Remember, remember MoRunning… It’s back with a bang this November, coming to 17 locations across the UK in a quest to get you raising money for men’s health issues while you have loads of fun!
To make sure things get off to a good start, MoRunning has enlisted the help of fitness legend, ‘tache-wearer, and arguably the only man to look good in Lycra, Mr Motivator, who’ll be leading MoRunning’s Cardiff runners in an epic warm-up in Bute Park on Sunday 13 November 2016.
Men’s Running caught up with Mr Motivator, aka Derrick Evans, for an exclusive Q&A session…
You’re the 2016 ambassador for MoRunning – what would you say to encourage runners to sign up?
I think that everyone should recognise that movement in our lives needs to increase. We spend too much time watching television or using computers and so therefore our energy expenditure is kind of low and the result of that is that we have now taken on health problems which didn’t exist many years ago because our lifestyle used to be so active. Anything that encourages people to get out of their chair and get moving, and enjoy the fun of it, is something that I applaud. So when it comes to MoRunning… Number one: I think it’s a great idea and a great concept. Number two: the funds raised go towards a worthy cause.
You’ve worked for various charities over the years – do you think it’s harder to get a message across to men than women?
Yes it. In charge of any household, or the person who gets us to the doctor early, is always the woman. When women aren’t well they are straight off to the doctor, so men have got a lot to learn from women. But also women do engineer the first step. Men are terrible when it comes to getting themselves checked and if they don’t have a woman or someone loving in their life, invariably they neglect it and the message as always is to say to men ‘look after yourself, do all the checks that you need to do to make sure you get early detection in place’, but just as important is that you do put exercise in your life because it does slow down the rate of deterioration and it will actually pay dividends.
Have you ever been affected by men’s health issues? Or has anyone close to you?
No, not really. I’ve been so fortunate. I maintain that I’m gaining from the benefits of taking up exercise in my life very early on and so what I’ve done is delayed the onset of a lot of the things that do affect men. But one thing I do every year, and I make it on my birthday, I have a full medical where every single thing gets checked and by doing that at least you’re keeping abreast of everything that’s going on. But the most important thing for me, and that’s what keeps me feeling and looking good, is the fact that if you are emotionally happy I believe that keeps you healthy as well. If you’re not emotionally happy you can’t eat, you can’t sleep – if you’re heart’s been broken – nothing feels right. But I think if you’re emotionally balanced, everything else falls into place.
Tell us what you have in store for the runners at Mo’s Cardiff event?
That is always a surprise! But the one thing for sure is there will be lots of fun. There will be some good music and we’ll just have a good time and at the end of the day, in the time that you will be exercising which is what’s important, you need to forget every single thing you may have at home, every single things that’s been worrying you and just enjoy yourself for that moment so that it will be a great time.
Do you do a lot of running yourself?
No I don’t, I encourage it and I say to people ‘do it’ but you need to find what suits you. If you don’t find what suits you then you will not keep it going. And that’s why if running is your thing – do it! But if not, then find an activity that you really enjoy and just make sure you do have your good music and you do it. Know your body, listen to your body and look after it, and it will last you a lifetime.
What’s the most important piece of advice you’d give to anyone who wants to improve their fitness and overall health?
The most important piece of advice is that you must identify something you like doing, because if you don’t then the moment the weather starts closing in, you’re going to stop. So find something you enjoy, something that makes you smile, something that almost is disguised as fitness – but you don’t call it fitness. Maybe you’re swimming for leisure and maybe you’re walking for pleasure. Maybe you’re running and when you run you’ve got someone that’s going to benefit from it. Maybe you’re doing it with a sponsorship in mind and so therefore that gives you an additional goal. At all times if you focus on that kind of enjoyment factor, you will keep going no matter what.
What’s your secret to looking so good in Lycra at 63… Or any age?
Embalming fluid! You know I still go back to emotional happiness because I maintain that if you are happy that it makes everything much more achievable and it gives you a real purpose in life. And that doesn’t mean you have to be with someone because maybe you’re just happy being with yourself, but as long as you are then you’re in balance. But the moment we’re messed up, the moment we focus on negativity in our life then everything reflects. Our health reflects badly and we don’t feel good and we don’t get the success that we’re looking for.
Mr Motivator will be leading MoRunners on an epic warm-up in Cardiff’s Bute Park on Sunday 13 November 2016 – and he wants to see you there! Fancy dress is encouraged, and so is fun. So sign up for a MoRunning 5K or 10K now and become a legend this November.
