WDAC's Fastest...Stuart Nelson
Once again, thanks Sarah for asking the questions....
How long have you
been running?
It has been a long nineteen years. A friend from my
judo club invited me along to the club that he trained at, I
enjoyed it more and was better at it and haven’t looked back
since. I still remember my first race, a couple of weeks before
my eleventh birthday. The great eastern fun run. A three mile race
run along side the main half marathon. I can’t remember the time,
but I think it was around 24 minutes.
What
is your most and least favourite races?
Mmmmm, the Wellingborough 5 is a real favourite,
I’ve raced that about 6 or 7 times. The Blackpool half,
Silverstone half, I’ve done all of them so far, Shakespeare half.
The Daventry 6, I’d love to hate that one. The inter counties
championships, puts me in my place and keeps me level headed.
There are some amazing runners out there. My least favourites
would be the Blisworth serious 7, that was just horrible, as was
the Brands Hatch half, that just a mean run, ask Lee Brodie to
verify that one. But generally speaking I have a serious love hate
relationship with the sport, racing is great but the training is
such a chore.
What
are you most proud of?
Getting selected to run for the county is an
amazing experience I love representing the club, but pulling on a
county vest makes you realise all the hard work is worth
it, especially as I never made the team as a junior, and making the
team as a senior is much more prestigious. Also getting in the
prizes in our Wellingborough 5, second last year and third this
year, I don’t know why but this years was more satisfying.
What
do you still want to achieve in running?
I’d like to make the county team again, sub 15.30
5000m, sub 27 5 mile, sub 34 10k, and the sub 1.15 half still
eludes me. They are the goals for next year. As for the marathon,
you lot can stick it! It bothers me not having a marathon time in
line with the rest of my results because it’s the reason I
started running, I just don’t enjoy them, marathon running is not
for me, and I’ve run better since realising that.
How
many trophies do you have, where do you keep them and how often do
they get dusted?
Now you’re going to make me blush!! But OK, I have
28 trophies, 7 county championship medals, 1 gold 3 silver 3
bronze. I have also won vouchers in place of trophies, they have
bought me 2 pairs of trainers, a watch, and a couple of vests. I
feel very lucky that I am at a level that returns the effort and
money I put into what is my hobby. I dust when I make time.
What
do you do away from running?
Running is all I do pretty much, in winter when I
start training twice a day there isn’t much time or energy to do
anything else. I try and squeeze in a bit of DIY, but my gardens
are a mess, I don’t have green fingers! Weekends and Wednesday
evenings are spent with the kids, my time with them is important
to me, they will be grown up before long and I feel young children
need a fathers input. I think I run as much as I do because I
haven’t a good woman to spend ‘quality’ time with, but if you
think that you are an ideal candidate then drop me your CV and a
photo. I listen to a lot of music and am always watching music
videos, and I also enjoy going to the cinema.
What
do you like about the club?
As everyone always says, the social and relaxed
atmosphere, I always look forward to club nights.
We
all know you're just a big kid, so why do you hate the mud and
water of cross country so much?
Hmmm, a dig from Sarah! I don’t have a problem
with getting dirty, the water is a problem. To be honest I have a
bit of an irrational fear of water, but it’s more the
freeeeeezzzzing cold water in the winter months that don’t appeal
to me. I don’t mind cross country either, but racing it is another
matter, it is so much harder for me as it doesn’t suit my running
style, and when I’m used to being towards the front it just puts
me off. But I know the benefits it gives me for the road so I
persevere with it.
Tell
us your.....
...favourite
training session
I just enjoy the simple act of running but my favourite seasons
are the ones that hurt the most, very satisfying. I go home
feeling I’ve achieved something, and I always respond well to
Sarah’s sessions, it must be her commanding accent.
