Hello and welcome to another episode of Run Till You're Done.
This episode's guest I have known for a wee while online,
but I've only just had the pleasure of meeting her in
person after her epic 10K run and Opteralda where she went on
to complete the double dare and came second and a half marathon
as well as the 10K. She's a phenomenal runner with
an amazing story which we're about to hear.
Welcome to the show, Emma Coffey.
Hello, nice to see you again and to meet you Mike, well, fairly
as well. Welcome.
Start off with the question that we ask all our guests is how did
you get into running? Yeah, well, from a young age, I
know this will. You know, most people say that
they go into running through lockdown, but I was actually a
member of Thorntley Athletics Club as a youngster and I'm
proudly saying I wasn't actually that great at the distances
because obviously you run shorter distances as a young
person. I then broke away from the
running scene, you know, as an early kind of teenager, went
through to the hockey club, started university and basically
never ran again for a number of years until I fell pregnant with
my first child. And it was just a way of getting
out, getting some fresh air and keeping fit and then joining the
local community where I was living at the time post post
birth. Just again, that that headspace
isn't your first child. So there's always been a bit of
a sporting background with myself.
I've always dabbled in quite a number of things, but I found
that I don't know what was running.
I just seem to take a natural progression into and then you
know what it's like. You start in the Community Jog
Scotland Group and then the first race happens and the next
thing you're absolutely hooked. So that's a nice segue on to the
next question, which is what was your first race?
So my first race, it depends what either that you kind of go
into, doesn't it? I would say when my first race
was the Scottish half actually, and this was oh, we really.
So we're talking a number of years because my mum had phoned
me and had said right, I'm coming down to Edinburgh and
we're going to do this race together.
She and I was like, yeah, that's fine.
I've not done 1/2 marathon. That was my first race
obviously. And yeah, I'll do some training.
I was doing CrossFit at the time and I think I did about 3
training runs. I mean, I didn't train.
I would be the idea and my mum phoned me.
I was like, yeah, I've got an injury so I can't do it.
I was like, oh, so I do it, do it myself.
So Rana did a 141 I think of my first half and then sort of mum
was like, that's actually quite good for somebody that's not
trained before you. I didn't really take her on.
If I'm All in all honesty, I didn't take her on at all.
And then Fast forward then the, you know, it was always there.
Summary In a way it must have been because I did a number of
running events when I was at school and up in Orkney.
We had an event called the Hoy Half Marathon.
But obviously a certain youngster, I couldn't do it.
So we did a lesser distance and I would be coming in first or
second most years. But again, I never really
thought of it anything seriously at all.
It was more just, oh, I could run and just did it for a shoot
enjoyment. Or my mum just put my name in
because she was doing the half. So I just had something to so
yeah. You're doing 141 to begin with.
What kind of time have you gotten it down to now?
I have gotten it down to the 124 mark, which I did at the Kel
piece last year. However, I I think there would
have been probably more in the tank if I had a bit of a better
training season with it. Um, I haven't had a good year
this year compared to 2024, which I think I know that, you
know, going off pierced on the questions.
I think it's quite important to note like, yeah, I've had
successful years and successful races for somebody, you know,
with a family, 3 kids, full time job.
But I've definitely entered that sphere of, oh, things aren't
going quite according to plan. Have you like you've gotten it
down from 1:41 to 1:20-ish? Do you realise yet that you're
actually quite good? I'm OK.
I, when people ask me about it, I just say I'm OK.
I'm do you know what, I was speaking to Nicky about this at
the Auchterarder event. That actually for somebody that
doesn't wholly focus in one particular distance, I seem to
dabble quite well in most distances, which I think it's
unique to individual runners personally.
So I'll use that as my claim to fame.
And as we were saying earlier as well about going off paste on
the questions, here's the first other side question that Anna
had mentioned that your mum runs.
Has she been your influence and getting back into running?
Yeah, well, I think when you've got an active parent, it always
helps you get in things. You're like, Oh my goodness, if
my mum's running with her running friends, like surely I
could be doing something as well.
But I, I, I do take quite a lot of inspiration just from
watching athletics on TVI just think it's amazing.
And the more interested you get into running, the more invested
you've come in, the trainers, the fueling, the nutrition,
people that are running. And I think a lot of it comes
from people that are just like us.
That doesn't necessarily mean be running the, you know, the
Diamond League as a season, but people that are out there that
are very, very normal. And I think you're more normal
individuals probably get more of a kudos in a way because they're
not full time athletes. They're just doing what they can
with the resources. And I always make the joke, you
know, when people ask me or what you're running or what's your
feeling tragedy. I was like, oh, it depends on my
bank balance at the time. You know, you know, it's, you
know, they do see, you can go out and running with a pair of
trainers and that is completely true.
And that's what you're open to. But as I mentioned earlier, the
more invested you become, the more interested and your
knowledge deepens as well. So you start to try out new
things. Yeah.
You mentioned earlier that you did CrossFit.
Do you do any other cross training and how do you think
that affects you? So it's something that I
actually talk about with my coach and with my physio
husband, which is always handy to have in the background.
And I, yes, I like a walk bike. I quite enjoy a couple of hours
on that if the time allows. And you know, it's an easy, it's
accessible. And it also means that you're
not leaving the house, which is always handy.
And I don't mind the odd swim. I used to swim as a, as a child
as well. So I again, I can swim, I can
ride a bike and I can run. So they're not all bad sports to
be able to cross train. And I think as I've gotten
older, and I mean, I'm not saying that I'm absolutely
ancient here, but you know, I am creeping towards that 4/4 OO
that I. Feel that's positively ancient.
That's so old, but I feel like I do feel I'm taking a wee bit
longer to recover and pounding the pavements does have such an
impact. So I think it's something that
I'll be speaking more with my own coach who is Jimmy
Endurance, that maybe it's something that we should look
into if I could do a bit more cross training as I'm just
taking a wee bit longer time to recover between big sessions.
I'm really fortunate that we actually recently moved as a
family and we're now living in, you know, the Sterling area.
So the fact that I get to go to Sterling University, use their
track, use their swimming pool, you know it's on your doorstep,
so why not use it when you can? 22 questions.
You mentioned a what bike, How does that differ than a standard
exercise bike? Or is is that like hooked up to
Swift or anything like that? Good question because I've
absolutely no idea. I mean, if any of your like
listeners would help me out with this one.
It is just a piece of equipment that I know that my husband uses
Swift with it. Is that it Swift?
Yes, it uses on it, but I just use it just to turn the legs and
we've got a wee TV set up as well, which means I can get into
that. Although I mean the fresh air
probably wouldn't hurt. But from a walk bike, I think
there's just a wee bit more pressure with it as well.
