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A/R/tist in the Spotlight - HelenAnne
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Swashbuckler wrote: »I feel like all the questions have been asked!
I usually get a bit philosophical with my questions.
1. Proudest moment in life?
2. Biggest regret?
3. Which Boardsies do you know best?
4. Do you follow any training logs in particular?
5. Has any female runner jumped out at you on Boards that you reckon has big potential?
6. Are you on Strava?
7. Favourite animal?
8. What runners do you wear?
9. What's the best thing about XC?
I'll leave you at that. Haha. 9 is plenty.
They HAD all been asked!! That's what I get for gloating about being nearly through everyone's!
Ahem, I mean, thank you for the nice questions.
Any volunteers to be in the spotlight next week? I have someone in mind, but no reply yet!0 -
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hillsiderunner wrote: »Hello ...
- Bad boy crush (yes, I did nick that from previous spotlights, but we need to know ...
)
How could I forget - Mitchell from 'Being Human' (I seem to have a thing for vampires. But not for any of the 'Twilight' ones).mitchell.jpg0 - Bad boy crush (yes, I did nick that from previous spotlights, but we need to know ...
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Mellow Yellow 26.2 wrote: »Hi, have you ever any serious running related injuries? If so how long were you out and how did you fill the void of not running?
Hi!
I'm skipping ahead to this question because a) it's short and b) I sort of answered it to Eyrie, so I can copy and paste (if that's OK!)
So, I said to Eyrie, re injuries: 'The longest I’ve been off (apart from last year) was 6-weeks with a calf tear in 2014. I’ve had a few chest infections that kept me off for a week too, but generally, I’m fit to run.' That calf tear was from running - it came on gradually, as a recurring tightness, I ignored it, and one day it just got VERY sore suddenly & I could hardly walk. Lesson learned!
As for what I did, I découpaged a side table! I thought découpage would be my new hobby, but then I got back to running and never did it again! (Must get back to it!) 0 -
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3. Favourite type of session?
Thanks
Hello, Huzzah,
Just coming back to this - I did 4 x 1 mile with 90 seconds rest, at approx 4-mile / 5 mile race pace on Tuesday and actually really enjoyed it. I found the longer intervals easier than the 400s. So maybe that's my new favourite session.0 -
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1. Will you do another marathon?
....
1. Will you do another marathon?
I don't think so. I used to say I would if I could get a lot faster first, so that it wouldn't feel like such a slog. For example, if I could run a 1.30 half, then maybe I could do a 3.20 marathon ... but that doesn't look likely, and to be honest I just didn't really enjoy the marathon. Nearly four hours is too long to be trudging along wondering why you're doing it. I'd love to get back to racing half in the next few years, and I've always loved 10-mile races, but the marathon is just too long for me. fair play to all the marathoners though, and I love marshalling DCM.
2. Fave restaurant in Dublin?
Aaagh, another foodie question. I was out with friends last night and one of them was saying I should just pass all the foodie questions to her & she'll answer pretending to be me (she's a good cook, scientific flavour-person etc). I can't think of one! I was in Honest Pizza last night and that was delicious, if that's any help?
3. Ever had the urge going to the other side of the book publishing process? (Sorry if this is a sensitive topic )
No urge, and not sensitive at all. People ask me that a lot. A lot of editors do write as well, (a famous one is Diana Athill, who wrote one of my favourite non-fiction books - 'Stet', about editing and also writes fiction), but I don't. I like someone else telling me the story. I love editing, and some of it has some similarities to writing - like in a substantive edit of fiction, I'd do a lot of thinking and suggesting and questioning about plot / character etc. But I suppose I'm more like the interior decorator than the architect; I like making something someone else has created look its best.
I don't mind writing short factual things - I'd write blog entries for work / book reviews / cover blurbs etc, but that's it. I have never tried to write fiction, I just don't think I have any stories in me; I've never felt the urge.
4. What's your fave running gear? Any particularly nice or preferred tops/shorts/etc.?
It changes depending on what's new and in favour at the moment, but I nearly always wear shorts (except in the really coldest weather) and vests in the summer, long sleeves in winter. My current favourite shoes are Saucony Ride 9 in navy and bronze.
