- Tell us a bit about yourself, how long have you been in Brighton and what do you like about living here?
I have only lived in Brighton for about 4 months now but before that, I was coming here regularly to see my boyfriend before making the move.
There are a few things that I love about living here, one of them is being able to walk along the beach on a nice sunny day. I also love the different variety of restaurants. The biggest thing for me is it’s the first place I felt comfortable being able to walk hand in hand with my boyfriend.
- How long have you been running, and what is it about running that you enjoy?
I can’t remember exactly how long I’ve been running but I think it’s something like 6 years now. I started with couch to 5k like a lot of people and eventually built up to running a marathon which is something I thought I’d never do!
I love running because of the mental health benefits that it brings. Running always brings my mood up if I’m having a bad day. I’m also a competitive person at heart so I’m always looking to get a new PB.
- What made you decide to join Frontrunners and how did you hear about the club?
When I knew I was going to move to Brighton I wanted to join a running group. Aside from my boyfriend and a few other people I don’t know anyone here. I searched for an LGBTQ running group and Frontrunners were there. Once I settled into my new life here I joined the group and I’m so glad I did. Everyone has been so nice and welcoming.
- Have you run any races before? Have you signed up for any upcoming events and what are your goals?
I have run several races in the past the biggest one being the London Marathon in 2019 raising money for the British Heart Foundation. I haven’t booked on to any events yet but I do want to do another race sometime.
- How did the COVID-19 lockdowns affect you and your motivation to run?
Because I was a postman during Covid-19, I was working through lockdown so I was still going out every day as normal so I was in a routine which included running which I stuck to. I think it was easier to stick to a routine because there was nothing else to do.
- Why do you enjoy being a Frontrunner?
I’m learning so much from being a Frontrunner! I’ve learnt that I can push myself more than I have done before and my running is definitely improving.
It’s been so nice meeting new people here, everyone is so nice and friendly. The Wednesday night run has become one of the highlights of my week.