Bea has been a member of the UKRunChat community since 2014, and is a regular UKRunChat hour cohost. You can learn more about Bea on http://beamycoach.com.
Bea works mainly with clients age 40+, and women going through perimenopause and menopause. Once a competitive athlete, Bea now focuses on finding joy in running.
Listen to hear all about:
– Bea’s own journey into running
– Bea’s personal experience of perimenopause, how this affected her running goals, and how this has enabled her to help others going through the same.
– How Bea found the joy in running once again after being a competitive athlete.
Listen here:
#ukrunchat
Show transcript:
00:00.84
ukrunchat
Hi be thank you so much for joining us today. It’s really nice to have um you know an avid community member on because you’ve you’ve co-hosted quite a few hours with us. So thank you for joining us. We’re looking forward to finding out a little bit more about you.
00:15.45
Bea
Hi Michelle. Um, yeah, thanks for having me. Um I always enjoy a ah busy Sunday evening. So yeah, looking forward to this.
00:23.87
ukrunchat
Yeah, so it’s always good fun and it’s always lovely when I see your name pop up in the inbox for you k run chat to say you’d like to volunteer to come and host an hour and yeah I mean how did you kind of become part of the Uk and chat community where did that start.
00:34.35
Bea
Um, right.
00:40.30
Bea
Oh my gosh I can’t even really remember I’ve been on Twitter since 20142013 2014 um I don’t know if you guys were around then or not.
00:53.24
ukrunchat
Now we were Yeah, we’ve been going quote a little bit longer than that. Yeah.
00:57.36
Bea
There you go. So I must have joined as just kind of a more solemn participant for a while and I think I hosted the first one 2018 twenty nineteen ish
01:05.10
ukrunchat
Yeah.
01:16.50
Bea
So yeah, just just sat there and responded to questions for a couple of years and then decided I wanted to join in.
01:24.45
ukrunchat
Yeah, that’s it’s good for I Love I’ve hosted a few hours myself in my time and it’s always nice finding a bit more about people isn’t it and just tying into debate. So what kind of things did you you know? did you learn about the community over your time hosting.
01:31.83
Bea
Exactly.
01:41.82
Bea
Um, yeah, just it’s so many different runners so you know like we come from um, all different types of places you know like different jobs different.
01:43.79
ukrunchat
Is that what you still.
01:58.30
Bea
Backgrounds Um, and yeah, different types of runners. You know like shorter distance longer distance. We’re all very different but it’s something running is something that unites us basically.
02:05.21
ukrunchat
Yeah, yeah, does I think that’s a nice thing. It’s it literally every kind of runner is in there on play and it’s just it’s always nice to see them coming together on a Sunday evening. Yeah so tell us a little bit about your so.
02:13.95
Bea
Um, yeah.
02:23.69
ukrunchat
Ah, then so how did your kind of running start personally tell us a little bit about your background.
02:29.77
Bea
Yeah, personally so when when I went to school I actually hate it running I hate it running for a very long time. Um, and then I think it was. 2009 Um, my partner. My husband and I split up and I got back into I played a lot of other sports when I grew up so I was in sports but not running. Um, so I kind of like typically what a lot of us I think women do I start looking after myself.
02:52.90
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
03:02.32
Bea
Started going to the gym started running on the treadmill funly enough. Um, enjoyed that strangely enough and then I started running outdoors and one of my friends had gotten into running a little bit as well around the same time. And she dragged me into a um race for life five k in Guildford and that was my first race.
03:21.13
ukrunchat
Yeah.
03:28.69
Bea
Um, and then I just kind of yeah just took it from there. Um started so my next goal then was ten k and I’m like I’ll be I’ll be happy with ten ks I don’t need to go any further um, ran my first ten k they were handing out. Leaflets for the first for the inaugural Cro and a half mariton of that race I sign up. Yeah, it’s just snowballed I did a distance and I’m like oh really enjoy that actually I want to push more.
03:52.14
ukrunchat
Ah, Snowballs doesn’t it if you mean ba you.
04:02.47
Bea
Um, did the half and then signed up for at that time. It wasn’t a ah ballot yet signed up for to um Berlin Marathon in Twenty Ten or twenty eleven um so yeah, it was just first come for serve so that was my first marathon and that’s kind of how it started so.
04:10.60
ukrunchat
Yeah, wow.
04:22.30
Bea
Incrementally kind of increasing the distance over like a year and a half to my first marathon and then did a couple more marathons and then got into trifllons and du alons as well. So.
04:29.59
ukrunchat
Um, yeah, um.
