AC

Member Profiles

This Weeks Member Profile
 

Everyone's Favourite Blogger!
Paul Moore!

Could you briefly describe what you do for a living?

I’m a Warehouse and Facilities Manager. We work 24/7 and produce 200,000,000 mail pieces a year. No, I don’t lick the stamps, not even with my wagging tongue. It’s a very busy environment and does seem to get in the way of run nights sometimes and it’s a pain.

Prior to this I’ve been in various Management positions: Total Quality Manager, General Manager, Operations Manager and a few others.

 

Why do you run?

When I was 47, I was 16 stone 7 pounds. I suffered back problems. I felt old and had various ailments that made me feel bad.

I began creating barriers in my mind to say, “I couldn’t”. I got depressed and dissatisfied with self image and decided to do something about it.

 

How long have you been running?

I’ve been running 5 years now. My progress has been humble, but each year i have measurable improvements.

I read somewhere that you improve for 7 years. Bring it on; oh yes! Bring it on.

 

What do you like about Wellingborough & District?

I was walking my old dog in Croyland Park on the cycle path one cold, dark, winter’s night, thinking what I could do to improve my fitness and self image;
then along came the W & D A C on a club run who passed by me.

It took me 3 years to be good enough to join. (This was one of the silly barriers I created). However, here I am 2 years ‘in the club’ like an elephant but jogging.

Thank you W & D A C. I’m now an athlete thanks to you’re inspiration and support.

 

What is your favourite race?

10k is because I never really master it. I try various strategies. At the back of the pack I usually find a way to beat the person I’m battling with, but I always feel I could have done it better.

5 mile is a fast one pace usually for me, and a ½ marathon is just ‘keep going and don’t stop’ sort of plod and try to minimise injuries that always hit me. The 10k is the challenge every time and is fun.

 

What is your least favourite race?

½ marathon, I always get a niggle injury but always do one a year for stamina reasons. Increased training mileage usually hurts ankles, knees and hips.
How wonderful 53 years can be!

 

You started your own blog after reading about them in Runners World. What made you decide to do that?

It’s my way of keeping motivated. Nobody reads a diary but a blog that you publish world wide does. I get regular readers and I’ve had well over a thousand visits and it’s only been running months. I’ve made new friends that motivate me and I read their blog. It makes me train when I wouldn’t. Go out in the rain. Not eat that cake. I’ve lost a total of 33 pounds in weight since I started running;16 of those pounds this year since I set my blog targets.

 

Now, after creating your own blog, you then had your article published in Runners World! How did that come about and did you know you were going to be in the magazine?

I am a member of the runner’s world and get my magazine sent to my home. Having a member’s log-in I can email the editor, which I do from time to time to try and get something published.

It was a new year’s resolution that I achieved. It was the second time I got something published. The first was a reader’s tip in a previous month, about a year ago. On both occasions I didn’t know it was going to published it just happened. Some attempts failed but try, try again. It was worth getting the letter in though, as I got a running vest and shorts for my effort.

 

What has been you biggest achievement?

33 pounds weight loss in 5 years, 16 pounds off this year to date.

Knocking 10 minutes off my ½ marathon PB in just under 2:04 in 2006

Twice beating my 6 mile PB in 2006

Taking 4 minutes off my 10k PB in 2006

I think the weight loss and cross training have helped this year.

 

What is your biggest goal / aim / race you would like to achieve?

I want to break my 5 mile PB this year. I want to run a 5k and 10 miler too. As I’ve never run these I am bound to get PB’s. This will give me a full set in 2006.

 

Who most inspires you to run?

You (the team), one dark winter’s night in Croyland park. You were a light in a dark tunnel; thank you for leading me out of it. I’ll not forget that night.

 

Favourite food?

Everything except peanut butter. I’m like an alcoholic but with food. I have to fight the temptation to eat excessively every day but I fight that battle a day at a time.

What can I say I enjoy my food? Doesn’t everybody?

 

Most embarrassing running moment?

Running on my own and falling over cutting my knee by the Royal Oak in Kingsway. I couldn’t walk to start with and lay on the path. Everyone just drove past and assumed I was drunk outside the pub. That’s when I decided it was time to join the club. So I limped home in pain and never looked back.

 

What do you like most about running?

The feeling of well being; the happiness I feel when I’m running; those little endorphins pumping around my system, (God bless them)! I really notice a difference in mood if I don’t run, but happiness soon returns when I run with the club.

I love the anticipation at the start of the race and the last 400 metres to the finish line. The jury is still out on the bit in the middle, all that pain and sweat! As the Dire Straits song goes, “There’s always sunshine after rain, there’s always laughter after pain, it’s always been the same, so why worry now.” Sure enough the finish is brilliant, all the better when the team are there to cheer.

Read Paul's Blog at paulthejogger.blogspot.com

 

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