Robbie Simpson has once again proved the versatility of mountain runners in 2018 with a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games marathon and wins at prestigious mountain races across Europe.

When the whole of the British Isles was focused on Callum Hawkins front running and suffering in the heat down under, Simpson ran an excellent race to come through the field and take third place with a 2:19:36 marathon in tough conditions.

The build-up for the Commonwealth Games had also included a personal best of 64:27 and a win over the half marathon distance in March at the Inverness Half Marathon.

After the marathons season was finished for Simpson there were standout performances at a highly competitive Sierre-Zinal, where the Scottish mountain runner was once again second to multiple winner Kilian Jornet, before another win at the Jungfrau marathon. There was even time for a 30:01 win at the Simply Health Aberdeen 10k in-between to further demonstrate his versatility.

Now back in Scotland for Christmas, will the Deeside Runner enjoy a well earned break? Fast Running caught up with Robbie to find out.

Fast Running: Will you train on Christmas Day?

Robbie Simpson: Yeah, I plan to do an easy run of 60-80 minutes in the morning then relax the rest of the day. It’s nice to get out as everywhere is quiet and if you do see people they’re all in a good mood.

FR: What about Boxing Day?

RS: Usually I do a local 5k fun run on Boxing day which is always a good blast.

FR: Have you ever run a race over the Christmas period?

RS: Over the years I’ve done quite a few races between Christmas and New Year. Although it’s not officially a race my favourite is the Banchory Boxing Day fun run as it’s in my local town and has been going since 1981.

The course has a big hill in the first mile so I enjoy fighting up that and then enjoying the downhill most of the way to the end. The first time I ran I was 13 years old and I’ve done nearly every one since. Normally some very good local runners turn up so it can be tough.

FR: What is the best running related present you have received at Christmas?

RS: So far it would be a head torch for dark winter off road runs.

FR: What is your favourite childhood memory of Christmas?

RS: Waking up at 6am to open lots of presents. Now I prefer to sleep in a bit and there aren’t many presents to open!

FR: Do you have a funny Christmas memory that stands out?

RS: We’ve had a Christmas tradition of someone in my family getting sick from overeating most years. A few years ago it was my turn and after being ill all night and lying in bed until 30 minutes before the start I decided very last minute I’d have a go at the Boxing Day 5k.

I hadn’t eaten since Christmas lunch but somehow managed to finish 1st then go straight home and lie in bed the rest of the day.

FR: Who are you spending Christmas 2018 with?

RS: This year I’ll be with my parents, one of my brothers and my girlfriend.

FR: What is your favourite food at Christmas?

RS: I like the combination of everything together but really crispy roast potatoes are a favourite of mine.

FR: Will you be doing the cooking?

RS: I’m assuming my mum is cooking it but I’ll have to check!

RELATED: A runner’s Christmas: Marc Scott

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Irish international Ciara Mageean enjoyed a successful year winning two national gold medals on the track and her first senior cross country title.

Following her move to England to team up with Steve Vernon and the Team New Balance Manchester training group, the 2016 European bronze medalist strived to rediscover her best form.

The 26 year-old competed for Northern Ireland over 800m and 1500m at April’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games before winning double Irish gold in the events in July.

It was then off to Berlin to compete in the European Championships where she was denied a 1500m medal after a strong finish from GB’s Laura Weightman, but still clocked her fastest time of the year in the final.

Mageean then made a return to the cross country terrain where she showed her class to win a first Irish National senior cross country crown.

Now back in Northern Ireland for Christmas, will the Portaferry athlete enjoy a well earned break? Fast Running caught up with Mageean to find out.

Fast Running: Will you train on Christmas Day?

Ciara Mageean: I will, I have a bit of a tradition to do a run on Christmas morning at home.

I try to get my family out (usually only my daddy is persuaded) and as many people from the town. This year the run will be a bit harder as I actually have a tempo session to do on Christmas morning. I haven’t warned the regular Chrismas Day runners yet!

FR: What about Boxing Day?

CM: Every day is a running day, so I will be out on Boxing Day too. I’ll have to run early as I usually spend the day out in the country with my daddy and our Springer Spaniels.

FR: Have you ever run a race over the Christmas period?

CM: I didn’t grow up in a running environment and being a camogie player when I was younger Christmas was usually the off season.

I have a lot of friends that have local Christmas Eve runs or Goal Miles but that’s not the case with me. I will be racing on New Year’s Eve this year though in Italy which will be fun.