04:34.78
ukrunchat
Yeah, that’s brilliant. You you say that was a long time I think that’s like quick compar I’m thinking what my journey was I think had about 14 years to my first marathon. So yeah, how how how was it? Yeah I think so how how how was how was the first.
04:43.20
Bea
Okay, but you are a runner you are a runner for a lot longer I Guess much younger like absolutely I loved it. Absolutely loved it I have paced myself well enough to.
04:54.90
ukrunchat
Marathon then in Berlin house. What’s it going.
05:02.95
Bea
Feel like I know this sounds crazy. Ah, but I’m like I finished I’m like could have gone a little bit further. It was a matter of pacing myself so I didn’t kill myself. Basically.
05:10.47
ukrunchat
Um, yeah, that’s brilliant because yeah, sometimes it can be a shock to the system of first marathon instance kind. Yeah.
05:17.79
Bea
Yeah, so um, and yeah, the atmosphere was great I love belin marff and so I straight again still not a ballot race sign up for the next one I do have like family in Germany as well. That was kind of a a go to for me. So.
05:30.19
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
05:36.21
Bea
did did berlin again the year after as well and got a pb um some of them did yes so that was nice too and some friends I have there as well. Um.
05:39.34
ukrunchat
Oh Wow Oh that’s nice said did your family come out and support you there.
05:52.20
ukrunchat
Yeah, oh nice.
05:54.96
Bea
Yeah, yeah, so that was my kind of first journey into marathons it’s funny I mean I’ve caught I’ve gone to longer distances initially and then trained for um and our man travelon as well eventually. Um.
06:10.90
ukrunchat
Yeah, okay.
06:14.78
Bea
And I overcooked it a little bit. Um say I probably didn’t really cover enough and train too much. Didn’t take any time off I did that iron man and then basically my body crashed. Um and I felt quite unwell like just.
06:21.45
ukrunchat
In.
06:33.83
Bea
Almost a little bit like chronic fatigue that I was definitely overtrained. Um, ah maybe it was to start of me going into startingling perimenoppauses looking back at it I don’t know. Um, so then I started doing shorter distances and then I got into racing daflons which is.
06:33.97
ukrunchat
Yes.
06:53.64
Bea
Um, Run Cycle Run basically and I did quite well with that. Um, because there’s no swimming involved so I was pretty fast I want some races um and now I’ve kind of gone all the way back I just run for enjoyment now.
07:09.29
ukrunchat
Yeah, okay, and and you help others of course now don’t you um you with that running.
07:15.67
Bea
Um, yes, no I very quickly in 2012 there you know like um Uk athletics started to push the um various um leader and coaching courses that you know were now very used to. So I got my leadership in running fitness in 2012 and started up a beginners running group around Croyden so so yeah ah led that for about four or five years um and yeah, then other things took over. But yeah I introduced probably good 5200 people mostly women um into running as well who hadn’t been runage before they.
07:57.75
ukrunchat
Yeah, oh that’s fantastic. Yes, is it is that group still going then without you more.
08:09.30
Bea
Um, they were until the lady who took over for me became pregnant just around Preco and ah but they integrated quite well into my local running club who now have sort of a group that is run walk.
08:12.75
ukrunchat
Um, yes.
08:27.93
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
08:28.81
Bea
Um, so yes, it kind of it. It was a good push for them when we stopped for them to actually continue. It’s just not an an individual anymore. Um, it is because it’s it’s a massive commitment. We started with one run a week
08:34.49
ukrunchat
Um, yeah, yeah, it it can be hard work running a group can’t sit. Yeah.
08:47.65
Bea
Was fine and then everyone wanted a second one. So I obliged. Um, So yeah, there was a lot of running with with that group that was obviously always um, a little bit slower running as well obviously because it it kind of had a mix of pure beginners and sort of. People who had kind of done a couch 5 K but didn’t feel comfortable joining an actual running club a more serious running Club. So.
09:14.89
ukrunchat
Yeah, and so just let me take you back when it because you mentioned and perimennopause back then you were doing your iron man and I’m I’m particularly interested in this topic at the moment that you know women are talking a lot more about it aren’t we so.
09:22.31
Bea
Um, know.
09:28.94
Bea
Yeah, sure sure.
09:31.26
ukrunchat
Just thought we’d just delve into that for a little bit if that’s okay with you and just mean how how did it personally affect you.
09:40.59
Bea
Um, like I say I think when I how old was I then 42 so when I started having these over-training problems I think some of it might have been that I started entering also having hormonal changes.
09:45.80
ukrunchat
And.
09:57.30
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
09:57.95
Bea
Um, so just being you know, being not all of a sudden from one month next just not being able to do what I was able to do energy wise um you know and then obviously all the typical all the other kind of typical.
