told by my uncle who was out there with me and who had run back a few times before. He said look just just don't run it back. Don't run. It just walk. It really really slowly. But of course I want to run, you know, I want to see what I can do. So I started off on these switchbacks and it was so tough like right from the start. You're just climbing and then you get halfway up a vertical kilometer and you're just scrambling. You're literally having to climb up Rock. Or use a rope that's in the rock face to pull yourself up. It's it's so physically demanding but you get to the top and you realize what you've done and you just feel so proud of yourself. And actually I was in the elite category as well for the start time because I accidentally messed up what start time I should have been in and the day beforehand. I was really worrying about this as I'm just going to slow everybody down what's behind me? They're going to get so angry. Really? There's not going to be any opportunity for people to overtake me then as I was walking to my station to travel home. I saw a lady in front of me and she bumped into one of those security bollards and I thought oh gosh, is she a little bit drunk and then as I walked around her I realized what she was partially sighted and her cane hadn't picked up the fact that the security guard was that I just thought in that moment. I'm so lucky to be able to have a body that can just run up mountains with very very minimal. Iterations the any kind of inconvenience I might get into and it just gave me a renewed sense of inspiration for the weekend. And I think that is kind of what carried me around on those braces. Yeah. So that was before you headed to the race that you saw that and the night before hand which because inside, you know, you gotta trust the universe of these things, right? Yeah, definitely definitely so did Karis do one of them? I'm sure you post. Did that he did the vertical? Yeah, he didn't vertical kilometer and I didn't think this forgiven me yet. Was it that bad? I mean 40 percent of the people that had signed up for it didn't turn up for the race just because of the extreme weather and it became mandatory to carry water with you on a raise and they put the start times back by an hour for everybody to get them out of the heat. But when I started so Gareth started before me But at my start time it was still 39 degrees and that was about six o'clock in the evening. So, you know, he found it hard because he hadn't really done any run training beforehand. He I think he had started running like two weeks beforehand again, but again, he he didn't really have any elevation in his legs, but he was amazing. I was so proud of him. I was really worried over time because up there because if anything had happened to him, I would have felt responsible for pushing him into it, but he was brilliant because he's good at everything but he does and did did he do the other event on the Saturday or was he so that was yeah. Yeah, so I'm going to slam. Yeah, I didn't think Gareth would have enjoyed that we did actually have a place for him if you wanted it because one of our friends from Monaco dropped out, so we were kind of running as a for but one of our friends had to drop out because he had surgery the week beforehand. So there was Three of us running together for the Jeweler to Ali hmm. You've got an amazing picture of you doing what look like the vehicle kilometer. I think you posted that like few days ago. I died like who even took that photo? So that's one of the Professional Day from the race organizers. They were just given most perfect spot because that was one of the particularly technical parts of the climb, but it's so nice to have that as a Memento of God. Yeah, such a great photo with a brilliant brilliant view behind you. Amazing. Would you say that was your best that's your best experience yet with regards to your endurance endurance life. That's a really good question. It's definitely up there like in the top three I would say but I didn't know I get something pretty special out of all of the races, but I do I mean, that one was just so different. I'm going back. Next year to do the marathon actually. Yeah. Yeah, I haven't signed up for yet because registrations on open but that's the plan. I'm not done with Mont Blanc with them with the marathon. Do you have to qualify with points? Because I know one of the races you have to qualify don't you as so UTMB weekend, which is in August you have to have points to enter into the ballot for all of those Reese's I think there's four or five races across that weekend that the marathon du mont-blanc weekend, which is in June. June you don't actually have to have points. So it's sort of more fun to do that and also in chamonix isn't as busy for both races either it still gets pretty busy but not like UTMB weekend. Yeah, I think like because UTMB that it's just stocked with Elites and sponsors Etc. So I'm assuming that that brings a lot of busy hub for that weekend. Yeah, although chamonix itself is pretty busy all the time with really good-looking athletic people. I mean it was so inspiring walk. Around I just kept seeing people guys. Like I really wish I looked like that person and that person isn't and there's just loads Outdoors shorts is kind of our idea of Heaven. Yeah. Yeah, I've got to ask right. Am I right in thinking that you still haven't completed a road Marathon yet? Yeah. Yeah, that's right. So I'm going to Chicago American in October, but no, I haven't done a raid Marathon, but I have done some papers. Yes, I thought Thought I'd seen this and I wasn't sure of anything to change but I thought I was right so so you literally went in to do an ultra before you'd even completed the Marathon distance. Has it all just just on road. Yeah. Yeah. I I didn't know I'm a classic overachiever and I just like to do everything. I like to say yes to everything and my uncle he so the reason why I did with ultra it was last June that was my first And I did it two weeks after a really really strong half marathon performance of a road and my uncle just said to me why don't you try an ultra and I thought yeah. Okay. Sure. I think we ever run Bike 12 miles in training and I think my my longest ever run at that point as well was 15 miles, but I thought you know got to give these things a try and see if I liked it and he took my watch away from me so he paced me. And he said that whenever he ate I had to eat and on