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Raise Your Game: Why running?

Mick McGeoch: It's very natural and it's something I loved doing from a very young age. When I was growing up there were three other guys in the street of a similar age. We were always challenging each other at different sports and running was always the thing I was best at. It progressed from there really.

When I went to comprehensive school I was always encouraged to play rugby. I never took too kindly to being thumped by bigger lads. To me it wasn't what sport was about. I thought 'If I'm going to be in pain, I want to be the person that's inflicting the pain - I want control over my pain, I don't want somebody imposing it upon me.' Running is an individual game, which suits my character more than a team game.

The PE department of my local school recognised that I had some talent for running, and they'd allow me to go for a run when other people were playing rugby or football. I then repaid them by competing in competitions for the school.

It's a massive stress reliever and it's hugely addictive. You feel so much better after you've been for a run. The addictive qualities are good but they have to be treated with a little bit of caution. I've been very fortunate in the sense that I've had relatively few injuries in my career. The problem with that is that you become incredibly dependent on that physical outlet. If you get injured it's incredibly difficult to substitute that feeling.

RYG: What does it take to become a distance runner?

MM: Enjoyment is essential with any activity. If you don't enjoy something, if you feel it's painful and that becomes the predominant factor, you're not going to do it. Obviously you need some kind of natural ability and your personal character has also got a lot to do with it.

RYG: When it's cold and raining how do you motivate yourself to get out and go for a run?

MM: Sometimes, before you go for a run, you think 'I don't really want to go.' Sometimes it's pouring down with rain and you'd rather be out with your mates, but invariably, when I come in from a run, I'm really glad I went. You only need to do half an hour and afterwards you think to yourself 'That was time really well spent.'

RYG: What have been the highlights of your running career?

MM: I've run 60 marathons in total, and they've all been highlights. I've run the London marathon 24 times. Running has also given me the opportunity to travel. In 1991 I was given the opportunity to travel to Puna in India. It's about 100 miles inland from Bombay. That was a huge challenge. I flew in on the Thursday and ran the race on the Sunday at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. It was 85 degrees there and there was snow on the ground in this country. That was interesting to say the least.

One of my most satisfying races was in 1997. I ran in the British Veterans' 5000m Championships up in Blackpool and I won on the last lap in a sprint with 6 other athletes. It was significant for me because I don't regard myself as being a particularly quick runner. 5000m is a distance that's a lot shorter than my optimum, so to win a British title, which I had never expected, was great.

Winning is not something that comes around too often. When you get older there's less and less chance of it happening. That was really special for me.

RYG: And the lowlights?

MM: I would say that competing is always positive even if it's a disappointment. Whenever I've not run as well as I'd hoped I'd say that was a lowlight. On the few occasions when I've dropped out of a race that's always a lowlight because you've quit.

I've represented Britain in two 100km races, but I only finished one of them. To quit a race wearing my national vest was a big disappointment. It's all about moving on from that and learning lessons. Sport is like life. You enjoy the good moments when they come and, when you do have a negative moment, you accept it.

Running, like any other sport or competition, is an opportunity to learn. If you make a mistake, learn from it and move on.

RYG: Is there a team element to running?

MM: Definitely. The thing that I like most about my running club is it doesn't matter where you come from. You can be the chief executive of a multinational company or you can be somebody that's down on their luck - it doesn't matter. It's a huge leveller. To us, you're just a runner. People know who the faster runners are, but that doesn't matter, because the effort is the same.

RYG: Why should more people get involved in sport?

MM: Life is competitive, whatever you do. I think people need to be aware of competition, and learn to live with it. It doesn't matter whether it's sport, work or whatever they do in life, there'll always be competition.

Just being with other people is an education in itself. The opportunity to travel is great for young people. Another thing that's important is the health aspect. We're seeing more and more kids who are obese, so it's a healthy outlet for them.

We see so many examples of children lacking respect and problems with antisocial behaviour. By taking part in an activity where they're having to negotiate with other people from older age groups, running will help to put them on the right track.

RYG: You're running a race, every fibre and muscle in your body is telling you to stop, how do you motivate yourself to keep going?

MM: In the case of the marathon, every muscle and sinew is absolutely killing at the 20 mile point. There are little tricks that you can play to keep yourself going. Personal performance is one. If you're thinking 'I've got to beat such and such a time' that can help to keep you going. There may be other people around you, so you think to yourself 'I'm not going to have so and so beat me.'

One of the things I often say to myself is 'There's 10 minutes to go until my first drink.' When you're parched and gasping for a drink, and you're feeling terrible, think of your favourite drink, and that can be a huge incentive to keep going. Once you finish a race it's also an opportunity to meet all your mates and share your stories from the day.

RYG: What advice would you give to a young person that wants to make it in the world of distance running?

MM: Just enjoy it. Get a feeling for it to start with. 'Follow your dreams' is very good advice. A lot of people look back when they're older and say 'I could've.' People say to me 'You do a bit of running, I used to do a bit of running at school and I could've done this.' I say 'Well yes, but you didn't.' Whatever it is that you want to do, follow your dream.

When I was 13-years-old someone bought me the Guinness Book of Records. I found that the world record at that time for running non-stop was 152 miles. I wrote into the Guinness Book of Records and said 'I'd like to have a go at beating that record.' I had a really nice letter back from Norris McWhirter, the editor. He said, 'Hang on a sec, you're only 13, but I don't want to pour cold water on your aspirations, keep it going and you never know what you might achieve.' I've still got that letter.

I'd say 'Go for it, enjoy it and just do your best.' We can't all be world beaters, and you can't always have the body of an Olympic champion, but you can have the mind of an Olympic champion, by doing your best.