10:08.81
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
10:17.61
Bea
Symptoms that we get but it was mainly just what affected my running most was to need for much longer, Recovery. So just not being able to do same distance. Um, not run as often. Um, mixing it up a little bit. But yeah I just had to cut down. It was quite funny because when I completely rested I didn’t feel well either so it had to find that balance between staying active. But now we’re doing it and that just became quite a balancing and so um and I’ve.
10:41.66
ukrunchat
Um, Rami.
10:55.34
Bea
Find that’s still like that today because I’m still in perimenopause now. Um I still find that I just have to be away kinder to myself and just kind of go with with um with my energy levels.
10:59.11
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
11:14.29
Bea
Um, and you know if I can’t push in a particular day I won’t but initially I had a really hard time accepting that I couldn’t do what I wanted to do and what I’ve been doing for a couple of years so I found that mentally a massive struggle.
11:25.81
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
11:30.50
ukrunchat
Yeah, it it is tough mentally I think isn’t it because suddenly you go from being competitive I mean you get you know and to to realizing that Actually what’s what’s going on what I’ve had and wrong and of course it’s It’s just a natural occurrence isn’t it.
11:38.37
Bea
Yep.
11:45.82
Bea
Yeah, and up obviously I understand like every you know? ah I have some I kind of um, a strength coach and kind of Rehab specialist as well. So I do work a lot with actually perimenopausal and menopausal. Um.
12:00.50
ukrunchat
Um, yes.
12:01.65
Bea
Women and we all have a very different experience. Some of them have have it worst and made way worse. Um, other ones have kind of cruised through it. Um, so everyone has their own journey and you know yeah so you can’t just apply kind of.
12:03.16
ukrunchat
Yes.
12:11.81
ukrunchat
Yeah.
12:21.49
Bea
Same solution for everyone. But it’s really just um, which I found heart listening starting to listen to your body basically and do what it tells you to do and that’s tough when you think are mental. You think I should be able to do this. So.
12:30.74
ukrunchat
Yeah.
12:39.53
ukrunchat
Yeah, it’s old isn’t it you find I think you find as you train in endurance running you you get that mental toughness to push through but you have to kind of learn to back off a bit. Don’t you in perimenopauuse and think actually yeah.
12:40.80
Bea
Um, yeah.
12:46.11
Bea
Yeah, oh absolutely and I mean I went out I remember I went out I was still training a couple of weeks later I then decided to drop that second ironman race but I was still training for that.
12:59.81
ukrunchat
In.
13:05.70
Bea
And I went we were in on a traflon holiday basically for a week and I got up early and went out on my long sort of a longish run. It wasn’t actually that long. It’s maybe 1415 k um, and it was sort of. 4 times I plan to do like 4 circuits around a 4 k course basically and after 3 I was just like I had to stop and walk and I started crying because I’m like. But should be able to do this and you’ve got to be stronger and I thought I was mentally weak. Um, so yeah, it’s it can be a real struggle and it can take some time to kind of come to terms with it. So.
13:45.70
ukrunchat
Writes.
13:52.10
ukrunchat
Yeah, yeah, it can So I mean what what training is says sorry what training strategies would you recommend for runners going through perimenopaluse I you mentioned a few there like more recovery days. Perhaps just being a bit more thing else.
14:06.19
Bea
Definitely um so what helped me was just I I switched my running to much order distances. So that’s kind of how I got into to do affons as well. Actually.
14:16.27
ukrunchat
Yes.
14:24.10
Bea
Um, and I did like super sprints mainly which is three k run ten twelve KBike and three k run um, so my whole training was geared toward that so all of a sudden all that you know like my longest run.
14:30.21
ukrunchat
Yes.
14:42.28
Bea
And during that train probably was like 7 eight miles maximum right? Um, and even though I was at a competitive level at that time. Um I felt like that the shorted distances suited at me much better than the.
14:44.20
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
14:59.34
Bea
Shorter sharper stuff rather than the long long distances which just really tiredre me out. Um I got into strength training a lot more during that time as well. Um, and I felt that really really benefited me. Um.
15:03.96
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
15:18.54
Bea
Because before I’ve done it sort of a bit half firstt. Um, occasionally. But um, yeah took up strength training which I found really beneficial for myself and um, my diet hadn’t been bad. But. Together with one of the symptoms I had and I know that a lot ah lot of my clients have um when to entertra perimennopause is all of a sudden you struggle with eating certain foods get a lot more kind of ibs type symptoms So upset stomach bloating.
15:47.94
ukrunchat
Um, yeah, and.
15:57.37
Bea
Um, that kind of stuff so I had to again listen to my body and go Okay, you might really like that food but it’s really not good for you? Um, so I had to kind of yeah or eat less of it. So.