FR: What is the best running related present you have received at Christmas?

CM: Hands down my first pair of spikes were the best running related gift I ever received.

My grandparents bought them for me. Up until then I ran cross country races in my football boots or borrowed some of the other girl’s spikes when I went to the All Irelands.

FR: What is your favourite childhood memory of Christmas?

CM: Oh I don’t know how to narrow this down. Some of my fondest memories are of the mundane things.

My family always got together on Christmas day, aunties, uncles, and my grandparents. I do miss that, and I miss my Granny Kathleen falling asleep in front of the fire after Christmas dinner.

FR: Do you have a funny Christmas memory that stands out?

CM: Even though I’m 26 years old, Santa still comes to our house… I know, I’m very lucky!

My sister is always up at the crack of dawn to wake us at 5 am on Christmas morning. I’ll add that she is now 19 years old. Needless to say, she is sent back to bed.

Another funny memory was when my brother drank fish oil that was sitting in a cup. He thought it was orange juice and it certainly ruined his appetite for a while.

FR: Who are you spending Christmas 2018 with?

CM: I will be spending Christmas with my family, my parents, three siblings, my grandfather, and my uncle. Plus our cat Michia and dogs Rio and Duke.

FR: What is your favourite food at Christmas?

CM: I love roast potatoes, though I can never make them the way my mummy does. My granny taught my sister how to make stuffing the way she always did, and I love that.

Oh and I also love the prawn cocktail starter and my mummy’s pavlova. I love it all!

FR: Will you be doing the cooking?

CM: I will be the first to admit I am the least talented Mageean in the kitchen. I’m usually out running or sorting the dogs in the garden, but I’ll help where ever I can.

Most likely chopping and cleaning as the rest of the family won’t leave me in charge of anything.

RELATED: A runner’s Christmas: Marc Scott

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A string of impressive performances throughout the year showed why Marc Scott is one of Great Britain’s most talented long distance runners.

The 25 year-old won 5000m gold at the British Championshionships in June before finishing a strong fifth over the distance at the European Championships in August. His time of 13:23.14 in Berlin was the fastest 5000m by a UK athlete in 2018.

On the roads, Scott also recorded the fastest 5k in the UK this year after a superb 13:45 at the Mid Chesire 5k in August. It was, in fact, the quickest time since 2012 by a British athlete.

RELATED: Marc Scott is the UK’s fastest over 5k this year… but he wants more

The Bowerman Track Club athlete also ran the UK’s fourth fastest 10k in 2018, clocking 28:57 to win the Trafford 10k in September.

A top three finish at the Liverpool Cross Challenge secured his spot on the GB team for December’s European Cross Country Championships, where he was the top finishing British athlete in ninth place.

Now at the end of the year, will the Richmond and Zetland athlete enjoy a deserving break over Christmas? Fast Running caught up with Scott to find out.

Fast Running: Will you train on Christmas Day?

Marc Scott: Yes I always do. It gives you a great appetite to eat lots of turkey afterwards.

This year I’ll be doing the Bury parkrun with my girlfriend and her family, just a steady run out with a good warm up and cool down.

FR: What about Boxing Day?

MS: Boxing Day will be a standard Wednesday’s training for me. This will be 70 minutes in the morning and a 35 minute run in the evening.

FR: Have you ever run a race over the Christmas period?

MS: Just last weekend I raced a local Poultry Run, that’s usually on the calendar (only due to the prizes) and then I am planning to target the Ribble Valley 10k on December 30.

It’s a good race to put a marker down and see how things are going after the festive period. You usually get a good bunch of runners going for quick times.

FR: What is the best running related present you have received at Christmas?

MS: The best present I have received is ‘Sneakerballs Shoe Fresheners’. There’s not a runner out there who wouldn’t make good use out of these!

FR: What is your favourite childhood memory of Christmas?

MS: Waking up to a mountain of presents on Christmas morning.

FR: Do you have a funny Christmas memory that stands out?

MS: There’s too many, one doesn’t stand out but there is usually a lot of laughter at home.

FR: Who are you spending Christmas Day with?

MS: I’ll be spending half the day with my girlfriend and her family and then we will travel up North back home to see my family for the rest of the day.

FR: What is your favourite food at Christmas?

MS: Pigs in Blankets and then on Christmas evening I love turkey rolls with salad cream.

FR: Will you be doing the cooking?

MS: No haha. My dad is usually the chef at Christmas!