5. Top 3 concerts you've been to (festivals count!).
PJ Harvey in the Olympia years ago, and at Primavera about 7 or 8 years ago (I love her), The Cure at the Point in 93 and at Primavera a few years ago, David Bowie's greatest hits tour in about 1990 in the Point (I couldn't believe I was getting to see him in the flesh), Warpaint at Primavera a few years ago and at Forbidden Fruit this year, Bonnie Prince Billy nearly every time I've seen him, Calexico in Vicar St about 12 years ago. Festivals: I love Primavera in Barcelona, but I think Green man in Wales this year was my best ever festival, just for atmosphere, setting, weather, food, music - Phoebe Bridgers, Cate Le Bon, The Wedding Present, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Whyte Horses and Public Service Broadcasting were all AMAZING!!
Also, years ago, when my friends were in bands (The NPB & El Diablo) all their gigs, especially in Whelans, were so, so fun.
Thanks for this question! Enjoyed thinking about it. Sorry I couldn't cut it to three.
And I know this is 'my' thread, but what are your 3?
6. What keeps you coming back to boards?
I'll think and come back on this
7. Do you have any treasured running paraphernalia, like old race numbers, your first pair of running runners, Raheny 5M plaque etc.? Or at least hang on to any of it? Or is it straight into the bin?
My husband keeps all my race numbers! It is lovely of him. He puts them up on the wall in the garage.
I give medals to my little nephew to play with. The only medals or plaques I want to keep are ones I've won (mainly team ones).
I like my marathon t shirt, and I like the things the race series gives out, like hats and gloves. And I love my Ballycotton and Croppy Boy mugs.
8. Any claims to fame?
I was on Anything Goes when I was 9.
9. iPhone/Android/I don't like smartphones?
Don't mind, have had both. I like to have a camera, otherwise, don't mind.
10. What podcasts are you listening to right now?
DoubleLove (funny Sweet Valley High recap podcast), Hush (funny Buffy recap podcast), Slow Burn (about the Clinton administration) Woman's Hour (love it, so many interesting guests!), The Archers, Fortunately (one of my faves, two really funny women chatting and talking to radio-related guests), Oh no Ross & Carrie (alternative debunkers), My Favourite Murder (& have even seen them live!), This American Life, Marathon talk, Casefile (more true crime), New Yorker fiction podcast.
11. Do you run with music/podcasts/etc?
Sometimes. I often run to work with a podcast as I'm going very slow. Other times, sometimes music, sometimes not. Depends on my mood.
12. What about running do you like the least?
Nothing really. I suppose not running as well as I'd like. or sometimes trying to fit it in - I know runs don't take that long, but sometime with work and after work commitments, it can be hard to co-ordinate when to eat, bringing clothes, changing back into normal clothes before the next thing ... but nothing really!
Thanks for the questions!0 -
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5. Top 3 concerts you've been to (festivals count!).
...
And I know this is 'my' thread, but what are your 3?
I also can't name just three...
R.E.M. at Slane 1995 was the first time seeing my fave band from my youth. Oasis and Belly were pretty good support bands!
My Bloody Valentine are up there most of the times I've seen them, most notably for the first time in The Barrowlands in Glasgow in 2013 and recently in Oakland in July.
Rachel Grimes and Nils Frahm in a small room at the National Concert Hall in 2010 was as low-key and an astonishing a gig can be with just a piano. I bought the sheet music of "Book of Leaves" off Rachel at that gig which is now framed and hanging up in my gaff.
Festivals: Primavera Sound (2003, 2004, 2011, 2013), Nos Primavera Sound (2014, 2016) and All Tomorrow's Parties (2001, 2002, 2009, 2010) - loads of ridiculously good music including Boards of Canada, more MBV, a couple of PJ Harvey gigs, some Mogwai, Pixies, Slowdive, Autolux, Savages, Low, Blur, Deerhunter... Also should mention seeing the likes of Bjork, Sigur Ros, The White Stripes, Cornelius, Sonic Youth at other festivals like Sonar, Electric Picnic, Witnness, etc.
Probably the best festival experience was watching Barcelona win the Champions League in a lovely bar in Gracia, and then heading off to watch Mogwai, DJ Shadow and Animal Collective at Primavera Sound until 5AM or whatever. I missed Fleet Foxes and PJ Harvey because of the football but it was worth it!
Thanks for your answers! Still waiting on Q6 though 0 -
R.E.M. at Slane 1995 was the first time seeing my fave band from my youth. Oasis and Belly were pretty good support bands!
I was there too! Do remember when people started throwing coke cups in the air that they'd lit fire to? I thought we were all going to die :pac:
(Sorry to butt in...only time i get to contribute to a running thread is when its REM related )
Great thread HelenAnne it's been a great read all week.0 -
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I remember Oasis being pissed off that the crowd had been singing along to Girls and Boys a few minutes before they were on
I was there too As I recall it, Liam was more "annoyed" over someone throwing a rock at him :eek: That was a great day. 23 years ago now, jaysis!