16:06.13
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
16:13.91
Bea
Were just certain foods and some of them are the typical foods and some are just very random like I love lentils. But I can’t eat any anymore. Lentils beans are fine. Can’t eat any you know, healthy and all that. But um, so yeah I.
16:23.11
ukrunchat
Um, I’ll come you know.
16:29.99
Bea
Just kind of had to adjust my diet as well and just make sure that um I kind of keep dose um ibs symptoms um kind of under control. Um so domes were the big ones and sleep is always still a problem for me.
16:39.40
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
16:47.52
ukrunchat
Yeah I was going to mention sleep because that’s obviously crucial to athletes. Yes, recovery isn’t it so and obviously sleep is impacting Grade length isn’t it and hormonal changes. How do you that.
16:49.84
Bea
Or like that’s one we cover a yeah.
17:01.15
Bea
Yes, so my my sleep is great in phases and then absolutely horrible other times and I try and do whatever I can with sleep hygiene. You know, like the right temperature dark. Um.
17:07.74
ukrunchat
You had fight.
17:18.55
Bea
Kind of blocking out the noise you know whatever I can do getting off the phone early and sometimes it’s still. It’s literally just a hormone Stri it for me I can do whatever I want and sometimes I just sleep don’t sleep well at all. Um.
17:26.41
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
17:34.57
Bea
And that obviously means that you know you do need more recovery, um, maybe less running. Um, and yeah, just kind of not overdoing it. But it’s it’s a balance. You have to strike. Obviously you don’t just want to sit around and that probably does make you feel any better either. Um, sometimes she get it right? and sometimes she get it wrong? Yeah yeah.
17:56.54
ukrunchat
Yeah, it’s It’s all a bit of an experiment isn’t it like you say everybody’s difference. Yeah, and I mean what about kind of I know a lot of women experience kind of mental health kind of an anxiety really.
18:13.35
Bea
Oh man. Yes, um, I’ve definitely had issues with that a lot more and it it comes and strikes you and like.
18:15.17
ukrunchat
Yeah.
18:24.48
Bea
These things never really used to bother me and all of a sudden. Yeah, there’s um, just you don’t even know where it comes from and you would just wake up in the morning and it’s not even anything.
18:40.42
Bea
Half to time I Canoe pinpoint what it was and you just feel really really anxious. So obviously working out gun for a run can help with that. Um, for sure. Um I ended up when that got to a point where I’m like why am I putting up with this.
18:43.33
ukrunchat
Yeah.
18:51.10
ukrunchat
Yeah.
18:57.40
ukrunchat
And.
18:59.99
Bea
And I kind of exhausted all the other avenues you know eating as healthily as it could um, working out kind of get getting that right balance and everything um I ended up um, going on H O T in
19:14.51
ukrunchat
Right? Okay, yeah.
19:17.93
Bea
2021 so about two years ago yeah
19:21.20
ukrunchat
Yeah, so what? what difference has that made for you personally.
19:26.84
Bea
Um, it was it. Ah for me, it helped me quite quickly as well. So within a couple of days um I I came home after a long day. And I started cooking I was dancing around in the kitchen I’m like what is going on with me. Ah, um, for me, it really helped help me very quickly. But that’s not the same for everyone. Um, so it’s yeah it man except for maybe the sleep. It.
19:50.29
ukrunchat
No.
19:59.35
Bea
Actually I felt there was a massive difference with a lot of my symptoms um like having to get out the night and you know go to the bathroom and that kind of stuff that that almost stopped and before then I woke up 4 times a night and had to go.
20:06.64
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
20:17.47
Bea
Um, So yeah, it just made a massive difference and then I could again work on other kind of things in regards to my mental health and the anxiety but when you kind of feeling so low with your hormones. Um, sometimes you just it’s hard to find a way out. So um, made a massive difference for me I exactly and then you’re in that they should Cycle. It’s very hard to come out of so I was able to then work kind of mentally work on you know, like you know like.
20:38.83
ukrunchat
Yeah, you you kind of lack motivation when you’re feeling like that I think sometimes don’t you and yeah.
20:55.62
Bea
Sort of like cbt you know, reframing my thinking around training and other things and and just be more motivated be more productive, not procrastinate over things which were driving my anxiety as well. So yeah.
20:57.12
ukrunchat
Yes.
21:09.30
ukrunchat
Yeah, yeah, I’ll tell you the worst thing I I find about perimineoppause I’m kind of going through the early stages at the moment and it’s just the. It’s the intense sweating every time I come for a run like I love winter because I don’t get so hot summer running. Oh no I Just can’t.
