What do the Great British Bake-off, the London Marathon, and pure grit (mixed with a fun spirit) have in common? Jane Beedle, that’s what!
A gardener, a baker, a London Marathon racer? Why not?
This week we speak with 15-year veteran professional garden designer, amateur baker and finalist on the Great British Bake-Off 2016, Jane Beedle. Jane gives us an inside look at getting onto the show and the actual competition itself. But you may be asking yourself. “Self? What does this have to do with running and being a runner?”
Well, not only has Jane been busy with numerous appearances and classes since her Bake-Off competition, but she has also been busy (quite recently, in fact) with training for her second race ever and first marathon; a small, casual run known as the 2018 London Marathon. Jane was part of a Baker’s Dozen race team with 12 other Bake-Off participants whose origin can be found under the heading ‘Be Careful What You Wish For.”.
Most of this interview took place just before the London Marathon. As in, a couple days before. In it, Jane shares with us her introduction into running, what her admittedly brief training was like and how she feels about starting running relatively late in life.
She explored sugar-free baking as part of her training and we’ll find out how she felt about it. And we’ll also find out how she feels about beet juice as a training and performance supplement and her thoughts about nutrition while training.
As an FYI, much like the Beatles’ classic ‘Helter Skelter’, this episode has a false ending. Be sure to listen all the way through to the end for an epilogue on Jane’s experience at the London Marathon and find out whether or not she’ll continue running.
Bon Appetit!
Questions Jane is asked:
2:10 First Four:
- How old are you?
- Where were you born?
- Where do you live now?
- What is your favorite race distance or type of race?
3:40 What is your running history? When did you originally start running?
5:35 How did you getinto baking and garden design?
11:54 How do people get picked for The Great British Bake-Off and how far did you get in the competition?
14:10 What is the pressure like on the show?
16:58 How did all of this lead to the Baker’s Dozen team training for the London Marathon?
20:50 Are you all training together as a team?
22:13 Are you running by yourself or with others on these long runs?
22:42 When did you start your training?
25:38 What is your goal for the marathon?
26:06 What is the longest distance that you’ve covered?
26:13 What is your race strategy?
27:20 Are you running with any of the other Baker’s Dozen or are you starting separately?
27:54 Do you have a pace that you’d like to run?
31:20 How has being a baker influenced your training nutrition plan?
33:08 Has your weight or body changed?
34:08 How has your appetite changed, if at all?
36:14 Do you think you’ll keep running?
40:03 Final Kick Round:
- What is your favorite local training run (location, starting point, parking, distance, terrain and safety issues)?
- Favorite running book(s)?
- Advice for new runners?
- Favorite Quote?
45:47 Will you be posting on social media about your raceday and post-race?
Epilogue: post-race report
47:33 How’d it go?
49:07 What was your finishing time?
49:21 Was there an element of ‘mind over matter’?
50:20 Did you feel ready?
50:54 What was the fundraising component of the Baker’s Dozen team?
53:08 Is there another marathon in your future?
Quotes by Jane:
“Once I left home life was too exciting and baking didn’t happen very much at all until I had my children. And then competitive baking kicked in”
“To see groups of ordinary people en masse going out and doing this huge participation sport, helping each other, that sort of thing is so inspiring and heartwarming.”
“Running is very isolating, isn’t it? It’s one of those sports you have to go out and do it at whatever time suits YOUR timetable.”
“If you start running at my age (I was 62 then: I was a youngster), you have to be sensible, you have to be careful. It’s so easy to do yourself a mischief and touching wood, I’ve come through with the least amount of injuries.”
“I did overtake a man dressed as a tractor, which I was really pleased about, and I overtook a Rhinoceros, as well.”
Take a Listen on Your Next Run
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Mentioned in this podcast:
Run To The Top Winners Circle Facebook Community
Run To The Top Interview with Amby Burfoot
Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital
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