Tracey's story
Morning, everybody. So, basically, Scott asked if I would be interested in recording a podcast on Wednesday's clubhouse. So I've decided to, take him up on that offer and, create this podcast for you guys. So I hope I don't waffle on too much, but, say, here we go. So I've obviously decided to talk about my running, but more how I've got where I've got and the commitment that it's taken.
Speaker 1:And, you know, one thing that I did do was ask for help. And I know a lot of people say, you know, you ask for help, it feels like you're admitting defeat. But in my case, I kind of wanna discuss how actually asking for help was probably the best thing that I ever could have done. And it wasn't, know, it wasn't because I admit defeat. It actually, you know, it propelled me forward with my running, and it was the best thing that I ever could have done.
Speaker 1:And the way I look at it actually asking for help meant I wanted to succeed. So some of you know the back story with regards to me and my running. You know, I joined a WhatsApp group called the ultra awesome runners, and, you know, I loads loads of them on there were planning to run an ultra. And, initially, I did consider running an ultra with them. But life commitments made me decide that actually running an ultra was not going to sort of fit into my life at the moment.
Speaker 1:But what I did decide to do, they were all running races and stuff like this, and I'd never at the you know, in February, I'd never ever run a race ever. Other than race for life, I'd never actually officially run a race. So I decided to enter the Mavericks, which is an off road marathon. And we had awful weather sort of January, February time. And, my Adidas all terrain were not stopping me from slipping over in the mud.
Speaker 1:So off I went to a run shop that had been recommended to me, sort of local to where I live, to buy a pair of trail shoes. And that is where I met Jeff, who is now my coach. And initially, we just got chatting, And he sold me a pair of shoes and told me to go back. So a couple of weeks later, after having done the trail run, I decided to go back and have a bit more of a chat with Jeff. And, you know, when we were in there, we were just discussing general things, and he, gave me his email address and phone number.
Speaker 1:And so that's initially how things started. So, you know, I took his email address and phone number away, I was gonna be running the 20 miles at Goodwood. So a couple of weeks later, I just dropped him an email sort of saying, you know, do I need to run 20 miles, or what would he advise my longest run? He sent a few emails, few bits of information, and he created me a very basic training plan. So it kind of just went from there, really.
Speaker 1:So I ran 20 miles at Goodwood. I you know, it was my longest run I ever did. Then a week later, I ran the half at Kew, and it was my first ever half marathon that I'd raced. And, you know, I got PB there, and I was very pleased with the time that I'd got. So I didn't think much of it.
Speaker 1:Both times I raced, Jeff, you know, politely emailed me asking me, you know, how I'd gone and stuff like that. Anyway, so, you know, over the over those few months up until April, you know, a few emails went back and forth, back and forth. And then, you know, in the end, I need a new pair of running shoes, my sort of normal Adidas Ultraboost. They just weren't really cutting it anymore. They were getting a bit old.
Speaker 1:Decided I wanted something new, so popped in to see Jeff, got a pair of shoes, we got chatting a bit more. And, basically, you know, he said to me, you know, if I really want some help with my running, you know, give him a call. So I went away, you know, bit nervous, didn't really think much of it. Did a couple of runs, had a really bad one, went out too fast, got really hot, didn't complete the distance that I'd done. Brushed it off, did another run, but I just felt like I wasn't really getting anywhere.
Speaker 1:You know? I I I can, you know, I've I can run. I was able to run. I could go out. I could pick a route.
Speaker 1:I could do this, but, you know, I hadn't really ever created a training plan for myself, and I didn't really know where to start. And I also didn't really know what distances I liked running. I just picked a load of random runs, was doing a load of random training, you know, to make mainly three times a week at this point, And I just didn't know what to do, so I decided to call Jess. And, you know, it was probably the hardest thing that I have ever done is pick up the phone to somebody and go, hi. I know you've given me your mobile number, but I need help.
