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Interview with MaT.T


MaT.T says: Thanks Doogs. I would never say never to anything but probably not for the following reasons. The reason I chose the top 20 Premier League sides of all time on total points scored was because logistically there was a lot of planning to do, as you can probably imagine, and the sides were not going to change anytime soon unless Wigan showed title winning form for a couple of seasons. Luckily there was no chance of that at all, even less now, so I am still on for the same route when I successfully complete in 2015


MaT.T says: Cheers HOD. Well as I am sure you know I didn't make it to all the grounds, only 7 in fact, but I will tell you about a few. scariest approach mile was being taken to the start at St. James Park and not only because I was in the company of a staunch Mackem, sorry for putting you through that Flip, but because I realised it was finally happening after months of talking. Worst approach mile was to Middlesborough, I thought the transporter bridge was never going to actually materialise. I'm sure Anna Bomb was losing the will to live as much as me. Flip was driving that day and described the approach as like a scene from Mad Max, pretty much sums it up. Best approach mile though, and this is clearly from experience because I didn't make it this time, and one I am 110% sure you will agree with is the trek up the High Road to the Mecca of White Hart Lane. It has always since I was a young teenager given me goosebumps and I am sure when I do finish the challenge, which I will, it will be nothing short of monumentual. COYS



MaT.T says: Cheers Ian. I have been on the 1500 thread since 2010 and will never leave. Love the banter and the people, hell sometimes we even talk about running don't we. Honestly there are some people I have met on there that I now, having met, class as real life friends and that is amazing as far as I am concerned. The ones I haven't met are all quite brilliant too and I look forward to meeting many more on my travels in the future. Saying this though doesn't mean that my target isn't higher and I am determined to break 2000 miles for the first time this year having got to within 100 miles in each of the last 3 years. Will be close again this time. So please don't judge me if you see me popping up on the 2000 mile thread too, 1500 will always be my home


Bananaseed or Jammyjack?
(2-4-1 but both crucial questions. ;-))
MaT.T says: I WILL come over to the darkside in the future Sioux. I am determined to do an ironman but with my plans as they are at the moment it is likely to be another 5 or more years before I do. I do llike the bike and will probably do some duathlons and sportives in the meantime but I certainly haven't got the time to concentrate on my very poor swimming. I did try to a few years ago though and really fancied Bala Standard distance and planned to do Barry Bay (pretty local for me?) sprint tri in the build up. So training was underway and I had a good communication dialogue with the Barry organisers as it was my first one and I was being a pedant. Anyway one day I asked them why they were charging for entry in American Dollars, it turns out they weren't, they were charging in Canadian dollars because it was Barry in Canada and not South Wales. My tri career was over

Regards the flapjack it is a no brainer, I love it all but, I'll be honest with you, everytime I unwrapped a portion on the run I was hoping for Jammyjack. It is the Daddy!

MaT.T says: Cheers HG. IAPL was, and to an extent still is, an all consuming beast of an idea, let's hope do I put it to bed in 2015, I am sure I will. 700 odd miles in 23 days, of course it is crazy, not as crazy as some of things people do or plan to do on Fetch but still crazy. It was much more wonderful than crazy though. For so many reasons. Firstly, and I find this hard to comprehend, so many people have said I have inspired them. Things don't get a lot better than that. Whether I have inspired them to do something for charity and/or get off their arse and get healthy it is very humbling for a former good for nothing fat slob


MaT.T says: Hi Ruth and a huge thankyou


Question time: why "terminator"? For sure, having a titanium skeleton inside would help avoid stress-fractures and I've not seen it on any IAU banned items list. Or are you more of a liquid metal model?
MaT.T says: Thanks Andy you are too kind for sure. Way back in 2009 I was talked into running Llanelli Half Marathon. 13.1 miles, I thought I was proper mental




MaT.T says: Cheers mate. I started running intermittently in 2007 and began getting a little more serious in 2008. It doesn't seem that long though. Ultras certainly appeal to me and it is only bad luck with injury/illness that has stopped me doing one so far. Had to pull out of Gower Ultra the last two years, once with a broken toe the other time a viral infection. I have however entered a 214 mile multi-day event next May and hopefully a 24HR race later in 2014 so I will break my official duck. I say official because I ran over 26.2 miles a few times in training earlier in the year and then ran 30+ mile days four days in a row during my IAPL attempt. Whether that already makes me an ultra runner is not for me to say....

MaT.T says: Thanks Sy. I actually very rarely get days I really CBA and if it does happen I tend not to go out as is because I am not feeling 100% and have ended up making myself ill when ignoring such signs before. However I wouldn't like to mislead you and I do get days when I don't fancy it but get out anyway, sometimes I will cycle instead. The main motivator in this is the aforementioned fat photo that resides in my biscuit cupboard. Now I will be completely honest the picture doesn't really do the job regards avoiding the biscuits but it is the thought of where I have come from and my complete lack of will power when it comes to sweet stuff that motivates me to get out there as I am fully aware that it is the one thing that is keeping me in shape. Plus I like it you know, and I know I will when I get out there. The first step is definitely the hardest....

MaT.T says: Thanks Mushroom. I still use the 'Come on Terminator' mantra when things are getting tough, nothing fancy. If I am training, usually by myself, I will be listening to music or audiobooks anyway so can usually be found singing along or going through the emotions that a good book offers. Have been listening to Chrissie Wellingtons book recently and have cried and laughed in equal measures. I am an emotional idiot to be honest. Something happens close to home I am like a rock, bouncer dies in Neighbours and I am a gibbering wreck. I'm sure a psychologist would have something clever to say? Anyway I am rambling for sure so I will leave you with this song which is as likely as any to pop into my head and which I want played at the end of my funeral. An old favourite from my raving days....

