Member profile 💚💚💚
This week it is none other than.......
Lynsey “the destroyer of hills” Prentice
1. Please Briefly introduce yourself.
Hello all; my name is Lynsey and I joined the Trotters in early 2014.
I usually run in C or D groups (although I do recall getting to B one or two Wednesday nights and suffering for days!)
I have also been serving on the committee since about 2017 and as one of the two 'Social Sisters' (alongside Vicki) who have been organising social events / Christmas parties / award evenings and quiz nights for you and your other halves to attend.
We obviously missed them in 2020, but hoping that restrictions ease for us to bring back the good BRC knees ups!
2. What events if any do you have coming up?
None. If I am honest, I am not very good at races, I prefer the social training runs. BUT I can be found at lots of races on the side line supporting the Green BRC Army and usually wearing a yellow marshal vest!
I am the club's chief marshal, so it's my job to make sure the events run smoothly with regard to marshal's lining the route for obvious runner direction and safety, but also for all those well-deserved cheers and encouragement!
3. What does running mean to you?
I began running when my mum persuaded me to join, telling me I was 'not bad at it at school'... and so I did. When my mum was ill, and then when we lost her, running was my saviour. I obviously had amazing family and friends for the cuddles and the tears, but I had running to help me clear my head, and keep me sane in and in control. It has also meant I have been able to run two London marathons, Brentwood Half Marathon's, and many Royal Park Half Marathons in memory of my lovely mum and as an amazing way to raise funds in excess of £25k for charities who helped us so much - the Royal Marsden and of course, The St Francis Hospice.
4. What is your best BRC memory?
Mmmm so many, could it be Sunday morning training runs with (little) Steve and Alexa and getting lost in the Navestock countryside, could it be the Sunday morning marathon training run with Phil Olsen dressed as a chef for his World Record attempt? It could be trying to act so cool in front of (my now other half) Jar as we ran up the Ongar Road and crashing into a parked van's wing mirror (hard enough to cut my knuckle but styling it out!), could it be seeing Ken Bench outlasting all the other runners on the Christmas party dance floor, the belly laughs at the Royal Parks half with Jo Day and her famous bra. The after training beers in the café with Chris and Marc, the after marathon training Guinness breakfasts with the Steve's and Andy, could it be being up the ladder with a megaphone at the water station at the London Marathon as the designated 'Trotter Spotter' annoying everyone with 'give us a wave Dave' or maybe scrubbing the Thorndon toilets after the BRC cross country...!
So many treasured memories and smiles - thank you BRC!
5. Proudest running moment?
Crossing the line of my first London Marathon sub 4 hours (only just and mainly because Andy had caught me up and dragged me across the line) but that feeling on that medal around my neck that I'd earned, that I'd done it - after months of hard graft training I'd done it... I was blistered and sore but I'd done it and all in memory of my mum.
6. Best bit of running advice you could give or have been given.
Definitely do what you enjoy, if that’s the social training runs, make sure you do plenty of those, if that’s the crazy ultra's then give them a go... just never stop enjoying it - cos when you do, that’s time to take up darts!
Remember why you run, and appreciate that you can run... run for those who can't but would love to and inspire those non-runners to start running... run hard, but run happy!
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