OK. That's a great question, Mike.
And if any of the listeners can't answer that for the three
of us, we'd all be interested. You know, I'm just like, you
know, popping in these like little walk bike and these
notions. I don't even know the answers to
them. I.
Said I had another question but I've totally forgotten what it
was so. It wasn't a hard like an answer,
so maybe a blessing. I do have a side question as
well. When you say as well, when time
allows, you mentioned that you're a mum full time working.
This is something that I do like to ask a lot of parents that
come on to the podcast. How do you carve your time out
for your training? Yeah, that has been a bit of a
game changer since we did the move because we now have space
to put in the Watt bike as well as my running machine, which I
was gifted. And that allows me in a way to
train earlier in the morning without leaving the house
essentially. And I do believe a lot of
parents are able to do this, but at the weekends as well.
I think my husband does triathlon and I do obviously
from marathon ultra running. Oh, and just, you know, add in a
10K and half marathon there as well.
We're pretty good at communication of right, I need
to have this amount of time and trying to and then we fit that
in. But I've also found if I've got
my eldest is 6 and then the twins are 4.
So my 6 year old is going to quite a number of activities
that might be an hour long, but you don't need to stay as a
parent anymore. So you often see a sort of
flurry of parents, literally some like dump their children
over to the activity and then they're in their rent running
kit to get that quick hour popped in.
So that's that's really worthwhile.
So I do find early in the morning to get over and done
with communication with my husband of what he needs to do
and I need to do. And then training at the same
time as our eldest usually does help with carving out time.
But you just have to be so disciplined and because if you
missed that window of opportunity, you there's no
going back on it. And as you know, like the time
that you've done the dinner, bath and bed, you know, it's
half 78-O clock. The last thing you want to be
doing is going out for a run in the dark.
Yeah. Excuse me.
So that's probably top tips of being able to have to get out if
you know, I am. I am fortunate that I do have
the ability to do my training like where I live.
You mentioned that your husband does triathlon, but you swim,
you cycle and you run. So when are you doing a
triathlon? That was the question that I
forgot. That was the question.
So I mean, I won't, I won't lie, I think the more that you watch
things on TV like, you know, Lucy Charles Barkley and a few
of those interesting triathletes, they do give you
some inspiration. And my sister and brother-in-law
have recently completed an Ironman.
And then husband announced that for his 40th he would like to do
an Ironman. But it wasn't a he, it's a we.
And I was like, oh, yeah, I, I don't know.
It's, I, I, I would, I would be lying if I say I didn't look
into it. I, I have looked into it.
I haven't sort of jumped into it yet, she says.
Yet. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So before, sorry Mike, I was going to say before we go back
onto the official question, Sir, I have one more side question.
Do you have a favorite running distance?
Yeah, I actually really, really enjoy the marathon and ultra
distances. You know, that's, you know, the
kind of halves were just because of the island games, which I'm
sure we'll talk about later on and competing for Orkney within
that. But I, I do like the longer and
I just feel that is where my strengths lie.
So when people talk about triathlon and it is an endurance
sport, you know, I, I feel like I get better as the run gets
longer, which is daft, isn't it? It's like what?
It gets better as it gets longer.
But I feel like I sort of warm into, you know what, I kind of
enjoy the pacing of it. And I know when I speak about
the ultra running, my pacing is, is reasonably good.
But for, you know, you've got your ultra runners who race it
and then you've got your ultra runners who wish to get through
the distance. And I think I had, you know,
that marathon is even still quite fast for me.
So we'll see how that all distances go.
Kind of kind of off topic, but I'm going to squeeze it in just
because it's on topic right now. Currently, Big's backyard
Championship is happening as we talk.
They're on yard hundreds and let me just get it clear, it is 102.
I think they're on right now. So you're saying that you get
better as the risk goes on? Yeah, there's no way.
No, absolutely not. And I have a very good reason
for this. My reason is with the twins and
being that sleep kind of deprivation for so many years, I
that's what actually puts me off doing anything, like actually
doing that to my body. So I know that's
counterintuitive in a way, but I feel that for me is like an
actual punishment rather than enjoyment.
All I'll hear, it's like Hamish screaming in my ear for hours on
the end if I tried something like that, but I'd be that
stubborn. I'd be like, oh, well, I'm
obviously going to finish it, so keep going.
So you're, you're your own worst enemy, aren't you?
Yeah. So I have thought, you know,
when we spoke about a distance, says the one thing that I have
never done that I would eventually like to take off
would be that 100 Miller. Yeah, well.
Just. Finishing off the talk on
backyards, got to say congratulations to Sarah Perry
who is now the women's world record holder.
I I'm wearing a Russellbach T-shirt and we raced against
each other in Russellbach a year ago.
But yeah, well done Sarah, the your answer.
I didn't hear a no, I just heard a not yet.
That's what I heard as well, where you can, you know what MI
see when that midlife crisis really hits and the kids are
older. No.
Well, there is no. Older.
See, see how you moved to Sterling, that's not far away
from Perth and the Scottish 1 is just just north of Perth, the
Highlander. So but we'll, we'll talk about
it later. And you moved away.
There was one in Orkney as well, but they I think they're not
sure that they're continuing with that one.
It's. Not been on for a few.
Years there was an e-mail that was sent out, I know the
organizer that said they weren't doing it again.
And it was funny because I actually had somebody e-mail or
Instagram me. Like they were so annoyed
because they were like, oh, we're going to do it.
But with the Island games, like a lot of events were on hold.
So the I know it's probably a way for people maybe to step
back if they didn't want to continue it or, you know, the
enlighten some things. The Saint Magnus Marathon that
is up there in July. It had a year's break.
I'll be back for 2026, which is really quite popular amongst
those that like hills and probably some rain in there as
well. Yeah.
And torture. Yeah, yeah, it's, do you know
what I would say that running in Orkney is is incredibly
difficult for those of you? Yeah, it's, it's, it's so hard.
I, I live about 50 meters from the the coastline, so I, I get
the full force of the North Sea wind.
So all the time it's just like living in Orkney.
So I know how you feel, right? Back on the question set, you
talked about various races and you said that your favorite
distance was marathon, ultra, longer races and you're hoping
for 100 Miller. But do you have a particular
race that is currently your favorite because you haven't
done 100 Miller yet. So you might either love it or
hate it, but currently, what is your favorite race?
I really enjoy the GB Ultra set up.
That Glasgow to Edinburgh was absolutely fantastic and I think
part of that is because it's familiar.
