Dianne Crisp  

Why do we not attract young female distance runners to Ilford, and how can we change that.

I think we have more ladies running at Ilford than I can ever remember at the present time.
I think this is due to the Wednesday Runners and the good communication of the leaders for the group. Also the leaders always make sure whatever pace you want to run at there is someone to stay with you and the same at the Hainault training sessions. Rob Sargent provides well organised training sessions on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s at the track and other venues with a wide variety of groups to train with. The other running groups are also flourishing but there is only so many runners that one coach can manage.

There are a lack of younger women that want to run long distance. I think there are a lot more other sports activities around now gyms, classes, dancing, jujitsu & cross fit that maybe the younger ladies are taking part in /competing in.  I remember being approached at school athletics competitions by coaches/club representatives asking if I belonged to a club maybe that doesn’t happen now? As most coaches/club representatives are volunteers and are working full time as well.

Maybe sports teachers aren’t referring the students to clubs now as I was? I’ve worked in a high school now for 15 years and I think there have been two occasions when a teacher asked me about my running club.

Back in the day did you have any specific eating plan or did you stick to certain foods when training for a specific event. Where Energy bars or gels used a lot?

No, I just ate what my Mum cooked! Lots of Veggies Potatoes and Meat back then. I remember my dinner being left on a saucepan of water on the stove with a plate over it for the steam to keep it warm if I was late in from training as there were no microwaves around then. I didn’t really eat any fast food but usually Friday was Fish & chip night.

No, there were no energy bars or gels around then either. I do remember going into Ilford Swimming baths to get a packet of sweets after training Tooty Frooties were my favourite.

I see you went to Warren Senior School in Chadwell Heath, as I did (Terry Knightly) and your running started from there so who were your P E teachers there that encouraged you to join Ilford AC.

Cassie Bastock was my PE teacher at Warren who used to run the lunchtime athletics club in the summer. My form Tutor in Year 5 was Mr Avis who was also a PE Teacher so was encouraging.

Did you meet Neil at the club ?

Yes, Neil and his brother Simon started training at Havering AC when they moved to Chadwell Heath in 1978. By coincidence there was a running couple who lived just opposite their house…. Pam & Dave Jones. Neil was soon taken under Dave’s wing to help with his marathon training for the 1983 Gillette London Marathon and then followed down to Ilford track sessions. Where he used to join in with Fred’s group…he used to tag on the back of our ladies group! I did used to travel on the same 66 bus to Newbury Park when I was 16 and working at Nat West as Neil was going to School finishing his A Levels. Neil & I had our first dance at our mutual friend and Ilford club member Alison Hayes wedding on 5^th May 1984 soon followed by our wedding on 26^th January 1985.

As you have been a member all this time Did you ever go the Famous and Legendary Ilford AC Disco’s in the late 70’s that used to be held at Ilford Rugby club in Gordon Road in Ilford ? I went to a few and they were fantastic and wondered what your memories of them were.

Oh Yes, thanks for reminding me about them. Yes, they used to be the highlight of my social calendar. I used to go along sporting flares, platform shoes and stripy tank tops!!!! Obviously the up to date gear at the time  : ) I remember dancing the night away there it was always rammed with club members and their friends.  My brother Paul used to DJ for Ilford sometimes as he had lots of vinyl back then.

Have you still got your Southern Counties and National Medals and are they on display in the Crisp household ?

Yes, I have my southern counties medals still and some cloth badges that were given out for representing Essex and the WAAA. I suppose they were for sewing on your track suit.

What was your worst injury ?

I had a few twisted ankles when I was younger that kept me out for a few weeks at a time but nothing else that I can remember. One where I fell down the bottom couple of stairs at Nat West, probably due to the platform shoes!!!

I have had plantar fasciitis that got sorted with exercises and shoe orthotics. I had two injuries more recently that kept me out for a year each, a back/hip injury and then a knee injury. Many thanks to Sharon Honey for keeping me well and running.

Who is your current greatest running rival ?

Trying to keep my body in one piece to keep on running : ) I think when you compete you get to know the people around you and it’s always good over a season if you can pick off a few of them from other clubs as you get race fit.

Did you gently nudge your 2 girls in to joining the club, or was it something they were always very keen to do?

Not really, although they always used to see us going out running and sometimes joined us. The girls used to do lots of different sports when they were younger, they used to swim, trampoline, basketball and play badminton. They used to run for their school too. It’s only in later years that they joined the club. Jen does run a lot and as a PE Teacher is passing her love of running on to her students. Natalie has got into Cross fit and only runs once a week now.

If you could pick your dream 4 team ladies relay team based on runners at the club you have run with over the years – who would be the other 3 members?

Pam Jones, Kim & Tracey Trunley as they always encouraged and pushed me. Thanks Girls.

Also, Rita Ennis, Jill Plater & I won the southern counties 3 X 800m together so one of my favourites. The  ladies I ran with recently in the Essex Road Relays Pauline Tester  & Alison Sale are another that I need to mention.

I have to end by mentioning an occasion at Chelmsford, Melbourne Fields, Essex Road relays, when we had a ‘full packet of Crisps’ out Natalie led off in the mix, Me in the middle and Jen on the glory leg! With Neil doing his best as always for the men’s team.

Apart from Terry Knightly, who has had the most hairstyles at your time at the club?

No question, definitely Gary Floate : )