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Interview with Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!!

AdminLiz asks: Well done :)
After doing the 10 in 10 once, what was the deciding factor in entering again.


Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Thanks Liz. Apart from a moment of madness you mean?! Tbh I’d decided by Day 9 this year that I had to try and do the 10in10 again and for a myriad of reasons really: being ill during the ten days left me with a feeling that I hadn’t quite achieved what I could and wanting another ‘crack’ at it; it’s so rare to get a chance to push yourself beyond what you’ve achieved before; wanting to do more for Brathay and last, but definitely by no means least, the ‘Bubble’ is a truly special place!

Amazingly I've been given another chance to do all of the above!! :)
Mushroom asks: Congratulations! If you had to prove how much you loved running and George Clooney* came to visit: Would you a) take him on a run for an hour, or b) take him 'for a run' for an hour..?!

(*insert someone else if more appropriate)


Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Thanks mushroom. Hmm, well I guess if Sir Gorgeous Thighs (aka Chris Hoy) turned up on my doorstep it’d have to be b) followed by a). Or is that just too greedy?! :)
HappyG(rrr) asks: Many congratulations. I'll ask the good ol' "What will you be buying with your £100 from Simply Run?" Something sensible or something silly (I went silly and bought the VFF Bikilas. Running barefoot aka looking like a clown?! Lol!) Congrats again. :-)G

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Hey HappyG(rrr), thanks I guess it's the sensible route for me – an Adidas jacket, arm warmers and some elasticated laces (though which of my numerous pairs of shoes I’ll use them for remains to be seen!!) :)
Hills of Death (HOD) asks: Well done Kazzah great to be MOTM in May after your 10 in 10 all that hard work rewarded. However is the only way Essex ?

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Thanks HOD. Not sure what's harder to believe - that I got round the 10in10 or that I've been voted MOTM!

Erm, you mean there’s any other way?! ;)
richmac asks: Congratulations on a great MOTM, do you choose which M&M gets eaten next on the basis of colour?

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Thanks Rich. I’m not an M&M fan tbh but the orange Smarties always get left till last - yum :)
minardi asks: Congratulations Kazzaaaaaah :-) How many buttons have you bought so far this year?

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Cheers Min. Well let's just say it's more than my bank manager would be happy about!! ;)
Longwayround [LWR] asks: I'm exiled in Lancashire having been brought up in Leigh-on-Sea. Do you agree with me that people who stereotype the proud citizens of Essex deserve a resounding slap?

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Absolutely! You know I think it's just that they're jealous – or I guess, given the stereotype, that should be "well jel"! ;)
Girlie asks: Congratulations on MOTM. What 3 pieces of kit ( excluding trainers) are essentials in your running bag?

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Thanks Girlie. Blimey, if you ever delved into my kit bag you'd know how tough a question that is!! I do not do minimalist packing! Assuming we're talking marathon bag then, off the top of my head, it would have to be Sudocream (to stop the blisters I always seem to get on my big toes), race belt/safety pins and, as for a third choice, I can't make my mind up between a bum bag (to carry the inevitable amount of rubbish I seem to think is essential to carry when I run) and my cap (to keep the rain/sun off my specs!). So I guess that means I've stretched it and gone for four essentials!
UltraDunc asks: When you are aware of a slump in motivation what do you do to bring yourself out of it?

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Well tbh Dunc I've been struggling big time with motivation/confidence since the 10in10. Very hard to explain but the head's been totally in the wrong place for a while now. I'm gradually getting back into my training but I admit it's been a real struggle. For me, it's a case of avoiding the 'beating myself up' syndrome (not a good thing for someone who's inherently self-critical) and admitting that sometimes you do just have to kick back at watch the roses grow. Not for too long of course!!
RichHL asks: Congratulations! I don't have a question for you. I just wanted to tell you how awesome I think you are.

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Thanks Rich ;o) I consider myself to be an average plodder who has an awesome hobby!! :)
Iron_Mum asks: Congratulations you legend you! What will be the title (and subtitle if you like, it's your book) of your autobiography?

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Aw, thanks m'dear. Hmm, maybe "Welcome to the Dark Side"; "The (Mis)Adventures of a Plodder" :)
emdee asks: Congratulations lovely! Now.. Your one true love - G&T or running?