It's flat. Yes, I am a road racing flat
kind of gal. You won't catch me up on the
Penguins, that's for sure. And that's a definite no, not a
not yet before you say anything. And I think because it just
allows people to, it's just really friendly with different
terrain. And I've spoken about that
before. Even though it's flat, you're
going through like countryside, the urban and really getting a
feel along that canal. But the first year I did it, I
think probably would have been my favorite.
Even so, that was the Noah's Ark year of the torrential reign
where everything got, umm, cancelled apart from Glasgow to
Edinburgh. And I just remember staying at
my brother in law's the night before and being good God, what
am I thinking? It was absolutely pouring.
It was the middle of the night. Well, 5:00 you're getting up
organized and it's pitch dark. It's so wet.
And basically your feet are wet within like, you know, 2 KN and
you're like, oh goodness, I've got a long way to go.
And I think that's probably my favorite because there was a lot
of, you know, naivety behind the distance.
You know, it's very easy to see 56 miles or 93 K.
But actually when you run at you, when you get to Falkirk,
the kind of halfway point, and I see this as a kind of advice to
anybody, the marathon is the warm up and the second stage,
the second marathon is actually your race.
That's great determination, maintaining your feeling, you
know, is there anybody even around you?
Most of the time there's not because the field has massively
spread out, but I actually just thoroughly enjoyed it because at
the time of, of running the race, I had, you know, my
husband, my father-in-law and my son crewing me.
And, you know, to have that little person shouting at you
like go mummy. After having a really tricky
year with the twins and their premature birth, I think there
was a lot to be said to an individual being like, oh, wow,
I, I can do this. And I think I always send that
to a message. You know, when you you start the
start line with a lot of ultra runners, you find that altar
runners maybe don't necessarily just run because they enjoy it.
They usually have a back story. And it's been quite interesting
to meet people that are maybe doing it for charities or
they're recovering from alcohol and drug addiction or like
myself, you're running for that mental health space because, you
know, your your twins, your children were so premature that,
you know, they were fighting for their lives.
There's no reason why I can't run a mere distance.
And I think that's. Where when people talk about
mental grit, I think you need to have a certain degree of that to
do ultra marathon or ultra distance as you say.
You said you're a Roadrunner at heart.
I assume that you don't like well, you say you don't like the
hills. What about trail is that is that
of of the books as well? And the other question was what
are your thoughts on track racing?
So trail, a light trail would be quite nice.
I I think the reason for the hills is not nothing against the
hills. Love, love the fresh air.
However, the time to go out the house and this is about managing
the time when you spoke about early being a parent is that you
then have to probably go to your distance.
So you're carving out more time to get there and all.
Honestly, I have an absolutely off full sense of direction.
Like it is so bad. So therefore I don't trust
myself up on a hill to navigate my way anywhere near it.
So that's why I stay well away from the hills.
And for track racing, I have never, I've completed a track
race as an adult, but I thoroughly enjoy watching track
racing. I think it's, it's really quite
fascinating for somebody to train that hard to get to level
where they are for such a short period of time.
Like, you know, you know, you're sitting here as a ultra runner
or marathon runner and you know, you obviously have a peak that
you want to get to, but these track races for those people are
kind of have to be on it a little bit more because they're
racing more frequently. Yeah.
Well, you, you say for such a short period of time, but just
putting it out there, you can do 100 milers on the track.
Well, you can you if you really, really want to.
And who is. Oh, Sophie Power loves to talk
about who track. Yeah.
I mean, I'll stay well away from that as well.
You know, I'm really putting myself out there for things that
I don't sound enjoyable. I yeah, maybe not track racing
up that distance. I like, I like the A to B, you
know, like you're going somewhere, like there is an end
point to the race rather than going round and round a track.
Also like that can't be good for anybody's hips for that long.
I'd have to change direction. They they normally change
direction after. Oh, there we go.
Oh, do they? Actually, Yeah, there we go.
I don't know about every race, but I the races that I've seen
that are 100 like that side distance 24 hour races, the
change every four hours. Just going back to Glasgow, to
Edinburgh there, Emma, with the 2023.
And you said that that was the one that you enjoyed the most.
Yeah. How soon after that since did
you have the twins? You mentioned they were born
prematurely and how did they build towards that?
So they were born in June 2021 and we spoke about this earlier
about sort of like what drives you into running again.
It was actually my in law family had arranged a charity bake
swim, which is Loch Swim and run from Gretna Green to John
O'Groats in 2022. And my part of the not a race,
but the team really was doing the 50K run, which I did.
And I think that inspired me to then go sort of fully into kind
of the ultra distance. And that's kind of where the
2023 Edinburgh to Glasgow, Glasgow to Edinburgh, sorry came
about because I was like, Oh well, I've done 50K and I
actually felt quite good. What could I do just to push
that a little bit further? But yeah, the twins, Campbell
and Hamish were born at 28 weeks and spent three months in
hospital and then they had further, you know, within
further, you know, in and out of hospital.
It was quite a hard time. So on that point of view, AIM
allowed me and my husband and the rest of the family to have a
focus and also to give back to, you know, a charity, Simpson
Special Care Babies that gave us so much for the charity that
supports Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at The Simpsons unit
there. So we managed to raise about
26,000 for the unit. So, you know, that was a huge,
it was just amazing to be able to give that back.
And I still, I still am heavily involved.
I'm a trustee now as well on for the charity.
So helping other people fundraise and giving advice,
that kind of thing. You know, I'll get the emails in
and I'll sort of do a bit of that on on the sidelines because
I've loaded so much time. Thank you so much for sharing
that and you really are an inspiration.
Thanks, But I think that's what, you know, when the ultra
distances do come in, I think people do have a story in it.
It really is quite fascinating. And that's kind of, you know, I
had a goal and then I was like, well, what, what's my next goal?
I, I, I felt like I sort of was sparked interest that and then I
returned to Glasgow and Edinburgh the year after in 2024
I upped my game for that year. I did Manchester to Liverpool, I
did the 4th ultra and I did Glasgow to Edinburgh and I did
Saint Magnus Marathon and I did 3 halves and I had a really
successful year, a podium, podium in most of my events.
And then we spoke about, you know, when as a runner, when
things are really high and you're doing so well, suddenly,
oh, I'm now getting I'll, I'm a wee bit injured.
I'm tired. I'm now working more than I was.
And it's having to have a little look at where things need to
make maybe a wee bit of a change now.
And like 2024 was great and 2025 has has not been.
And I'm quite happy to sit here and say that for those that are
listening that, you know, it looked great last year.
I'm like, oh, look at this Emma Coffey.
Isn't she doing a great job? But I'm now battling through the
kind of like, oh, the maybe the lower the lows, you know, how I
can get back on form again. Is that a distance that I think
I want to maybe sort of put my interests in?