every uphill when we were walking I had to drink water and it was actually a lap trees as well which really works quite well for me so I can logically I because I just love knowing what's to come. I know most people it's like their idea of hell, but I'm So Into lap traces and so I was getting through a bottle of water on each lap of electrolytes in and it was just fantastic. I really really loved it. I didn't struggle at all and It was just so different in the usual road races where you're chasing find it was much more about the experience. So your uncle had you done stuff like that before then obviously. Yeah, he is a seasoned ultrarunner. He does all of the weird and wonderful stuff and it's so inspiring but you only got into it in his 40 he's but he's amazing absolutely amazing. That's amazing that you need to go into all of that in his forties heard you been running before that. Not really I I think he started running possibly as a bit of a midlife crisis. I hope if he listens to this. He doesn't mind me saying that but I didn't think he was overly acted, you know, he was living in Monaco and living party boy life, but with a young family as well and I think one day he just started running and realized he really enjoyed it and he had a group of friends that were really into it as well. I think when you've got people around you who are into similar things to you or a starting on that similar Journey, it makes it easier to Get into it. Yeah. Yeah. I can't believe that he took your watch away and pasty that's like a fantastic story to tell it's my idea of hell though, because you know, I wasn't in the best head space at that point. So I was restoring weight throughout that year. And so I was still really really fixated by numbers. So to take my watch away from me was a genius move because it meant that I lost all power. I just had to trust him, but it Worked yeah, because wasn't that the Moonlight challenge? Yeah knows about was the was it called Kent 50 can endurance run something like that? Yeah, because when did the when did the moon like challenge come in was that that was after that then? Yeah see the Moonlight challenge was in February of this year. And that was absolutely brilliant. I mean I did that all by myself actually, no, not all by myself. I had a really really great friend. Aw. Natalie she was my support crew when she found out those doing it. She's like oh, so he's supporting you on that run. I said only buddy and she said but she would come down and she would do some of her coursework for her University course in the barn because again, it was a lap trace and she was just brilliant because you get into a stage when you're racing if you're on your own and it was at night time. So I think it started at three o'clock in the afternoon, but was in winter in February, so you lost the light quite early on On and we were lucky that it was really glorious day. So I started it wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I think it was about 12 or 13 degrees at the time. But obviously as soon as it gets dark, it really drops in temperature, but when you're in that missing mentality, you kind of forget that you need to put layers on and you forget that you need to eat. So every time I was coming back into base camp she was saying to me right? I'm going to put this coat on you now, right? I'm going to feed you watermelon. And even when I was saying Lola, I really don't want to eat. It was like no. No, I'm going to make sure you have like six peanuts and this amount of watermelon and you have a bite of this Flapjack and she was just brilliant and then when I was on my last lap, I started to struggle in like the last mile and a half and I just sent her a message and I said no I'm going to be a little wild coming in and she came out and she ran in the Last Mile with me and it was just really kind of her to do that. And that's what the running Community is all about. I met her through social media and you know, it's just nice. Nice to have a real great support crew around you. Wow. I love that story that she was there supporting you and that she was reminding you to eat and drink and stay warm and that she run the Last Mile and that you met her through social media. Where did where did you meet? Was it on Instagram? Yeah, it was on Instagram. I think she had done the Kent endurance run so that Ultra of the year before and so we were technically at the same race, but we didn't know each other then and then we would just connected. Through hashtags like after that race and just start each other. But yeah, you know, I take my hat off to her because I ended up going first lady in that race and I wouldn't have been able to do that had it not been for her looking after me and I was literally just about saying that race you one first lady. That's that's incredible can't get that. We use I bet did you like expect you know to come in the top I know top five top ten. No, I mean it was only the second time but I I'd ever run long in a race and I hadn't had the best lead up to it because I'd had pneumonia a few months beforehand. So I was out of training for an entire month. So it was completely unexpected. But I was having such a good time in that race and that's the thing, you know, if you're in a good headspace, I think you can achieve so much more. So I always know that if I wake up and I'm not happy on Race morning. I know what my performance is going to be like hmm. Oh, yeah, there's a lot to be said about In the right headspace. I mean that's why they these pro athletes athletes. They pay good money for a sports. I am they call him sports psychologist. Yeah, like psychiatrist so they can get them in the right mentally game. Absolutely. How many how many miles was the Moonlight Challenge and that was 31 miles for me? So 50 kilometers and that's my sweet spot. So I haven't run longer than that and I don't know if I want to run longer than That to be honest with you because I just really enjoy that distance. It's manageable without destroying yourself. I can't I can't imagine running out just yet or what. It must feel like after running that especially on your first Go, I mean like to push yourself and get first lady like, you know, what was how did you recover afterwards be honest with you? So the first Ultra I did I recovered really well from it. I went swimming the next day and I think that helped but when I did the one in February the Moonlight challenge I thought that I had