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A Quick Cuppa With…Helen Hart

A Quick Cuppa With…Helen Hart

Helen is a 42 year old Solicitor from Hampshire. She is married and has a 12 year old son.

How long have you been running and why did you start?

I did a tiny bit of running some years ago, when I ran a couple of 5k races but then it fizzled out because it was winter and then I became pregnant. I started running again in June 2010 when a group of governors/staff/parents from my son’s school took part in the Guildford Race for Life. I did not train for it, I just turned up and ran/walked it.  At the end, one of my friends asked me if I was interested in taking part in a Cancer Research 10k at Hampton Court Palace in the October. I decided to train for it, doing a few 5ks and the R4W 8k along the way. I was hooked and joined a club at the end of 2010. Since then I’ve done lots of races up to half marathon distance. I’m also a keen parkrunner and joined the parkrun 100 club last August.

How often do you run?

Usually three times a week, sometimes four, and I swim once a week. I do about 15 miles a week.

What do you listen to when you are running?

I don’t listen to music when I am running.

How do you stay focused and disciplined?

Having people to run with makes a difference. I run with my husband once a week, we do parkrun once a week and I run with the club once a week. Occasionally I do extra runs on my own or with club friends. I like my food so I have to run to make sure I don’t get fat, especially as I work from home, so I don’t get exercise walking to and from the railway station, office etc. Once I’d got over the first few hard weeks of running, I was motivated because I got better every time I ran. It has just become a way of life now.

Other than running what else do you do to keep fit?

I swim once a week. One day a week I work in London so do lots of walking that day. I do a tiny bit of cycling as well.

What is your favourite place to run?

I don’t really have a favourite but enjoyed running on Jersey when we were on holiday there last year. The Railway Walk is a great place to run, although it was astonishingly hilly for an ex-railway line. 2 miles steady uphill. But then I turned round and had 2 miles downhill! Some of the parkrun courses are very scenic, eg Parke and Killerton in Devon.

How long have you been a member of Running4Women?

Probably since I did the first 8k in 2010.

What are your goals for the coming year?

I went to school in Torquay and am running the Torbay half marathon at the end of June. I’ll also do a few races that I have not done before, starting with the Surrey Tempest 10 miler in March and the Guernsey 10k at Easter as well as a few favourites like my local Hook 6 (miles) in May and Fleet 10k in October.

If you would like to have your story featured in A Quick Cuppa With… then please message Lianne via the Helpdesk and I will send you a very quick questionnaire.

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