Do I need to up my fueling? You know, there's so many
questions if you want to keep doing 80 K weeks, you know, am I
doing it properly? It's probably my my question for
myself. Do you think that it was 80 K
weeks or just the amount of racing that you did?
What contributed to the success in that year?
And do you think that if you were to do shorter races during
that year, you would have been faster then as well?
I think a lot of it's to do with mental high as well.
Like, you know, you see you'd successfully do well in one
race, so why you should be able to do it in the next.
So I think from that point of view, I've seen things going
really, really well. And then in 2025 I became quite
unwell at the start of the year. I think what we believe I had
was, which is a horrendous case of flu slash COVID, which I
never really got when it was going about because we were
isolating because of the twins. So we were there also moving
house. I had resigned from my job and
didn't have a job to go into. And then my husband was
diagnosed with a health scare and went underwent surgery.
And it just, you know, everything just seemed to not
fall apart. But not everything was going
quite how I would have liked to have gone.
So the summer then was me spent caring from my husband, making
sure the twins and my eldest were OK, you know, trying to get
a house sorted, trying to get a new job.
You know, we've made a massive commitment of moving.
And don't get me wrong, we're now in what are we now,
September, October and things are starting to, I mean, it's
been, there's been a lot going on in 25.
And I actually think there's just been a lot going on.
That mess, missing that key training block, I think it was
out for about 12 weeks. And then, yeah, the training
sort of went to one side. And then mentally you're, you're
juggling so many balls that you're like, you have to keep a
focus on something. And nothing was suddenly in my
control. And I'm hoping towards the end
of the year we might be doing a bit better, but we'll see.
The one thing that we always say in the podcast or to each other
anyway, it's family first running podcast, Whatever else,
it can wait. Family First.
Yeah, and I think we've just had as 2025, there's just been a lot
of life changes and and I think you just sometimes have to sit
back and say, but that's OK. Yeah, well, running's going
nowhere. But the kids, well the boys and
my husband is priority. And then, you know, me trying to
get some sort of sorts of income was also a priority.
He pleased to know he did get a job in the end.
But it is, it is one of those things that it's quite easy to
get into your own head, isn't it, that focus on that one race,
but that one race is going to be there next year.
And I think a lot of listeners will take great comfort in that,
especially for those that are struggling through just life in
general at the moment. You know as you say what family
life stresses moving house in itself is meant to be 1 of
life's biggest stresses that alone so.
You're cycling kids into a new environment that like Roo was
starting a new class, like he moved in the middle of primary
one and then the twins then moved into their new nursery as
well. So then you're just worried
about them. They're doing that weird like
mum thing or like, have you made any friends?
Have you spoken to anybody? You're like, hold back.
Like I think we're OK. But it also, you know, when you
said about you talk about your projects, events, volunteering
as well. Interestingly enough, I, I
don't, although I do my charity bits and pieces, I don't
necessarily volunteer when it comes to running or the events
because they just take up so much time.
However, I do, I will run if I'm running a race, I might choose
to run under a charity T-shirt. So just to raise awareness.
So I tend to go between The Simpsons, special care babies
and Team Alexis Rose as well. So those are kind of the two
charity T-shirts that if I'm like, oh, for, you know, I'm
not, I'm not running for a seat and I'm not running my Orkney
vest, then I'll take on a charity just to pop that
awareness. And it usually just highlights,
you know, just questions or just to relate to people that come
and say hi when you're at the events.
Yeah. And I think that's valuable in
itself, as you say, like raising the Wellness for the charities
because as you've mentioned there yourself, you can only
spread yourself so thin, volunteer and and as you're
saying, you're raising awareness for your charities.
So I think you're doing pretty well.
Thanks. Thanks very much.
But I, I also there's, there's fun sides of running like I
think when you do get, and we spoke about the normal person,
which I do believe I am the normal person.
When you've got that somebody that comes through your inbox
and they want to potentially have you as an ambassador or to
work with them collaborate. That's been quite exciting as
well. So one of your questions that
you put to me was, you know, your fueling nutrition, which is
so big and ultra running and I, you know, had Tom Coughlin, I
think that's how you pronounce his last name, Tom nutritionist.
And he did a lot of my stuff for my ultra running where I
actually sort of met up with him online.
We looked at everything where I can get that nutrition in, you
know, with your Trek bars, your soaring bananas, and I'm all for
solid foods. But when your distance becomes
less, you're then looking at your, your gels and your carb,
your, your carbs that maybe that you need to have that on you for
the marathon distances and less. And I think, you know, it's been
quite, quite interesting to see what people, what people
actually do. And and I I quite like a gel to
be quite honest and probably few that do it doesn't doesn't worry
me, but I quite liked how had, you know, to see the ambassadors
that can open doors to small companies and businesses.
And I think you're familiar with them yourself is Stephen McKay,
who is doing the Highland fuel nutrition.
So that's kind of something that's looking kind of exciting
for me. It gives me something different
to work on as well-being like, oh, I'm really excited.
It's, you know, made in Scott, like well, made in the UK.
It's, you know, Scottish branding.
He's, you know, on into the ultra running scene himself and
I think when it comes to him looking for people that can take
out his brand and see where he's going with it and using people
that are on his doorstep and using them within races.
It's you're kind of a community, but you're doing your best to
promote other people where you possibly can.
And I think that's what I feel that's quite exciting with him
at the moment. And his carb drink mix, bare
fuel and then his next next clear Fuel, which I'll be very
excited to try and give him some honest feedback on.
He did say he liked honest feedback.
So I think that's just some exciting products that, you
know, as runners we can sort of dive into and kind of build,
build your collaboration. With your nutritionist working
on your race fueling that they work on outside the races as
well. Just your diet generally
overall. No, they just did it during my
races. What I could be doing, um, but
I'm that annoying person that I'll send him an Instagram and
he'll just be forced to tell me and what I should be doing
without the payment going his way.
But but yeah, and actually that's another thing I I'll be
interested to highlight. And I'm sitting here saying I'm
doing all these things. I'm actually also really bad at
it. You know, when you're not
feeling for a race and you're just doing your day-to-day and
you maybe don't have that lunch break and you're not taking
those snacks, I think. And then, then you're going to
Sterling University track and, you know, just doing a, you
know, 121K sessions that, you know, 355, you know, that kind
of pacing. It's like, oh, is she, is she
doing it? And my coach has been a lot.
Well, he's been quite good at telling me where I need to be
doing the fuelling. And nutritionist then had said,
I, I sent him a question about, well, how much should I roughly
be taking? And I was it was a lot.
It wasn't massively under, but it was definitely under.
