The Roz Purcell Blog - Nerves, 100km Cycles and Motor Racing!
This week we're talking to Rozanna about training rituals, pre-race nerves and Jenson Button... Read on!
RnR: So Roz, Do you have a set training schedule. What is your typical week like?
Roz: I always set out what kind of training I’m going to do in the morning. Sometimes I get a little bit over exaggerated and set the bar too high. I suppose I’m a little bit competitive like that. Was wrecked after this morning – took me about a half an hour to get changed!
RnR: Do you have any training partners?
Roz: I go out a lot with Derry McVeigh who owns Silver Hatch Sports. He does a 10k in a mean 36 minutes so he puts me through me paces! I also have a swimming coach named Carol Walsh. I work with her out in Westwood in Clontarf. And my family are really into fitness so I’m lucky that any time I go home, I get woken up at 8am with a knock on the door and someone saying: “We’re going on a 100k cycle if you want to come?!” So there’s no rest for us at all...
RnR: Any must haves when you’re running?
Roz: My one thing gadget wise is my iPod. I cannot run without it. Sometimes I get out on runs and the battery would go – I’d literally just stop and walk home.
RnR: What about any little rituals, habits or superstitions?
Roz: When It comes to running I have to do it first thing. I also have to do it on an empty stomach. I’ve gone running late in the day and I can’t run if I’m in any way full. When you’re in Dublin that can mean getting up at 5am in the morning - you don’t to be want out running in the traffic and stopping every second.
RnR: Who are the people in your life, famous or otherwise who you respect or take advice from in your training?
Roz: I’ve a lot of respect for the Formula 1 drivers. I know it sounds strange but they’re some of the fittest athletes in the world. They have to be so strong for driving. I’d follow Fernando Alonso on twitter. He tweets the kind of exercise he does all the time and it’s crazy. I’d go training in Club La Santa quite a lot too and Jenson Button goes there. He’s actually one of the top tri-athletes in the UK and no one even knows that. People think they just sit in the car but they do so much more.
RnR: What do you like about running?
Roz: It’s therapeutic I guess. You have the time where no one is at you and you have all your thoughts to yourself. It’s like sitting on the loo, because it’s where you get all your great ideas!
RnR: What don’t you like about running?
Roz: Injuries. I always say a runner is one of two things – recovering from injury or about to get injured. So that is the downfall. Even though I’m only 22 I’ve had so many already.
RnR: If you could pick ANY band to play for you at the finish line concert, who would it be?
Roz: I think it would be....Muse.
RnR: How do you feel about Irish Summers in general?
Roz: We don’t really have them.
RnR: What do you do to convince yourself to get out there even if you don’t feel like it?
Roz: I actually don’t really mind running in the rain. To be honest with you, if I say ‘I’m going to go for a run tomorrow’ - no matter what I’ll just do it. It’s just mind over matter.
RnR: Nerves or excitement. Which is the greater feeling with 6 weeks to go?
Roz: Nerves. But I just think you have to embrace the nerves. Nerves are such a good feeling.
RnR: What would you say to someone who has doubts about signing up for this event because they’re nervous?
Roz: I’m planning on stopping every mile to take a few twit pics and listen to the bands. So you could just run for 10 minutes and then take a nap. No, wait! Not a nap! Just a break so you could go again. You’d be grand to do it that way.
RnR: Sounds like a plan! Can't wait to see the live action photography efforts from you and the other runners on August 5th!