recovered well, but I noticed I was just feeling a bit sluggish. I decided not to run for the week afterwards, but I was traveling for work. Anyways about just ended up being convenient, but then when I started to get back into training, I was really struggling and it turns out that I was suffering from anemia, which is something I'm quite prone to but I just hadn't picked up on the signs, but I think I just must have pushed myself so much in that race without realizing it, but I'd just broken down all of my Blood cells and the thing is you can't believe you know, you said a minute ago. You had you'd have pneumonia a few months beforehand and had a month off training and yet you still went in did this ultra marathon of 31 miles or 50 kilometers and you race it and you get first lady, you know, I mean, I will kind of just put the scenario out there. I don't think the field was overly strong on the day, but still first lady especially I'm happy to take it but it was Sing with Elites or anything like that. Yeah, but still none that I mean not being funny, you know, if you've been off training for a month and you're talking ammonia, like, you know, you always lie bounce back pretty quickly to do that. That's crazy. When I had pneumonia, I literally did no training whatsoever. I mean I was so unwell, but I couldn't anyway, but you know, you just got to be sensible with these things and I haven't always been sensible in the past, but I've learned my lesson from that. Yeah, because when was it you decided what I'm going to ask when you decided to Ultras, but obviously it was your uncle that spurred you on to do that to you before exactly yeah, June 2018. Have you got any more lined up and I haven't for this year, but I've got some big plans for next year, which I'm keeping secret for the time being but there's smelter in the summer which is overseas. And had quite a Savage cutoff time, which I'm thinking of doing. Well. Yeah, there's an ultra next year is that we would say yeah say there's one July overseas. That being said. I've got a few Ultras I'd like to do next year anyway, and I just want to do lots of trails stuff next year and I also want to get my rude halftime down as well. Yeah. I'm so intrigued to know which what this As for next year won't keep it under wraps. Yeah. So the reason why we're not saying anything about it is because when the registrations open, it literally sells out within two days. So be a little bit sad me about it. Yeah. No, I get that. I can't wait. I can't wait to hear which one is going to be great. Right? So tell me you started documenting your run and journey on Instagram and or triathlons and so how did that come about and when did you start like, did you did you tell your friends and family, you know, we were open about Out it or yeah, I mean my Instagram started off not as a running Instagram. And also I remember when Instagram came out and I just thought why would anybody want to post a photo every day? And why would anybody want to look at somebody else's photo? Oh how times have changed but I think I think I started doing something called Advent running 1 December and the whole point about it running was that you would post a picture of your run each day. And so I started to use my Instagram. That I didn't really tell anybody about it. I didn't tell my friends and family. In fact, my parents have only just found my Instagram in the last month and they're like, oh gosh Victoria, why didn't you tell us but we could see photos of you and and I was like, yeah. Well, there's a reason why I wanted to keep you away from it and the like my friends kind of found me gradually, but it's also it's one of those awkward things because I guess you create this Persona of yourself on social media. And my Instagram is all about running and being outdoors, but I guess that's the only part of my life and so you never really know how it's going to translate with your friends and your family. I'm most of my family who are really into sports. So like I mentioned earlier my cousin's into Triathlon says her husband and my uncle's really into Ultra marathons, but they don't post about it on Instagram because they're not of that generation. So when they see me, you know, they Walk me for doing it, you know, it's kind of a laughable thing. Yeah, but I think I suppose it depends really on like, you know, whether you whether you use social media are often or you know, a I think age comes into it a lot as well. Perhaps. Yeah. I mean, I'm a classic Millennial but I've made such good friends and I get really really amazing opportunities through it as well. And I'm just having a good time and I feel like it's an opportunity to inspire people as well. I feel like we have a social media following and I don't have a huge following but the people that I'm I'm following or who are following me. I have good connections with them and I feel like you have a degree of responsibility as well. I'm also really important to show the lows alongside the highs. It's also really important for me to show people that you can be outdoors. Like there's no barrier to you being outdoors. I always use the hashtag Outdoors is free because I think people Often feel like you have to have money to be able to go out and have an adventure but you don't you just need a pair of running shoes or hiking boots or whatever and I just think the benefits that I have from being outside and just feeling that sense of freedom. I feel like I have a duty to tell people about that because I want other people to see that you don't have to be indoors playing video games or or feel like being on your own is a bad thing because I do most of my Adventures on my own and I have a brilliant time doing it that way. Yeah. No, I admire it completely and that's why I love us what you love about your page and I was thinking you said something to go about it got a duty to be honest and to inspire and because I mean you obviously do you've got a following on there and people, you know, they engage with the post that you make and especially because you are an R6 front runner as well. The you posted a really really Brave honest posting the day. I think it was the last weekend of the weekend before regarding your Every with eating disorders and how you'd had a really tough moment. So I mean, you know, have you zipped I've got to ask is is it always been an easy or is it a difficult thing that you share that on on social media and on Instagram