21:18.35
Bea
Um, with.
21:23.41
Bea
I I I I totally agree with you I I used to love summers used to love it hate at winter and sort of the last couple of years like i’m.
21:28.87
ukrunchat
So it at the moment. Yeah.
21:34.82
ukrunchat
Um, yeah, same.
21:42.53
Bea
I’m thriving in winter and spring and autumn but summer I really.
21:52.22
ukrunchat
Ah, you got any tips I’ll be happy to hear them.
21:54.86
Bea
Um, I mean the H R T help definitely helped a little bit. Um I noticed as well when I was going to the gym and um ah didn’t realize it until I went on an H R t. How quicker I just kind of overheated in whatever workout situation and the first time I went to the gym when I was an H R T and I was training with one of my mates and I’m like I feel so different I’m not like ah I wasn’t even sweating I was just felt I wasn’t overheating.
22:10.34
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
22:29.13
Bea
In the same way. So um, yeah, that actually it helped with that as well to degree I still prefer even being an 20 I still prefer winter all of a sudden. Ah no, no, no, no, but no.
22:34.93
ukrunchat
Yeah. Yes, just not the ice the coolness but not the ice.
22:47.41
Bea
Um, but but everything else just colder temperatures are totally my thing now you know.
22:54.19
ukrunchat
Yes, I’m with you there. Oh thanks for being so honest about that kind of you know that journey that you’ve been through with perimennopause I think that’ll help and um, um listeners. Yeah.
22:58.60
Bea
You know sure I think it’s important we hear about you know some of the things that not everyone talks about and you feel less alone. You’re like oh oh so I’m not strange. Not you know, like weird.
23:14.14
ukrunchat
Yeah, you do and don’ think yeah I think sometimes you think it’s just you don’t you and like I mean I like am a coach and I’ve I’ve had like clients experience just little annoying niggly injuries and.
23:16.61
Bea
Um, not going mad. Yeah.
23:31.90
ukrunchat
You kind of figure out through talking to them that that could be caused by perimenopause and and they haven’t even realized and then they go to the doctor and and the doctors kind of like yeah we we can help you with hormones and and yeah, it’s just.
23:33.17
Bea
Um, yes.
23:40.88
Bea
Move.
23:45.93
ukrunchat
It’s talking about it I think helps you realize that other people are going through the same thing and that it’s not just you yeah.
23:51.60
Bea
Exactly I mean I’m so glad we’re talking about it more I I Just can’t imagine how my mom went through that you know I was like um because that I don’t know my mom Obviously my grandma they never said anything. They just kind of.
23:58.21
ukrunchat
Yeah.
24:09.20
Bea
Lived through it and probably went through exactly the same feelings. So yeah, if I play.
24:14.77
ukrunchat
Yeah, but never never ever talked about it. No yeah, um I mean so can you recommend any kind of books or resources or anything that have helped you through kind of learning more about this that we can direct only.
24:26.30
Bea
Oh I’m so terrible with book titles and names of authors. Um I could send you some through but on top of my head. Um, um.
24:43.36
Bea
I Did read a couple of books I did a couple of courses. Well as a coach um as well. But I’m so about with book Titles book me on the spot. Yeah, yeah, so that’s good.
24:52.15
ukrunchat
Um, oh well, if you if you think if you remember any we will pop them in the show notes. And yeah, who dropped me drop me a note after this that’s and so what I mean what are you kind of you said you running for joy now. Are you still doing racism and things What what you kind of look towards.
25:01.31
Bea
Well Dave.
25:09.61
Bea
Um I didn’t for quite a while so it was really just I yeah life with Covid and even pre Covid had changed quite a bit so running eventually kind of took.
25:10.79
ukrunchat
Name them.
25:19.42
ukrunchat
Man.
25:25.67
Bea
More of a not a backseat but it was a little bit less important for my life. Um, and last year was the first you know, long time I’ve done a race again and that was actually I came across um, a charity called nicoa. Um. National association of children of alcoholics because my mom was an alcoholic. Um and that just a wonderful charity. Um, and they had spaces available for the London lambmarks have.
25:49.12
ukrunchat
Right.
25:59.60
ukrunchat
Yeah, okay.
26:03.34
Bea
So I ran that last year with um, silly me with meniscus injuries I run walked it and then couldn’t walk for about three weeks um yeah don’t do that? um.
26:17.70
ukrunchat
Um, no, um.
26:23.90
Bea
I’ve very recovered from that now. Um, that was a great experience. It wouldn’t have been a race I would have done a couple of years ago but I ran walked it high hi $5 kids. Um, there’s a lot of support so it was a very different experience. From me, you know, competing in do afflons and going for you know, like aiming to win race this and obviously going for Pbs and marathons marment to just kind of yeah, totally different experience but it was just just this lovely. So.