We'll put it that way. And I think a quick fix and a
top tip for anybody is that chic in the afternoon, you know that
405 hundred calories I to take, I tend to take protein or a heel
is quite is quite useful, but. I'm interested in that because
that diet at the minute, my personally is absolutely
shocking. I am not unknown to just have a
block of beta cheese or by the evening.
No, I mean, I just. And The thing is, I go and get
something to eat and then one of the boys will come through the
next thing. I'm feeding the 500 and they've
stole, they've stolen all my food.
It's like you have to be a secret eater in your own home.
Was the nutritionist that you talked to, was that highland
fuel that were the nutritionist or was that a separate thing?
OK, Brett. So Highland Fuel is definitely
something that's new, collaborative and I'm quite
excited. And Tom is nutritionist who I
worked with for ultra running only and when I was doing the
races. But I think in a way, it's been
really useful. I think in a way it's useful.
Just because you're doing less distances doesn't mean that you
shouldn't be feeling appropriately.
And that's in all honesty, that's where I was going wrong.
I was like, oh, well, I'm just off to the track for an hour, an
hour and a half. And it's a case of no, you still
need a gel and you still need to make sure that you're feeling
appropriately beforehand. So it's just carving out that
time of what you're what you're doing and making sure your kids
don't steal your food. I think it's a lot of the time
it's not just the races distance wise, because a lot of people
that are doing say 1/2 marathon are doing like 50 miles a week
and the people doing an ultra are doing less than that.
So it balances the IO. It's not just about the race
distances, how much effort that your body is putting in over the
whole time period. Yeah.
And like you have your easy days or easy runs or, you know,
you're resting where your resting might be, where you're
fueling for your big run the next day.
And it's, it's, you're always having to think like as a week,
what am I needing for that week, which hopefully I'm getting
better at. Your nutrition for say versus an
ultra, how does that differ? So my half ones are a lot.
It's just purely on gels and Cliff blocks.
I'm quite happy to do that. I'll take a gel 5 minutes before
I start and then I'll do a gel 3045 minutes in and then 30
minutes. You know, it's quite, quite kind
of what I would, what I like and what my body suits.
And I would still carb load as well before my half marathon and
when it comes. But if I'm being honest, I
always, because I know I'm not very good at getting the food
in, I'll always start eating a lot more.
You know, I know they say for 8 hours, but I do try to start
like during that week of the race, trying to get that used to
it. Whereas you're ultra running,
you're definitely your body can go between your gels, your
shakes, your carbs, your solids. You've got more of AI guess a a
wider choice than you would with your with your halves.
And I think with your halves you need to be in a way, you know
how they do that, oh, I feel fine now, say, well you might
feel fine now, but in 15 minutes you might not feel fine.
So it is sticking to that timings even if you think you
feel fine. But I think that comes down to
experience. Yeah, and I was going to ask as
well, Emma, with the feeling when you mentioned that, is that
something you've trained your stomach for as well and training
runs or have you always been quite good at taking it on?
Taking runs? Yeah, I will.
Anything longer than an hour, if I'm out, I will be taking gels
with me. Yeah.
And I tend to go between a Cliff block and a gel just to kind of
help that stomach as well. And the next question that we
have, I don't know if it'll be the same answer as your favorite
race, but what do you feel is your biggest running
achievement? But for this one, it doesn't
even. It doesn't need to be a race.
It can just be, like you said, you did charity work.
It could be that. That was probably in the early
days. That was definitely a running
achievement. I, I don't, I kind of in a way
that I feel they're all kind of like minor achievements.
They've, they've all been off done quite well and it's quite
nice to see them. I would say probably the biggest
achievement would be winning. From Manchester to Liverpool,
you know, going through the tape at the end and getting the
interviews and the photos, it is quite fun.
I wouldn't lie and say it's not. I think that's achievement.
To win a race is a, is a major achievement.
And although as I said earlier, podiumed on a few, I, I managed
to win the 4th ultra as well. But for something as big as GB
ultras to come in that finishing line, that'd be great.
So I think that was probably my biggest achievement is winning
Manchester to Liverpool. And I was on my own for, you
know, the whole thing. There was nobody around me.
Um, at one point I was following a guy who I thought was in the
lead, but I wear glasses and he, he had a vest on.
I was like, well, he's obviously part of the running.
So I was kind of following him along and then I noticed that he
turned off and then I noticed he's not even in the race.
He was just a joker. And I looked around me and all
the red ribbon because they tie the red tape, as I'm sure you
know, Nikki as well along the sides and I realised there was
no red tape left. I was like, no, like I didn't
even know if it was going the right way.
So I panic phoned and my husband and my brother-in-law who
recruiting me and excuse me, you know, I was like, I'm lost.
I have no idea where I am and I I'm nearly I think I'm nearly
finished. Like I can't just run another
time key again and they're on the phone.
I'm like, you just run in a straight line like you don't
need to be lost. So they quickly popped in on the
Google Maps of where I should be and I wasn't lost.
I was in the right direction. And you see, I'm I did say I'm
bad for navigation. And the fourth ultra, I actually
went off into in two different directions twice before I I went
off. I just missed the tape because
you get in such the zone. So yeah, that was Manchester to
Liverpool. Like following a random runner
who was not even part of the race and then missing like the
tape. So some people thought that was
obviously fun to take the tape off the trees.
As we got into Liverpool and we finished the race and it was
like, oh great, an interview, really good fun and jumped in
the car. I was like, oh, it's not even
that far away. Manchester to Liverpool.
Like the run felt like such a long time.
The car journey was nothing and my husband and mother-in-law
were like, yeah, you can. You can take a train to major
cities as well. Yeah, you don't have to run them
all. And how long does it take you to
run from Manchester to Liverpool?
Oh, I can't even remember. Was it over it?
Was it 8 hours? I'm actually now quickly going
on to my Instagram to find that result.
Bear with me. But I mean, even just to win, it
is incredible. So, oh, sorry, it wasn't 8 hours
at all. It was 7 hours, 15 minutes.
Here we go. Wow.
So even then, I'm not very good on my own times.
Yeah, I, I, people just assume that you know your times, but
I'm a somebody that I, I just don't.
And then obviously you got your Dan Bentley photos at the end.
I mean, that's definitely worth running an ultra for.
And he's just a fantastic like he spends time with you.
And I think I posted this the other day on my Instagram that
he is as happy for the person that comes first to the person
that just finishes the race, because actually everybody there
is for there for a different reason.
And I liked when I was competing in the Island Games that the
they were saying the people that finished, which we would say is
last, they actually reinvented it, which I felt and was like,
and used the terminology of closing the race, closing the
field, which I also like because for for many of us that were
competing, we were just doing full time jobs, kids, families.
And, you know, we may have not got the times that we did, but
the training still went into that those races and to be
commented on or to have that well done.
