Runnerslife
Meet The Guest
Marc Jenkins
RunnersLife took time to chat to former Great Britain triathlete making a comeback after quite a few years out with serious injury problems. Most top class triathletes have to be at a very high standard of running to compete with sub 30minute 10k runners on the British racing scene at the moment. Marc was the symbol of the Olympic spirit in 2004 Athens when a crash on the bike meant he had to walk 2k carrying his bike to be able to finish the race.
Marc is back on the racing scene having competed at the recent Windsor Triathlon and will be competing this weekend at the major London Triathlon, everyone at RunnersLife wishes him well in the future.
Q. So you are back racing again, how does it feel after a few years out?
A. It's great to be back. There was a point where I wasn't sure if I was going to be pain free again so now the time has come where I wake up not in pain ( most days) I can get back out there and give it a shot and see where this 33 years old battered body is still willing to go.
Q. Is it a completely new set of guys on the race circuit or same old faces?
A. A few new faces but mostly same old ones.
Q. Did you miss racing while you were out of action?
A. Yes and No, most of the time I was pre occupied with the pain I was in and how I was going to get over it. Races were in the back of my mind and I was frustrated I couldn't be competing, but actually missing it, I think I was more worried about never being able to run again rather than missing racing.
Q. So what was the problem that forced you to stop in the first place?
A. Initially the DVT's and pulmonary embolisims. Then secondly and possibly due to the medication I was on with the illness I had Achilles tendon degeneration which in the end after more cortisone than I can count I had to have 3 surgeries on them.
Q. Have you been able to do anything fitness wise in your absence?
A. No in my absence my activity was changeing channels on the TV and limping about 2k around the fields with the dog when the pain would allow me to do that.
Q. You were made quite famous for Athens 2004 when you had to walk with your bike the last 2k after a crash and came last. Can you talk us through what happened that day and how you felt?
A. It felt miserable and i try not to think about it or dwell on it. Basically a fellow athlete lost concentration and rode into by back wheel braking 3 spoke's. That is why I couldn't ride to the wheel stop but had to carry my bike.
Q. Running wise how do you structure your runs in the week?
A. It's quite hard getting the key runs done in the week when you are fresh as most of the time there is fatigue in the body from riding and swimming. I try and do 3 runs a week with a bit more quality, 1 sustained run of about an hour, 1 build run of an hour and 1 quality session of about 6k, the rest of the running is steady and easy miles, with 1 long run which at the moment is only 1 hour 15, sneaking upto the hour 30 mark.
Q. Have you ever run big mileage or do you use the bike for the mileage?
A. I was starting to do good mileage weeks before Athens but all that went to pot with the illnesses, bike mileage doesn't cross over too well to the running, it's a bit of a catch 22 with everything we do, the better you get at 1 tends to be at the cost of another.
Q. Do you ever run cross country or track?
A. Because of my tendons I am trying to stay away from the track but love the cross country, it hurts like hell!!, so hoping to get a few done this season as long as nothing breaks between now and then
Q. Do you have good running groups to use for your training?
A. I love the running sessions we do with Bridgend especially the Thursday night sessions, it's a great work out, but as i get fitter i will hopefully start running with some faster runners like Simon Jones who is local and who ever else I can hook up with who will drag me out of my comfort zone, but for the time being it has just been about getting out daily and not hurting too much
Q. How many sessions do you normally do in a week?
A. On average it's 5/6 swims, 4/5 rides and 6/8 runs, that varies with the time of year and what i am focusing on, hopefully i'll be able to pick the running up to around 10 a week in the winter and drop the riding off to give the legs a chance to improve and run fresh for the quality work.
Q. What is your favourite run?
A. I run around New Bridge and up over the local farms and along by the ogmore river back to New Bridge.
Q. You live by the famous Merthyr mawr dunes, did you live their for that purpose?
A. No not at all it's just home and luckily enough we have some great training venue's where we are.
Q. You are married to Helen Tucker (now Jenkins) who won the World Championships in 2008, do you two train much together?
A. We do all our swimming and most of our easy running and riding together. Some days I don't want to leave the house and others it's her so all in all it works well, especially for the 5:30 am swims which we generally do 4 times a week.
Comments On "Marc Jenkins Interview"