26:43.49
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
26:57.24
Bea
I signed up for the ballot for London Landmarks half and guess what I got in so I’m doing it again this year oh yeah it’s ah two weeks before lunch’s from the seventh of april.
27:02.34
ukrunchat
Oh Wow Oh all of play. So when is that is it spring? Yeah yeah, so so no, no injuries to speak of at the moment.
27:15.78
Bea
So and and no no thank goodness. Yeah knock onward. Yeah, nothing. Um, so yeah, but it will be again. It’ll be just literally just for fun. 1 of my clients and up as well.
27:20.68
ukrunchat
That’s good.
27:32.83
Bea
He’s running it for charity this year um with a charity place. So yeah, it it I’ve kind of come full circle I started running I was still in a corporate job and I started running because it relieved my stress ah thinking of doing races initially i.
27:46.79
ukrunchat
Um, yes.
27:53.32
Bea
Was getting outside and kind of just um, yeah, just relieving the stress of work and stuff and I love that? Um, so I’m kind of back in the same place.
28:06.13
ukrunchat
Yeah, oh good. So I mean what does a typical trading week look like for you then at the moment how often ebay now.
28:14.20
Bea
Um, so I’m mixed a running these days with ah strength training. So I at the moment I’m just building up my long run basically because it’s nine weeks eight and a half nine weeks
28:26.50
ukrunchat
Yeah.
28:29.94
Bea
Um, very gingerly um because I’m still sort of ah, still want to be careful I don’t think Knee issue will come back? Um, so building that up slowly and then I do ah sometimes ah.
28:36.73
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
28:46.79
Bea
Quick treadmill run or something on the elliptical in the gym. Um, and then one more run during the week which is a bit shorter and a bit faster. Yeah, so and about 2 strength training sessions per week as well. So.
28:56.34
ukrunchat
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
29:05.39
Bea
4 to 5 sessions per week but only about 2 to 3 are running. Um, and yeah, that works. Well um, yeah, that’s that’s a far cry from going out six days a week
29:21.88
ukrunchat
Yeah, he can.
29:23.74
Bea
Running one hundred and Twenty K a week or something like that. It’s very different but um, yeah, it’s become about enjoyment again. It’s funny when I was very competitive at some stage every training session obviously kind of had a purpose.
29:38.87
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
29:41.20
Bea
You had to so I had to run to a particular heart rate or a particular pace or whatever was on the training plan for my coach. Um because I could have coached myself but I always found that. Easier to have a coach who was telling me what to do as well. Yeah, exactly? Um, but I realized that it was satisfying the competitive side that I do have inside me.
29:57.71
ukrunchat
Yeah, you’ve got a bit of accountability that way haven’t you, you might just make a difference. Yeah.
30:09.63
ukrunchat
Yeah, yeah.
30:12.60
Bea
But at the same time I didn’t enjoy your running anymore. Um, yeah, it it was that constantly just having to very you know run to a particular requirement kind of took the joy away I realized after a while so I was chasing that.
30:14.80
ukrunchat
Right? Oh that’s sad. Yeah.
30:26.75
ukrunchat
Yeah.
30:31.61
Bea
I did it so that I could go tour Dlon Race and basically get a trophy but the running itself wasn’t as joyful so I um.
30:35.93
ukrunchat
Yes, no, how do you find that joy then where does that come from again.
30:48.44
Bea
I did I at that time I also changed from being in a corporate job to um, being self-employed so I was buildingolding up my business a less time to kind of devote to running a certain time anyways. So. I stopped pursuing the um, the racing basic like death on racing. Um, and then I had to find this. It was totally was a process I felt lost no goal. Um. Ah, felt very very lost for a while and then tried to set new goals and then had injury shoes or something like that I signed up for Chicago marathon 2019 and sort of an old injury reared its head at that time.
31:25.85
ukrunchat
Yeah.
31:44.86
Bea
Probably never properly healed up when I started getting to longer run so I actually never ran Chicago. Um, so yeah, it was a long journey from trying not to half goals and then.
31:48.87
ukrunchat
Right.
32:02.47
Bea
Kind of thinking What am I training for um, let me set some goals and then not going through with it for a particular reason. So um, it was quite a journey to get to the point where I’m like actually um I I’m just gonna.
32:03.18
ukrunchat
Yeah.
32:22.13
Bea
Um, just gonna um now I’m able to just enjoy it for what it is but it took a while for me to get from that competitive side to back to um, back to just that joy I mean I I studied sort of sports psychology of.
