This month’s Dasher of the Month is Julie Fitton. Julie continues to make amazing progress with her running, surging up the Dasher’s Parkrun Championship with best scores of now over 60%
December 2024 Julie Fitton
- Do you have a nickname?
My friends call me Julie or Jules and probably a few other things I don’t know about.
- What is your favourite piece of running kit/equipment?
I always stick to Asics running shoes as I find them a good fit for me: comfortable and reasonably priced.
- What is your favourite race and why?
I’ll have to say the Green Drive 5 as I’ve done it 6 times. It’s flat, not too long & it’s very well organised but sometimes the weather is shocking.
- Any pbs that you are most proud of? (race or distance)
5k/parkrun – 31.11 at Guild parkrun this year, which is held in a medium secure mental health unit and only open to trust employees and patients, so I may be the only Dasher to have done it.
Green Drive 5 miles - 50.24 in 2018. The wind must have been in the right direction on that day
10K - 1.02.48 at the Lytham Windmill Remembrance 10k in 2023. I’m still not sure how I managed that time.
- What has been your worst running injury?
I’ve only had one which was plantar fasciitis lasting about 6 months. Very painful, usually in the morning, but it never bothered me whilst I was actually running.
- Improving Dasher to keep an eye on?
Sorry, I’ll have to skip this one. I need to pay more attention to how everyone else is doing.
- Where is the most exotic place that you have ever been for a run?
I haven’t done any races anywhere exotic, but I did enjoy early morning runs along the beach on holiday in Sri Lanka.
- Highlight of your running career so far
It could be my 10k pb at Lytham last year or maybe my very first Parkrun, having completed the Beginners' Course with the Dashers at the age of 52. I couldn’t even run to the end of the street when I started.
- Any hobbies we don’t know about?
I love back-to-basics camping and hiking. As long as there’s a loo, a shower and a nearby mountain I’m happy. My favourites are Old Man of Coniston in the Lake District and Cadir Idris & The Glyders in Snowdonia. When I can’t get away I like to do virtual walking/running challenges and I am currently working my way along the coast to coast.
- Interesting fact about yourself
I was born in South Africa, and my family moved back to England when I was 6 months old. Oh, and I once fell off Ben Nevis.
- Most interesting job (past or present)
Not really had what you would call interesting jobs, but I dd work at Kwik Save back when you had to memorise all the prices; I’m not sure I could manage that now. I worked at Crown Wallcoverings for a few years until it closed down (nothing to do with me), and I have worked for the NHS for 20 years in Special Care Dentistry.
- Dasher you admire and why
I’m going for 3: Alison Abbott, Brian Morris and Rick Marsden. I don’t know how, but they managed to get me through the Beginners’ Course and I know they have given up a lot their time to help lots of other newbies.
- Any future running ambition?
I’m not sure I should put this in writing but I would like to see if I could achieve a half marathon before I get too old.
- Favourite song on your playlist to run to?
I can’t do 3 things at once. I can just about manage breathing whilst running so no listening to music for me.
- Which person, past or present, would you most like to run with?
I don’t do fell running as I’m way too clumsy, but it would have been amazing to run with Joss Naylor. Obviously he would have had to slow down a tad. What an absolute legend.
- Best thing about the Darwen Dashers
Everyone is super friendly and the club is inclusive to all abilities.
- Any running (or other) superstitions?
No superstitions.
- Your perfect, indulgent, post run meal
I’ll go all Italian with the 4 Ps: a Pint of Peroni and a Pepperoni Pizza.
- One piece of advice for a new runner
Don’t think you have to always run further or faster, just enjoy it! (Am I allowed 2?) Don’t choose the Winter Warmer as your first ever 10K like I did.
- Sum yourself up in 5 words
Shy, clumsy, indecisive & funny (unintentionally).
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