RELATED: A runner’s Christmas: Jenny Nesbitt

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Jenny Nesbitt had a year to remember running personal bests over 3000m to 10,000m on the track and road bests from 3k to 10k.

The 23 year-old competed for Wales at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April and the inaugural Commonwealth half marathon in October.

May was also a big month for the young distance runner. She won bronze over 5000m at the BUCS Championships before representing Great Britain at the European 10,000m Cup, which was incorporated into the Highgate Harriers Night of 10,000m PBs.

Now at the end of the year, will the Worcester athlete enjoy a well earned break over Christmas? Fast Running caught up with Nesbitt to find out.

Fast Running: Will you train on Christmas Day?

Jenny Nesbitt: Christmas Day falls on a Tuesday this year. From looking at my current schedule, it looks like I have 7×4 mins with two minutes off ‘float’ (aka still fast) recovery.

My family live in North Wales (literally as far as you can go before you hit Anglesey), so I will be getting up at the crack of dawn to get my training done before we drive there. I guess I’ll be feeling pretty smug come lunchtime (or shattered and wanting a lie down).

FR: What about Boxing Day?

JN: I will certainly be getting up and out on Boxing Day. It is my favourite morning to go running, especially as I can run along the coast.

Since it is on a Wednesday I have 12 miles easy, so it will be nice to get it done before spending some time with my family.

FR: Have you ever run a race over the Christmas period?

JN: I have never actually run a race over the Christmas period, but I have done a Boxing Day parkrun. It was the most horrific weather, knee deep in water and freezing cold. But so much fun.

It was the first time I managed to get my mum to come along too, so it felt like quite a special achievement!

FR: What is the best running related present you have received at Christmas?

JN: I have received a lot of running related presents over the years (very imaginative of my parents!), but I think the best gift I received was many years ago.

Described as a ‘stocking filler’ by my dad – but a torture tool by myself – my first foam roller was possibly the best present I received.

I had never considered post run recovery as a part of training before I got one, so I reckon this present saved me a lot of tight muscles and potential niggles – I’d take less missed days off running due to injury as a pretty good present!

Of course, there are socks too – you can never have too many socks.

FR: What is your favourite childhood memory of Christmas?

JN: I don’t know if I can class this as my favourite childhood memory, but I clearly remember as a child never being allowed to open ANY presents until after lunch. It was literally the most torturous thing as a little kid.

I’d sit by the tree all morning, picking up every single present that had my name on, shaking it, weighing it and pressing it, and doing everything I could to guess what they were. I guess my parents were trying to teach me to be patient. I’m still learning how to achieve this.

FR: Do you have a funny Christmas memory that stands out?

JN: There is one moment that really sticks out to me. My parents had recently divorced and it was our first Christmas with our dad. He was trying to make a big effort and cooking Christmas lunch (and he CAN NOT COOK).

All I remember is my dad walking into the house after going to the butchers, slamming down a Christmas ham on the worktop and getting out a carving knife. He began to carve the ham, cutting it up and taking a slice to eat. He kind of chewed on it, nodded his head, and stated how amazingly delicious it was.

It wasn’t until I mentioned to him that it needed to be cooked in the oven for a number of hours did he turn to me and say ‘I wondered why it tasted a little funny’. It is something I will never forget!

FR: Who are you spending Christmas 2018 with?

JN: I am spending Christmas this year with my mum, brother, granny and grandad, aunty and uncle. That is the extent of my mum’s side of the family, and we rarely get to spend time together, so it will be nice to spend some quality time with everyone for a couple of days.

FR: What is your favourite food at Christmas?

JN: Chocolate Yule Log. Hands down THE BEST food at Christmas. I have a massively sweet tooth and if I had the choice I would easily consume a whole one to myself over the space of a few days.

The more chocolate the better. For a more savoury option, I love Christmas ham (when fully cooked).

FR: Will you be doing the cooking?

JN: I don’t think I will be allowed anywhere near the kitchen to cook. My gran is cooking lunch this year and will want to have full control.

Although I don’t mind being the taste tester for any form of dessert. Or if the washing machine is full, I can certainly help cleaning the cake bowls.

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The post A runner’s Christmas: Jenny Nesbitt appeared first on Fast Running.

Jonny Mellor had a breakthrough at the Berlin Marathon this year with a massive 2:12:57 to take nearly four minutes of his personal best. The Team New Balance Manchester athlete was the fastest English marathoner in 2017. So how will Mellor spend Christmas?

