Radio presenter Jenni Falconer on why she loves to run
I had four months... of being injured last year, which was gutting. Having run for quite a while, I know there’s nothing worse than sitting at home, hearing about people’s runs and dreaming of running yourself, but you just can’t.
The injury was called... gluteal tendinopathy, which is basically just a swollen backside – it was really annoying. I always get problems with my glutes and it’s clearly because I’m not strengthening enough. So, I did gym work for months and loved it, but it’s not running is it? When I was given the go-ahead to run again, I was delighted.
Unfortunately, I wore heels... and danced like an idiot on New Year’s Eve at a ski resort, which isn’t great when you’re about to start a 16-week marathon training plan. I had a balloon-sized ankle, so my training got pushed back by a week.
Every time I run... I have a big cheesy grin on my face. If you see me out running, please
smile back because I smile at everyone, but no one else smiles!
My favourite place to run... is the south of Spain – there’s a stretch near Marbella that goes on for 10 miles along the coast. If you go out in the morning, you see the sunrise, and in the evening, you see the sunset – there are loads of people out there running and walking.
I'm in my mid-forties... and with that, things change in your body as a female. I’ve been told the ideal thing to do is lift heavy weights – so I’ve started working with a trainer twice a week, focusing on running moves with heavy weights, such as lunges, squats and deadlifts. It’s really benefitting me.
It's hilarious... how we can moan about going out for a run, but then brag about how brilliant it was once we get home. We know we won’t regret it, but it’s just about getting off the sofa – sometimes you just can’t be bothered.
Years ago when I got my PB for the London Marathon... I was weight training twice a week. I was strong and ran the race in almost exactly the time I wanted, 3:30, and I got 3:31, so I was only one minute out – but I ran at the same pace pretty much the whole time.
I’ve done the London Marathon... eight times for different charities and am also an ambassador for the race. I used to do my radio show on race morning and go straight to the race – I’d be on-air in my kit from 5.30am, leave the studio at 9am and head to the start as quickly as I could.
One time, years ago... after going to a running event, I remember getting home late because I’d been chatting to people in a pub about running. My husband asked, ‘What did you do?’ And I said, we drank Diet Coke and talked about running. He said, ‘That sounds like fun.’ But if you’re not a runner, you won’t get it.
If you’re anywhere in the world... and meet someone who runs, you can chat for hours. You have that common bond – I think it’s lovely.
I run to music... if I’m not listening to a podcast. I like listening to something because it’s my time out. My day is pretty busy, so it’s a good way of relaxing because I wouldn’t get a chance to otherwise.
But it’s hard to watch... or listen to something and laugh while running. It’s not the most hilarious thing in the world, but I once watched an episode of Friends – the one with Brad Pitt – when I was on the treadmill running at 14km/hour and something funny happened, I fell off the treadmill! So I’m now very cautious – running and laughing is hard work.
Check out Jenni’s weekly RunPod podcast, where she welcomes special guests who share her passion for the challenge and rewards of running.
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