Speaker 1:And are you actually happy to help me? Because Jeff coaches me for free, and I am so truly grateful for that. You know, I was calling him on his day off to basically say, you know, please help me, and it was the best thing I ever could have done. But I was so nervous about it. And when I look back now, I can't understand why I was so nervous about it.
Speaker 1:You know, he'd given me his email address. He'd given me his mobile number. And, again, he'd, you know, said, please call me when I went back in again. He was happy to help me. And I think maybe I felt like, you know, I was, you know, admitting defeat that I couldn't do it on my own, but I don't know.
Speaker 1:It was it was really bizarre. And, anyway so that evening, Jeff called me a bit later on, and we, you know, started a bit more of a discussion. And he said to me, could I, you know, commit to training, you know, running five times a week? And I was like, oh, I don't know. Anyway, I gave him all the details and stuff like that.
Speaker 1:And a week later, he came back with a training plan, and my god, it was a detailed training plan with five runs a week. And I didn't even understand some of the some of the information on the run. I remember putting the message on the ultra awesome running WhatsApp group. Was like, I've got this run to do, and I don't know what to do. And they were like, message your coach.
Speaker 1:And I was like, yeah, but he coached me for free, and I feel silly like that. I don't know what it is. They were like, just ask him. And then, anyway, yeah, so I did. I asked him, he explained it.
Speaker 1:And then in the end, we actually went out for a drink. And we went through my training plan in a lot more detail. And I sat there going, oh god, I'm so sorry. I must be so stupid not understanding it. And he was like, no.
Speaker 1:You're alright. And he apologized to me because he'd given me all this information and I didn't understand it. And again, I sat there and felt to myself, you know, actually, no, I'm not stupid. I'm asking for help because I want to succeed. And what I think that we sometimes do is we put this massive emphasis on ourselves that asking for help is a bad thing, you know, we're not doing very well, so or we're failing, so you've got to ask for help.
Speaker 1:Actually, I really want to, you know, get you know, to change people's mindset on that. Actually, asking for help is because you want to succeed. It's not because you're failing, you want to succeed. You know, I wanted to do this training plan. I wanted to to see what I could do.
Speaker 1:So obviously, that was my you know, that was the first training plan he gave me. And to put into perspective, so in April, I got given he gave me free entry into the Wervin ten k, and I ran it for in 4233. So the first race I then did in July after having done a month and a half of training following his plan, I got my he I got my first sub 40. I got three whole minutes off my time. I did it in 3933.
Speaker 1:It was dead on three minutes. I was absolutely emotional going over the line. I remember putting a voice note on the WhatsApp groups, basically, like, I can't believe my time. It was really emotional because I think that's when it hit me that, you know, actually, you know, my hard work and commitment had paid off because I yep. I'd followed the plan, and when you do the training runs, it's fine.
Speaker 1:You you know, maybe they do feel easier, but it's not until you race and you push yourself and you get a really good result that you realize, like, what you've actually achieved. So that was like a real turning point for me was the phoenix ten k, and I know it's only a short race, but that was when I realized, you know, wow, the difference, like, his his plan had had made. And then it's just gone on from there, really. So, you know, that was June, July, and he's created me a plan ever since. And, you know, I there's a couple of things that, you know, I have done that I would never have dreamt I'd have done back in February when I first walked into his store.
Speaker 1:I had a lead entry into the Swansea ten k, another PB. I got an elite entry to the Great South Run. And my god, that will be a memory I will take away with me for, you know, the rest of my life if I don't do anything else. To be stood behind an Olympian, Steph Twill, on the start line of the Great South Run will literally be, like, a lasting memory for me. It was the most phenomenal experience.
Speaker 1:And, you know, I didn't win that. I didn't come anywhere near close to winning. I was eight I was the eighteenth female over the line out of 25. You know what? That didn't bother me.
