Just two days before the 2014 event, Matt talks about that race, his experiences so far with Heanor RC and, at the age of twenty-one, his future targets.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO RUNNING? I was 16 and I hadn’t had much success with other sport. I started running to stay fit and was hooked from there.
WHAT MADE YOU JOIN HEANOR RC? I joined Heanor Running Club because of the huge success they were having. I knew a few people who ran for them and they were improving rapidly so I wanted to get in on it!
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE CLUB? I joined in May 2013 and was eligible to compete in August that year.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST RUNNING ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? My greatest running achievement(s) to date are going under 16 minutes for 5km and the magic jump from 34 to 32 minutes for 10km in one race [Leeds Abbey Dash 2013]!
FAVOURITE SESSION? My favourite session (when I’ve actually turned up to training) is probably the repeats on the American Adventure car park. I also enjoy the 600s on grass/trail.
INDUSTRIAL ESTATE OR SHIPLEY PARK? Shipley Park, 100%.
BEST THING ABOUT THE CLUB? For me, the best thing about the club is being a part of the success the team has, competing at the top championship races and proving a point to other teams that we’re improving!
WORST THING ABOUT HEANOR RC? I can’t think of anything bad to say about the club. Some people seem to think that HRC poach runners from other clubs when really it’s the runners themselves that choose to join.
BEST FRIEND IN THE CLUB? I would say my best friend at the club is Joe Rainsford. We’re similar in age and ability but Joe seems to have improved a lot this year. I get along with everybody regardless of age or ability!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RACE YOU’VE COMPETED IN? My favourite race has to be Leeds Abbey Dash. An amazing 10km race with such a huge depth of quality runners to push you along.
WHY DO YOU RUN? I ran to stay fit at first but now I have enjoyed individual and team success, I run to better myself and to win!
FUTURE TARGETS? I would like to go under 15 minutes for 5km and under 31 for 10km. I would also love to run a solid marathon too.

Photo from Facebook

A tradition that started back in 2003 in Prague – and that has taken in such places as Lisbon, Berlin, Torremolinos and Antwerp since – the 2014 trip proved to be another success as nine members raced in the city perhaps most-famous for its paella.

In among the near-10,000 strong field, Abbie Leivers crossed the line 3,821st in 1:47:35 and she offers us her race tales from the sun-kissed Spanish streets below:

“It was already 19 degrees centigrade when we left the hotel at 6.45am so we knew it was going to be a warm one! We got to the start line just after 7am and there were already crowds of runners waiting at the start line. By 8.30am we all went off and did our warm ups and the temperatures had risen to 21 degrees!

We headed to the start line to try and get a good position but there were already thousands in front of us so I knew it was going to be a slow start. The first 5km was a lot slower than I ever expected – I averaged 9:20/mile pace for the first two miles – but thankfully it then started to become faster.

By this point I already knew and accepted that breaking my personal best wasn’t going to happen (I had wanted to run 1:40). So I decided to just go and enjoy the whole race instead and ran the first 11km with Scott [Wigman] and Dave [Henton].

The heat was much harder to run in than I had expected! But after 11km I felt really good and decided to go off and run my own race. I averaged 7:30/mile pace for the last 10km and felt really comfortable! For the last five kilometres, the temperatures had risen to 26 degrees so the finishing line was such a lovely sight to see!

It was the most enjoyable half marathon I’ve ever done and such an amazing city to run round. I was disappointed in my time but the fact I enjoyed it so much was a great feeling and I was just happy to have had the chance to do this race.”

Image from Facebook

Chairman, coach, team manager and Matthew Walker Christmas Pudding 10k race director, Rob Rainsford reveals his favourite session, the best and worst things about the club and the plan to return to his PB-setting heights of 2009.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO RUNNING? In my secondary school we did cross country in PE class; a lot of the kids hated it but I loved it. I drifted away from the sport in my late teens and early 20s, eventually rediscovering my love of running again in the early eighties when I joined Derwent Runners and later, through my workplace, Rolls Royce Harriers (2nd claim).

WHAT MADE YOU JOIN HEANOR RC? In 1990, we moved to Smalley and my work took me into Hucknall so it seemed the obvious thing to do.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE CLUB? I joined Heanor in 1992, so that’s about 22 years. I was sentenced to the Chairman’s role in 1995.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST RUNNING ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? A sustained period of time training without injury! Beating Lee on Markeaton Park in a North Mids XC many moons ago.. Completing 4 London Marathons.. But the top one has to be being the team manager for the HRC men’s 6 Stage team last year when we very nearly got amongst the medals at the Midlands! One day…

FAVOURITE SESSION? 300s & 600s or any interval session really. & when I’m fit… Hill reps!