or like you just said a moment ago you feel like a duty to to be honest and to share it so that perhaps then you are helping other people to to, you know, overcome their anxieties as well. Yeah, I mean it's something that I've suffered with her a really really long time. So I've learned a lot about myself and I've learned a lot about what recovery means and you know, like I say, we do have a responsibility and I'm very fortunate but I'm kind of at the end of my recovery Journey. So now I know it might not always be this way, but because I'm in a good place. It means that I feel like I can talk about it more freely than some people might be able to but also The very isolating illnesses and so just having somebody who is willing to talk about it. Openly it really breaks down a few barriers and I've had some really really sweet messages from people who have also been suffering just saying thank you for being a little bit open because they can resonate with the things that I've said but a lot of people say to me, you know, you're in such a good place now, how do I get there? And they're trying to compare their story to my story, but I felt like With that post it was really really important to to be honest in that moment because yeah, you know 90% of the time I get it absolutely right and I'm happy life feels good. But in that moment on the Friday night just froze going into to our weekend with the front when a team, you know, I felt like my whole world was crashing down. I I phoned my friend Rini who's an amazing Sports dietitian and I was crying down the phone to her because I didn't want to socialize with people I didn't I have to have dinner with people and it wasn't about the food and it wasn't about seeing other people. It was about the fact that I had a really really stressful week work and I was so tired and these weekends are really really full-on in the best possible way, you know, they're so fun, but I needed some time to recuperate from from the week that I had had and I wasn't going to get that down time. But you know what she gave me like a therm talking to because she knows that that's my on well too and although we're dinner and it was all right, you know, I felt a bit rubbish the parts of it, but then the next day I just decided I wasn't going to let that be deep voice take over and I was going to have fun because I'm so lucky with that team like they're so supportive and I've got a real great group of friends and they really encouraged me and look after me, which is so lovely. It's so nice to feel like people don't Judged you, you know, one of my friends of the team Becca. She knows that I struggle. Sometimes she's like, it's cool. You know, I'm going to give you your space you do what you want to do, but I'm going to go and eat this and if you want to join me you come and join me and that's a really really nice way of me being able to kind of test the waters and go and buy it and that's enough you said about that was the nicest thing I'd eaten all weekend. So so I think it's really important to highlight the fact that Yeah, I had a really really low moment on the Friday night. But by the Saturday I had decided that I wasn't going to let that take over. I was going to enjoy myself because Eating Disorders really really stop you from having fun and you it's something that's comforting and is keeping you safe. But it isn't it's just cutting you off from any kind of opportunity. And so I think it's important to talk about things like that. But at the same time, I don't want my platform to be just about that because it's not but there's still a Time. Going to place to be able to talk about it openly hmm. Yeah, absolutely. I think the thing is it's been a part of your you know, that's been your story. You've look where you are now and you've, you know dealt with your anxieties and you've coped with it. You've you know, you've sought advice support. It's been a long long journey. So for you for not occasionally share about your anxieties and or difficulties with it would be would be almost wrong to do so so as much as it's not all about that on Platform it is good. And I think I and a lot of other people appreciate that you do share that especially when like you said those disorders and illnesses can be so isolated and can ruin your fun. So seeing other people posting about them bravely. Honestly, well actually spark up the conversation because a lot of people who perhaps who know me online won't know that I've struggled a lot with food and eating disorders not the same as You but in other ways with binge eating disorder bulimia and you know other things but like I haven't I've never it's not part of me right now because I've come almost come through it, but then I will still have times where I struggle or if my anxieties are high that it can Surface or you know manifests and some horrible reminders and then you think okay. It's still there look in the back. Ground, you know, so I love that people like yourself can share that because like I said, it just Sparks at the conversation and you know, you'd be surprised that a lot of other people could could be going through something similar will have gone through something similar. So I think it was really Brave and I really love that you posted about it. Thank you very much. Thank you. We mentioned a little bit about the assets FrontRunner weekend. And obviously those weekends look so much fun, and I just wanted to know how did that work? About for you becoming an A6 front runner. Yeah, and so it's kind of surreal really. I can't remember all of the detail, but I used to have a Running Blog a couple of years ago when I was a little running plotter and every now and again, I would get running shoes from them to product test and I feel like that may have worked to my advantage because I received an email saying that they were opening applications for the first set of the front-runner team and I just decided to apply on a whim and force. Reason, I got selected my still struggle to the stage. We understand why they would choose me because I'm you know, I was a very very mediocre runner at the time. I wasn't particularly inspiring. I joined the team as a triathlete, but I wasn't a particularly good triathlete either. So I've always kind of wondered like what's my Niche within the team but I was so lucky. So I joined the first team that was set up and I'm still there now and you know, the first couple of years were not great for me