Fetcheveryone Member of the Month
Each winner receives a bundle of goodies from Ledlenser.co.uk (use RUN2SAVE25 for a 25% discount)
Interview with northernslowcoach


northernslowcoach says: Thanks Pedro - i'm feeling like my racing days are behind me (only 2 booked for this year!) so have been thinking about routes. Would love to send some more time in the alps but that is achievable. Money no object I would love to go to Nepal and trek to Everest base camp


northernslowcoach says: Thank you Dio, I was surprised

My biggest running surprise is that I’m still running and still enjoying it so many years later. I really think that without the friendship and support I’ve found on this site I wouldn’t still be running so many miles with a smile on my face


northernslowcoach says: Thank you MM x make yourself a brew and settle in for the long answer!
I was never a sporty kid and have got an O-level in RE as it got me out of double games and cross country running! In my late twenties we started as a department (radiotherapy) going to participate in the local Race for Lives, usually wearing our tunics over leggings. I would mainly walk these with a burst of running at the finish (super fast the year that Jimmy Saville was at the finish line at Roundhay Park!). We moved here in 2003 and I was trying to lose weight and going to WW meetings and decided to start running and aim to run a R4L in 30 minutes. I bought a book called Running Made Easy amazon.co.uk used the stopwatch on my watch and off I went. Ran every step of the Harrogate R4L in just over 30 mins that spring, 2004 and that was me hooked.
Ran my first half marathon in Leeds in 2006, my first marathon in Dublin in 2007 and found a love for off road running, my old PE teacher would never believe it!
Found the forums on RW and made some friends, moved across here, made more friends and although I’ve run more or run less, you lot encourage and support


northernslowcoach says: Thanks RRR-CAZ - this one has really made me think! I've enjoyed such diverse events as international rugby league, challenge cup finals, test match cricket, world darts finals, a golf open, football matches, sport climbing and bouldering and rugby league of all divisions but there's still stuff on the list, such as a formula 1 race, world class athletics, coal carrying and bog snorkeling! But I think that top of the list would be a NRL grand final in Australia

northernslowcoach says: thanks Winniefree - its a shame we didn't have time to go up on my moor when you stayed in the village! I haven't taken my running shoes travelling much at all. If 2020 had gone to plan *stupidcovid* I would have experienced running in New York and Paris, and that is still firmly on the list of things I Must Do! I really enjoyed running when we were on holiday in Chamonix, and even better Dave joined in, so I'll say Chamonix (for now!)

northernslowcoach says: Thanks GimmeMedals - this question made me laugh

your face in Ilkley when I was showing you the half route!
I've got to the top of more than a few big ones in the Lakes including the biggest just to go up them! My biggest hill score (Fetch's clever number thing) is 142.8, that was in Chamonix doing a route from the valley bottom to the Grand Balcon Nord and back down, the why - because we could!

northernslowcoach says: thanks Stevce - I honestly cannot answer this question as they are all my favourites! not really, but I am a pop tart rather than a one band aficionado! I am currently listening to a lot of Muse as we have tickets to see them later in the year, at last! My playlists are very eclectic, probably mostly of the guitar indie variety but I also love a bit of cheesy pop and I will be on the dance floor to just about anything! The band I've seen most is Half Man Half Biscuit and I have my husband to thank for introducing me to them, been going to their gigs since the early 90's...
My ambition in life - another tough question, I guess to live my best life and remember to be kind

northernslowcoach says: Thanks Mushroom - my Mum's parkin!

northernslowcoach says: Thanks Pothunter - oh I enjoy so much different food that this is going to be hard to decide...
If there's a cheese starter I usually choose that, or seafood, ok lets go with Coquilles St. Jacques, seafood and cheese! Main course would have to be a proper roast beef dinner, with yorkshire puddings, a mountain of roast potatoes and lashings of gravy, mmm northern girls love gravy! Dessert/pudding - I recently had the very tough decision at a good friends wedding between sticky toffee pudding and cheesecake - I went cheesecake, and i think death row pud would have to be the Wensleydale creamery's wensleydale and ginger cheesecake.... am drooling just thinking about it....

northernslowcoach says: Thanks Som, black and white is classic but I would pick purple and lime green.

northernslowcoach says: I’ve been thinking hard about this and I think it would have to be my paternal grandma who died before my parents were even married

northernslowcoach says: Considering where I work this could happen….
I rather like Dio’s superpower of being able to fall without damage. But as I’m currently sat on a train and spend so much time doing so I would love the superpower of teleportation

northernslowcoach says: So many magical moments and I’ll remember more I’m sure after clicking submit. Crossing many finish lines, RooA Slowboy and Meglet singing happy birthday to me at the top of the speed bump at Windermere marathon, the roar I got from Fetchpoint across the road at London marathon, splashing through puddles on my moor, running in the mountains with Dave, the moment A and looked decided to run up a hill instead of on the flat and how we looked at each other and said ‘my how we’ve changed’ and there’s so many more to come …