In the spotlight this weekend we have Lucy Jones. Lucy joined striders in 2019 and has been knocking out some very quick times ever since. Lucy is in training for her first marathon which is due to be London.
Lucy Jones
Age
24
Occupation
Small animal Vet. I graduated in July 2019,
so it has been my first year in practice as a fully qualified vet! It has
definitely been a bit of a whirlwind but am loving it so far!
Reason you started running?
I have always been very active. During school, I would compete
in the school athletics team and my sister and I trained at Dacorum and Tring
Athletics Club where my main event was 400m hurdles. I stopped athletics when I
went to university and Lacrosse became my main focus, playing for Women’s Lacrosse
First Team.
My twin sister (Anna) and my dad (Adrian) actually joined
Striders first, then when I came home from university, I decided to follow in
their footsteps and haven’t looked back since!
I love what a friendly and welcoming club Striders is, it has been so
great to train alongside such a great bunch of like- minded runners!
Favourite Race Distance?
I love a 5k. I am not very good at pacing myself, so I find the
5k short enough that this is less of an issue- however, it still hurts!!
I also enjoy a half marathon too. It is always an achievement
crossing the finish line of a half, but the task is not so overwhelming that
training for it seems like an impossible mission.
Favourite Race and Route?
I think it has to be London Landmarks Half Marathon, which I ran
last March. It is such an amazing route around the centre of London and the incredible
crowds cheering you the whole way along really does make you feel on top of the
world.
Running Goals?
I am yet to do a marathon so that is goal number one, when
London finally goes ahead!
Depending on how well the marathon goes I would also like to
attempt an ultra at some point. Despite previously admitting that pacing myself
is not my strong point…
On a shorter distance, I would love to break sub-19 for my 5k PB
(at the moment it is 19.06).
How often do you train?
It does depend on how busy work is, which I have been struggling
with recently, but I like to run around 5 times a week. At the moment I am
still sort of following on a marathon training plan in case London does go
ahead in October.
Alongside this, I do enjoy a gym class and pre-lockdown you would often find me sweating away at the back of a spin class or lunging in time to the music at a bodypump class.
What motivates you?
I am horrendously competitive, so am always looking to knock a
few seconds off my PB.
I think this is what I enjoy the most about running, it is mainly competing against yourself. I used to get so nervous before any 400mH race, but now (although I still do get nervous) it is less so about the position I come in a race, rather how I do for myself and my own progress!
Most memorable run/race?
My first half marathon, the Hertfordshire Half in November 2018.
I was so nervous beforehand, but I honestly loved every second of it. I think I
ran the whole way round with a smile!
Parliament Hill this January has also got to be up there. This
was probably one of the toughest races I have run (I am not sure how 8k managed
to hurt SO much) but the atmosphere was electric! And the mud ridiculous!
Injuries?
In first year of university I had a horse-riding accident and
tore my ACL and MCL. I ended up having to have two operations and spent over 12
weeks on crutches. I
have never had a serious injury before and being on crutches for such a long
period of time was tough. However, the hardest thing I had to cope with was the
huge impact on my sport. I had to give it all up for over a year and I was so
worried that I may never get back to the same level of sport. However, I worked really hard at my
physiotherapy and managed to build it back up. Looking back, I should have been
slightly more patient with my recovery. If I was faced with a similar
experience today, I realise how important it is to stay positive!
Other hobbies?
I still play lacrosse alongside running
and play for Harpenden Ladies. We usually have a match every Sunday.
I have also re-joined a tennis club.
Unfortunately, I don’t think Adrian has passed his tennis skills onto me so I
don’t think you will be seeing me in Wimbledon any time soon, but I have been
enjoying playing with Anna and my dad!
Guilty pleasures?
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