EDIT: Sorry for the thread hijack H.0 -
Wubble Wubble wrote: »I remember Oasis being pissed off that the crowd had been singing along to Girls and Boys a few minutes before they were on
I was there too As I recall it, Liam was more "annoyed" over someone throwing a rock at him :eek: That was a great day. 23 years ago now, jaysis!
EDIT: Sorry for the thread hijack H.
Who are Oasis?
JOKE
HelenAnne really enjoyed your answers, I would have liked to ask Qs but all the good ones were already taken :P
I have noted the Sweet Valley High podcast however, sounds right up my street!0 -
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Hannibal_Smith wrote: »I was there too! Do remember when people started throwing coke cups in the air that they'd lit fire to? I thought we were all going to die :pac:
(Sorry to butt in...only time i get to contribute to a running thread is when its REM related )
Great thread HelenAnne it's been a great read all week.
In answer to all you REM in 1995 people - I wasn't at that one, but I have seen REM loads of times. I really like them, and my husband and sister are HUGE fans, so the three of us used to go to their gigs a lot. I think my favourite was in the Olympia 12 years ago or so.
Also, while I'm not an Oasis fan, my Oasis claim-to-fame is that I was there when they split up! We'd got free tickets to Rock en Seine outside Paris as my sister-in-law's brother was in a band and knew Oasis. I really wanted to see Smog (who was great!) at the festival, but I thought I should at least go and watch Oasis, out of gratitude for the tickets. Before Oasis came on we watched Madness while eating our dinner, and they were fab - really full of energy and hits I remembered from my childhood.
So, we trudged over to watch Oasis, and we were waiting ages, and then this voiceover came on saying 'O-a-seees, c'est fini'. And we thought it was a joke. And then the voice came on again and said the same thing in English, and we all STILL thought it was a joke! But then about five minutes later a printed announcement went up on a big screen telling us how to get our money back, so it began to dawn on us that they really weren't coming on! And they had split up!
So the crowd started getting restive, and it was really packed, so what did Rock en Seine do - they got poor old Madness, who presumably were having a rest somewhere, and made them put back on their pink suits and trapeze harnesses and come out and play another set! And they were fab AGAIN! They won over a disgruntled crowd of Oasis-lovers and got everyone dancing by the end.
So now whenever I hear Madness mentioned I think what fantastic old 'show-must-go-on' troupers they are - two long sets almost back to back, playing the saxophone while being hoisted up on a wire etc, at their age! - compared to sulky spoilt-baby Liam Gallagher who wouldn't come on stage TO DO HIS JOB because of a brawl with his brother.
Anyway, the moral of the story is, I now love Madness! 0 -
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Ok well about parkrun tourism; do you make a full weekend of it going to places pretty far from Dublin? I'd love to do more parkrun tourism myself but sometimes it's hard to justify a long drive for 5k and a coffee
Weirdest running conversation you've ever had?
Real books vs audiobooks vs Kindle?I'll ask you one too: unlike some runners on boards, you raced shorter road races (like 5k / 10k) before training for a marathon (I know some new runners start into marathon training straight away). Now that you've done a marathon, which distances would you like to focus on? Doing more marathons / longer races, or going back to race the shorter distances?
You really know how to turn it around on a person! I am probably going to get back to 5 and 10k races in the new year, right now I'm thinking I'll set the Great Ireland Run as a target. That said, some really interesting chat on here (and I think in Swashbuckler's log?) about racing more as good practice, and then not leaving that one race as the be-all and end-all. So, I might have a think about that for the new year, becoming a race junkie. After that, I could see myself doing another Autumn marathon next year to be honest (unless DCM is truly traumatic)0 -
I also can't name just three...
R.E.M. at Slane 1995 was the first time seeing my fave band from my youth. Oasis and Belly were pretty good support bands!
My Bloody Valentine are up there most of the times I've seen them, most notably for the first time in The Barrowlands in Glasgow in 2013 and recently in Oakland in July.
Rachel Grimes and Nils Frahm in a small room at the National Concert Hall in 2010 was as low-key and an astonishing a gig can be with just a piano. I bought the sheet music of "Book of Leaves" off Rachel at that gig which is now framed and hanging up in my gaff.
