ABRaS Assistant Coach 2009
interviewed by Amanda Nimon Peters
Amanda: Thank you for agreeing to speak with us Julie. We know you were offered Rolling Stone and Vogue Magazine this same week, but you chose ABRaS AC website instead. Good choice.
Julie: Thank you, the decision was obvious.
Amanda: Please explain to our readers how you felt when you realised we had elected you to the post of Assistant Coach of the greatest running club of all time?
Julie: I can't remember being elected. I think I volunteered, or was it press ganged? I must have chosen ABRaS because it's the greatest running club of all time, of course.
Amanda: What does your role involve? And why is it challenging?
Julie: My role involves rounding up group 3 and keeping them motivated when being lapped by group 1. Also finding new silly looking drills for everyone to do at the track. When Anna is away I have to get everyone doing the right training and try not to loose any juniors or Janet and Jo, which can be challenging.
I had thought coaching adults would be easier than kids, but boy was I wrong. They chat more, don't listen, answer back and have far more toilet stops!
Amanda: And what do you get out of this role? Why on earth would you do that? Are you mad?
Julie: I'm in it for the satisfaction of seeing the amazing improvement runners make. I hope that at least some of it is thanks to my help and encouragement.
But the main reason is that working with group 3 I get to do shorter sessions with longer recoveries and when the weather is really bad I have a coaching reason not to run.
Amanda: What’s important to you about being a part of ABRas?
Julie: I get to work with and learn from some great athletes from the quickest running club in Dubai (and the socials are pretty good).
Amanda: Now let’s talk about Julie. What are three key facts that few people know?
Julie: I have a PhD in archaeological dating, I was Ontario Mountain bike Duathlon Champion 1996 and I gained a Blue at Oxford Uni by running in the varsity cross-country team with Mara Yamauchi.
Amanda: Imagine that I am an extremely powerful superhuman-being (like normal then) and I am able to grant you your total fantasy day/night out. What does it involve? Give us all the details please...!
Julie: As I spent my 40th birthday doing a Brookies wadi bash I think it would have to start with that, but finish the run at a 5 star hotel for a shower and dip in the pool, followed by some great food. I'd end my fantasy day with some sunset cocktails and an early night.
Amanda: tell us about your political ideology. What major changes would you make to society or to the law if you had unilateral mega-power?
Julie: I would give 2k interval reps to anyone who leaves their car running outside school, divers who never give way, divers with 'child on board' signs who then cut your family up when out on bikes, people who never, ever think of walking anywhere, fat people, lazy people, the mangement of Atlantis who thought it was a good idea to capture a Whale shark...
But most of all I would shoot everyone who gets wound up over little unimportant things.
Amanda: Who would you consider to be your role model? Why?
Julie: I don't really have a role model, but I've just read Dara Torres's book 'Age is just a number'. She is a great role model for 40ish athletes who think their greatest achievements are behind them. She won Olympic gold in swimming in Bejiing at the age of 41!
Also Haile Gebreselassie for his amazing running career, making running fast look so easy and always being happy, friendly and approachable even when races don't go so well.
Amanda: Would you care to share with us an embarrassing or humorous incident from your past?
Julie: No
Amanda: Now back to running. When and why did you take up running? What’s your favourite type of race and your worst type of race?
Julie: I took up running as a way to keep fit when I left Uni having played lots of team sports. I trained up for my 1st 10k which I ran in 48min and just kept going after that.
My favourite type of race is wet, muddy, hilly and I win. My worst is flat, hot road races when I get beaten by kids. Sometimes I wonder why I lack motivation since moving to Dubai.
Amanda: What’s your typical training schedule? Do you do other sports or exercises?
Julie: I usually train 6 days a week and include swimming, yoga and a gym session. I also like to cycle given a safe route and some hills. My running sessions include both ABRaS sessions, DRR and some easy/long runs. In winter I would probably average about 45-50k a week running. In summer I swim more and probably average about 30-35k a week running.
Amanda: And finally, what’s the one essential piece of advice you would give a fellow runner?
Julie: Rest. What easier way could there be to improve your training! But don't take it to far. It doesn't work if you never train. Have you ever noticed that you run great times after a forced break due to illness or injury? Your body needs time to adapt and recover from training.
