This month we’re joined by Anna Feild, while we all know you as the runner, who are you when you're not running?
I am a mum of two grown-up sons and I’m a classically trained musician. I’m currently head of junior music at a boys prep school in Belsize Park.
What are your instruments?
My main instrument is the bassoon, and I also play the piano.
How long have you been running for and how long have you thought of yourself as a runner?
I think there’s a lot to unpack in terms of the ‘runner’ identity. I feel as though I have too much left to achieve to be able to call myself a ‘runner’, yet at the same time I do so much running that I should justifiably view myself as a runner.
I’ve always dabbled with running; it was a quick way of staying fit when I was a student, especially as I was lucky enough to study right by Hyde Park. Then when my kids were growing up, it was relatively easy to get out of the door for a short run. I only really got into running more seriously once my sons had left home. Parkrun was a real catalyst for changing my attitude towards running because it made it more of a social thing. Although I did my first parkrun back in 2014, it didn’t become a regular activity until a year or so before the pandemic. What’s great is that it’s become an activity that all four of us in the family do.
What first brought you along to Queen’s Park Harriers?
At Gladstone Parkrun, I’d become aware of this group of very friendly runners that all seemed to know each other. They’d sometimes wear these stripey vests so I thought I'd look them up, and that’s how I found out about the Harriers. At that point I'd just turned 50 and I wanted to find something different to do and a way to meet different people near to home. I also realised that there was more to running than simply flinging myself out of the front door, and that there must be some warm-up routines I should be doing - properly!
You’ve gone on to become a core member of the community, but you had to take a slight step back last year, how have you found managing that?
I think something more mature runners like me may sometimes have to bear in mind is that a health issue may get in the way of training regularly.
I made a mistake a couple of years ago when I was training for my first half marathon. I pulled my hamstring but kept running on it. I did the half marathon but felt very uncomfortable, and it put me out of action for a good while. I probably shouldn’t have done the half marathon at all and I've learnt my lesson, but that’s the wonder of hindsight.
This time round (and with a bit of nagging from family members) I took a step back to rest then gradually got back into running. I did some strength exercises at the gym as part of that. Then coming back to track I went in a very leisurely sort of way and built slowly from there. But Fred Hughes (10 miles) was a good marker of where I’m at.
We’re speaking just after Fred Hughes, how did it go?
I enjoyed it! I was wondering how I was going to feel at the end because I have got a condition that can sometimes make me feel a bit ropey during and after a race if I don’t drink enough water, but I felt fine this time. I’d hydrated well the day before, I took a gel about 8 miles in and I just managed the race really well mentally. I kept a steady pace all the way round. I was a minute slower than last year, but who really cares about that? I wasn’t aiming for a particular time. It was really great to see everybody - all the Hoops and runners from different clubs. I'm not great at running and chatting, so listening to others around me was a good distraction.
So building off Fred Hughes, is there anything else your training towards at the moment?
I've got the Brighton Half Marathon at the beginning of March so Fred Hughes was a nice way to gear up for that. I’d thought about doing Watford Half but I don’t want to over do it in the build up to Brighton.
(Editors note: Anna did go on to run Watford half, and had a great time doing it!)
When are people most likely to find you at track?
I’m a Thursday runner. It's the right time of the week for me. I feel I can look forward to track having got most of the busy bits of the week done, and then it’s Friday and the weekend.
If you could only ever run one running route for the rest of your life, what would it be?
It would probably be by the coast because I love an ever-changing seascape with all the fresh air. My husband, Eugene, and I run together mostly when we’re out of London, and that’s often in seaside locations.
And finally, what would your one piece of advice be to another hoopster?
I think it would be that you’re running your own race - you own your goals. Try not to be too caught up with what everyone else is doing or what’s on Strava. And although I love running alone -and for me, running is an activity which clears the mind - I place a high value on belonging to such a sociable and inclusive running club, which QPH definitely is!