Festivals: Primavera Sound (2003, 2004, 2011, 2013), Nos Primavera Sound (2014, 2016) and All Tomorrow's Parties (2001, 2002, 2009, 2010) - loads of ridiculously good music including Boards of Canada, more MBV, a couple of PJ Harvey gigs, some Mogwai, Pixies, Slowdive, Autolux, Savages, Low, Blur, Deerhunter... Also should mention seeing the likes of Bjork, Sigur Ros, The White Stripes, Cornelius, Sonic Youth at other festivals like Sonar, Electric Picnic, Witnness, etc.
Probably the best festival experience was watching Barcelona win the Champions League in a lovely bar in Gracia, and then heading off to watch Mogwai, DJ Shadow and Animal Collective at Primavera Sound until 5AM or whatever. I missed Fleet Foxes and PJ Harvey because of the football but it was worth it!
Thanks for your answers! Still waiting on Q6 though
Hey! you did WAY more than three! I thought I was bad! But they all sound great! I was at that Champions League year Primavera. I did not go to the football, and PJ Harvey was so amazing - I remember thinking how brilliant she was at holding a crowd as even people coming back from watching the match fell really silent and watched her when they got to the stage.
Another thing that I really loved (& briefly mentioned above) was the PSB show at Green Man this year. Their latest album 'Every Valley' is all about Wales, and coal (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Every_Valley), so it was really amazing hearing the songs and watching the visuals IN Wales. But then at the end of their set, these miners lanterns were lowered down from the roof, and a miners' male voice choir, The Beaufort Male Choir, came on and sang! It was spine tingling! Just the setting, and after watching all the visuals about mining / strikes etc, it was so amazing!0 -
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Ok well about parkrun tourism; do you make a full weekend of it going to places pretty far from Dublin? I'd love to do more parkrun tourism myself but sometimes it's hard to justify a long drive for 5k and a coffee
Weirdest running conversation you've ever had?
Real books vs audiobooks vs Kindle?
You really know how to turn it around on a person! I am probably going to get back to 5 and 10k races in the new year, right now I'm thinking I'll set the Great Ireland Run as a target. That said, some really interesting chat on here (and I think in Swashbuckler's log?) about racing more as good practice, and then not leaving that one race as the be-all and end-all. So, I might have a think about that for the new year, becoming a race junkie. After that, I could see myself doing another Autumn marathon next year to be honest (unless DCM is truly traumatic)
Thank you!!
Parkrun tourism: I'm going to call in my husband, eoinín, to answer this one too, as he's the really committed parkrun tourist - he'll get up at 5am to drive to Cork & back for a parkrun, but he a) likes collecting things b) is very committed to parkrun and c) is very sociable and loves meeting RDs etc.
I'm a bit lazier - if there's a nice weekend away I'll definitely enthusiastically do parkrun tourism. I loved having weekends away for Inch parkrun, and Victoria park and Dunfanaghy and Portrush. As soon as I hear 'weekend' I'm in! I'll also do ones within an hour or so of Dublin. The longest on-the-day drive I've done for parkrun is to Castlerea.
Running conversations: I can't remember any weird ones. However, I am such a chatter, and so little seems to be off-limits for me to chat about, that quite possibly other people listening in might think my conversations were weird. In life, generally, I spend most of my time trying to curb myself so that I don't a) talk all the time and give no one else time to talk and b) tell people so much about myself (viz. this whole thread) that they are weirded out by me. The struggle is real
Real books v kindle: well, maybe because I work in publishing, I kind of think of the content of a book as a 'real book - that (for me) is where all the work goes in. So I'm really happy to read books on my kindle, especially for holidays / serieses where I want the next book AT ONCE etc. But on the other hand, I do love cover finishes etc (when we were in Powells Books in Portland I was stroking the covers and forcing Eoin to admire super-matt covers and debossed type etc etc) so I also love paper books. And paper books never run out of batteries or get a cracked screen or distract you with facebook notifications while you're reading... so I'd say I like to have both and would be sorry if I had to choose (I would probably choose paper if I had to, as they are more reliable).
I never really listen to audiobooks. Though I do LOVE the audiobooks of Alan Partridge's autobiographies, read by himself. I could listen to them on repeat, and I'm laughing even thinking of them now.
Thanks for your 'fave distance' reply. I agree that there's a lot to be said for racing regularly.0 -
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3. You have perfected the thousand-yard stare during races... you always look in the zone at the business end of a race... is that when you're talking to yourself?
4. Do you have a running nemesis? Someone you would really love to beat? (You don't have to name names)
5. Have you set any running goals or targets for the near future? What are they?
Thanks!
And I'm BACK, Anna!