MaT.T says: Thanks MB. I am hoping I am fully recovered, have taken it slowly but did 15 miles last Sunday and will go further again next week. I don't think there is anything that inspires me more than the T.S. Eliot quote “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.†I mean there are loads of people on Fetch and further afield, such as my mate Rosie Swales-Pope but that quote pretty much sums it up. Regarding PBs at shorter distances I can't see myself targeting specific races under marathon distance but will run some in the build up to longer events and maybe a PB or two will come from that. My PBs are not the strongest and, for instance, my two fastest HM times have come as part of a build up to marathons. I certainly have a good base to work from so time will tell whether that leads to some faster 10k or 5K times at any point.

MaT.T says: Thanks Bint, again you are too kind. As I just said to MB being able to push myself further and further is a major inspiration, I have always been an all or nothing type of guy. Luckily this addiction is a healthy one



MaT.T says: Thanks Shadow. I loved looking after everyone on the 1500 thread for three years, maybe I will again one day but I felt it was time to walk (or run?) away. Lots of people came and went since I joined it in 2010, I think me, J and Lil are the only constant contributors since then but the same sense of community, fun and support remain and I think this is testament to the fantastic job J has done since taking over. Anyone crazy enough to run on the mean streets of Merseyside and the times J does is more than qualified to look after you bunch of nutters in my book anyway


MaT.T says: Cheers mate. Well to start with I slept in a Tottenham bed for the first time in my life. Still haven't persuaded Mrs T to buy a double duvet cover set though. I ran, what, 186 miles in 6 days which as everyone keeps telling me has got to be a positive even if it was 500 miles and 15 days short of the goal. Other positives, which I have touched on already, are clearly regards the support I got from you and others. Too many people to mention, too many ways you all helped to mention but I must give a quick shout out to the warm bacon sandwiches and cream eggs that you had waiting for me at Hillsborough. It was a special and very moving moment running past the Leppings Lane end and seeing the tribute to those who lost their lives their. It meant a huge amount to be able to properly pay my respects to the tragedy that I will always remember so clearly from my childhood. To be able to do that with you and my brother made it even more special. I have learnt a number of things. I was right to stop when I did, obviously the questions start to creep in as to whether I should of carried on regardless and then Mrs T reminds me that I couldn't walk or fit a shoe on for over a week afterwards so it is always important to listen to your body. Next time, I know it sounds strange but I may walk the downhills, that is, I am pretty sure where the damage was done or certainly when the pain was at its most intense. I will probably slow down a little too. For the first few days I was pretty much averaging 6 miles an hour, it wasn't sustainable. 5 miles an hour or even 4.5 will be fast enough. My brother thinks no more than a marathon a day but I am not sure I have the time to do the full run if I do that, an extra week? I don't know. I will certainly not be carrying my kit, whatever the cost, is it a coincidence that the injury occured the first day I had the full kit? I don't think so. Another thing, sorry for rambling again, is to not get so fixated on the fundraising, if people want to donate they will. I cannot force it. As I have also been told, I raised over £5000 for good causes, closer to £10000 since I started doing races and challenges for charity. That is pretty amazing and must have helped a lot of people.

MaT.T says: Cheers mate. The SPL? Who knows but unless I get a huge windfall I would say not before 2020. Before then though if I win the lottery (which I don't do) as Mrs T has given me permission to take off and run around all professional football teams in the world with her and the kids meeting me in certain locations (ones with shops and posh hotels I imagine


MaT.T says: Hi BBL. No I hadn't considered cricket grounds before, thanks for that



MaT.T says: Thanks Lorraine.I am indeed a keen reader and have enjoyed a few good books of late. Stuart A Life Backwards is a true story of a homeless man and a sensational read. I was already keen on helping the homeless, this book has inspired me even more. I have been listening to Chrissie Wellingtons book whilst running, amazing lady amazing storytelling. Am currently reading White Teeth by Zadie Smith, had never heard of it, you may have, if not give it a go, good story basically following the lives of two connected families over a century from Jamaica and Bangladesh via WW2 to London. Have also been reading some Jack Reacher books for light relief. Would love to know your opinion on any of them but Stuart A Life Backwards especially.


MaT.T says: Thanks SA. Without wanting to sound too soppy my ideal running companion would be Mrs T, we always have lots to talk about and when we don't the silences are comfortable. Otherwise it would be one of my footballing heroes so either Glenn Hoddle, Gazza or Sir Bill Nicholson. I don't get as hung up on the football as I once did but still struggle to talk calmly to anyone with anything even slightly negative to say about Spurs, hopefully with these three it wouldn't be an issue. Not very deep sorry but f you had asked who I'd like a pint with it would probably someone different as I would be looking to put the world to rights



MaT.T says: Thanks Mrs S. Well the bike is a Carrera Vulcan so I called it Veera as in Veera Vulcan, no other reason. I now have a Cannondale Caad roadbike too and have christened her Candy. I have been told they are girly names but I just wouldn't feel right riding a bike with a mans name you know


Do you think that Fetch is getting tardy or has nothing changed?
MaT.T says: Hard to say mate, you were asked to put a question in by 3rd August, yet here you are asking a question on the 10th. Are you getting tardy or has nothing changed? I blame RW...