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Interview with Autumnleaves


Autumnleaves says: Thanks FF


Autumnleaves says: Thanks maTT - it was a pleasure at the time - I hope we can help in another mad challenge of yours some time. Only one piece of advice?? Errrm - I think for the beginners it would always be to slow down! (Unless it's their first race maybe ;)) - enjoying the running journey is part of it for me, it's a shame to rush

Drinks - I can't get up without my morning tea - on a race day I sometimes have a coffee as well for extra caffeine (which otherwise I rarely touch); mid-race - so far only ever water though I do take a gel or two on a longer race; post-race or run I like almond milk but in summer I've developed a taste for coconut water with a squirt of peach/mango cordial stuff (free in a goodie bag!). I don't mind a nice beer on occasion either!


Autumnleaves says: Thank you HappyG



Autumnleaves says: Thanks Pedros - this is a lovely question to think about! Given the current state of my nerves about tackling even 16 miles in October looking at marathons or ultras around the world might seem a bit daft - but I would love to be able to tackle something in some really awe-inspiring natural surroundings - the Great Wall of China, something in Arizona or Utah or the Australian Outback. I also quite fancy one of the big city marathons in Europe - Paris or Rome particularly.


Autumnleaves says: Thanks Carp - well it isn't drugs

Hmmm - I don't remember saying I would give you my much prized recipe for oatmeal cookies....was I awake at the time???


Autumnleaves says: You're too kind PP - I think I would probably still go for the Liverpool Half in 2013 - it was my first go at a Half and my time of 2.02something way exceeded my expectations. I paced it well and I had a complete runners' high from about 8 miles in when I felt so strong, and the euphoria as I crossed the line has yet to be repeated! (Sadly...) I did also really enjoy the Mad Dog 10k this year though - when I went sub-50 for the first time, and of the races I do annually it's probably my favourite.


Autumnleaves says: Thanks B



Autumnleaves says: *drapes self in bunting in 700 style* - There are a lot of positives - my total monthly miles have gone up, I benefit from nice recovery runs in good company & I am probably a bit more careful about stretching... I admit I have found it hard to accommodate the demands of specific training plans alongside them though - and sometimes getting myself up to speed again is a challenge. This is more of an issue with the improvers rather than the absolute beginners, it can get quite time-consuming! I quite like my Thursday evening run - which is often the only one I do by myself - it's a chance to refocus on what I want to do and run at my own pace without worrying.

Autumnleaves says: Only in the very dim & distant past - I played the flute at school but to no great standard. I sing - although not so much these days. There are a fair few ex-musicians in the Halle admin team but a few of us who arrived via other means!!

Given your interest and ability in encouraging others, how do you see your running developing, not just in terms of competing but also with your involvement in athletics?
Autumnleaves says: Thanks Flatlander - interesting question. I hope I will still be running in the years to come - so I am looking at trying to maintain my pace and endurance as much as possible. I know there may well come a point where the PBs cease to be attainable - but if I can hang on as much as possible then who knows, maybe a few senior club records might be possible


You are stranded on a desert island. You can take one type of food, one book and one Fetchie. What and who do you take and why?
Autumnleaves says: Thanks so much Bint - what a good question too! Type of food - I'm hoping there might be bananas on the island...plus I might be able to catch some fish, in which case I think I would go for bread - as many varieties as possible please. One book - such a tough one, my stock answer tends to be Pride & Prejudice because I do really, genuinely love it - but I know bits of it so well I maybe don't need to physically have it with me? So I think instead I'll go for Middlemarch - a book I have read a couple of times and always feel sorry to reach the end of! Now the Fetchie - well loyalty would make me say Mr AL, obviously - but in some ways he is a reluctant Fetchie


Autumnleaves says: Thank you


Autumnleaves says: Thanks RH - you're all very kind. It will depend how the next phase of the training for the Metric version goes - I am intending to so some longer runs of 16 plus miles, then of course I need to see how the Metric race itself goes. If I can get to the end of this year without suffering from the over-training that struck last winter - that would be a big plus. Emotionally I like the idea of doing a marathon in a special year (I suspect I may only do it once if at all) - even my Mum is telling me to go for it next year - and she think I'm mad most of the time.

Autumnleaves says: Thanks FML


Autumnleaves says: Thanks Dio - I think your Fetch name deserves an award actually - when I signed up for Fetch I quickly established that the few running related names I could think of were taken, and I ran out of inspiration - gazing out of the window on a blustery afternoon in November leaves from the plane trees outside my office were blowing about. I reckoned there was a good chance no-one had thought of that one, and so it proved.

Autumnleaves says:



So what got you running in the first place and what keeps you doing it?
Autumnleaves says: Thanks Lalli




Autumnleaves says: Thank you Corrah, that's very kind. Luckily for me I like my local routes very much - you would think we would be in entirely built up areas but we aren't, my favourite loop has a lovely tree-lined stretch where there are bluebells in spring, you can often hear a woodpecker and then you emerge to cornfields in summer. One of the things I like about running is that you notice the changing seasons more - I like noticing the changes to the trees and hedgerows. Another run has one of my favourite views across to Leigh with some of the last remaining mills in the area. I rather like the industrial landscape of the northwest, always have.

Autumnleaves says: Thank you Canute. This such a good question too! It is quite hard to choose in fact, it would be easy to pick a PB race - because those do bring a great sense of achievement, but I think I might choose the first time I ran 15 miles - which was last year some time. It was with Mr AL and we did two loops of 7.5 miles, with Sophie joining us for the second one. I was daunted by the distance when we set out, but got rather euphoric as we hit the final two miles - it was that great feeling you get when you *know* you will not just finish a distance but feel strong. On that run, a marathon seemed possible - but I haven't replicated the feeling since!!



Autumnleaves says: Thanks NSC


Autumnleaves says: That is such a tough one to answer - I find many runners on this site inspirational - for the challenges many of them take on, especially amongst those of us in the *cough* more senior ranks. I do find our homegrown distance runners pretty inspiring though - Paula Radcliffe and Jo Pavey, and then Steve 'Who' Way, our own Marigold - that was pretty amazing.

Autumnleaves says: Well given I'd look pretty dreadful with either, the mullet - easier to hide under the hat I'd be forced to wear


Autumnleaves says: Well he would say he is but he doesn't know how often I rearrange it


All these questions about marathons and the like... now come on Ms. Athletic, does not an 800m or a 400m sound like a decent challenge? (Hint... I think they'd suit you.)
Autumnleaves says:


What time is the most important part in this way of number number number and the feeling of chicken or something similar with your name to see more jam?
Autumnleaves says: To answer in like style. .. jam and warning signs of spring and summer months ago by the time they have been pledged to the start date of birth and I am very pleased with the waves


Autumnleaves says: Watch the blog.....