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Thanks hon. Well as long as there's an ice bath involved then I can't see why the two should be mutually exclusive!! ;) But as I'm (mostly) off the booze at the mo I guess it'd be running! Though if you'd added shopping into the equation I'd have been really stuck for choice!! ;)
posty john asks: congratulations. how far is your runs training for a ulta

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Thanks posty john. Well tbh I don't really train in the conventional sense of the word for any of my races, partly due to the way I train and partly due to the number of races I do each year. When it comes to ultras then the marathons I'm doing in the build up are very much training for the ultra. I don't think I've ever run beyond marathon distance unless it's been in a race.
Nywanda asks: Big congrats! I admiringly notice that you have successfully managed a sub 4.15 marathon over 10 years after first achieving this. How has your training evolved over that passed decade and what are the main differences in your approach which could be adopted by fledgling marathon runners looking to improve/maintain?

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Thanks Nywanda. I think my times over the years are more an indication of 'what could (or perhaps should) have been'. I do think that I should have gone sub-4 but it seems that whenever it became a real possibility something would crop up to scupper it – be it injury, loss of mojo or a period of stopping running altogether.

When it comes to training I don't really do anything "right" so I'm not sure I'm a good candidate as a mentor! At the time I got that sub-4.15 I was a serious gym junkie and had a personal trainer (who also happened to be a very good runner) so I was putting in some serious hours of training every day. I'd also taken a "mature time out" before starting my current job so I guess I was the nearest I was ever going to get to being a full-time athlete!
I did find, however, that my times dropped majorly last year and I can only put that down to the streaking and the multiple racing but neither of these are things that are ideal for inexperienced runners.
Bru-Bru asks: Was 10 in 10 your proudest achievement?

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Hi Bru. Well running-wise I'd say it pretty much is. I suspect when I get that blue and yellow 100 Club vest that will be pretty much up there!
BaronessBL asks: Well done on MotM - my question is: do you enjoy trail marathons (or longer) where you have to decipher a set of instructions or prefer to run marshalled routes where you don't have to worry so much about where you are going?

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Hi BaronessBL, thank you. Well the simple answer to that is – no I'm not a fan of self-navigational races! When it comes to running I seem to lose my ability to multi-task so navigating and running are a recipe for disaster. I have done a few now but I've been so worried about getting lost that it's really affected my enjoyment of the run itself. I'm much happier either on a marshalled course or, if a self-navigational one, having someone else to run with - who's in charge of getting us round!
Night-owl asks: Congrats Kaz, very well deserved. What is the furthest Ultra you anticipate entering in the future

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Thanks N-O. Well, in another moment of madness, I've entered next year's Thunder Run as a solo runner so, all things being equal, that'll be my longest race to date. I hanker after having a bash at a 100 miler but I suspect I may be too slow to make the necessary cut-offs. I've always said though that I won't consider anything silly (distance-wise) till the 100 marathon thing is done and dusted. Given my distinct lack of spare leave for next year I suspect it won't be on my radar until 2014.
mad4it asks: Well done and Congratulations on winning MOTM love the photo, how did you get it to give you your speed?

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Thanks. Do you mean GimmeMedals' pic rather than mine though?
Roobarb asks: Well done Kaz! What will be your goal once you get to 100 marathons? 200?

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Thanks Roobs :) Haven't really got any particular goals beyond the 100 - world domination maybe?! ;) I guess, funds and ageing joints permitting, 200 would be a good one to go for.
Legless asks: Congrats Kaz, is it true you paid the DJ's to not let me sing at the last karaoke?

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Thanks Leggy. Busted, darn it ;)

Actually I'm more likely to have paid them not to let me sing!!! ;)
RuthB2 asks: What has running taught you about yourself?

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Ruth, it may be a bit of a cliche but it's taught me that you can do all sorts of seemingly impossible things if the desire and will is there!
MabelMoonface asks: Congratulations! Very well deserved. Where is your favourite place?

Ultra Kanga Kazzaaaaah!! says: Thanks WA. Running or otherwise?! Running - Lake Windermere and Brathay certainly hold a big place in my heart. Otherwise - coming from Yorkshire stock (on Mum's side) I love spending time in York and the North York Moors. And I guess a place that falls in both camps is Berlin. I really have fallen in love with the city, and the marathon!







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