INDUSTRIAL ESTATE OR SHIPLEY PARK? They both have their place in the sessions but I will go against the grain and plump for the Industrial Estate.

BEST THING ABOUT THE CLUB? The spirit and camaraderie is unique; there are no no prima donnas. The support given by everybody to everyone in races and training is second-to-none. Everyone just gets on with it, which is evident in the success of our flagship event the Matthew Walker 10k.

WORST THING ABOUT HEANOR RC? The unjust and false persona that we just look after the faster runners. I think we are victims of our own success at times.

BEST FRIEND IN THE CLUB? If pressed, I would say Lee Perkins. When I joined the club I think Lee was about 15 years old and I have seen him move through the age categories from junior to vet!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RACE YOU’VE COMPETED IN? That’s a toughie… Top one for me has got to be the Prague Half Marathon, closely followed by the Leeds Abbey Dash and London Marathon.

WHY DO YOU RUN? I don’t really know why nowadays – but I still like to think I could get back into a race at some point in the not too distant future. Watch this space!

FUTURE TARGETS? Personally: To avoid any more injuries! It’s been a nightmare for me between 2010-2013. My aim is to get back to my purple patch of 2009/10, which was the last time I hit any decent times (37.20 at Leeds Abbey Dash and 1:26 at the Worksop Half Marathon).

From a coaching point of view: To carry on with the coaching and hopefully see everyone improve even more, especially the youngsters that we have. Also, to see the senior men and women strike medals in the regional relays!

Alastair has played a key part in the HRC success-story since his move from Derby AC in 2006. Four London Marathons in the bag – and with another in his sights for 2015 – Alastair tells us about the time he ran the original Ramathon in 1986, his favorite session and his 2003/04 purple-patch.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO RUNNING? The now defunct Allestree Half Marathon used to go past my parent’s house in the early to mid-1980’s. I always fancied trying it but could only do the fun run because of my age at the time. I did the fun run a couple of times, enjoyed it and then first tackled the original Ramathon in 1986, aged 17. I seem to recall I did about 1h35mins having died a thousand deaths from 9 miles onwards after starting somewhat too fast!

WHAT MADE YOU JOIN HEANOR RC? I’d known Rob for a number of years through athletics and Rolls-Royce, and I was aware that a number of runners from the club I was in at the time (Derby AC) were migrating across to Heanor and enjoying it. I soon followed…

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE CLUB? I think I joined first claim in 2006.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST RUNNING ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? The majority of my best running achievements came in a purple patch in 2003/04. I ran under the hour for 10 miles, under 36 mins for 10k and 28 mins dead for 5 miles within a few weeks. Having said all that, running in the Yellow and Blue in the National 6/12 stage final around the iconic Sutton Park takes some beating.

FAVOURITE SESSION? When I’m fit (which isn’t very often) my favourite session is 20x70secs with 20 secs recovery (on grass). It can be brutal and needs building up to over a few weeks, initially doing 12 then 16 reps before the full 20 can be tackled. It represents a full 30 mins of mental effort and is ideal a couple of weeks before a target 10k race.

INDUSTRIAL ESTATE OR SHIPLEY PARK? Shipley Park for me.

BEST THING ABOUT THE CLUB? Good competition across all ages and abilities, great social scene and superb club trips abroad.

WORST THING ABOUT HEANOR RC? I wish Heanor was nearer Willington where I live. It’s 18 miles each way to get to training!

BEST FRIEND IN THE CLUB? All the Rainsford family, Lee Perkins and Darren Ridout. Oh, and my wife (Yvonne).

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RACE YOU’VE COMPETED IN? London Marathon (4 times)

WHY DO YOU RUN? I run because I enjoy it. Even after all these years doing it, racing still gives me a great buzz.

FUTURE TARGETS? I’m currently enjoying trying out triathlon. Nothing crazy like Ironman, just a few sprint events so no more than an hour or so effort. I’ve entered the London Marathon again next year as I still feel like I have unfinished business there, but not sure the body is up to the required training anymore!

HOW DID YOU GET INTO RUNNING? I started running after a bad break-up with an ex! I initially started just running on a treadmill at the gym.

WHAT MADE YOU JOIN HEANOR RC? Heanor RC was recommended to me by another member so I went along to a training session, enjoyed it and joined.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE CLUB? I think I have been a member for approximately four years now.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST RUNNING ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? My gGreatest running achievement… Hmmm, probably getting my last 10k personal best at Leeds Abbey Dash in 2013 (40:04) although I’m still hoping to improve on that.

