Alison Sale
Name: Alison Sale
Born: 15th July 1965
Date Joined: May 2018
Personal Bests:
5K – 23:44 (at Hog Hill of all places!)
5M – 42.46
10K – 54:43
10M – 92:00
Half Marathon – 2:06:55
First Club Race: Witham MayDay 10 Mile in May 2018 – I`d just joined but hadn`t got my club vest yet, so am the odd one out in the photo.
Favourite Race: I love all the elvis races, but Tiptree is another favourite & I really enjoyed the Stebbing 10
Notable Performances: Not sure I`ve had any, but I was very pleased to complete the Essex Champs 20 Mile last March as it was the furthest I`d ever run.
Biggest Disappointment: As with most people, my biggest disappointment was most of 2020 & all the cancelled races & get togethers! although on the plus side WFH has given me the opportunity to run more regularly & find some interesting local routes, so my running & times have actually improved through lockdown (every cloud…)
Typical Weeks Training: I don’t really have a training plan, but I run 5 days a week & try to include 1 longish run & a couple of muddy trails or hills, I also do a regular yoga class.
Favourite Sessions: Harriers (my first introduction to IAC)
Favourite race distance: 5K or 5 mile or 10K
Favourite event – I love Cross Country, really enjoyed the mudfest at Parliament Hill last year.
Who is the most Famous Athlete you Trained with or would like to train with: Is Frieda famous yet?
How would you improve the sport: include athletics in the school curriculum, it’s such an accessible, low cost sport, everyone should have the opportunity to give it a go
Favourite Athlete or Sportsman: having met him at the St.Francis charity run in 2019 I have to say Trevo Brooking – what a gent!
Best Country Visited: We`ve had some lovely holidays in Greece – the tiny islands are just gorgeous & you can`t beat a bit of snorkelling followed by a cold beer
Favourite Food & Drink : Anything Italian & a nice drop of red wine
Favourite TV Shows: I like nature programmes, but also like Gavin & Stacey, Ghosts & sewing bee & Dr Who will always be a favourite
Last Film Seen : At the cinema it was probably Little women, but that seems ages ago, most recent on TV was The Blue Lamp an old 1949 film starring Jack Warner & Dirk Bogarde – I love the old British films especially the Ealing studios films
Last Book Read: Clock without hands by Carson McCullers
Favourite Band Singer: Tracey Thorn, Eels, Smoke Fairies, Kirsty McColl, Boo Hewerdine
Last Album Bought or Downloaded Tracey Thorn – `Record`
Last Concert Attended: Smoke Fairies at Hoxton Hall (an old music hall in Shoreditch – tiny but great venue)
Any Pets: a Tabby cat called Katya & an ex-racing greyhound called Tess who compete for who can sleep the most hours in a day (the jury is still out)
What are your aims for next season: to run some races & improve my age grading times
Tell us a Joke:
man walks into a pet shop: “I`d like a goldfish pease”
shop owner: “do you want an aquarium?”
Man: “I don`t care what star sign he is”
Had you done running before joining Ilford AC?
I’d only run at parkrun plus a couple of 10k runs
How did you get to hear about Harriers?
It was at Valentines parkrun. I’d made friends with Sheila,Launa & Sharon, they were always very chatty & encouraging about my running and suggested I join them at a Harriers night. I didn’t think I was good enough to join a club so kept putting it off!
You don’t mention Parkruns but I am sure you have done a number of them. Have you just run the Valentine’s Park Parkrun or any others.
I’ve done 234 park runs, 233 of them at valentines plus 1 at Raphaels I’d like to try others but the draw of meeting up with friends at valentines is hard to resist!
Where is your favourite place to run?
I love running in Wanstead park & on the flats,it’s close to home & there are lots of different paths so the runs can be varied & there is always lots of wildlife to see & hear ( nothing too exotic,but lovely all the same)
Why did you initially start running ?
My daughter was keen on running – as she was only 11 at the time I couldn’t really send her off round the dark streets of Ilford alone, so I went with her & then we both joined parkrun, but she lost interest just as I got hooked!
What made you join Ilford AC as opposed to another club ?
Friendly faces 😊
Did you ever do any sports seriously or as a hobby in the past ?
I’ve always been fairly active & enjoyed cycling & swimming in the past and even played football for West Ham ladies for a couple of Seasons in my twenties( I only made the B team!) but that’s about it.
What has been your Worst Injury ?
I’ve been very lucky & just had the one injury recently when I jarred my back at the Hog hill race, but it’s ok now 🤞
Favourite Track Session ?
I haven`t done any track sessions (Rob tries to persuade me now & then)
Greatest running Rival at The Club and in the running community ?
I don’t really consider anyone a rival, you can only run your own race which is part of the appeal for me, but Gaye & I are very similar pace wise so we keep each other going!
What is your ultimate running ambition ?
I’d just like to keep on improving & hopefully watch that age grading go up and run all the Essex way legs ( not in one go)
Favourite Running Shoe and Why ?
Brooks, no reason except they’re the only ones I’ve ever worn – if something works I tend to stick with it ( I’ve been with my husband Phil since 1984!)
First Single and Album you ever bought ?
I really can’t remember but it was probably something terrible like David Essex or Bay city rollers
Favourite Film Star and Why
Has to be Alec Guinness, a class act.
Favourite Parkrun and Why ?
Valentines for the people & the location
What do you think your life would have been like if you had not discovered the fantastic and addictive World of Running ?
So much less exciting, fewer friends & flabbier calves!
Do you run with your greyhound Tess?
Only for very short distances – 100 metres is her limit, after that she wants to stop & sniff something.
Apart from smashing your PBs, do you have any running goals?
I’d like to have another crack at the Essex 20 (that I said I’d never do again)
Have you ever felt disadvantaged when starting or entering a race because you are female?
Nope
Who is your favourite Doctor Who?
David Tennant (not just for his acting ability!)
6 Dinner guests, alive or dead, who would they be and why? Would you cook and if so what is your signature dish?
David Attenborough & Gordon Buchanan for tales of animal adventures,Tracey Thorn to sing to us, Joyce Grenfell & Miles Jupp to make us laugh & Alec Guiness just because. I`d make something easy like pasta so I could spend more time chatting & listening.
Do you follow athletics or just casually, and if so who are your favourite runners?
I like to watch athletics, but I’m not particularly knowledgeable about it, just enjoy watching great performances- Laura Muir is a favourite
Do you have a favourite football team?
West Ham although I haven’t been to a game for years, it was never the same once the seats went in.
If I gave you £300 and said you had to buy trainers with them and give me back any change, would you buy the latest Nike Vapourfly % (or equivalent) or 2 or 3 pairs of your favourite brand?
I’d buy 3 pairs of Brooks
Can you explain your choice of footwear in the clubs 10 mile Cross Country Champs a couple of years ago?
Hahahaha no, I couldn’t explain it at the time & still don’t know how I didn’t even notice I was wearing heavy walking boots until 2 days after the event when I went to clean them! (Although my feet did stay dry)
June 21st – The Eels are doing a full capacity standing show at Walthamstow Town Hall and I have given you a ticket which includes a ‘meet and greet’ with the band. Are you going?
Oh yes! & I’d give E a big hug too 😊
