What does running mean to you?
It’s given me a great way of life and allowed me to travel the world, but now that I’ve stopped running competitively, it means I can eat more burgers.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Er…burgers.
What was your best ever run?
People might be surprised by this but it was the Commonwealth Games 400m semi-final in 1998, when I ran 44.60 while jogging and taunting my teammate on the home straight, not realising I was running so quick!
What is the most important lesson that running has taught you?
Running is like life: you only get out of it what you put into it.
Who, if anyone, is your absolute running hero?
I don’t really have a hero, per se, but I have huge respect for so many people I’ve run with and against.
If you could enter one race before you die, what would it be?
I have a motorbike licence, so it would have to be the British MOTO GP, racing against my hero, Valentino Rossi.
What’s people’s greatest misconception about running?
They think that if you are good at one distance, you must be good at others.
I was an Olympic sprinter, but when I run the London Marathon I get people passing me asking me if I’m injured!
What medal are you most proud of?
My European Championship gold – it’s not impressive looking but it was my first individual title.
City streets, country lanes or a running track?
Now, it has to be country lanes.
Music or the sound of silence?
Music – anything upbeat.
List the following in terms of difficulty: the London Marathon, the Blenheim Triathlon, the 400m.
London, Blenheim, 400m. In fairness, though, I trained a lot harder for the 400m than I did for the other two.
Is it true that you once had a pint during the London Marathon?
Yes, and on more than one occasion. I got to that stage in the race when I was hurting and knew I wouldn’t run a PB. The spectators looked like they were enjoying themselves so I thought I would too.
What’s your most embarrassing running moment?
I nearly did a ‘Paula’ at mile 15 in the 2013 Virgin Money London Marathon, thanks to too many gels disagreeing with me. There weren’t any toilets around, but luckily a kind shopkeeper could see I was in trouble and opened his shop for me so I could use his loo. Ten minutes later, I came out of the shop looking like Casper the Ghost. Not my finest moment, that’s for sure.
Describe yourself as a runner in one word?
Competitive.