FAVOURITE SESSION? I enjoy the time trials and also the track when I get chance to go.

INDUSTRIAL ESTATE OR SHIPLEY PARK? Shipley Park definitely! Can’t say I particularly like the industrial estate in the cold and dark winter months.

BEST THING ABOUT THE CLUB? Best thing about the club is there is always something on for every type/level of runner, it’s very sociable and non-elitist.

WORST THING ABOUT HEANOR RC? Worst thing (for me) is the distance as I don’t live that close to Heanor, which makes it harder to get to training sessions.

BEST FRIEND IN THE CLUB? Rob Rainsford of course! He’s the guy that makes Heanor RC ‘Heanor RC’.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RACE YOU’VE COMPETED IN? My favourite race was probably the Worksop Half Marathon a few years ago now when I went dressed as a cat. It was my first half marathon and it was on Halloween. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the fun of running in fancy dress!

WHY DO YOU RUN? I run because, for me, it’s a massive stress-buster. I often don’t feel like running, but afterwards I’m glad I did. It’s also a good excuse to indulge in the odd slice of cake.. In addition it’s great to have a goal of setting a time/distance you want to achieve and then the satisfaction of actually achieving that time/distance. That’s a really good feeling.

FUTURE TARGETS? I would really love to get my 10k time down as it’s beginning to bug me now! In essence it’s to keep enjoying running and to stay injury free this year!

HOW DID YOU GET INTO RUNNING?
I was a good runner at school and have ran for most of my life.

WHAT MADE YOU JOIN HEANOR RC?
Yvonne Hobday

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE CLUB?
About 5/6 years

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST RUNNING ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE?
My personal best from the 2008 London Marathon – 3:05:01.

FAVOURITE SESSION?
Long reps

INDUSTRIAL ESTATE OR SHIPLEY PARK?
Industrial Estate

BEST THING ABOUT THE CLUB?
Friendly

WORST THING ABOUT HEANOR RC?
It’s too far to travel and train with the club on a regular basis.

BEST FRIEND IN THE CLUB?
I have several Lisa, Louise, Yvonne and Wendy Roethenbaugh.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RACE YOU’VE COMPETED IN?
Barcelona Half Marathon.

WHY DO YOU RUN?
Two reasons: I enjoy it and I’m very competitive.

FUTURE TARGETS?
To try and reduce my 10k time.

I ran 5 mile training runs until I was fit enough to run around a pitch for an hour and then entered the Great North Run. I ran 1:22 on 5 mile training runs so gave up football and joined my local club in Newcastle, Wallsend Harriers, way back in 1992.

WHAT MADE YOU JOIN HEANOR RC? I ran for another Midlands running club but got fed up with the lack of motivation in the club and wanted to run in national races. I decided to leave and, whilst training on my own was hard work, I was asked by a club member to give Heanor a try. I’m glad I did as it was the best decision I’ve made.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE CLUB? I’ve been a member of the club for 12 years now and still enjoying every minute of it.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST RUNNING ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? I would say the fact that, since I started racing in 1992 and after some 412 races, I have finished every single one and am not a member of the DNF (did not finish) club. It’s got to be better than some of the faster times I’ve ran.

FAVOURITE SESSION? It’s got to be the tough 400s with little recovery or a good hill session, pushing the body to the limit.

INDUSTRIAL ESTATE OR SHIPLEY PARK? Has to be Shipley Park! You can’t beat summer training.

BEST THING ABOUT THE CLUB? It has to be the camaraderie in the club, whether it’s in a race or tough training session, everyone supports each other like no other club. We race hard, train hard but most of all we’re not afraid to party hard either.

WORST THING ABOUT HEANOR RC? That’s a tough one but I would have to say it’s the ridiculous RED shorts club colours – yellow and blue vest with BLUE shorts not red, haha.

BEST FRIEND IN THE CLUB? I think that would be the quiet Joe Rainsford.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RACE YOU’VE COMPETED IN? On a personal note, it would be Blaydon races in my home town of Newcastle – 5.7 miles, extremely fast race. Other than that, I would say 12-Stage Relays are always exciting and very nerve wracking.

WHY DO YOU RUN? I run because for as long as I can remember, I’ve always been competitive and just love racing and pushing the body as hard as I can, giving it my all.

FUTURE TARGETS? I still want to achieve PBs and would like a sub-1:20 for a half marathon (it’s been a very long time since I did that). A target I’m after in a couple of years would be the club record for a 50 year-old in the time trial.

Photo: Facebook

HOW DID YOU GET INTO RUNNING? I was always a runner through my secondary school years, although upon leaving I was unaware of the outside world of club running and only ran to keep fit during football off seasons.