So it was, it was hugely satisfying, you know, having
your family and friends out there.
It was great. So I quite enjoyed closing the
field. And that's something I've taken
back when I back to my own classroom when I'm teaching my
children about, oh, closing the field if or, you know, still
participating, you know, at the same time.
Yeah. I think that's important to
teach the kids that as well because you're still doing the
same distance. The the great, great, great,
great Glen Ultra is for William to Inverness.
And you're not the last finisher.
You're not the what was it you said the final finisher.
You you are. Yeah, you're the final finisher
that's been and you actually get a prize.
The Lantern Rouge for to celebrate.
You finished it. You, you were out there the
longest on the course. So, yeah, and that's actually
harder than the person that finished first.
Yeah, you know, it's 100%. So for Manchester, yes, I was
finished first, got a really good position overall as well.
But actually, the hardest part of that day was the people that
were finishing in the dark. Yeah, yeah, the speaking about
that race, the, I think it was the second and third time I've
won that race, I actually stayed behind and celebrated, like
cheered everybody in because the last person, they deserve it as
much as there was more people there at the end than there was
when the first person went through.
Yeah, I completely agree. And I think that's what's
something that, you know, a few friends had commented on like,
oh, but there wasn't that many people there and it's really
hard. It's a bit backwards.
It's like, oh, it's because I was finished first.
I. Was finished too early.
I finished too early. I'm sorry, I finished too early.
So there wasn't that many people, people, people there.
But you're right. It's and then you have that like
lovely hour or so where you get like a whole flurry of people
that come in that kind of 910 hour mark where there's, you
know, the crews, the crew people that crewed others and they're
in there or any charities that are staying back.
And there might be a few more photographers that'll that'll
stay in because that's where the majority of your runners come
in. I mean the the male that
finishes first, he's got an A chance like nobody's fit cross
patting him on the back as he comes in.
Right back on the the question set, we've got a couple of
deeper questions and the the next one is why do you run?
You might have already answered this, but I'll ask it again.
Yeah, I think it's just, you know, that privilege, isn't it?
Team Alexis Rose speaks about the privilege of being able to
run and that you know, they do so much within the community and
Sterling and you know my story with them goes a little bit
further back. I actually taught the older son
when the Alex Rose obviously passed away.
So it was Fast forward 15 years, May at a running event.
And that's why I speak about the community and people
collaborating and using contacts.
So there's that privilege. And obviously then I had
premature twins and one of my twins contracted meningitis, not
as severe, but enough to be hospitalised and, you know, have
treatment. And I think it's a privilege to
run, but also in a way from me that's been through, you know,
at hard times and trauma, it it lives that mental space for you
able to go out the door, enjoy a breath of fresh air.
You know, we're in a hospital for a long time and just say, do
you know what? If babies can fight this, I can
go for a run. Actually.
Striking on heartstrings now. No, you know what?
And I've been doing the podcast with me nearly a year now.
We're coming up for, and genuinely, I think that's the
best answer we've had on the podcast since we've been doing
it together, of why do you run? Thanks.
It's just important. And then, you know, it's trying
to put life into perspective when you think you're having
really bad days. Is your day that bad?
You know, so get those trainers on and off you go.
Thomas Bio now, and it's Pitch Blast.
You'll be going to get your head torched.
Don't forget that. No, it'll be cool.
So when we talk about the runner, what do you know what
you think about when you run? Oh, my goodness, I could sort of
change the world during my running and my thoughts.
Yeah, I know some people are like, oh, I think about nothing
and everything. Oh, I think about everything.
Oh, absolutely. My best plans for my teaching
lessons come when I go out for a run, if I'm being honest.
I've got time to process, think about my groupings, my
differentiation, what I'm going to do.
So I do tend to think about my my job and how I can arrange
because I've got, you know, I've got my own little people that I
look after at home. But then I've got a class full
of individual little people as well.
And I, I enjoy being creative and having that time away from
doing that. And so something as, you know,
as my job to something very simple about what dinners we're
having for the week or what have the boys got coming up.
And I do occasionally listen to podcasts, obviously yourselves.
I listen to running podcasts, which my friends are like, so
you go out for a run and you listen to a running podcast.
Yes, that's exactly what I do. Just again, people get
inspiration and and I think it's changed in the early days, I
used to listen to a lot of like twin podcasts, parenting
podcast, winning podcasts, and now I'm listening to purely
running podcasts. I'll put throw in some teaching
in there, but even just some even, dare I say the word, some
triathlons. There she goes again.
I think we know where this midlife crisis is heading.
I. Think we do indeed, yeah.
Wait till I have 40. You might have that for three
years I. Think it might be classed as the
neighbors Nikki? If you should do something.
They your your friends that say you go for a run and listen to
running podcasts. That's exactly what I was doing
this morning. The 5:30 in the dark with my
head torch on. But what you can say to them is
do they sit and watch TV and watch programs like Gogglebox
where they're sitting watching somebody else watch TV?
Well, I don't know. I'll have to ask them.
Yeah, I hope they're not actually.
Because I know which I would prefer to do and it's not
watching somebody else watch TV. No.
So no, it's quite nice. I do like it, but actually most
of the time I do run with, with nothing.
You know, I'm quite happy, beautiful part of the world that
you know, it's just enjoying the scenery really, and just getting
that wee sort of palming headspace before you get home
and you get shooted at. Or I'm hungry, which if I could
# every time somebody said I'm hungry.
Side question about your you said you're a teacher and you
teach small people. Yeah.
What kind of age group ish if you don't?
Mind, so at the moment I have so the primary three.
Last year I've had a Primary 5. I'm currently in a Primary 5 and
we have got a shelf to encourage, you know, trophies or
medals, certificates. And I popped my trophies up
there too, just to show the children, you know, celebrate
success, whether it's with charity work or musical or
sporting, just anything. And it was quite funny because
obviously the teacher's like, oh, look at Emma, look at Mr.
Coffee and all her running. And I was like, to be all
honest, it actually is just a lot.
It's just taking up space in my own house.
So then I was like, oh, it's taking up space.
And I was like. I've got so many of them.
I know I was completely digging a hole and I was like, okay,
they're just here and that's the end of conversation.
But if you want, I'll take one off your hands and I'll crack in
front of the mirror. Do you know what?
And honestly, I do get some parents as well.
That'll be like, oh, such. And so they want to go to the
athletics club and it's quite nice when you've got especially
I am a bit of an advocate for female in sports.
And you know, the irony of that is that I have three boys.