32:40.81
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
32:41.60
Bea
Last three years and 1 of the exercises we had to do um and I will remind myself of that when I kind of don’t feel like or I’m wondering why am I doing what I’m doing training wise. And that was we had to go back to when we initially got into sports training. Whatever it is whatever sports and then kind of go back and ask ourselves why why do we love it. Why do we stick with it. Why did.
33:01.70
ukrunchat
Um.
33:13.80
Bea
Why did I get into it So I grew up. Um I played a lot of football with the boys always running around in the mud. Um I just I realized that from when I was quite little I just enjoyed running around and movement. Overall.
33:32.55
ukrunchat
Yeah.
33:33.30
Bea
That is what gave me joy. Um and so that exercise during my course actually I found that really helpful when I realized that kind of go back to Basics. Um. So Yeah I use that are as a reminder now when I’m like why am I still doing this.
33:55.39
ukrunchat
Yeah, that sounds really helpful. Actually I’m just yeah and thinking back to my first run and yeah can see how that would would help. Yeah, so I mean what about um, will will you go back and do Chicago Marri than one day. Do you think? or.
33:59.32
Bea
Be.
34:08.60
Bea
You know what? it’s funny. It’s so ah, there was a time in my life when my just I was just thinking of the next race and the next marathon and the next straffflon or whatever. Um, and now I I think.
34:16.92
ukrunchat
Then.
34:25.48
Bea
Ah, could be quite happy to not do another marathon. It’s because I obviously know what it takes to you know train properly for a marathon. Um, and it’s so much easier to train for a half.
34:26.75
ukrunchat
Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
34:42.34
ukrunchat
It’s definitely less time consumeing it there. You know.
34:44.68
Bea
That way less time consuming. Um, so I’m not I never say never because if you know did when I started running if you’d asked me if I do a marathon I would have still called you crazy and then right.
35:00.89
ukrunchat
Ah, yeah, ah.
35:02.10
Bea
So I’m always of the opinion. Never say never but the moment I can’t actually see it. That’s fine I’ve done a few. Um, so it’s It’s actually okay with me.
35:02.78
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
35:09.59
ukrunchat
Yeah.
35:17.26
ukrunchat
Um, know that’s that’s a nice place to be actually. Yeah yeah, that’s a really nice place to be um so what would you say was the most standout moment or race and and you’re running so far then that you’re proud of.
35:18.63
Bea
Yeah.
35:33.31
Bea
Um, proud of um, probably my maybe couple of things. Um, my second berlin marathon although the 1 thing that was really annoying. So I got a pb. Ah, around three forty seven um just outside of um, being able to get a good for age for London at that time. Um, but the annoying thing was so I loved it because I still still had energy at the end of that.
36:00.63
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
36:06.42
ukrunchat
Brilliant.
36:09.90
Bea
Um, it was a bit annoying because the next day I had trained well for it I had stuck to to training plan done my interval sessions so done I thought I’d done really well. Um, and yeah, ah. Next day I didn’t have any doms I never had doms after that race. So I knew I should have pushed harder and gotten that good for age.
36:35.65
ukrunchat
Yeah, but yeah, you’ve you’ve you’ve done well though for a Pb But yeah, there’s always that da could I handle that? yes.
36:41.64
Bea
Yeah, exactly Ah, that was actually a it was like a really enjoyable race again? Um, and um.
36:45.78
ukrunchat
Um, you know.
36:54.44
Bea
This has more to do with sort of an adventures. One of my my partner at the time when I did Paris Marathon then 15 um he he had this adventure planned so Brighton and Paris Marathon were the same weekend and he. Ah, roped me into doing so he did that 3 peaks with cycling in between the week before Brighton Marathon so we came down from Scotland to Scottel Pike and then Snowden and he then cycled down to Brighton and around the Brighton Marathon
37:19.61
ukrunchat
Yeah.
37:31.59
Bea
I diduffelpike and then went back home to London went to Paris and ran the Paris marathon. so um so yeah we cycled about I cycle about 450 k’s during that week up to mountains. Not the best marathon prep but.
37:48.97
ukrunchat
Yeah, no no’t it would be recommending that in the training flight? Yeah, um, what an adventure home.
37:51.31
Bea
No, no, no, no, but it was just one of those crazy things you know and I still did quite well I ran I mean after all of that and being under fueled during the week um because I struggled eating basically spending all time on the all Mondays on the bike.
38:01.34
ukrunchat
Yeah.
38:08.49
Bea
Um, still got like a four and a half hour marathon who.
38:09.34
ukrunchat
Yeah, oh wow. Yeah, what? what? a memory that’s fantastic and so yeah I’m going to finish up with a quick fire round. You don’t mind so and short but sweet answers. So let’s go.
