Introducing Macclesfield Harrier, Jill Abbott. Jill has been running with the Club for 3 years. She is a run group leader and the worthy winner of the 2019 Club prize for most improved female runner.
Q1: When did you start running?
JA: Just over three years ago. My daughter had been planning to do a charity half marathon and needed a running buddy. We went along to try out a few E group runs and I found that I had been well and truly bitten by the running bug!
Q2: How long have you been a Macclesfield Harrier?
JA: 3 years. I joined after the trial runs with E group. Since then, I’ve become an E group leader and also run with D and C groups.
Q3: What has been your favourite race and why?
JA: Before 2019, I hadn’t done much competitive running. It was only after the Congleton Park Run in Feb 2019 that I actually realised that there was a club championship! That has introduced me to a variety of different races over varying distances and terrains and I have loved the challenge of trying to run well in all of these. But if ‘favourite’ means ‘most memorable’, then that has to be the Macc Half Marathon because the first time I ran it, I managed to do a time under 2 hours. It was only my fourth ever race and I was chuffed to bits. At the time it felt like a really big moment for me!
Q4: What does running mean to you?
JA: Running has become a big part of my life and now I can’t imagine not running. It’s partly the almost addictive challenge of pushing myself to go as fast as I am able and the buzz that comes from managing to run a PB. At the same time, I love the camaraderie that comes from running with such a great bunch of people!
Q5: Do you have a top tip for other runners?
JA: My top tip is nice and sensible: Warm up before, stretch down afterwards, and do some strength work in between! Then keep on running!
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