Mike Harper
 |
| What's your full embarrassing name? | Michael Alexander Harper. |
| Married, or are you young, free and single and like to mingle? | Single again! |
| Where do you live? | With my 3 teenagers in Fareham |
| Do you work or stay at home? | I currently stay at home, working on bringing up the kids. |
| How long have you been a member at Stubbington? | 15 years |
| Can you remember your first race? | Portsmouth Half Marathon 1985, had two training runs and ran 90 mins. |
| How often do you bother to go training? | Usually 5 times a week, Tuesday and Thursday at the Club. |
| What is your favourite training run? | At the Club, 1k or 1 mile reps, from home anything downhill! |
| What was your best ever race? | Not the fastest, but my fav race was the Brighton Marathon 2010. Weather was sunny & bright, crowds were fantastically noisy, my family & friends were supporting & I felt good throughout, despite just missing sub 3 hrs. I'm back in 2011, so maybe sweeter to get a sub 3 as a V50? |
| And what was your worst or most embarrassing race? | There have been a few!! One was leading the Test Way on leg 1, having run it the previous year & done a recce, managed to get lost for 15 mins, kind of ruined the day early on for the rest of the team:( Another was Lordshill 10 mile 2010. Despite Simmo hobbling on his one good knee, done almost no recent training, being over a stone over his normal weight, and having his customary gallon of red wine the night before, I was still a minute behind him!! |
| Do you have a pre-race ritual? | Being late! |
| What is the best piece of gear you have bought? | Lightweight racing shoes, worth a minute for a 10k. |
| Worst piece of gear? | Shorts in the eighties!! |
| Why do you run when you could be sat at home watching EastEnders? | These days most tv loses out to running. |
| What does she/he who must be obeyed think about your running? | I'd definitely vouch for a keen runner for a partner. Georgie was just as keen to train as me, which was brilliant motivation and unique. Now my teenagers are more than happy to show me the door! |
| What is the one piece of advice you would give to any new runner? | Don't just rely on miles, mix in speedwork. Listen to any advice from Penny Forse. |