Speaker 1:I'm most proud of my PB, but being able to stay high still on the start line with an Olympian, That just means more to me than anything. And it was just all about the experience that run was. Yeah. You know, it was just an amazing experience, amazing atmosphere, amazing run, and I couldn't have been more grateful to have been given the opportunity and to have taken part. You know, the end result for me was a PV, and I couldn't be have been more proud of myself for doing that.
Speaker 1:But, also, I think what we sometimes have to remember as well is you've got to enjoy the experience. And, you know, if I don't get to do that again, I had that experience, and I genuinely did enjoy it. I will admit in the lead up to it, I was absolutely really, really nervous, and I remember telling everybody how nervous I was. And there's pictures of me, and I even looked nervous, and I felt a bit like it was a bit overwhelmed. But once I got out there and I was on that start line, the overwhelming feeling went, And, you know, I was just grateful to have taken part.
Speaker 1:And I literally remember going over the line, massive smile on my face. It's probably one of the best pictures I've ever got of me running, seeing my coach and giving him the biggest hug because he was there with a pep talk before I did that run, the day before when I was feeling really nervous, and he was there at the end to congratulate me. And it was just, you know, like I say, it was the experience, that one that really was a phenomenal experience, and I couldn't have been more grateful for that. And then, you know, I think one of the things that I am most proud of was obviously Alton Towers, and I'm and it's gonna sound really, really daft, but I'm really proud of myself because, you know, I go on and and on about, you know, what I've done and what I've experienced. But I do get really nervous before I run, and I do doubt myself quite a lot.
Speaker 1:And my coach has always been there to tell me where to stand on, like, my most more recent races, like the Swansea ten k, the Phoenix ten k, and the Great South Run. He told me where to stand, and that was pretty much at the front of the start line. And I remember him saying saying to me, you know, for the Owen Towers half, you know, get yourself to the front. And, you know, if you'd have asked me to do that two months ago, I would have refused. I would not have had the confidence to put myself on that start line.
Speaker 1:I just I never ever felt like I was good enough, and I always felt like, you know, if I did that, maybe people would look at me and think, oh, why is she putting herself on the start line? That whole feeling of self doubt that, you know, would creep in. But on the day, even though all the other turtles were there and I knew they were supporting me, I took myself off, and I put myself on that start line. And I did it with a smile on my face, and, you know, it wouldn't have mattered where I come that day. You know?
Speaker 1:I wouldn't have mattered if I didn't get a PB in the end. What I am most proud of is that I had the confidence to put myself on that start line, and, you know, I am proud of myself for winning. And I am proud of myself for my PB, but I am more proud that I have found that confidence within myself to do that. And I think all I want people to realize is that if you really want to achieve something, you know what? Don't let your confidence hold you back because, you know, everybody has the right to achieve whatever they want in life.
Speaker 1:And if there's people out there that are gonna support you to do it, take that support because, you know what, everybody deserves to be supported as well. And I some people say I'm humble. I don't think I'm humble. I think I'm grateful. I'm grateful that I've met an amazing group of people that encouraged me to get back into running.
Speaker 1:I'm grateful that I've met somebody that was happy to coach me, who saw something in me and wanted to help me. You know, I'm grateful for the experiences that I've had this year. And you know what? If I don't win another race and I don't get another lead entry, it really doesn't matter because this year I've had that, but I will still carry on my running, and I will still commit to running five days a week. And, you know, we are going into the worst months of the year, but I look at what I've achieved this year, and I, you know, I wouldn't have achieved that if I wasn't running five times a week.
Speaker 1:So when I'm lying in my bed wrapped up nice and warm, I think I really don't wanna get up because it's peeing it down with rain inside. The thoughts of the things that I've done this year, they are what drive me to get out of bed. So, yeah, apologies if I've just really waffled. It was a bit I didn't really completely know what to talk about, but I hope you've all enjoyed hearing a little bit about, you know, me and where I've got to and what's been my driving force behind me and my running this year. And I hope you all have a lovely day.
Speaker 1:Bye.
