Runner Profile – Gill Mellor
Thank you to Hilly, who befriended me when I first started coming to club night. Being new to running & never having been a member of any sports club, let alone a running club, felt quite daunting, so really appreciated a friendly face to run & chat with. A shout out to Hilly, who hardly missed any sessions despite recently having cancer treatment. I’ve stopped & started a bit being initially only a fair weather runner (joining a gym instead), but now I’m a little more hardy & a regular attendee, even throughout the winter. I’ve met a lovely group of people (who motivate me to run more), & feel fortunate to be a part of the Felixstowe Road Runners.
My family moved to Felixstowe in 1975. I went to the local high school & was not a fan of sports, dreading sports day each year. Not only did I come from a very un-sporty family, I found the PE teachers of the day to be fairly disparaging & sarcastic to the less naturally gifted of us at traditional sports. I only managed the occasional cross country at school through a determination to finish and because, like many, I didn’t stop to chat and have a smoke along the way! I left Felixstowe to go to college thinking I would never return to live here, but after studying, travelling & living in London I returned in the early 90’s, met my partner Adrian & have been here ever since (bar our year of travelling). Adrian is the complete opposite to me; living & breathing sport from an early age. He’s probably tried most sports & been a member of most of the sports clubs locally, running 6 marathons, some triathlons & an iron man. He’s now restricted (due to his knee) to golf, swimming & cycling and can often be seen doing crazy cycles across the country! We have 2 daughters who have both got into running in their 20’s. I am never happier or prouder than running parkrun with both of them – although not actually alongside as they are way too fast! Adrian is also still a part of this, often marshalling parkrun & has completed over 100 of them. Having the family altogether doesn’t happen that often as my eldest lives in Sydney (hence my Australian runs), the other in London. Both my daughters are very active and continue to inspire me to do more & to keep healthy & fit, incorporating a bit of strength training & yoga into my fitness regime.
Everyone’s running journey is different & that’s the beauty of running. To be able to run whenever & however – it can be with people or on your own & practically anywhere. I didn’t start running until in my 50’s, starting with Parkrun in 2018. I realised that I could actually run for 5k without stopping & was taken aback at how it felt to run with other people in such a community event & how much better it made me feel (mentally) afterwards. I hope to clock up my 250th Parkrun later this year. I don’t think I have aspirations to run a marathon (although have such respect for those who do, as the training & commitment involved seems immense). I turn 60 next year & my main aim with running is to keep fit & healthy for many years to come.
I have, to date, only done a few events: Kirton 5 mile, Aldeburgh 10k & the Coastal 10 mile, but who knows what the future holds. I do spend a fair amount of time walking our Springer Spaniel Bessie which, when not working, is the first activity of the day, usually along the ever changing shingle beach near Felixstowe Golf club.
I haven’t tried running with Bessie as she’s very strong, tends to zig zag a lot, and likes to stop suddenly!
As you can see my running journey is fairly short. I would like to nominate Ben Jackson for the next runner profile. One of our younger club members who has clocked up more running in 21years than I have in nearly 60!