on the team. Because I was struggling with an eating disorder and you know, I didn't want to participate in the way that others were participating but now that I'm wait restored and having a good time. It's fantastic. There are so many opportunities that come our way and it is a very very supportive team and we're a team of so many different abilities and so many different disciplines as well. So you have track runners. You have Ultra Runners you have read marathon runners. We've got an Olympian on the Mmm, she's an Olympian Steeplechase ER and she's just phenomenal. We have loads of triathletes, you know and obstacle course races. It's so so diverse. We've got an Adaptive athlete and it's such an incredibly inspiring team to be a part of and you feel so supported. It doesn't matter what kind of believe moment you have. These people are your biggest cheerleaders and it's a really great Community to be a part of but you know, there are lots of teams worldwide as well. And we often meet up with our international team mates too. So it's not even just a UK thing. But yeah, I feel very fortunate very very privileged to be on the team and how many years ago was it that you became you know that one of the first ever team member so I think this is my third year of the team also feel like part of the furniture and yet what it does. It looks so much fun and like you said, you know Oh brilliant events of come your way and opportunities. But you do say you struggle with understanding what nice to have but you know, I think anyone looking on or sees you you know, what you get up to in your free time and you know, all the activities that you do with regards to swim in cycling running on sailing I can see exactly why you know, they would want you to be part of the team. I think sometimes you just not you personally but people struggle to see you know, the the Great It in yourself, but I can understand why you would be part of it. I think sometimes maybe you underestimate your abilities. Yeah, maybe I mean, I just feel like I want to have fun all the time. That's why I think my my Niche is at the moment. I don't know how that translates to sporting ability and the in particular Focus. I mean, I'm not particularly focused on one area. I suppose I think I mentioned to you earlier when we were having a chat, but I feel like I'm Jack of all trades and master of none. But you know what that works for me because I'm having a good time and I can't ask for more than that. But I do think you're quite a master at Brandon. Let's be fair. I mean you went in that Ultra on the back of like I think it was 13 miles training that Ultra the Moonlight Challenge and when you think and consider that you were off and off training for a whole month and then recovering from pneumonia and the speeds that you do in your running, I think actually You're quite you've mastered running. Let's be fair. Yeah, I mean I know what works for me when it comes to running. I'd like to get a little bit faster. Although I don't want to become too preoccupied of times. But even now on the team we have people who are so much faster for me. I mean some of my my fellow female Runners on the team are absolutely incredible in terms of the times they're knocking out but at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what time you're doing just as long as You're enjoying the process I suppose and that's kind of a stage, but I'm mad at the moment, you know, perhaps if I have more time going forward. I'll actually dedicate more more training towards speed work, but that's just not what I can do at the moment. Yeah. Yeah, and that makes sense. You said earlier about inspiring them, you know, you know the platform and using Instagram, you know, it is an inspiring and motivating place to be what would you say in? spires and motivates you so The Great Outdoors inspires me. I feel so motivated when I'm by the sea I get I guess that's my big thing. I'm a real water baby whether that's running by the sea or actually being in the sea or sailing or whatever, but I just have to feel like I have the outdoors I have to say I can't be in the city too long. You know the working day is kind of soul-destroying because I just feel like it's so claustrophobic. I'm just surrounded by So many people but yeah, so what motivates and inspires me and actually being outdoors having green and blue around me and feeling like I have and in that amount of freedom, I love that like that's a really like different way to approach that. I love it Great Outdoors, but actually it's not surprising because of you know, what we've talked about already this evening and how much that you do love to live and be outside you and Gareth and the fact that you were you live and that the fact the very fact that you still choose to commute, you know, four hours a day because you want to live with you are and be close to the coast and enjoying the outside. Yes, not surprised really very lucky. Our house is right on the beach. So when I get home in the evening if we want to we can go out for a see swim and I mean, I feel so extraordinary lucky to be able to do that to have that as my lifestyle. I just don't ever want to sacrifice that yeah. Yeah, I get that so We spoken about Chicago marathon that that's on the cups for you this year, which is really exciting, especially because this is going to be your first road marathon and I want to know how did you get into the Chicago marathon and have you got a goal at all in mind? Yeah. So how I got in I just applied in the ballot. This was a fast but I had applied for it. I just didn't want to win because Chicago is my favorite US city is Is such an amazing case I love running when I'm over there. And I thought you know what? I would quite like to do a rude Marathon. I'll just enter the ballot Just on the off chance that I might get in and I got lucky it happened for me. So I'm really really excited about but like we say, I've never done a road marathon before so I don't know how well I'm going to do I suspect I might struggle a little bit especially with trying to fit in a decent amount of training in the lead up. But whenever I go into a race, I always have a gold silver and bronze goal in my mind so that I can never be disappointed whenever I get my gold go. I always treat myself to something nice. So that's always an incentive to work hard that this is always to finish and of course there are always going to be races where you might not finish