Stubbington Green Runners

What's your full embarrassing name?

Lewis Stephen Chalk

Married, or are you young, free and single and like to mingle?

With a fantastic girl I have met teaching in the Dom Rep – she’s from Ipswich though!

Where do you live?

Formerly Locks Heath but now in La Romana in the Dominican Republic

Do you work or stay at home?

Head of Computing at Abraham Lincoln School

How long have you been a member at Stubbington?

I joined in January 2009 – the Stubby 10k got me hooked!

Can you remember your first race?

I have 3 first races……one as a 10year old, one as a senior weighing a ‘bit’ more than I do now and also my first race for Stubbington.

First race in the Green Vest was the South Downs Relay in 2009 – loved it and without doubt the best event in the sporting calendar!

My first race when I was 10 years old was over at Fleming Park. I had a football match first in Hedge End though so once I arrived with my friend the race route had already been removed! However they let us run round the field twice and gave us our certificate and Mars Bar! I beat my friend so I also won the race!

Then as a senior my first race was the New Forest Half Marathon in September 2008. I aimed to do it in under 90mins and managed to finish in 88mins weighing a bit more than 16stone. I was pretty happy and learnt running socks were going to be a wise investment!

How often do you bother to go training?

I train too much! I have found the cost of overtraining this summer but now I am in the Caribbean the heat is sapping as is the new and very enjoyable life style so I am regularly resting!

But with the Miami Marathon in January 2011 I will be training up to 70miles a week with plenty of swimming and gym work (assuming I am not too distracted)

I am keeping a training blog of what I am doing and my targets for each week etc – definitely will help keep me motivated to target a sub 245 marathon! http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=110559

What is your favourite training run?

I am lucky to say a run around three world class golf courses! I get a great mix of grass running with beautiful views and numerous water stops en route! The odd stray gold ball also keeps me concentrating!

What was your best ever race?

I won the Seaford Half Marathon so that was major highlight…I also was very proud of my Promenade 5k time this summer where I got a PB of 16:06 and came 3rd behind two superb runners who one day I hope to compete with. But my favourite race of all has to be the South Downs Relay…either 2009 or 2010 – they were great days, brilliant teamwork, and the odd moment of comedy with plenty of beer at the end!

And what was your worst or most embarrassing race?

I don’t have them! Ha probably the final RR10 of 2010 season which was 4days after the Seaford Half Marathon. I had to run to achieve 6 finishes but within a minute of starting I knew it was a mistake! I should have listened to my body as before the race I was a bit ill and running 3 laps of IBM Hursley did little to inspire or distract me!

Do you have a pre-race ritual?

Joke about with Graham Bell and Andy Simpson and then hear Nick Kimber say, “Why bother? You aren’t going to win!”

What is the best piece of gear you have bought?

Gym membership – core strength has shaved minutes off my PB’s

Worst piece of gear?

Trainers off Ebay – not a good fit but luckily my dad liked them!

Why do you run when you could be sat at home watching EastEnders?

Eastenders is not shown in the Dom Rep and if it was I’d still not watch it! I enjoy running as it allows me to rid my stresses of the teaching day and week and then prepare for the challenges and joys of the next one…

What does she/he who must be obeyed think about your running?

She runs too…perhaps not as obsessively as me but as long as I am eating well and not looking too skinny she is happy!

What is the one piece of advice you would give to any new runner?

You don’t buy expensive running trainers just to walk in!