Susie Chan Monthly Update: October 2018

From the Campus Run Academy in Portugal to a multi-sport challenge in Sri Lanka, October was an exciting month for Susie!

1. Campus Run Academy – 4th-7th October

The first week of October saw Susie and Lily Partridge head out to Portugal to lead their very first Campus Run Academy at the luxury resort of Quinta do Lago. They welcomed a fantastic group of runners to the camp and over the course of the four days they all enjoyed exclusive training, performance, recovery, nutritional and educational workshops – as well as guided runs along the spectacular Atlantic coastline.

With runners of all abilities encouraging and supporting each other, it proved to be an inspiring few days for everyone involved and feedback from the trip has been nothing but positive. Participants returned home with increased motivation and confidence, having learnt new skills and made new friends. Read more in this blog post from one happy participant titled “What I learnt from training with the pros at The Campus Quinta do Lago”.

Plans are in place for the next Campus Run Academy, so keep posted!

2. 24-hour track race review – 10th October

In September we reported on Susie coming 3rd placed female at the gruelling 24-hour Self Transcendence track race in Tooting. Susie has now written a brilliant review for Run Ultra about her experience, describing the highs and the lows of running non-stop for 24 hours around a race track – in pouring rain. “Just you, your legs, your thoughts and not much else” as Susie puts it.  It’s a real lesson in mental grit and it’s heartening to read all the amazing stories of support that got her through – including the extraordinary kindness of a stranger. Make sure you read the article for the full inspirational story.

3. Raid Amazones – 13th-18th October

Susie headed to Sri Lanka for the incredible Raid Amazones, a female-only, multi-sport challenge set over several days and including running, biking, canoeing, archery, cricket and a fair amount of wading through the sea. Susie teamed up with her running buddy Tashi Shervin-Clarke as the only British team on this adventure (everyone else being French) and they had huge fun taking on the various elements of the challenge and meeting lots of inspiring women from all over the world. Although canoeing proved not to be their forte, they smashed the run sections and finished the first and final stages in first place!

Congratulations to them both.

4. Interviewing Cat Simpson – 17th October

Susie supports runners of all abilities and she is first to applaud the successes of her running friends. Cat Simpson is one such friend – an accomplished ultra runner who has broken the course record for the 145-mile Grand Union Canal Race, and who was the only female runner (out of 25) in the GB Spartathlon team this year. The 153-mile Spartathlon Ultra Race took place in Greece in September, and Cat put in a superb performance to come 5^th and become the second fastest ever British female.

Susie interviewed Cat for Run Ultra and it’s a fascinating read about achieving your goals, training, time management and raising awareness of female participation in endurance sport – something that Susie understands all too well. Congratulations, Cat!

5. Poppy Run – 27th October

Susie loved taking part in the Royal British Legion Poppy Run at Victoria Park in London. Open to runners of all abilities (including dogs and buggy runners), the Poppy Runs are taking place across the UK during October and November – there’s still time to sign up for the November Poppy Runs, or do My Poppy Run in your own time. All money raised will help veterans in the Forces gain the skills and self-belief to transform their lives as they recover from physical and mental challenges. Participants can walk, jog or run the 5K Poppy Run course and the beautiful medal and t-shirt are definitely worth the effort!

6. Cross training, rest, exercises and fun runs

Having pulled her hamstring (possibly in Sri Lanka whilst canoeing!), and with a twingy foot (possibly from her 24-hour race in September), Susie had to reduce her running mileage towards the end of the month. She’s back on the turbo trainer, and diligently doing physio exercises and incorporating rest days in order to heal quickly.

So you can imagine she was happy to get out after a few days for a short(ish) run with her running friends, and felt much better for it! Susie often talks of the incredible support and encouragement within the running community and how it’s so often about the people you meet and the experiences you share.

Wishing Susie a speedy recovery before Nice-Cannes Alpes-Maritimes Marathon at the beginning of November!

7. Swimming

Any athlete will know the importance of cross-training, especially when suffering from an injury, and Susie is a fine example for us all – heading to the pool for a gruelling session of swim sets with her friends elite runner Lily Partridge and ex-GBR water polo player Charlotte Whatley. Swimming is a great, low-impact sport for fitness and Susie admits that her fitness was so much better when she was swimming regularly whilst training for Ironman. We’re very impressed with her efforts in the pool alongside two other great athletes!

8. Plans for 2019

Nothing life an enforced rest to plan your diary for the months ahead! Susie has announced that she will be heading back out to Marathon des Sables in 2019 – not as a runner, but as part of the media team helping, capturing and following the race!

Having completed this legendary race herself four times, each time running 250km through the desert and carrying all her food and kit for 6 days, Susie is the perfect person to support the race from the other side. She will be helping to keep the 1,000 participants on the move through salt flats, mountains and dunes, and is highly likely to don her gaiters for the odd stage or two! We can’t wait to watch the action next April – and keep posted for more exciting plans for 2019!

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