In the Striders Spotlight this time we have Seb Rowe. Seb joined Striders in 2015 and previously organised the club handicap. He is a regular at club events and parkrun....when there is some.
This sunday Seb will be taking park in his 18th marathon at the Dorney/Virtual London/Fly Marathon!
Age
50
Occupation
Director and salesman for a Fine Wine & Spirits Merchant, it’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it! After leaving school with a handful of ‘O’ levels and realising after 3 months that ‘A’ levels weren’t for me, I turned my part time job at Dolcis shoe shops into my full time job. 5 years spent in various roles/branches and becoming a manager all but satisfied my curiosity with the world of shoes!
A brief 3 month spell followed doing nothing until I got a job as a delivery driver for a local wine company. A further 5 years spent in various roles there before ending up in sales on the fine wine desk which culminated in leaving with my boss to help him and 2 others start up a brand new wine company. 23 years later we’ve become one of the largest fine wine and spirits companies globally.
Reason you started running?
For the simple reason that as a youngster I could do it and I enjoyed it. At secondary school I loved XC as it got you out of lessons and the occasional top 10 finish made it worthwhile too. Although I lived in North London, my grandmother signed me to her local running club in Hampshire (Alton Joggers) so I used to don their vest annually in the Sunday Times fun run in Hyde Park in the early 80’s plus I ran in their local 10K for a few years with a then PB of 40:36 when I was 14.
For a brief spell I joined Shaftesbury Harriers at Copthall Stadium, training twice a week, but unfortunately my dedication to training was pretty poor outside of these sessions as it was a lonely pastime back then with no friends interested in running. The final nail in the coffin came when I injured my knee resulting in 14 stitches which also prevented me from a 1500m race I had lined up at Crystal Palace Stadium. After that I stopped training and running took a back seat whilst life got in the way with many years of fun, partying and living life to the full!
Fast forward too many years to remember, happily married with a wonderful family, I’d started running on the treadmill at the gym and realised I actually still liked running. I had an itch to run the London marathon before I hit 40 and got a ballot place at the 3rd attempt for 2010 just after my 40th and so it began! A longest run of 16 miles didn’t prevent me from a 3:23:41, but it was worth it even though I was completely f***ed and could barely manage a single pint afterwards with family and friends!
Favourite race distance?
This has to be a half marathon and longer. I’m no way as fast as the clubs speedsters and don’t particularly enjoy a balls out 5 or 10K race, but I find a half marathon is the perfect distance for being able to just knock one out. Ticking off another marathon is pretty satisfying too!
Favourite running route and race?
I’ve a real soft spot for our local St Albans half, a little undulation, the challenging Bedmond Lane/Serge Hill and fantastic support dotted around the course, especially when you are in the Striders yellow and blue makes for a winning formula, regardless what the English Summer weather throws at us! This year would have been my 8th in a row and I was over the moon to manage a course PB of 1:26:24 last year.
Running goals/targets?
To complete the marathon majors, NY would have been my 6th and final one in November, but that is now delayed until the world returns to large race normality. To continue adding to my 17 marathons (14 x unique, 3 x London) in other cities and countries around the world. The 2 Oceans marathon in Cape Town is also on the bucket list. Start doing ultras, solo Stampede to start with and then probably The Wall before tackling others.
I enjoy a challenge too, so did 2 marathons in 2 days last year, 3 in 3 this year during lockdown and will continue with 4 in 4 next year until I manage a week’s worth in a few more years. And finally I think I’ve still got the odd track and road PB in me, so will carry on attempting those whilst I still can! Then the big one will be LEJOG (Land’s End to John O’Groats) at some point.
How often do you train?
Currently 7 days a week.
What motivates you?
To carry on ticking off different marathons, 2 a year is ample for me and there are still plenty to choose from. Having a good run whether on a training run or a race is very satisfying, when all goes according to plan and when I get in the 'rowezone', it’s a great feeling. Meeting up with running friends and talking crap before, during and after runs/races, I love the social side of running and have made all of my closest friends in St Albans since joining parkrun and Striders.
Most memorable run/race?
Let me bore you as there are 3 from 2016 that all stand out for different reasons and at different distances.
Firstly there was the Welwyn half which some of us had targeted to try and win the team prize. I managed to go under 1:25 (still my PB) which I never thought I’d do, so a very memorable event, also beating the amazing Rob Spencer before he learnt to run and winning the team prize too.
Secondly, the Runsketeers entered a 4 man team in the Stampede with the aim of finishing 2nd as no-one beats Buckle’s team! 27 laps later and mission accomplished with my great mates, Mike Martin, Gareth Beavis and Jim King, what a team, what a day, what an event!
And finally after a failed sub 3 attempt at MK earlier in the year, Mike, Gareth, Rob and I travelled to Chester for a no pressure attempt at the marathon. Lo and behold, the stars were aligned as it was PB’s galore for us all with Rob, Mike and myself also managing the holy grail of a sub 3, I must admit there were tears of joy for the first and only time after a race.
Most memorable moment?
I made up this question as I wanted to add that my most memorable and proudest moment was when the whole club got behind the fundraising evening we held on behalf of Jim King who was raising money for The Bone Cancer Research Trust. It goes to show what an amazing club we are and the level of support for one of our own was quite frankly astonishing.
Injuries?
I had a stress fracture in 2013 caused by over training which led to me being out of action for a year whilst I slowly and gingerly returned. In 2017 a fall during a XC race caused a muscle tear in my stomach area and also sciatica which both got worse and worse until I couldn’t run at all. It slowly healed with lots of rehab exercise, but was pretty awful being out of action and not being able to get an accurate diagnosis from any of the many docs I saw. Recently I developed PF over lockdown when I did my triple marathon, which is a pain in the a*** to be honest. Kinda living with it at the moment, but can be pretty painful after a run.
Other hobbies?
Prior to lockdown, a monthly beer/quiz club with friends at the White Hart Tap, Live Music at The Horn or festival/stadium/arena and supporting London’s No.1 football club Chelsea.
Guilty pleasure?
Not proud of it, but I have smoked on and off since I was about 15, no lectures please! I do love a good blonde beer or golden ale amongst others and love the St Albans beer festival. Sambu-ca-ca-ca-ca has also been known to pass my lips and I am partial to a bit of a boogie, especially house, disco, 70’s etc.
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