for whatever reason but my drawings goal is to finish my silver goal is to At a subfloor hour marathon, my gold goal is to get a London good for age. Although I don't think I want to run and the marathon but I want to get the time. Yeah, and I yeah 45. Yeah three hours 45 which you know, I don't know if I can do that. I am a decent half marathon runner the eyes. Suspect I'm going to struggle with fueling on full Marathon because I do a half with no fuel whatsoever. But I know I can't take that risk in a full marathon. And so it's a complete unknown for me. So it might all go pear-shaped. But if it does it doesn't matter because I'll be in a city that I love I'll be running we have time and I'll eat yeah, he's a food afterwards which will be wonderful. Yeah, because what I mean, Is your PB now for the half and my half PB is an hour and 39 minutes, which is pretty good. I think very good. Yeah, I'd like to get it closer to an hour and 30. I think that's what I'm going to chip away at next year. But yeah, yeah, I'm really really proud of my half marathon PB. Yeah, because you I mean the they normally say like with regards to the marathon like a few times your half double it times up by 2 and then add a I think. 15-20 minutes on that's normal like a realistic goal for Marathon. So you've definitely got realistic goals in mind, especially because you know, there's a lot there is still time between now and Chicago and like a cycle Marathon cycle. Do you build up so much endurance and fitness that like you would literally get yourself to Peak Fitness. So yeah, that's really exciting. Yeah. I like to be a bit Rogue in my training though. So I'm not the kind of person but can just follow your stereotypical training plan and do long run. The long run every weekend. So I think I'm just going to adapt things a little bit. Make sure I'm having fun with it and maybe do like a significant long run every other weekend. So we'll see how it goes. But I know that also quite good at Hanging On in a race. So so again, it's about knowing what where your strengths lie, I suppose. Yeah, and at the moment then Vicky you are you coaching yourself and yeah, I Add creatures in the past but it's always a bit of a tricky relationship with the couch because I'm so headstrong and I'm such a control freak that I always like to think that I know better when I know I don't but I just don't like being told what to do. So I figured for this time. I'm probably better just coaching myself. And do you find like plans online and then adapt it to like you said you go bit Rogue and you you'll do your own thing, but will you are Actually get the building blocks from a plan online and then adapt it to what you want to do what you feel that you need to do. So I used to do that but then I found as soon as I printed it out or whatever. I never actually looked at it again, and I didn't really follow it. So a couple of weeks ago I spent an afternoon putting together like my ultimate marathon training plan and I didn't look at any anything else for that. I just kind of figured it out around all of the races that I've got going on. On this summer because I've got a few weird things but don't really lend themselves to marathon training but you know, I'm signed up to them. So therefore I'm going to do them. So it's a bit of a weird training plan, but I've written for myself, but I think it'll be all right. Yeah. What can you tell us what events you have got planned and that you're obviously sticking into that plan. Yeah. So this coming Saturday. I've got the whitstable serpent. Lawn, which is a swim and then a run then the weekend after that. I've got the Divas on Wheels pilgrims hospice charity cycle around the countryside which will be really really lovely and there since that then that's only 25 miles. There is a 50-mile option, but I just haven't really had enough time on the bike this year to be able to do that. And also I'll need to do a long run on that day anyway, so I figured 25 Miles and we're going to do it at what we're calling party pays. So any obviously cyclist but want to hang around with us. We're just going to have a really nice time. I'm doing it with a couple of other ladies and then a few weeks after that. I've got a triathlon the oyster man try which is in whitstable. And then I've got a 10K and I've got a half marathon and then we'll weekend before Chicago. I'm actually doing the Brecker swim run at Connors. And Lake, which I'm doing with my friend and is probably not the best thing to do the week before a marathon, but you know, I can't say no to things. What what did you say that was the breakfa and the Brecker swim run and lakes in the Lake District. So I just until it basically you swim for a little bit and then you run for a little bit and then swim for a bit and rotten and it just keeps going on like Like that, I think the total running distance is something like a half marathon and I have no idea how far we're swimming. Actually, I probably should look into it. But I think it's going to be fun. I think a lot of plans. I mean obviously you be tapering and the two weeks prior to Chicago but some some of the more advanced plans especially been running for as long as you have their tapers do include runs nearly as long as the half so you might be okay. I mean do we have anything that I'm worried about is I don't really do like swimming. I'm a sea swimmer and I'm very very comfortable in the sea. And I know that I don't get sick from the sea. But if I swallow any of the lake water, the last thing I want is to have an upset stomach in the lead up to Chicago so lots of coke after I come out of water on that one. Yeah be very careful because what I mean, have you booked your flights? And you know, when is it that you you travel out to Chicago? So we Travel out on the Thursday. I think it is and Thursday the 10th or the 11th of October and then I'm actually working at our auction house out there on the Friday and the my husband's out there for a conference the following week. So it's worked out really really conveniently for us say the man is on the Sunday. Obviously, we're doing a 5k ShakeOut race the day before hand and then we've got a few days in Chicago afterwards where we'll both be working. Nice. Yeah. Yeah you excited. I am so excited. I'm really really excited partly because of it being my first ever read Marathon but also because I just love Chicago if people listen to this haven't been to Chicago go