As we approach spring, more and more of us are preparing to put on our running trainers and take to the road in the name of charity.
The Bath Half Marathon is just weeks away (12 March). The dreaded London Marathon is only round the corner (23 April). The Great Manchester Run is getting ever closer (28 May).
And you’re planning to take part in any event for the first time, it can be difficult to know where to even start.
The amount of advice and inspiration on platforms like Strava and Instagram can be overwhelming. Even if you started your training weeks ago, it’s easy to plateau or not know how to progress beyond a certain point.
So to help clear a few things up, over the next few weeks we’ll be putting a series of questions on training schedules, diet plans and motivation tips to different athletes, veteran runners and experts.
This week, we caught up with Desiree Henry – the 21-year-old Adidas athlete and sprinter who won an Olympic bronze during the 4×100-metre relay in Rio last year.
How and why did you get into running?
My older sister was really into athletics, and I used to watch her train and compete – she was incredible, and it really inspired me.
It then got to a stage where I really wanted to have a go myself, so with help from my sister and school, I started training and it all went from there! I started when I was 11 and had been scouted by age 15.
What’s a typical day of training like for you now?
My days start around 11am with a track session which involves sprint and resistance runs for an hour or an hour and a half.
Then I have a short lunch break before I’m in the gym working on explosive techniques getting my glutes strong, strengthening my core and working on my upper body to make sure it matches. I do this seven days a week – I don’t have rest days!
And when you’re achy and tired, how do you motivate yourself to head back onto the track the next day?
I like the way my training makes me look and feel. Knowing what my body can do and maintaining an athletic physique motivates me not to miss a session!
What do you eat the night before and on the morning of a race?
The night before a race I eat foods heavy in protein, so a 250g steak and an omelette with tomatoes, spinach and cheese, finished off with a cup of tea.
On race day I’ll probably have a small bowl of porridge, a whole banana and a cup of tea and that will last me until the competition.
Bearing in mind the London Marathon is just eight weeks away, would you ever be tempted to do one?
I’m a sprinter, so I’m used to running for seconds not minutes but I think at the end of my career I will probably do a marathon for charity. For now, I think I will stick to running for seconds!
Do you have any tips for people who want to start?
My main tip for people looking to get into running is to ensure your feet are comfortable and you purchase the right pair of shoes.
As a runner, I’m on my feet all day, whether it’s in the gym or on the running track, so having the right support from your shoes is the most important thing for me.
I love the new Adidas UltraBOOST X because they’ve been specifically designed for a woman’s foot and because they’re adaptive, they feel like they’ve been tailored to me.
They help get through a session feeling comfortable and strong.
As a London-based athlete, do you have preferred areas to run around?
I have the Lee Valley Athletic Centre close to my home where I train regularly.
I’m also part of the Adidas Runners group, which runs a number of free, London runs during the week, including a women-only run from the new Adidas Studio LDN twice a week.
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