Name: Andy Persson

Occupation: Counsellor

Home Town: Bristol

Questions

What is your running background?

As the kid who was always slowest on the track and shuffled in last in cross country, I hated running for the first 45 years of my life. I was then persuaded by some friends to join them on a coastal marathon and surprised myself by quite enjoying it. After that, we started regularly running coastal and mountain marathons together and it just seemed a good way to hang out with a bunch of mates.

When did you first start running Ultra marathons and why?

Seeing a friend run a series of daily marathons for charity got me interested and I decided to try running 7 marathons in 7 days along the Thames Path. Completing that made me feel pretty superhuman, little knowing there were people regularly doing that mileage and more in one shot. Gradually I stumbled into a wonderland of ultras and multidays and started to get addicted to the lure of pushing the challenge further each time.

When or where (at which events) are we most likely to see you?

I like to mix it up, from mountains to canals, track, tunnel, tarmac  or trail, running in loops or across countries. Conscious of not getting younger, I seem to be trying to get a taste of every kind of running experience before I can’t any more.

What are your personal key running achievements to date?

A number of multidays – JOGLE, 630 mile South West Coast Path in 12 days, Dragons Back, Three Peaks Ultra and Trans-Sweden; a couple of 24 hour wins – Joust and Thunder Run; qualifying for Bigs Backyard Ultra World Champs; 2nd at Thames Ring 250; a couple of Everestings and a Tunnel 200 completion.

What was your hardest experience?

Thinking I was going to have to give up halfway through JOGLE when my ankles swelled up like balloons. Thankfully I found a Sports physio in Kendal who thought running another 500 miles on them wasn’t a bad idea. He was right.

What is your typical race strategy for an ultra?

The usual ’Start slow then get slower’ and never entertain quitting as an option.

What does a typical training week look like?

Lots of slow running (not intentionally, I just am slow), usually 6 days a week with hill reps thrown in and, if I’m feeling particularly keen, an interval session.

What one tip would you pass onto people running an Ultra marathon for the first time?

When it is feeling tough, make yourself smile and remind yourself how lucky you are to be doing this.

Tell us one interesting fact about you?

My only DNF was in the Great North Run, when I ran the first 12 miles and did the last mile in an ambulance.

Have you taken part in the Spartathlon before?

No

How did you get on?

N/A

What tip would you pass on to those taking part for the first time?

N/A

What are you looking forward to at the Spartathlon race?

Hanging out with the British team. Oh and a bit of foot kissing (of the statue, not the team).

What are you not looking forward to during the Spartathlon race?

Explaining to my stomach that we really are going to keep running in this heat.

How will you prepare specifically for the Spartathlon race?

 Read all the blogs, watch all the vlogs and listen to all the pods

Will you be bringing any support crew to the race? (If so, please introduce them briefly)

No 😦