it's incredible. It's way better than New York and I've got a cousin who lives out there and a couple of friends. So I think I'll have a really nice support team on the day. Yeah. It's a bit like It was meant to be for you. Like I like I mean, what are the odds of you entering the ballot the first time round Ivan such a love for that for that City and I'm getting in I know I feel like it's just meant to be I say that now but obviously on the day I'm probably going to be hating it. But you know, I'm sure you'll be fine. Right if you could give listeners three tips in getting started and running, what would they be especially when you like Cast your mind back to when you were running in uni, and you'd be t-shirt and just giving out five kilometers every day. What would your biggest tips be? Yeah. Okay. So I guess my first tip would be to find a route that inspires you so when I was at Uni, I was just running around roads in a town and it wasn't very inspiring and it kind of felt like a bit of a punishment, but now that I run along the beach It's So Glorious and it really really is inspiring. Ying so I would say find a route that really sets your soul on fire and I guess my second tip would be to perhaps sign up to a race because I think it's really important to have a goal to work towards I'm not saying that racing is super important like it I'm I don't think it's important in terms of getting a good time or anything like that, but I think if you're putting in the hard work in training you deserve a medal for that and actually loves a medal from a race or a t-shirt. And I guess final tip would be to find somebody to train with or to run the race with you know, make it a community thing for yourself because you'll have so much fun. If you can do this with a friend. I mean, I have a love-hate relationship with racing with other people because you have to gauge their ability against yours and they might be a stronger Runner or you might be the stronger better and that can sometimes be a bit of a an ego Clash. - but I think when you're starting out, it's really nice to have somebody to run alongside and to make it a social thing. Yeah. No, I totally agree. I think that last one is so important as much as I can because I think you like to run quite a bit on your own as well. Don't you just get some living space? Yeah. I really do. I love being on my own. I mean, I'm a classic only child love to be on my own but that being said whenever I run with a friend and it's just a casual training run. I had the best time, you know, are you easy? Wear it as a badge of honor like oh no, I don't want anybody to be around me. But actually just going out having a run with a friend and then going to have a piece of cake or breakfast afterwards. That is fun. That's a really really nice way to spend some time. Yeah, it's the best isn't it? And it's like you especially if you need to do your easier runs or you know, your recovery or slower Pace like us it's a brilliant excuse and also our what a good way to deter you from being fast by going along with a so that your chat all the way around and then like I say have a nice piece of cake or breakfast afterwards. Yeah would write if you think now like back to where you were five years ago at 25. Yeah. I said you were first getting into triathlons. I mean if you think how you were then would you ever have imagined you'd be as well as you are now, you know going through your recovery now. And you know about to do a road Marathon near the end of the year and all the experiences. You've had through, you know, a sixth FrontRunner. When you think of all this time you've had in the last five years, like what or where do you see yourself in the next five years time? Yeah. I mean I could never have imagined but I would be where I am. Now, I'm entirely grateful for all of the opportunities that have come my way. I guess the next five years. I think primarily I want to be happy. I'm happy now and so I want to be able to maintain that happiness. I would like to have a better work-life balance because I don't have that balance at the moment. And so I'm tired all the time and I'd like to be a little bit faster, but I guess perhaps instead of spreading myself too. Thinly across lots of different events. I would like to find what I'm really good at and just Just focus on that that being said I am having a really good time doing all of these weird and wonderful thing. So I don't want to sacrifice it too much but I think in I worked my benefit if I just streamlined just ever so slightly and what you need to do. I'm thinking it's only just now some sort of this before until literally just this moment you need to write it down as much I know it's a bit silly because you know, you still going to have that piece of paper and five years time, but, you know documented somewhere like and whether it be on Instagram, oh, I don't know Juno or on your phone or you know a diary that you keep in there in the cupboard with all your paperwork need to write it down and then see you know, listen, you can read it back in five years time and you you have you achieved what you want to achieve because I think sometimes that Grill might have these girls or visions or ideas, but I think unless we're writing them down and revisiting them along the way it's really hard to actually achieve or Manifest those dreams or goals? Yeah, I think you're completely right at Lee and I'm a big fan of writing things down and just feeling inspired from what you've written previously. So yeah, I'm going to do that and I'll let you know in five years ago and it sure is yeah. Yeah. No, I'm a big fan of writing things down. I think they've been far too long of a time that I haven't written things done. So I'm trying to do that myself now and revisit what I've written down not Right and lists for lists and Knology visiting them. What would you say your favorite uplifting or motivational phrase is and why? That's a good one. See my favorite motivational phrase and this is actually something but I repeat all the time when I'm in back pain cave in the race. It's to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift and I mean it just hits home on so many levels for me. I think it's very very easy to give up on yourself mentally and erase or in training, but we're It's do great things and we're capable of so much more than what we believe we are. And so I repeat that to myself all the time. I often write it on my hand as