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Great Britain teams and eventually the Olympic Games. Lottery funding, which I received aged 26, allowed me to give up my part-time teaching job (I used to teach art, cookery and PE) and pursue running full-time. Compared to some other sports, running isn’t a well paid career. I make my living from doing lots of things associated with running, like coaching and writing – as well as running itself! It’s always been about my passion for the sport, and my desire to be the best that I can, rather than seeing it as a way to earn a living. With commitment and dedication to my passion I’ve been fortunate to make it my career.
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“ Marathon runner Liz Yelling talks about how she found something that made her happy and now pursues it as a career
What motivates you? I could easily still be a teacher but being a runner is something I’ve chosen to do. To be as good as my competitors I have to do at least as much training as them, and do it better – and that keeps me motivated. Like everyone, sometimes I have ‘off ’ days but I remind myself how lucky I am to have a body that’s able to run and to have something I love doing. I think about my goals, too, and how every run I do makes me one step closer to achieving these.
How did you find something you loved so much? My mum was a club runner and I remember watching her race when I was about eight, standing at the side of the road with my brother and cheering her on. I’d beg her to take me out on her training runs and she eventually let me join her. I loved it and kept asking to go again, so she took me to Bedford and County Athletics Club, where I could run with other girls my age. There, I met my coach Alex Stanton and my childhood training partner, Paula Radcliffe and developed friendships and a social life – I had such fun!
Tell us about your training routine
How did you make a living out of a hobby?
When I’m running I’m very focused – I enter another world. Sometimes I imagine I’m in a race: it gives me the purpose to push my boundaries. I break my runs into sections and just focus on running one section at a time. I usually run alone – the times that I like to run often don’t fit in with other people, and I also enjoy my own company when I run. I always run with a clear head on my own. I don’t listen to music either – it would make me feel detached from myself. I want to listen to my body and feel in tune with it and my surroundings. I love running in the country and the open
I was just one of many talented kids who enjoyed training and racing – I never thought I would be able to make a living from running (actually, it’s still quite hard to make a living!). The social element at my local running club, plus getting to compete in international events, were what kept me motivated as a teenager. Then, as I got older, many of my peers dropped out and the years of training started to pay off. I started to believe in myself more and started aiming higher and higher. My dreams slowly started to become a reality and I qualified for major world championships,
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air, exploring different terrain and seeing parts of the world you can only get access to by foot. I get a great sense of freedom from that and I like to hear the birds and the wind in the trees. My favourite places to run are coast paths, off-road trails, forests and lake paths. Running has enabled me to see far more nature and countryside than many people. I feel tired after a hard training session – but exhilarated too. I get a real buzz from knowing I’ve completed something difficult. I get a sense of satisfaction from every run – I think that’s why, once people get into running, they really start to enjoy it and the feeling it gives them. I gave up running for much of 2009 as my daughter Ruby (pictured here with my husband Martin) was born in June. I’m almost right back into the swings of things now though, having built my running up last autumn. Before my pregnancy, when I was training for the Beijing Olympics, I ran twice a day, six times a week: around 100 miles every week.
What are your goals? I plan to be back racing well, after having Ruby, this spring in time for the Virgin London Marathon on 25 April. Looking further ahead, I need to run a fast marathon in 2011 as my sights are fixed on qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics. Preparing for a great marathon really is a journey that takes time and I don’t want to jeopardize my long term opportunity by hastily rushing into a speedy comeback. Patience now will hopefully reward me with a crack at my third See o Olympics in London. happi ur ness heme The London Olympics d arti tcles p ages X will be an amazing X-XX on h o w for spectacle that the you the m can make entire nation will get ost of life behind. I’d love to be on the start line!
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Liz’s top running tips
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Set aside time every week to run – otherwise it’s easy to let other things eat into your time! Start slowly – this allows you to build your fitness base and be realistic rather than setting unattainable goals. Buy the right shoes – a specialist-running store can advise you what is suited to your running style to help to stay injury-free. Be patient – running is a great calorie-burner and it’s brilliant for your health, but benefits take time. Have a reason to run! Your motivation may be a race, dropping a dress size, raising money for charity or running non-stop for 30 minutes. Whatever it is, remember it each time you step out of the door and it’ll help you run with purpose. n Liz Yelling is a two-time Olympic marathon runner and Commonwealth marathon bronze medalist with a marathon personal best of two hours and 28 minutes. She is the author of The Woman’s Guide To Running. n lizyelling.com
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