Striders Spotlight: Colin Braybrook

Next up in the spotlight is Striders legend and hall of fame member, Colin Braybrook. Colin has been member of the club since the early 90's. Colin has undertaken many roles within the club including secretary, midweek race director and most recently on the publicity team. Colin also won the club champs 4 years in a row between 2009 and 2013. 

Colin Braybrook

Age 

59 this week

Occupation

Systems analyst for an insurance company.  Someone has to do it!

Reason you started running?

My dad suggested it when I was feeling fed up one day in my teens .  I started by running round the block.  It can’t have been more than a mile.  Later we got the option to do cross country instead of rugby at school.  The sooner we finished the course, the sooner we went home.  I was hooked!  I have never given up for very long since.  It has always been a good way of letting off steam. On the downside, there have probably been periods of obsession and over-training!  Also withdrawal symptoms when I cannot run. 

Favourite race distance?

It used to be the half marathon, which I could generally polish off without too much training.   But my body struggles a bit with that now; I can push myself to do it but the risk of injury seems to increase.  So I would have to say 15k cross country or trail race now, as in Southern cross country or the Ridgeway Run.   Both very good value.  

I only really got into marathons in my forties when I got divorced and had time to train properly for them.  They are hard work, but very rewarding when the training paid off.  I now miss being able to go that far without conking out.  I have run 13 London Marathons; once you get on to the Good For Age train it becomes a challenge to stay on it; once you fall off it, you wonder how on Earth you managed it. 

Running goals?

Just keep running as much as my body will allow.  I am not going to get any PBs now.   My left leg gets one injury after another.  But I have no plans to give up even if I am slower and in more pain than in the past.  It’s still good to turn up and see what I can do.  And there is always volunteering at parkrun when I can’t face a run and want to stay in touch (well, until recently, at least!)

How often do I train?  

5 or 6 days a week .  It’s nice to get out for some fresh air after a day’s work.  Except on Friday.  For some reason I don’t like running on Fridays!  I don’t generally train fast any more.  I just bimble along, listening to the Archers or the BBC World Service.  Parkrun or the odd league race are my speed session really.

What motivates me?  

I like a routine.  And I like to get out and see how far I can go – my body and brain soon tell me if I need to go for a run.  Racing, even when I don’t really feel like it, generally makes me achieve more than I thought I could.  That’s the good thing about the cross country and road race leagues.  My grumpiness generally increases when I don’t run so that’s another reason to stay motivated.

Most memorable race?

I have had a few.  PB at Reading Half a long time ago; winning the V40 trophy at Watford Half; just missing sub 3 hours at Snowdonia Marathon two weeks after a sub 3 at Abingdon; getting a PB in the London Marathon;  2:59:59 in the last Luton Marathon.  Finishing sub 3 twice at Paris Marathon. Being part of the Striders winning team at the Kent Coastal marathon.  

There have been some awful results too including DNFs and DNSs.  For a few years I organised the St Albans Midweek Race.  It stressed me out somewhat, I was Club Secretary too at the time, but I had a lot more energy in those days. 

Injuries?  

Loads recently – my left leg seems permanently damaged these days.  Knee, hamstring, toe, ankle, one thing after another.  And I have a bunion on my right foot, which I probably ought to get sorted out.  Breaking my arm was painful, but I think I won the Club Championships anyway.  Until my mid-50s I got injured but generally recovered.  Nowadays I just seem to ache all over the whole time. 

Other hobbies? 

I used to play saxophone and piano.  I’d like to get back into that, I just need to find the time and the inclination.

Guilty pleasures?

Nothing quite like a Killer Sudoku to waste a bit of time.  Totally pointless, but it bugs me if I can’t finish them.