well just in case I need something to read and it really does help. See you write you write it down on your on your arm or your hand like four races. Yeah. That's such a good idea. I've seen a lot of people think that so you just said it was to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift. Yeah. I love that. I love that you write it down as well. There's another one that my family will say to each other before we go into races as well. And that's unleashed the Kraken. So that's kind of us going a little bit Bonkers in our race and absolutely going for it. So we've kind of remember that to which always puts a smile on my face. Yeah. I like that. I'm sure they'll all say that when you get when you come along to Chicago now, and I want to see pictures of your You quit on your arm. Yeah. Yeah need to be pasted in that and okay. So this is an interesting question that I've really liked asking recently and if you could hear anyone being interviewed on this podcast, who would it be and why and so I would actually choose my friend Becca. She's on the front-runner team her Instagram. Is this bunny runs? Yes. She is. Just amazing. She is such a cheerleader for other women and men. Men in sport and she's also a yes person like me and she just smashes everything that she sets out to achieve. So she did her first Olympic distance Triathlon at the weekend and she did it in such an amazing time and we've been chatting on WhatsApp today and she's already thinking about what her next goal is going to be in terms of triathlon and you know, she never shies away from things and I find that incredibly inspiring but she's also just really good fun to I love being around her. Energy is just so uplifting. Yeah, I know exactly you know what I'm not actually surprised you've said that I really yeah, that's really weird. It's like I felt that come in but no I have I have seen backhoe and I do follow it and I love her feed and yes, she's definitely on the list of people. I'd love to get on on the podcast myself. So I'm really glad that you mentioned her. Yeah. It's amazing. She's extraordinarily smart. She works and the corner from me. So we are. Often have lunch together and we just always had such a good time and she's actually the one that I'm doing the swim run event with the week before she yeah. She's a great adventure buddy for me. Brilliant. I'm glad you said her and okay then last question. If you could run a race anywhere in the world, where would it be? And so this is an easy one actually for me because this is also been on my bucket list for a very long time. But it would be the Hawaii Marathon. I've never been to Hawaii but I've always wanted to go back because I'm a bit of a surfer chick at heart. Yeah, and I know I just think there's something really magical about being able to run a race mm in Hawaii perfect. You know, when the Hawaii marathan that laughter so they have weird because they are very renowned for the the triathlon in Kona aren't they exactly? So the marathon is a completely different event Kunis obviously Kona is the world championship for Triathlon, but I think the marathon is very very inclusive. So I want to say that there's no cutoff time. I might be making that up. I'm sure I read something like that a couple of years ago and it just sounded like a really really good event to do but it takes a bit of planning to get to Hawaii and I just haven't quite got to that stage yet. But it will happen one day. I'm sure yeah, write it down. Yes. Yes your eyes. Oh, well, thanks so much for taking the time to speak with me and to us today. Can you just let everyone know where they can go to check out your profile on Instagram where they can follow your adventures. Yeah. So I am Victoria runs wild unsurprisingly on Instagram. That's the best place to find me. Perfect. So people can follow you now for your Ventures over the summer and see your swim run event the week before Chicago and chew your long on the Chicago. Can't wait. I can't wait to see how you get on. Good luck to you all the best and thanks again for your time. Thank you very much for having me. You're so welcome. Thank you. Bye thank you guys so much for joining today and listening to not another Runner podcast. Please tell your friends and family who you think would enjoy the content. I'll be sharing. Don't forget you can get in touch with me over on Instagram by a not another Runner. Let me know your thoughts on the podcast any suggestions on guests or topics. This is greatly appreciated. Send me your questions through as well if you want and use the hashtag white I run to be Featured and hey, if you can't hit subscribe to the podcast, this will really help me to be able to give you more. Thank you again, and remember when you get up and exercise or go for a run. You never regret going, but you always regret not go in. Have a great week guys and speak soon.
Victoria is 30 years young, a wife, avid runner, swimmer, cyclist - the occasional triathlete. Victoria is an Asics Frontrunner and Suunto Brand Ambassador. She is a member of her local sailing club, where she dedicates time during the year to complete duties. Victoria lives in Kent, and works in London where she works as a Deputy Director of Global Admissions & Recruitment for Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Victoria commutes a total of 4 hours daily to and from work!! Despite her busy work life and tiring commute Victoria still manages to exercise frequently, primarily running. Victoria is a talented runner, with an incredible PB in the Half Marathon. Despite not having completed a Road Marathon Victoria went on to run ultra marathons thanks to the encouragement of her uncle, and went on to place First Lady at her second ultra at the Moonlight Challenge 50km. She most recently completed the Duo Étoilé in Chamonix, during the Marathon du Month Blanc Weekend, and is scheduled to run Chicago Marathon this Autumn - her first Road Marathon.Tune in to hear all about Victoria’s adventures, and why the outdoors motivates her so much. Links:  Daniel’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_marathon_dan/ Natalie - Not Another Runner Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/notanotherrunner/ Blog: https://notanotherrunner.home.blog/   The Moonlight Challenge http://www.saxon-shore.com/Moonlight_Challenge/  Interview with Easy Thrills Podcast https://anchor.fm/easythrills/episodes/Natalie-Hawkins---Not-another-runner-e488pg 