Will you train on Christmas day?
Yes I always train on Christmas Day, two years ago I was injured and was gutted not to get out for my nomral Christmas run.

What about Boxing Day?
Same with Boxing Day! This year is a session with Boxing Day falling on a Tuesday.

What is the best running related present you ever received?
Would have to be a pair of Beats headphones from New Balance. I’ve been very fortunate to have been a sponsored athlete for a number of years so haven’t needed to get anymore running kit, thankfully!

Who are you spending Christmas 2017 with?
Spending time with family over the Christmas period, which is what it’s all about!

Do you worry about over-eating on Christmas day?
Not at all, that’s one of the reasons I maintain normal training over Christmas so I can eat as much as I want!

What is your favourite food at Christmas?
I have a bit of a sweet tooth so would have to be the endless supply of Quality Street, Celebrations, biscuit tins and any other chocolate or sweets I can get my hands on!

Will you be cooking?
No chance!

What does Christmas mean to you?
Christmas is just a great time of the year to spend time with family and a good excuse to get home and train on the paradise peninsula!

The post Athlete’s Christmas: Jonny Mellor appeared first on Fast Running.

Welshman Dewi Griffiths had a year remember, from 5000m on the half marathon on the road – there practically wasn’t a distance he didn’t clock a personal bests over.

The icing on the cake came in October of course, when his fantastic 2:09:49 marathon debut in Frankfurt gained worldwide admiration and moved Griffiths top of the UK rankings for the year. So how will the Swansea Harrier spend Christmas?

Will you train on Christmas day?
Usually I would get a long run done in the morning to clear room for dinner, but due to my hamstring I have cleverly got the day off.

What about Boxing Day?
I’m in the early stages of coming back from my hamstring injury, so hopefully I can complete another easy 20mins run pain free along with some body weight hamstring strengthening exercises.

What is the best running related present you ever received?
I bought myself a Garmin watch last year which I’ve used for pretty much every step I’ve ran in 2017. When I was younger I had a new pair of trainers from my parents which I couldn’t wait to try out.

Favourite childhood memory of Christmas?
Waking up early to see if Santa had been and opening all the presents.

Who are you spending Christmas 2017 with?
I will be at home with my family for most of the day, before heading over to my girlfriend’s house and spending the evening with her family.

Do you worry about over-eating on Christmas day?
No it’s Christmas. I eat what I want all year round and Christmas won’t be any different.

What is your favourite food at Christmas?
All of it – well apart from the Brussels sprouts.

Will you be cooking?
I don’t think my cooking would be up to that standard. My mom and sister will be in charge.

What does Christmas mean to you?
Having good food and quality time with the family.

The post Athlete’s Christmas: Dewi Griffiths appeared first on Fast Running.

Irish 400m star Brian Gregan had a stellar 2017 season, including a semi-final appearance at the World Championships, before winning Irish track and field athlete of the year. So what are his Christmas plans?

Will you train on Christmas Day?
Not this Christmas. I am at the end of a big block of training and I am using Christmas week as a recovery week.

What about Boxing Day?
On St. Stephen’s day, I will do a running session. I will do some sort of short recovery tempo session to keep the body ticking over.

What is the best running related present you ever received?
My first pair of spikes! My parents bought them for me years ago. Training on a cinder track in runners was tough going, but when I put on my new spikes I felt like I was gliding across the surface.

Favourite childhood memory of Christmas?
One Christmas we had quite a lot of snow. I can’t remember the year but I remember running around like a lunatic making snowmen, and having snow fights.

Who are you spending Christmas 2017 with?
I will be spending it with my family. We will have dinner at home and that evening we will go to visit the rest of my mam’s family.

Do you worry about over-eating on Christmas day?
YES! For years I always worried about how much I was taking in, but as I have got older I tend to know what my limit is. I am going to Tenerife for a training camp in January and I don’t want to be out of shape for the topless photos ;)

What is your favourite food at Christmas?
My dad makes the best Garlic potatoes I have ever had! It is a real treat when he makes them.

Will you be cooking?
My dad will do most of the cooking. I will make the desserts.

What does Christmas mean to you?
Christmas is a time to reflect on the year gone by and look forward to what the new year holds. Christmas is always a crazy time for me. My birthday is New Year’s eve and straight after that I am usually away on a training camp, so I try to spend as much of it as possible with my family and friends.

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