WHAT MADE YOU JOIN HEANOR RC? I was jogging in the park doing an off-football season run with a friend and Rob started talking to us about the possibility of doing our runs with the club; several weeks later I’m wearing the yellow and blue in my first race and the rest is history.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE CLUB? 10 years this year I think.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST RUNNING ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? Probably winning Heanor RC’s most improved runner for 3 consecutive years and of course all my PB’s and team achievements with the club.

FAVOURITE SESSION? 400s and paarlaufs.

INDUSTRIAL ESTATE OR SHIPLEY PARK? The park!

BEST THING ABOUT THE CLUB? Everything from coaching, team spirit and club success.

WORST THING ABOUT HEANOR RC? Hard training ha ha ha.

BEST FRIEND IN THE CLUB? Joe Rainsford.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RACE YOU’VE COMPETED IN? Any relay, a real team event. Personally probably my half marathon PB at Silverstone.

WHY DO YOU RUN? Enjoyment and sense of achievement. Being part of a great club always helps.

FUTURE TARGETS? Following a couple of running years interrupted by weddings, babies and injury niggles the target is to train hard and get back to being the best runner I can be.

Sarah Lewis from Heanor takes up the position this week and talks about her greatest running achievement to date, her favourite HRC training session and the best (and worst) things about the club.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO RUNNING? I originally started by running 1.5 miles a few times a week just to get fit and shed a few pounds, I got addicted, and now I’m just months away from taking part in my first ever marathon!!

WHAT MADE YOU JOIN HEANOR RC? I had completed my first 10k race and was continuing to run but as the nights got darker I didn’t like to go out running on my own. My friend was a member of Heanor Running Club and she invited me along one October evening.

Even though I was a complete novice and some of the people at Heanor Running Club were to be quite honest amazing runners, they all made me feel really welcome. Irrespective of standard, I was there for the same reason as most other people… to improve. The friendly and supportive atmosphere was perfect to help me strive towards my goals.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE CLUB? 3.5 years

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST RUNNING ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? I have 2… The first is running the Lisbon Half Marathon in under 1 hr 58 minutes in blistering heat – I was determined to go under the 2 hour mark. I put in a considerable amount of training and it paid off – I was ecstatic when I crossed the finish line to have achieved what I set out to.

My second achievement is completing Ashby 20 in 2013 followed by Rat Race Dirty Weekender (a 20 mile assault course) a couple of months later. This is the furthest distance I have ever ran but I hope to go one better this year and complete the Dublin Marathon!

FAVOURITE SESSION? 200m’s x too many – short and sweet

INDUSTRIAL ESTATE OR SHIPLEY PARK? Hmmmm that’s a toughie. For some reason I like the winter training down the industrial estate, my mind seems more focused on a cold snowy evening. But Shipley Park is great in the summer for variety, hills and picturesque scenery. Hmmmmm eeny meeny miny moe… Shipley Park.

BEST THING ABOUT THE CLUB? The friendly and supportive atmosphere (especially Rob and Ashley!!). Every time I have a break from training I am still made to feel like part of the club and welcomed back to training!

WORST THING ABOUT HEANOR RC? Other peoples views about our club. Some people who aren’t in Heanor Running Club sometimes think that we are too competitive and that it isn’t suitable for slower runners like myself. However I would totally disagree with this. Everyone in Heanor Running Club is very passionate about the club and wears the yellow and blue vest with pride.

Competition tends to derive from the personal desire to improve on personal bests and I find that having similar ability runners around me to aim for really helps to achieve these goals. Everyone is very supportive of each others achievements irrespective of times or distance, if people achieve their personal goals then there is widespread recognition and support from other club members.

BEST FRIEND IN THE CLUB? Laura H, Laura B and Gemma although everyone is really really friendly.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RACE YOU’VE COMPETED IN? Ooooh I actually love the Pud Run because it’s on home turf, it’s a nice undulating course and I know the route inside out (it’s also where I achieved my 10k pb). However I would have to say to date my favourite race was probably Lisbon Half Marathon. There were a few downsides to it (like the route wasn’t very exciting) but the whole experience of running abroad in glorious sunshine amongst so many other people and achieving a PB is what makes it my favourite race so far. I’m definitely looking forward to more runs abroad in the future!!

WHY DO YOU RUN? 1) to keep fit, 2) a personal focus / challenge, and 3) I love my long runs because they give me a time to get away from every day life and think.

FUTURE TARGETS? Complete a marathon (this year), a sub-50 minute 10K, run in the London Marathon, improve on my half marathon time, and one day I would like to complete an ironman triathlon too.