'My goal for 2024 is to run a European half marathon'

How many times a week do you like to exercise? 

I try to exercise between five and six times a week, either running first thing in the morning before work or in the evening afterwards, or in the gym.

I aim to run anywhere between 10-15 miles a week, In the winter I run in Carlisle under the street lights, and at the weekends or the summer months I run in the countryside around our farm, near the village of Lochmaben, where there’s a gym I also use.

What sort of exercise do you do?

I run for cardio exercise, with strength work in the gym. I also walk my two dachshunds every day. Walking is great exercise especially in combination with running and the gym. It also provides much needed fresh air and breathing space!

Do you have any fitness goals? 

My goal for 2024 is to run a European half marathon, hopefully in Ibiza in early April. I have run multiple half marathons in the UK and so thought it's about time I gave a sunshine city a go! It takes you through some of the most beautiful areas on the island, and hopefully, being spring it won’t be too hot!

I’m really looking forward to the challenge and I’m putting in the training to make sure I can give it my best.

What’s the most physically challenging thing you have done in your life? 

Without any doubt, running the London Marathon in 2018 was by far the most physically challenging thing I have ever done, not only because it is 26.2 miles, but the day itself was the hottest London Marathon on record! Coming off a training cycle in the Scottish winter I wasn’t really prepared for that!

Preparing for it was physically pretty gruelling. The training took over my life, but I couldn’t let it interfere with my work, which can also be tremendously challenging when we’re holding so many sales per week at certain times of the year. Some evenings I was running a half marathon after work!

How does keeping fit impact on your work? 

Exercise and keeping fit has a very positive impact on my working life. When you spend a lot of time at a desk, regular exercise is really important to keep you not just physically in good shape, but also mentally fit. After being in an office all day, especially in the busiest weeks of the year when there is a constant series of sales and other business demands, I find a run is very much needed for my mental health.

Which sportsperson or fitness expert do you most admire? 

I think that would be Paula Radcliffe. She was an amazing sportswoman, and her drive and mental attitude to be the best in her field are truly inspirational. She was Britain’s best women’s middle distance runner in the late '90s, and then moved on to marathons in the early 2000s and won the London and New York Marathons three times. She also won the Chicago and Helsinki Marathons, and she held the Women’s World Marathon record for 16 years until 2019. On the track she was competing against athletes who were known to be doping, and she has always campaigned to keep the sport clean. Having read her book she is a brilliant role model and shows what can be achieved through grit and determination.

When in your life did you feel at your fittest? 

I’m now 32 and really enjoy exercise, which has not always been the case!  I would say that I am probably the fittest now that I have ever been. I am committed to regular exercise, and I have now made it a key consistent part of my life to help maintain a healthy work/life balance.

On days when you don’t feel like getting out of bed, what motivates you to get up and go? 

Food! I enjoy food and like to strike a balance between a healthy lifestyle  and the food I eat. In fact, a good diet is a fundamental part of keeping fit and healthy, especially if you are taking serious exercise in training for something as demanding as a marathon or half marathon. Eating a proper, balanced diet is just as important to your health and wellbeing as the exercise you take. Everything in moderation including moderation is the line I take!

How do you ensure a work/life balance? 

This can be a challenge in my role, where no two days are ever alike. But on the whole, I try to maintain the boundaries of work and my own time. Obviously, there are very busy times in our business when work clearly comes first, but overall, I make it a priority to keep the balance fair and square.

What’s your top tip for remaining motivated to keep fit?

When it comes to fitness and exercise, I would say determination over motivation wins every time. It’s important not to over-face yourself, but you do need a degree of mental strength to stick to a regular exercise regime, and if you are not prepared to commit consistently, you won’t achieve your goals. This doesn’t just apply to exercise and fitness, it’s my top tip for work as well.

The other really important thing is to try and do exercise you really enjoy. Running or working out in the gym might not suit you, so find an option that does, like walking. We’re so lucky to live in a part of the world where we have endless opportunities to exercise in a unique and beautiful landscape. What could be better than walking the dog on a summer evening in the Great British countryside?