3. 1,000 yard stare: Have I?? What do I look like at the end of races? If It's the very end, like the last 800m or whatever, I'm probably counting to 30 in my head - promising myself (BUT IT'S A LIE TO MYSELF!!) that I can slow down after 30 seconds and / or trying to detach my brain from my body and run THROUGH the finish line. Definitely taking it over seriously!
4. Nemeses: There are loads of people I like to beat, but it changes depending on where they and I are, fitness wise. And I didn't want to beat them, to beat THEM (as people), it's more that I tend to measure myself against others and think 'If I can stay with / pass him or her, I'm doing well.'
I did have a nemesis once (& I'm not going to tell you anything about them that could identify them). They didn't know they were my nemesis, but we'd had words once, at a running event, and I somewhat recklessly threw down a running-related challenge as a comeback. And then for a few years I lived in fear of being humbled & shown up as all talk by being beaten by them :pac:. All in the past now!
More recently, I had a very brief nemesis, I was slightly flagging in a parkrun when a guy got ahead of me by cutting a corner HUGELY - like I'd say he cut 50-100 metres. So that spurred me on to speed up and catch and pass him (another man I passed on my way to passing the cheater said 'Go on, get him!' so we were obviously all thinking the same!)
(This whole answer is casting me in an unpleasant overly-competitive light, sorry readers!)
5. Goals or targets: I want to up my mileage, run a strong 10-mile race in November (ie don't die on the hills, don't slow too much as the miles go on), and I'd love to break 20 minutes for 5k in 2018. But if I didn't I'll keep trying in 2019.
I'd also like to be able to do a pull up (if tiny Alison Brie (from 'G.L.O.W.' can do it, why can't I?
Thank you!0 -
Swashbuckler wrote: »I feel like all the questions have been asked!
I usually get a bit philosophical with my questions.
1. Proudest moment in life?
2. Biggest regret?
3. Which Boardsies do you know best?
4. Do you follow any training logs in particular?
5. Has any female runner jumped out at you on Boards that you reckon has big potential?
6. Are you on Strava?
7. Favourite animal?
8. What runners do you wear?
9. What's the best thing about XC?
I'll leave you at that. Haha. 9 is plenty.
Phew! Last round of questions. Thanks for asking them.
I'm skipping 1 & 2 (sorry!) - I don't have a proudest moment - I have no kids and no great achievements, so my proudest moments are much more mutable than for people who can say 'it was the day I saved an old lady from a fire' or 'the day my triplets were born' - I just have random small proud moments from time to time, I suppose. I can't think of a big regret, and I'd rather not try to think of one in case it plunges me into despair
3. Which Boardsies do you know best?
My husband is on the running forums, and my two best IRL pals are here too, but rarely post. otherwise, I think I know MarthaStew & Killerz the best. I know Sacksian from off boards, through friends, and I know Murph, aquinn, annapr, Laura_ac, DubGal from races / parkrun etc. I know Testosterscone & RayCun & Singer to say hi to at races etc. A few of my club mates post here too.
4. Do you follow any training logs in particular?
I used to read MarthaStew, ClaraLara, Ososlo/Ultrawoman, TFGR (I really liked the logs that were a bit more descriptive about the runs they did etc) all the time. Now that they're not really posting, I really just read Testosterscone, and sometimes RayCun. Other people's I just dip into if I know they've done a race, because I like reading race reports. I must get into a few more though. Any recommendations?
5. Has any female runner jumped out at you on Boards that you reckon has big potential?
See above - I don't read the logs enough! Obviously DubGal & MarthaStew are fantastic runners, and ClaraLara & Seres were too when they were on boards. Ultrawoman had a fascinating journey to success as well, and I liked following BungyGirls track training.
6. Are you on Strava?
No
7. Favourite animal?
For a pet, cat or whippet. In the wild - I really, really love birds, and I think donkeys are super-cute, and I saw chipmunks in the wild in America and was very taken with them. Basically, I love most animals that won't eat me (I was afraid of bears and cougars in America).
8. What runners do you wear?
Saucony Ride, Brooks Ghost, Brooks Launch, New Balance 1400
9. What's the best thing about XC?
The team, watching the men after we've finished, putting on dry shoes after, eating cake after.
Thank you!
*****
And that's it, folks!! Ii'll have a new person for you on Sunday or Monday.
Thanks, aquinn, for asking me. Thanks for all the questions. Sorry my answers were SO LONG!! (& lacking in concrete training advice). I hope you've all learned something from this thread -- that Madness are WAY better than Oasis!:):) 0 -
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