Q & A with Shazza!

Sharron Ogle had never run a 5k before, so when The Co-operative jogscotland 5k challenge series came up she thought it would be a good idea to run all six!

When did you take up running?

I?ve been ?trying? to get into running for a while now without much progress.  Before these races, I probably only ran for 20 mins maximum without stopping, and that was always difficult.  And I mostly ran by myself but I?d go out with the jogscotland group at Little France sometimes when I was working there and they would get me to push myself harder.  I enjoyed the company but never really the running!  Despite this, I?ve been trying to keep it going.  Part of the reason is that I?ve been travelling a lot with my studies and running is one of the few things you can do anywhere.  I would get up at 5.30am whilst working in Indonesia to run round the University campus before the sun came up.  Even then it was at least 20?C and very humid.

What made you decide to run in all six challenges?

Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time!  The Jammy Little Francers (John, Moira and Andrew) did all 6 races last year and were looking for more victims, I mean volunteers for this year.  I was ready to put some proper effort in and see if I could improve enough to really enjoy running rather than just do it cos it?s good for me.  I suppose I thought that if I was going to make an effort to run one, I?d be as well to run all six.  Also, I?m writing up my PhD thesis at the moment so it was a good incentive to get out and do something active on a regular basis.  Running with a team was great for that ? the Jammy?s would never have forgiven me if I missed one!

Which was your favourite 5k and why?

I liked the Inverness one best.  Partly because it was quite small, I?m not such a fan of big crowds.  Also, the route seemed do-able and I felt pretty good most of the way round.  We took a walk around some of the course before the race and I really liked the riverside route, it felt more like a trail run than a road race.  It was also pretty flat so I knew I had a chance to get a good time.  As it turned out, I did get my best time, 70 seconds better than my previous best so I was really chuffed.  And that was with a little walk before the last section ? Andrew caught me though so I knew I?d have to start running again!  I also liked the Glasgow race, mostly because I managed to run the whole way.  May not seem too surprising for a running event but it was the first time I?ve ever run for 31mins or whatever my time was without walking ? hurray!

Which one was the least enjoyable for you?

I think the Edinburgh race(s).  Because our team is from Edinburgh, we all just turned up to the race and got on with it. I missed the build-up we had with the other ones, with the travelling and eating wine gums in the car! I didn?t feel ready to run when the first race started and didn?t really feel very good for most of it. Mind you, I still managed to get a better time than the previous race but I?m not sure how.  More strangely, I enjoyed the second race better ? I?d been cycling around Inverleith Park to keep warm between races so was probably better prepared physically.  More than that tho was the fact that my team ran all the way with me, even though they are all MUCH faster.  I really appreciated their team spirit and their supporting me throughout, but especially in this second race.  Afterwards, I couldn?t believe I?d just run 10K!

What was your funniest moment in the challenges?

Getting my first spot prize at the Borders race ? I was hysterical for some reason!  I saw pictures of my reaction and I look like a crazy person.

What?s your next challenge?

Well, I?ve decided that I?ve come close enough to enjoying running that I should persevere and try to get better.  I hope to try a 10K race later in the year, although I?m not sure which one yet.  The Jammy Little Francers have vowed to help me train for it, and I wouldn?t want to let them down.  As a team, we?re also looking at other challenges like the Cairngorm Charmer in October.  It?s a 12 mile run-cycle-run race so I can at least catch up with the others on the bike!  Ideally, I?d like to get to a point where I can comfortably run for an hour or so, regardless of speed or distance.  That way, I can look forward to running more on trails and hill routes outside of the city, and combine it with my other outdoor passions for cycling, climbing and hillwalking.