But yes, I'm a big probably more of a promoter of girls in
sports. And you know, when you get that
feedback from a parent and you're like, oh, such and such
has said that they want to go to athletics or they want to do a
race or they suddenly started using my treadmill was one
comment was it was my fault. And I'm like, I'm really sorry,
sorry, sorry, no, sorry. And also, you know, you're
working with young people and they, you know, at times,
especially at different year groups, they do take your word
for gospel. So you, you always have to take
things with consideration. So this is what I'm very careful
to be like I'm going for a run, but I'm putting this amount,
this food into my body. And I think that's really
important in if you are working with young people, you know,
you're kind of sharing the whole story.
And at the end of the day, you kind of accidentally become a
role model. So it's ensuring that you know
that you're sort of practicing what you preach.
My my question about the teaching small people was
actually totally different subject.
You're obviously walking around the classroom all day.
Do you know how many steps you do a day?
No, and I am a walk around the classroom actually as well.
Like I tend to move around the classroom.
No, I've never, I've never done the state count.
It definitely the state count increases the smaller the
children are. That is definitely one thing.
And then the older they are, they tend not to follow you
around a classroom and try and like touch your tights or say
that or touch your new shoes. It's always amusing.
And the next question on the set was supposed to be for Nikki,
but I'm taking it do Do you have a dream race or have you got
bucket list? So that's a good question
because there's a few things like I'm definitely somebody
that's like, oh, I'll just go and do that.
If I had the opportunity, I would absolutely love to like
the Comrades race. You know, I, I think that would
be a massive bucket list to really go out there and do
something that's quite unique and special and then something a
bit closer to home and I'm still swithering.
You know, what I'm going to do is for Glasgow to Edinburgh.
I've come third twice in both times I completed the race.
It would be nice to have, you know, that first place on my on
my shelf for that. And another one would be I've
had good for age for London quite for quite a number of
years and it's crazy. I've just had not been able to
do it simply because too short notice, not enough childcare
kind of want to do it properly. It would be lovely to be able to
line up at London Marathon and get it under Championship That
would be named for 2027. Whether that's feasible.
I, I like to think that is, is possible but they, I don't know
if you know, they changed all the times.
So a woman's marathon time would be a sub 310.
Yeah, I know somebody that had worked hard to get their
qualifying time down. They changed the time and it
meant that there were 30 seconds.
I mean, they had been 4 minutes, I think under, and they changed
it by 4 1/2 or something like that.
And it meant that there were 30 seconds over the time.
And they'd obviously been focusing on the time that had
originally been set. So that was you mate, wasn't it?
No, I've got no interest in London, so.
Yeah, I think, you know, when they did the change and as I
said earlier about that lows, I really thought that 2025 would
be where I kind of got that time with my halfs and my marathon
running and it just hasn't transpired.
But as as I said earlier, you know, races come and go like
it's it's not going anywhere. I'll just try again next year
and and just put that on the back burner.
And I think that's important to know that, you know, it's OK,
it's fine, I'll just try. So then everybody's think my mom
said so why didn't you offer that Good for each place again,
so sorry. I just sorry.
I've got 3 kids and a job. It just didn't happen, Mum, but
thanks. Sorry, I've got a life.
Yeah. Yeah, You mentioned earlier
about the different types of races that you like to do.
And London is just, it's going to appeal to me.
I've done races which I think might suit you.
Like I've done a race along a bridge where you go for two
miles, you turn around and come back.
So you can't get lost. There is no navigation.
You have to do 200 miles, but you don't get lost.
So but London, I would rather be out in the hills.
So it's just whatever suits you. I know they they, it's true,
though. It's like you've got a runner
and people say, oh, you're a runner, but there's so many
varieties of runners. And I think that's what it does
make it exciting because you've got your podcast, so you've got
like, you know, round on the other week or different people
that come on and see bits of life stories that would happily
get lost in the Penguins, you know, for a number of hours
where it's my absolute idea with you.
Yeah, running, we said. And what's the other that you do
the the tunnel? Yeah, Yeah.
I mean, intriguing that one is, and slightly terrifying at the
same time. So you know, there's a race for
everybody out there, isn't? There there is, yeah.
But the the, the tunnel race, I know that somebody did actually
sit down because we're so tired. When they got back up, they went
in the wrong direction. So technically they got lost.
So. And oh, well, won't do then.
No. So yeah, the the sort of the
races would be good for like, you know, what's those kind of
bucket list races? It's like, oh, what if I could
come first or, or be good to have a championship?
They're all those little ideas that people put in their heads
as well. You're like, oh, but what can I
realistically do and what do I want to train for?
It would be, you know, fantastic to do sort of a unique race and
I think really, and I mentioned 100 Miller so and then I
mentioned a triathlon as well, didn't I?
So I've got a lot to get in, got a lot to get through.
It's good to dream, bag, dream. Bag yeah, I mean your triathlon
could just be a Sprint when it's fine, it doesn't need to be
anything major, but then but then you've got the danger.
Once you start small, you just get bigger.
It's like, oh, I start to 5K and the next thing you know you're
doing ultra marathon is. You might do a Sprint triathlon
and enjoy it and end up in. Ironman.
So yeah. So no, that's kind of kind of
the idea. I think I do have a race coming
up, so I have Valencia in December.
So that's what I've been kind of building towards.
And we will, we'll see how that goes.
So I, yeah, I did the octor yarder.
You'll laugh at me. For Naki, the octor yarder was
training races. I wasn't allowed to go any
faster. I was like, no, no, it's a
training race. I was like, OK, I think I can do
a training race. So we did that back-to-back.
It was good fun. And actually I think it's really
important to highlight and the reason why I wanted to do it was
because I wasn't having a very good year.
It was nice to go back to the basics and where it actually
starts for most people is that community, that environment, you
know, meeting people. And I think that's what's
important about these community events is that it's the start
for many people. And once people have and to come
back to that event and enjoy it, it, it was really good.
Alterdard does fantastic for that.
They've actually got the Chili race coming up.
I'm doing it. It's my first one back after
injury so I'm. Excited.
Slightly I'm I'm more excited after speaking to you on this
podcast than I was like before you came on.
So that, well, I'm glad I've done something this evening.
For you, but you have 100% inspired me because you know,
you do get into a bit of a slump, especially, you know when
you're coming. I've never been injured before
this, but it's, it's been a bit of a weird 1.
So I'm, I'm looking more forward to it now.
But as you say, it's more for the social side of it.
And it's just such good fun just to see other people that you
know, Yeah. And are people that follow you
in social media and you're like, oh, you're a real person.
Yeah, I, I like poo in the like, you know, I went up to the
Inverness half at the start of the year and that was because I
was meant to be running. Got injured.
I was not injured, sorry. I was unwell, injured, just
everything was wrong. So I went to support my husband
and my brother and it's like, oh, hi, Emma.
