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| What's your full embarrassing name? |
Jon Leigh – I was a twin and my dad wanted to call us Jasper & Casper! Lucky escape or what !!! |
| Married, or are you young, free and single and like to mingle? |
Married (23 years) to Rita. |
| Where do you live? |
Whiteley – Very handy for Monday club nights. |
| Do you work or stay at home? |
I attend Vosper Thorneycroft in Portchester four days a week as a Configuration Engineer, but I'm not sure you could class it as “work”. |
| How long have you been a member at Stubbington? |
Since May 2004. |
| Can you remember your first race? |
My first road race was in the mid 80s. I ran the Great Scottish Run in Glasgow, the Stirling Half Marathon and the Brecon 10, but I can’t remember in which order. I then took a 15 year break to abuse my body and then started again in 2001 with the Stubbington 10k as a bet!! |
| How often do you bother to go training? |
I try to run three or four times a week, with an occasional trip to the gym or pool. |
| What is your favourite training run? |
It is one I discovered recently while away for a weekend in the Peak District, a very scenic run through Wolfscote Dale. If I was not just coming back off injury it could have turned into a very long training run. The scenery changed around every corner. |
| What was your best ever race? |
For sense of achievement it has to be this year's London Marathon. I beat my target time of 3 hrs 30 min by one second. I also always enjoy any Today’s Runner cross-country in which I beat a friend from work who runs for Pompey Joggers (4 out of 5 last season). Roll on this winter! |
| And what was your worst or most embarrassing race? |
1979 HMS Collingwood Inter-Part Sports Day – I got talked into running the steeplechase and knew I was out of my depth when I heard the other runners talking about the Cosford indoor games the week before which I’d watched on TV. The first time over the water jump I tripped on the hurdle and was laying in the muddy water while the rest of the field jumped over the top of me. On the next lap, the temporary grandstand at the side of the track had emptied and everyone was stood around the water jump waiting for me to do the same. This time they were disappointed as I recovered to finish second last. |
| Do you have a pre-race ritual? |
I nearly always arrive at a race really early. I’m usually sat in my car reading the Sunday paper about two hours before the race start. |
| What is the best piece of gear you have bought? |
Walsh PB fell shoes and my Garmin Forerunner; I was never very good at keeping a running log, but my Garmin does it for me. |
| Worst piece of gear? |
One of those belts which holds a water bottle. I thought it would be good for the long runs while marathon training but I found it too uncomfortable. |
| Why do you run when you could be sat at home watching EastEnders? |
I’d rather run across hot coals than watch EastEnders. |
| What does she/he who must be obeyed think about your running? |
Thinks I’m mad, but she has had a dabble with a couple of Great South Runs and the odd 10k. |
| What is the one piece of advice you would give to any new runner? |
Join a club and your times will come down even if you don’t seem to be doing anything differently. The “banter” can be good as well! |