Striders Spotlight: Richard Olney

In today's spotlight we have Richard Olney. Richard joined Striders in 2011 and is one of the clubs run leader's. In the last 8 years since joining the club Richard has completed 17 marathons.

Richard Olney

Age

53 (I know I don’t look it!)

Occupation

Chief Financial Officer for a Healthcare Recruitment company.

Reason you started running?

I didn’t do running as a kid but did play most sports.  I played hockey for St Albans since moving here in 1996. On entering my early forties, I decided that I needed to work on my cardio fitness if I wanted continue playing in midfield, rather than being stuck at the back.  A few local 10ks followed, then I then developed an urge to run the London Marathon.  I managed to get a charity place for 2011 only to then hurt my knee on a hockey pitch before doing some proper damage on a dance floor.  2 knee operations later I deferred the place to 2012 and joined Striders in the Autumn of 2011 to aid my training.

Favourite Race Distance?

Probably 10 miles.  Being blessed with no discernible change in pace, my best hope when I’m fit is to hit some kind of pace and then just try and hang on.  Buntingford, the Great South Run and our own Fred Hughes are all excellent in my view.

Favourite Race and Route?

The London Marathon in 2012 was an amazing experience.  An achilles injury late on in training meant that I hadn’t run more than 17 miles before the big day.  Running in memory of my sister who had died from Leukaemia at the age of 14, crossing the finish line felt like a real achievement and was quite emotional.  I have run it on 2 other occasions, most recently in 2015, and I defy anyone to not get goosebumps going across Tower Bridge.  I have also run the Brighton Marathon 3 times, and am due to run it again in September (or maybe April) so I must like that one too.

Running Goals?

I have run 5 of the 6 major world marathons and just have Boston left to complete the set.  Boston is getting increasingly difficult to get into, and in my current age group I need to improve my marathon time by 15+ minutes in order to time qualify.  I have run 4 of the 5 majors with my running partner in crime Stephen Elkan and I hope we can complete the set before too long.  Aside from that, to remain healthy and pain free to continue the adventure.  More ultras would be fun if the body holds together.

How often do you train?

I always used to run 3 times a week fairly consistently; Striders on a Tuesday and Thursday and a long run at the weekend. However, in the past year I have been following the Hansons marathon training plan, which requires 5 or 6 runs per week.  The extra couple of runs are meant to be at an easy pace, so I often take my cockapoos out for some company.

What motivates you?

To do the best I can.  I have achieved PB’s in the last couple of years  over all distances except the marathon.  Most recently the runfly5k.com initiative spurred me on to a 5k PB last weekend so there is life in the old dog yet.  I do find it motivating that you can continue to improve through your fifties (although it helps if you don’t run before your forties!)

Most memorable run/race?

I have been lucky enough to do some amazing events around the world, including the New York and Tokyo marathons, which were great experiences.

However, my favourite events are probably the 2 within 5 minutes of my front door – the Heartwood Forest parkrun and the Stampede.  The downhill finish of the Heartwood parkrun, rivalled only by the final mile of Berkhamsted Half Marathon, is a real delight.  I have run (or hobbled) the Stampede each year since it began, usually as a pair with Stephen Elkan.  My most memorable moment was when Stephen feigned some injury mid-afternoon and I carried on solo.  I started the final lap in darkness, my 12^th lap of the day.  I was absolutely shattered and was reduced to walking across Nomansland common.  I managed to start running again and was cheered through the finishing line only to learn from Ben Scott that I had missed the 12 hour cut-off by 15 seconds and the lap didn’t count.   

Injuries?

Other than a dodgy achilles before my first marathon, I was pretty lucky until June 2018, when I was struck down by plantar fasciitis.  Physio, exercises and shockwave therapy all helped, but I finally went for an injection a year later which took the pain away for a while, although it is back now on a lesser scale.

Other hobbies?

Golf, hockey, skiing and winding up my daughters, although I don’t seem able to find much time for the first 3.

Guilty pleasures?

Feeding prawn crackers to my cockapoos, Alfie and Hattie, Caramac, Suits (the tv show), 80s music and Southampton Football Club. In that order.