Sporting spotlight: Isobel Gowers

Name: Isobel Gowers

Staff, student, or alumni: Staff

Job title: Academic Lead: Active Inclusive Learning

Faculty/Service: Anglia Learning and Teaching

In your own words, tell us about your sporting achievement or upcoming challenge.

I started running seriously in 2017. I had a go at a triathlon – a super sprint, so it was 200m swimming, 12 km cycling, and 3 km running.

I also volunteered at the World Athletics Championships in London that year and this is what motivated to run more regularly. So, I joined a local running club (Springfield Striders) and I haven't looked back.

Running with a club was great as it gave me some accountability, I would go to club nights when I wouldn't have gone running on my own. It is also provided more targeted training. Within three months I had improved my 10 km personal best from over an hour, to 51 minutes.

When I joined the club I didn't think I would ever want to run further than 10km, but things changed. I ran my first marathon in 2019 and I have now completed five road marathons and several on the trails.

I have also done two Half Ironman distance triathlons (1.2 miles swimming, 56 miles cycling and 13.1 miles running). I also completed my Leader in Running Fitness so I can take groups out, and I now am one of the coaching team at Springfield Striders.

This year I decided to challenge myself by completing a 50 mile race in the Peak District!

How did it go?

On 31 August I ran (well, technically I walked a third of it) my first 50 mile ultramarathon. It took me 12 hours and 29 minutes and the last hour I was running with a head torch.

The hills of the Peak District helped with the pacing. I knew that if I didn't walk up the hills I wouldn't make it to the end. I found part of the afternoon difficult, because it was quite warm, but not once did I doubt I would make it to the end.

I loved every minute of it, and I have already entered the Lakeland 50 (yes, 50 miles in the Lake District) next year!

What would you say to someone to inspire them to follow in your sporty footsteps?

Join a club or running group. It is great to share ideas and support and just makes it easier to get out.

If you are in Chelmsford, why not come along and run with us on a Tuesday after work? We meet at 5.15pm outside The Old Factory gym. It is suitable for all abilities and we tailor what we do to meet the needs of the group so no-one is too slow or too fast.

Set yourself a challenge, it doesn't have to be to run 50 miles, it could be to run a sub-30-minute Parkrun, to run a half marathon, to run in a trail race. There is a great sense of achievement when you have completed a challenge or goal you have set yourself.