Hi, Emma. And you're like, I know that I
should know you, but please just remind me of who you actually
are. And then I can start piercing
things together. And I'm very open with that as
well. It's like, you know, don't
pretend. I just, yeah, I, I recognized
your name, but just just, you know, fill me in for a little
bit and we'll we'll get there. So it was nice sort of seeing a
few people up in Inverness sort of staying high.
And then the question was like, you're here but you're not
running. Yes, that is right.
And then getting into the conversation of the reasons why,
but it it was, you know, good to see.
So yeah, this year again, Inverness was made fun dent
runner Island Games I ran, but not what the time I wanted
injured in Edinburgh. Can I say, forget the name of
the race? Edinburgh Marathon Festival,
that's it was going for a big time there and within a few key
in I was like, Oh my goodness, something's gone.
And I was so stubborn. So a few people were like, why
didn't you just stop and like leave the base?
I was like, I I couldn't like my stuff was all transported at the
finish line and I don't carry my phone when I run because I'm
meant to be racing. So I had to kind of hobble
along. You know, the time was still OK,
but it wasn't what I was looking for.
So that was, you know, you know, mental to some people why you
would keep running. So yeah.
Now back to the philosophical questions.
And we've got to say we're we're flattered with this question.
I I've listened to two other podcasts and they've imitated
stolen whatever you want to say. Our question OK, is there
anybody fictional, not living or not anymore that you would love
to have a run with? Yeah, there's actually 2.
I'd love to be part of the training group for the Anger
Britsons back in the day. Don't you think that would be
really exciting? Like, you know what, what was
going on in their training blog and how they sort of competed
within each other as a family. And I think that's probably
because I've got three boys and my one of the twins just loves
being able to try and beat the eldest.
And it's that kind of that family competition.
So I think that would be quite interesting to see how their
training block work and what was the chemistry, the communication
like. And then on a selfish point of
view, I actually really think Paula Radcliffe, you know, I
know it to some people it might be obvious, but, you know, she
was, you know, top of her game when there was, you know, there
are a lot of stuff that we know now, didn't she?
It was pure grit and determination and obviously good
training. But I listened to a podcast of
what of Paula Radcliffe. And I just thought it was really
interesting to know that her she was told that she wasn't that
good at running. You know, she was really,
really, really good, but she didn't have the spark.
You know, when you have people that are brilliant, but one has
a spark and one doesn't. So I felt that she's worked
incredibly hard to to get that Martha in time when she did it
with, I mean, did she have feeling strategies?
Did she have carpet shoes, you know, all those little bits and
pieces. So that would be my two people
would be Paula Radcliffe and the incubators, their set up.
That would be just be fascinating.
Yeah, I think Paula Radcliffe, did she not have a a funny
running posture where she'd leaned to the side or something
like that? Which?
She's not. Nods ahead.
Yeah, where she shouldn't have been good, but she.
Was yeah, mental. So I think I, yeah, from that
point of view. But then I think, you know,
athletics these days, you look at the Diamond League, it's
getting a bit flashier. There's bigger personalities on
the screen. You can see people are taking a
wee bit more of an interest. It's becoming a bit more
accessible to people as well. It's on TV.
And I think, you know, that keeps maybe the younger
generation that are more interested in people that
actually want to go and watch it and and see and see it happen.
And you know, we'll sit and watch the Diamond League and in
in fact, the my boys really like the stick thingy.
That's their favorite. And they like it's just
hilarious of what they call it the name.
So obviously the javelin. They seem to think that's
absolutely fascinating, but also the kind of the jumping event.
So even though it's not necessarily the rowing, it's
running. Sorry, it's your your track
events and watching that. And I won't lie, I am one of
those teachers that when we pop in resilience or determination,
I will go to sports videos to show the children.
I mean the poor my poor class. So if if the boys call javelin
stick thingy I I was thinking a poval.
So what? What's they call poval?
It's a stick thingy as well. Sorry, I should say.
Yeah, stick thingy and the pole vault.
But their preference is the pole vault.
They really, really think it's amazing.
I mean, it's I don't know. It must be through the eyes of a
six and four year olds that what on earth they're doing.
Yeah, stick thingy, Jacqueline and pole vault.
Other question again about the the boys, when they are of a
certain age, whether that's teenager or whatever age, would
you want them to run? And if So, what distance would
you want them to compete at? So out the three of them, Hamish
is pro, I've got the three. So she said really Camel and
Hamish. Hamish is really into running
and I mean from such a young age and he looks like he could be
potentially quite not a bad sprinter.
So it would be good to see him. He all he wants to join the
athletics club so that's already been.
I had to disappoint him and say you're just a wee a touch too
young yet. But he will come down onto the
athletics track with me sometimes and he enjoys doing
his own wee runs. I would, I encourage running, I
think as a parent because I'm interested, yes, of course, but
then that's a selfish view. It'd be like it makes my life
easier if I'm running, they want to run too.
But at at this age, I actually really want them to do a lot
more team sports and bring in that social communication
camaraderie that comes with the with the team sports.
Although I know within, you know, within our athletics
community, I think that team grows as maybe when you're a bit
older with your community and you can, you can see it from
that point of view. And yeah, it would be good to
see one of them, if not all three succeed in something,
whether or what that is, I, I, I don't know.
But you know, whether that stays or not.
So you've got Hamish who wants to go to Athlete X club,
Campbell who wants to go to biking club and Rue, my eldest,
he's already doing football, rugby, tennis, get that
coordination in and the twins also to gymnastics.
Actually, that's a good thing from parenting point of view.
Anybody that's listening is actually gymnastics.
It's a fantastic thing to get your child involved in at such
an early age. And my physical husband also
says this because it brings in so much with balance,
coordination, movement. That is, you know, the, the
very, the starting block of any sports.
It's making sure that you're aware of how your body moves.
So the gymnastics is really important.
But when the the twins were obviously Prem, that was one
thing that we were told by the neonatal physios was to get any
premi babies, you know, in because obviously some of them
they didn't completely develop their core in the womb.
So the purposal movements weren't developed.
So therefore the they did quite lie on like flat quite a lot.
So in that respect, gymnastics is just a great foundation for
any sports that you want to get your child involved.
And just one more question, Emma, just to round off the
podcast, you say you have an event in December.
Is there anything else you have booked into 2026?
No, I have left it very open at the moment because as you can
tell, I'm not quite sure what I want to go and do, so it's been
left open. So watch this space.
Definitely look forward to it. You see what random distance I
can come up with, eh? Absolutely.
Well, Emma, it's it's been a great chat and from me is thank
you for coming on and thank you Nikki for being Nikki and
goodbye. Thanks very much.
Speak to you later. Bye.