38:18.72
Bea
Sure, Yeah, no.
38:26.10
ukrunchat
So preferred running Surface road trail or truck.
38:30.73
Bea
Ah, have to go for trail. Um I I sort of I Just like the it’s you know it’s that bit of bounciness or like you know when you run through a forest and you have that bounciness of that forest floor.
38:31.25
ukrunchat
Yeah, why God I’ll let you answer why.
38:44.91
ukrunchat
Yeah, yeah, okay morning or evening runs a favorite post run snack.
38:48.70
Bea
Ah, just like that Yeah evenings it feels easier to me.
39:01.20
Bea
Um, um, protein bar. Yeah yeah, no music never never run with music my life.
39:05.76
ukrunchat
Yeah, and music or no music on your runs no music cross training activity of choice I think you’ve already answered that one. Yeah.
39:20.39
Bea
Um, yeah, cycling I guess yeah um I would to are you still live out in on the west coast in the Us.
39:24.83
ukrunchat
And if you could run anywhere in the world where would it be.
39:34.43
Bea
And there’s a relay race called um, hood to coast. So it’s in Oregon um and a bunch of my friends at the time I wasn’t a runner when I lived out there. Um, and that’s it’s just it’s.
39:38.54
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
39:50.66
Bea
Probably the world’s most popular Relay Race actually? um and I would have loved to do that see basically or a run from ah the mountains to the sea. Yeah um, if I can find a team.
40:01.12
ukrunchat
Yeah, that sounds amazing one day. Maybe you’ll get there. Ah yeah, okay, ah if you could have 1 superpower to enhance your running. What would it be.
40:09.10
Bea
And the gene gets in so it’s very hard to get into it. Yeah.
40:19.28
Bea
Um, ah make myself run ready hard on the track. No I so pain.
40:28.57
ukrunchat
Ah, is that not something you enjoy doing.
40:35.82
Bea
Like I always feel and I know I could try Harder sort of yeah, that’s how I feel anyways.
40:45.55
ukrunchat
At most unusual or memorable running encounter.
40:52.87
Bea
Ah, encounter what with a person.
40:56.91
ukrunchat
Yeah, or just you know running memory I guess you already kind of answered that with your um, your mountainous adventure before Paris. Yeah.
41:04.30
Bea
That that was one of them and another one would be um, back in Switzerland years and years ago running in um, the day after there was a lot of snow falling and running on that. So did. Sun come back out blue skies sunshine and you’re running on this kind of compacted snow. Um that is almost alike a little bit bounty that was just that was amazing. I love that.
41:30.49
ukrunchat
Yeah.
41:38.26
ukrunchat
Yeah, um I admit that sounds wonderful. Actually yeah, being winter a winter runner like yourself at running pet peeve is there something about running our races that annoys you are makes you cringe.
41:39.88
Bea
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
41:51.33
Bea
Um, don’t laugh. Um, you know when you go to a race. There will always be people who prior to the race. They’ve put like Tiger Bomb on or something um just to smell of it.
42:02.68
ukrunchat
Um, yeah smell a bit.
42:07.30
Bea
I hope you’re not 1 of them. But yeah, yeah, exactly it I just I think I have flashbacks to to that or.
42:12.54
ukrunchat
I’m not personally one of them. But I know exactly the smell you mean and it reminds me of um P changing rooms at school. Actually yeah yeah, yes D Yeah yes, and last but not least.
42:25.10
Bea
So.
42:28.37
ukrunchat
Preferred Race distance.
42:31.22
Bea
Ah nowadays I would say ten miles have marathon that’s changed over time. But yeah.
42:42.30
ukrunchat
Yeah, oh well, thank you so much b it’s been wonderful. Check to you and finding out a little bit about what makes you tick. And yeah, I’ve had a really nice, enjoyable and half hour so chatting and would you like to tell our listeners where they can find you um on socials. And your website.
42:59.79
Bea
Yeah, so on um, on Twitter or x sorry I’m at us iron iron girl 41 um and my website is. Be my coach so that’s b e a my coach dot com. Um, that’s probably the easiest ones on me, not 1.
43:17.13
ukrunchat
Um, yeah.
43:22.31
ukrunchat
Yeah, lovely late. Well well pop. We’ll popup those details in the show notes if anybody wants to get in touch with you. But thank you so much and we’ll hopefully see you co-hosting another Uk and shower soon. Yeah, of course, always yeah.
43:33.67
Bea
Well if you’ll have me I’ll be there great all right. Thanks Michelle.
43:40.10
ukrunchat
You.
