Lydia O'Donnell - Elite Athlete and Coach

Keep Running is delighted to be partnering with TRIBE for April.  This week Rachel and Armana are joined by the man tasked with the demanding job of pacing the elite women to the Olympic Qualifying time in the recent British Marathon Trials, Kevin Quinn. Kev though, is so much more than a pacer. He is a very, very decent runner in his own right boasting times of 2:22 for the marathon, 66:37 in the half marathon, 30:32 in the 10k and 14:37 in the 5k. These times were all posted after under going major heart surgery to repair four holes in Kev's heart which were found by chance after running a 2:25 marathon and feeling a little 'off'.  Kev is also a coach for Team Real Runners, the running group he founded and which now boasts an Olympian coach in the form of Scott Overall in its ranks.  Kev found running early on in his life, as he was tragically spurred on to take up the sport after his sister Lucy passed away at the age of just three years old, he took up the sport to run in her name and he has not looked back ever since.  Link to Cardiac Risk In The Young - https://www.c-r-y.org.uk/  Tribe - This episode is sponsored by TRIBE.  To try a pack of TRIBE nutrition products, head to wearetribe.co/keeprunning and claim your first pack of delicious energy and protein bars for ust £2 (including shipping) by using the code TRIBEKEEPRUNNING

Keep Running is delighted to be partnering with TRIBE for the next four episodes.   This week Rachel and Armana are joined by former elite High Jumper turned Marathon Runner and Author, Jayne Nisbet. Jayne talks to the girls about her career as an elite high jumper and her transition into running and distance events.  She talks openly about her struggles with disordered eating during her former elite years, how she overcame it and gives advice to others going through similar.  Jayne is now the author of two books, ‘Free-ed’ - Free Yourself from Self Sabotage and Live Your Life Again and Life Planner, 90 days to a beyoutiful u’ which both help on the journey, which is Jayne's main goal...‘learning to love YOU a little bit more’. We hope you enjoy the podcast.  Tribe - This episode is sponsored by TRIBE.  To try a pack of TRIBE nutrition products, head to wearetribe.co/keeprunning and claim your first pack of delicious energy and protein bars for ust £2 (including shipping) by using the code TRIBEKEEPRUNNING

Keep Running is delighted to be partnering with TRIBE for the next four episodes.  This week Rachel and Armana are joined by former elite middle distance runner Becky Lyne. During her international career Becky ran 1:58.20 for the 800m, a time which ranks her 6th on the British all time list.  Injury put a premature end to Becky's international athletics career but her love of the sport never left her and she is still firmly in the sport we all love but just in another avenue.  Becky now runs two successful businesses, a community coaching business TrYumph In Life and GRACE full running, a programme she has set up in pursuit of the ideal running technique… Links to Becky's businesses are below and you can get 10% off your GRACEFULL analysis with code KRP10 ... TRYUMPH IN LIFE https://tryumphinlife.com/about/  GRACEFULL RUNNING - https://gracefullrunning.com/  Tribe - This episode is sponsored by TRIBE.  To try a pack of TRIBE nutrition products, head to wearetribe.co/keeprunning and claim your first pack of delicious energy and protein bars for ust £2 (including shipping) by using the code TRIBEKEEPRUNNING 

This week Rachel and Armana are joined by footwear specialist Emma Kirk Odunubi.  Emma is a self proclaimed 'shoe gait geek' and talks in detail about how to go about finding the right running shoe that suits you during lockdown. She also answers many of the questions Rachel, Armana and many of you probably have about your running trainers, from 'when to buy a new pair?', to 'is putting them in the washing machine a good idea?' Emma is not only a shoe specialist but also an Under Armour run ambassador, a running and strength coach and a cross fit fan. On this episode Emma also gives advice about what strength exercises you need in your locker if you are to become a better runner.  Emma has a wealth of running and shoe knowledge and we hope you take something away from this episode that helps you to become the runner you want to be. 

This week Rachel and Armana speak to Sports Television Presenter, Youtuber, Influencer and of course Runner...Michael Timbs (Timbsy).  Timbsy has interviewed some of the World's top footballers from the likes of Neymar and Mesut Ozil through to the legend, Zinedine Zidane, you may have seen him presenting on the BBC's Match of The Day spin off show, MOTD X.  A two time New York Marathon finisher, Timbsy recently attempted to run 7 marathons in 7 days to raise money for charity, an experience which he described as 'beautiful'....He also chats to the girls about what running has done for him and why he runs. Timbsy is a deep thinker and shares with us the books that are enhancing his life and his running...maybe they will enhance yours too. Enjoy! 

This week on the ‘Keep Running’ Podcast Rachel and Armana are joined by the elite level athlete Nick Goolab.  Nick is the former British 5k road record holder (13:27) who beat the mark set by Sir Mo Farah, in a race in Monaco in 2020. Nick speaks to the girls about nearly quitting the sport on many occasion due to self-doubt and how working with a life coach changed his mind set and put him back on the right track, he also shares some useful tips on methods he has been taught to help any negative thinkers out there too. Nick also gives some tips on how to run your best 5k and talks all about his British 5k road record breaking race in Monaco.

Today Rachel and Armana have their first guest from New Zealand, elite athlete and coach, Lydia O’Donnell. This female has donned the national silver fern kit on several occasions but her route to the top was far from simple. A brief stint in America which turned out wasn’t for her and trying to juggle a career and become a full-time athlete left her at an all time low. However, this resilient female bounced back and has taken national titles in the 5,000m, 10,000m and half marathon distances, boasts a 2:39 marathon personal best and is still excelling in her running career to date. She was the winner and female team record holder of The Speed Project, an event which Lydia sights as one of the best things she has ever done, Lydia is not only striving to be the best herself but in her role as a coach and founder of Femmi, she is also striving to better the next generation of athletes too. A real, inspiring and educational conversation, we hope you enjoy it.

On this week’s #KeepRunningPod Rachel and Armana are joined by Jevi Majid who has made it her mission to inspire more minority ethnic women to run and to be a role model helping to bring diversity to running. This trail blazer recently became the first minority woman on the cover of Runners World in Norway and is leading the way for change in our sport. Jevi talks about the barriers she faced from her community when she took up running to being an inspiration and role model to her two young daughters.

On the Keep Running Podcast this week we have Max Willcocks who is both a creator and a creative.   He is an Adventurer, Influencer, Content Creator and Storyteller.   If you’re in the Running and Adventure space then there is a big chance you will have seen some of his work without even knowing it.   Or maybe you remember him as that guy who ran on a treadmill for 12 hours straight, in the window of the Lululemon shop on the Kings Road to try and break a World Record. Whatever the case, you are probably subconsciously aware of him. Our guest has worked with some of the biggest brands in the business...Adidas, Under Armour, Jay Bird, Fit Bit, Strava, Men’s Running, today's guest likes to make things happen but just don't expect him to give you a motivational quote as that isn't his style.

Kicking off series 2 Rachel and Armana chat Ashley Fraser, My_marathon_journey on Instagram. She is such a breath of fresh air in how she approaches her running and lives by the mantra ‘you only live once’. Since starting her running journey in 2017 when she got accepted to run the London Marathon Ashley has progressed to being a true believer in running helping the soul.  Coached by elite British Marathon runner Charlie Purdue, Ashley is currently making the transition from the roads to the trails and if you check out her Instagram, which oozes positivity, you will be find her running through many a field and smiling as she does it.