Striders Spotlight: The Hopkins

This weekend we have another 'Mr and Mrs' edition of Striders Spotlight with the Hopkins. Isla and Jim joined striders together in 2016. 

Isla & Jim Hopkins

Age

48 and 47

Occupation

Jim I work for a medium sized research company and I split my time between analysing data and writing reports, and running the company’s HR function. The dual role works well for me as I’ve always liked finding the story from tables of numbers (yes, I can’t get enough Strava analysis) as well as helping others progress and feel comfortable in their work.

Isla I’m a paediatric dietitian. I retrained by going back to university in 2012. I work for the NHS and I love it.

Reason you started running?

Isla I think we kind of talked each other into it!   In January 2015 I finally acknowledged I was spending more and more time driving the kids to sports clubs and training and sitting and watching them exercise and not doing anything myself. I’d had the couch to 5K on my phone for about 9 months prior to this. Once I’d mentioned to Jim that I thought I should do it he was (surprisingly) keen.  Jim just put his tennis shoes on and started running around the block. It did not take too long to realise we might need to buy some proper footwear. Our first parkrun was May 2015 and then we did the Herts 10K in the October that year. 

Seb and Fiona Rowe told me about the RWS course which I signed up to in 2016. I really enjoyed it but then I had about 9 months off with a calf injury so I persuaded Jim to sign up the next year as I was quite nervous to go back to Striders after not going for months and I wanted someone to go with! 

Jim I could see how much Isla was enjoying running but I never thought it would be for me. A few years ago we helped England Athletics with their This Girl Can campaign and I realised I need these benefits – both mental and physical ones. After completing the couch to 5k, I just did a weekly park run for about a year. Without Isla though I am not sure I would have joined Striders: to join a club and do running in public at a proper club felt daunting. Andy Normile handed me a RWS leaflet at the end of parkrun and I signed up. RWS was the prefect introducion to club running and I am really missing the sessions at the moment. Steve Buckle’s replacement sessions have been a lifeline and have helped me avoid the biscuit tin and a general working from home blob-out.

Favourite race distance?

Jim Being quite late in life to running, I find the longer distances very challenging and anything over a half marathon has resulted in some injuries. I really like a 10k, but actually 10 miles is my favourite distance. I love the Fred Hughes! It’s long enough to feel like a proper distance race, without doing too much damage. I am always amazed at how much you can push yourself when you think you have nothing else to give, there is always that little bit more for that final push up Bedmond Lane. 

Isla I quite like 5 miles. I’m not fast so this is about an hour of running, and I can do it without a break, which is just about right.

Running goals?

I&J Mainly to stay injury free. We’ve had various strains and tendonitis and we both get quite cross when we can’t run. We’ve tried other things (swimming, cycling, badminton, etc) but nothing beats running. Isla had a severe back injury in 2012 which saw her bed-bound for several weeks. Running has really helped her recovery.

Jim To enjoy my running. Striders has done so much for me that I am happy to give time to run leading and anything else I can do to help the club and other runners. I will probably try to do a trail half marathon at some point too. I need to collect more finisher medals than Isla too of course!

Isla To collect more medals than Jim? I prefer being able to go out and run than not. I’m not feeling brave enough to set a running goal based on speed or distance currently so I'm focusing on just keeping running in the lockdown. I was really looking forward to doing the Purple Group course and I tried to replicate some of the sessions initially but it just wasn’t the same on my own …..I'm hopeful it will not be long until Striders is back and then I might set myself a target. I can tell everyone what it is, then I’ll have to do it!

 

How often do you train?

Isla Three times a week, every week. I like the Striders Tuesday night session – track, hills, lake reps all good not so keen on round the cricket pitch.

Jim 3 or 4 times a week. I always make sure I am back from work for the Tuesday and Thursday Strider sessions and was really looking forward to Orange group training. All that has changed though and I have started to cycle more with the improved weather just because it gets me out of the house for longer!

I&J At the end of last year we really started to get into Park Run tourism, ticking off the letters and various other achievements available on the 5K app. We managed a new one every week for about 12 weeks on the trot, until well, you know. Looking forward to getting back to that and trying out new locations and post run bacon sandwiches. We also do a Pilates for Runners class with lovely Wendy Walsh and lots of other friendly Striders once a week … we are ever hopeful our balance and strength will improve.

What motivates you?

Jim Apparently earning more club champ points than Isla is “not a healthy motivation”. Actually to quote Roger Sant “I’ll never walk in my Striders vest” … and it’s a good mantra because representing the club and myself well in midweeks and cross-countries feels important, whether that’s marshalling, running or bringing a plate of sausage rolls. But also I do have a competitive streak, so just trying to keep up with others in my age group is very motivating. Isla and I sign up to lots of races together. Competing in events still gives me a thrill. At school they used to hand out cross-country as a punishment, but now I pay good money to do it.

