Runner Profile: Stephen Munnings

Thanks for the nomination Haydn!

I thought being a relative newbie I’d have a while to get my running story in order!

Where do I start…

I was born in Felixstowe, and apart from a few years living in Stoke-on-Trent, Felixstowe has been my home! Well, I now live in Falkenham. But that’s close enough as far as migrations go….

Being someone who at 18 said I’d never move back… I’m now 42 and bringing up my family here with my wonderful wife Claire. There’s not many places I think are better to do so.

I have 2 girls Ada (6) and Edith (4) I’m hoping to convince them both to get down to junior parkrun… At the moment they are proving stubborn to convince…. they obviously get that from their mum…😉

My first taste of competitive running was at 14 when I represented Deben High in the 100m sprint and the 4 × 100 relay…. Both of which events saw me come in a highly respectable…… Last. It’s the taking part that counts right? Being built like a strong bean, I think they hoped the wind would blow me around the course!

That experience may have had a sub conscious effect on me as I didn’t do any more running for about 12 years!

I’ve always been a keen drummer and during that 12 years I was in various bands.

When I lived in Stoke I was in a ska-punk band playing across pubs and clubs in the midlands from Liverpool and Manchester all the way across to Nottingham and Derby and of course, Stoke.

After I moved back to Suffolk, I was in another band that was signed to a small label that subsidised a tour playing in London, Brighton, Bristol, Liverpool, Chelmsford and of course Ipswich!

Clearly, I never made Wembley – (not yet anyway!!!) but they were great years and a lot of fun.

There was not really enough time for running, in between starting a career in publishing & meeting Claire. But I like to think playing the drums for 2hrs three times a week kept we relatively fit.

I started running again in my late twenties with a few entries each year into some races. The most notable was the Whole Hog which I did three years in a row. It was a great race!

Two out of the three years I did it as part of a team. The year I raced in an all mens team I think we placed fourth. Not too bad…. until you realise the guys from the army and navy were entering teams that were running in gas masks to restrict their air flow….I barely caught them!!

I started getting more serious about my running and ran my first marathon for St Elizabeth hospice in 2012. It was soon after we had lost my dad through a short battle with cancer. They contacted me as they had a drop out from London due to injury. I had got to know the nurses and doctors quite well and they remembered I was a runner…. so, 6 weeks out from the marathon, I thought I’d throw myself in and see where I land. I was running, but nothing close to a marathon. I got round in 3:52. Not a bad start to my running career.

It was here I found what a great focus for the head running was. It was a tough time in which running gave me some good head space.

That was 12 years ago and I haven’t stopped running since. Over the last two years has seen me get out on the trails and road much more… (it has nothing to do with the kids…. Promise). I really enjoy finding new routes and making the runs up as you go along.

Joining FRR

I’m a relative newbie at FRR having only been here for two years…

I remember Fast Tony recommending I join after a conversation at a trail run in Wantisden. I was flatlining in my times and he mentioned the structure of the Tuesdays would really help.
He wasn’t wrong, since then I’ve pulled a lot of PB’s and found myself part of a fantastic community who are full of support for each other.

I run for as much the mental side of what fitness gives as well as the health benefits. There is a great sense of freedom when putting the trainers on and running out of your front door. I think running is such an accessible sport that has a great community around it.

I’m lucky enough to get to travel for work and packing the trainers is always the first thing I do. A few pics of my favourite runs below:

Running is the easiest sport to take with you. Everywhere I have gone I have always managed to start a conversation with another runner or in the case of the Melbourne park run… Everyone gets invited for coffee afterwards and they make it a big social for newbies and longtime friends to meet and greet.

So that’s me – since I’ve started with FRR I’ve enjoyed running even more. I’m really glad I can give back to the club by being a coach.

Finally, being that I work in publishing, I thought I’d also share two of my favourite books about running:

• Once a runner – about a varsity runner in 1970s America trying to beat the 4 minute mile.
• Born to run – about a Mexican running tribe that run insane ultras for fun!

Next month’s nominee

For the next running profile its over to David Masters