Running and Life – Eric

Age: 27

How did you first get into running?

You had to run cross country at school (John Beddoes in Presteign) but I was more into squash. I played at County level until left school.

When I got to 6^th Form I didn’t do well in my mocks and I got kicked out. I went to work at the Spar in Knighton and pretty much gave up on physical activity. I started drinking and put on a lot of weight over the next 5 years.

I went up to about 120 kilos (about 19 stone). I was drinking every day. After one particularly heavy night in November 2018 I decided that was it – I wanted to loose weight.

I left the Spar and went to work at Manga and started to run at lunchtimes. It was very hard at first. I managed to loose about 10 kilos and thought I would try and run 10k around Knighton. It took me 1hr and 33 minutes. Running was still very hard but the weight was coming off. It was around then that I took the first photo of myself as I was loosing weight.

I managed to get my 10k time down to 58 minutes by the May of next year. I was still running on my own and my manager at work suggested that I give a race a go. I entered the Shobdon Wood race but went and turned my ankle the day before and couldn’t run it!

I signed up to Builth Wells Trail 10k the next week. I turned up in road shoes – I had no what a trail run was! It was pretty hilly but I managed to finish in 55 minutes and 2 seconds. It was at that race that I first met runners from Croft.

I joined Croft on September 16^th 2019 – my birthday. I was running quite a few races by then and wanted to improve. I’d run Stafford 10k in 48 minutes and 7 seconds. I didn’t have any idea about how to train to get better and thought a club would be a good idea.

I managed a sub 45 mins at Hereford 10k, and then sub 40 at Shrewsbury in March 2020. Then lockdown came along.

I got my EA Leader in Running Fitness Quaification just after lockdown and then Coach in Running Fitness this summer. I really enjoy the coaching side. I helped mum do her ‘couch to 5k’ and now she’s entering 10k races and really enjoying them. That’s pretty amazing to see.

What’s a typical running week for you?

I tend to think in terms of time rather than miles. If I’m racing I will usually run for between 6 and 8 hours in the week before. If it’s a non-race week I might do between 8 and 12 hours. It tends to work out at something between 50 and 70 miles each week.

I’ll also do between 3 and 5 hours on the bike (either indoors or outdoors) and swim at Knighton on a Wednesday evening.

Lastly I’ll make sure I do some strength and conditioning at the gym and flexibility at home. That’s about 5 to 6 hours. It’s quite a lot but I get up early and fit it all in when I can. I do something pretty much every day.

What’s in the diary?

• Winter Cross Country League

• Hereford Christmas 10k – 28 December

• Morning After – New Years Day, Church Stretton – 1^st January.

• Hereford 10 Mile – 19^th February

• Staffordshire Half Ironman – 11^th June

• Brecon Beacons 100k – 22^nd July

I enjoy variety. I’ll try anything really. I haven’t run a road marathon yet so I’ll probably do Manchester in April and aim for a good for age time to get a place for London in 2024.

What’s your Most Memorable Run?

I think it’s the Brecon to Cardiff race. I saw a YouTube video and thought ‘that’s impossible’ – but I want to give it a go! It got postponed 3 times but ended up happening in August 21. The first time I tried it I ended up DNF at mile 35 (7 miles from the finish). I was barely able to walk due to an over-use injury in my hip.

I signed up to do it again in February 2022. I decided that I HAD to finish it! Storm Frederick blew in the night before and it rained the entire race. It felt like you could swim through some parts the rain was that heavy. I remember crossing the finish line and every emotion came up – pain, happiness, relief. Leeky texted me after I finished and my sister picked me up. I cried for ages in the car. It took me 7hrs and 23 minutes. I finished 35^th out of 300 starters. About 130 pulled out and didn’t finish.

Any injuries you’ve struggled with?

I’m usually pretty good. I’ve got a shoulder injury at the moment but most things I get a over in a couple of days.

What do you most love about running?

The social side is one of the best things. When I was drinking I really didn’t have many friends – it was a bad time for me. Croft has been amazing. Also, if I get a good run in I’m set up for the day. And, if I’ve had a bad day at work and go out for a run it all seems ok.

I’ve got to the point that I love the training now. You get out what you put in. I’m an average runner that gets good results because I train. I love the fact that you can set a goal; achieve it and then set another and go for it.

What do you do for a living?

I work at Manga International in Knighton. We make lifting products for use in medical settings and to help disabled people. We export around the world. I mainly cut and make the hoses for the pneumatics and do other bits and pieces. I’ve been there for nearly 5 years. I enjoy it. We’re a tight group. I work from 8.30am until 5pm Monday – Thursday and until 1.30pm on a Friday.

Who do you live with?

With mum and dad – Alison and David. My sister Grace lives in Caerphilly.

Have you any pets?

Rocky and Poppy. Rocky is a Staffy Cross – he’s a rescue. Poppy is a Saluki Whippet. She’s the trouble-maker!

Have you any book, film or TV recommendations?

I read quite a bit. Above The Clouds by Kilian Jornet is amazing. I also loved ‘Can’t Hurt Me’ by David Goggins. It’s about a bloke who became a navy Seal and does loads of crazy challenges.