Isla  I had sciatica in 2012, on and off for a couple of years. I did load of physio, some swimming and pilates and I found exercise really helped. Since I started running I haven’t experienced any back problems so I have to keep going now because I don’t want to have that pain again! I find a plan very motivating and I like ticking off the runs as I do them. I like running with friends, having a good chat and I like going to Striders sessions and hearing what other people are doing – there are some excellent runners doing amazing challenges and I find that very motivating.  I like signing up to races with Jim and he loves hanging around at the end waiting for me to finish! 

Jim: Do I? Actually, it is great cheering in Isla and other club runners at races – you know the pain they are going through – I only wish I was faster then I could cheer in more runners!

Most memorable race?

Jim Probably smashing the St Albans Half sub 2 hour barrier in the heat last year. It was one of those races where everything came together. I had a great running buddy and the crowds and course were excellent. Ashridge boundary run with Isla this year was also amazing, for very different reasons. It was extremely muddy and a very tough course. We ran the whole thing together and it was really motivating having a partner there to get you up the hills and through the bog. It was quite emotional completing such a tough course together. I love the rhythm of road-running but you can’t beat a scenic trail run.

Isla I think that comment is quite sweet – Ashridge was a really tough run for me and my husband was very kind that day!  I’ve run some memorable races in pretty awful weather... Fred Hughes in 2018 the snow was quite heavy by the time I finished and I’ll never forget running off the ridge towards the Ivinghoe Beacon in the driving wind and rain with Ann Coleman during last year’s Ridgway Run. The St Neots Half last November was memorable. It was one of those races where, when I did my mental checks at 5km, 10km, 10 miles I was pleased to find I felt good, my pace was pretty steady and it all went to plan ….took a whole 38 seconds off my PB too!

Some highlights there, but my most memorable feel-good race was the St Albans Stampede in 2018. What a great event. I was lucky enough to join a team of 8 fantastic and friendly runners. I don’t remember how many laps I did, or the pace but I’ll never forget the wonderful sunny day, the camaraderie, the laughs and funny conversations and the way it made me feel...which was joyful, for days afterwards.

Injuries

Isla mainly annoying stupid calf strains that took ages to clear up… but nothing for a couple of years. I don’t push myself too hard, I like to plod round admiring the scenery which tends to help avoid injury…

Jim A few, but nothing serious. Mostly strained tendons picked up after I have run too far too quickly – always my left leg too for some reason. My main ailment is the dreaded Plantar Fasciitis. For me it’s a mild left heel tendon inflammation that never really goes away. I have tried months off running but it always returns. It’s not as severe for me fortunately, and I have learned to live with it and can handle any flare-ups quite well now. Hot and cold treatments are very helpful for a twinge after a long run, but I also change my shoes after 300 miles (always New Balance) and some proper runner’s insoles (Superfeet). 

Hobbies

Jim I love my Triumph Tiger. It’s a small adventure bike and the feeling of being to go anywhere is very liberating. We toured Scotland last year which was superb – what a scenic country.

Also I’m a big fan of electronic music and was a part-time DJ in a previous life – playing house music and techno in some of Manchester’s shabbier establishments in the 1990s. Kids saw my decks and vinyl consigned to the loft, but quickly after I discovered DJay software for the iPad which is awesome and links to Spotify. Suddenly I am a superstar DJ again without all the paraphernalia. I make regular mixes for my main follower, but it’s mostly to soundtrack my running. I find 130bpm deep house fits my cadence perfectly.

Isla I love dancing to 1990s dance music, and it helps having my own resident DJ. I like live music generally and theatre, comedy, musicals. Most of my other hobbies involve sitting down:  I like reading, I’m in two book clubs, crochet, knitting, rubbish TV programmes and having a nap.

Jim Now that sums you up perfectly. You are either all go, or having a nap!

Guilty pleasure

Jim I can’t get enough of those car restoration programs on Netflix. I love watching old cars get fixed up by talented mechanics, all without me lifting a finger. I am re-watching all 15 series of Wheeler Dealers in lockdown, and I can thoroughly recommend “Carmasters: Rust to Riches” and “Rust Valley Restorers” on Netflix for the American muscle cars. Like Isla, who doesn’t like a nice sit-down.

Isla Currently Nintendo’s Animal Crossing, RuPaul’s Drag Race and Springwatch – Chris Packham has a very soporific voice.

Jim If you ever have difficulty sleeping, Springwatch is perfect.