Hello and welcome to the next in our series of Spartan in the Spotlight. Today we meet Rhiannon Griffin, another award winner from the FVS Presentation night in January. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the lady who has been in the local media many times in the last year.
Name: Rhiannon Griffin. Occupation: Full-time Mother to my 21month old. When did you join FVS ? End of May 2012. Why did you join the FVS ?
Why did you join the FVS ? My main reason for joining was to get myself back to being active again from having a baby and to help shift the baby weight. I used to go running with the buggy twice a week at a club called "Buggycise". We all used to run round Fairlands lakes with our buggys then stop at stations to do lunges, press ups, sprints and tummy exercises. During the sprints I was always the fastest and one of the ladies, who was a Spartan (ahem Sam Franklin), suggested I give Spartans a try as I had a bit of a natural speed and nack for running. I joined in with the Stater group and loved it. I then progressed fairly rapidly through the groups and I'm now in group 4 and being coached by Richard Bate to help me reach even higher :)
As a running club, what does FVS mean to you and provide you with ?
In my world of running FVS will always represent my Home. It's where I've started and where I've
grown. Its full of so many friendly faces and already so many good memories.
Whats been your racing highlight to date, since joining the Spartans and why?
The 5k I did last Septmeber was awesome. Beautifully hot day and i got a a sub 20min time on my second
ever time running a 5k. Got second lady and ladies team winner in the county race and came away with
a few little trophies and a medal and then my picture was in the paper a few days later as well:)
Which race has been the best you have taken part in and why ?
Oh wow well... I did the County indoor championships last weekend and that was immense, a real taste
for how my Summer of track racing will be. I loved the Herts County-Cross country Championships in
Broxbourne because the course was so ridiculously tough and muddy, I fell over so many times it was
hilarious and
great fun. I did the 18mile off road challenge last year too and that was great getting out running
for hours in the fields and woods. I did the new years eve Ely 10k and that was sooo hard! it was
basically just running into the strongest head wind for the duration and it just made me laugh. I just
love racing actually.
What is your favourite running distance(s) ?
I love Short distance and I love track running. My most enjoyable distance to run is probably 150-300m
(not that I race that distance), although I'm in training to specialise in 800m. I'm still yet to
actually run 1500m and who knows what I'll end up liking most. I've done a lot of longer distance stuff
(ie: 10k, 5k) and cross-county over the winter to build up my strength. And whilst I've enjoyed it, it
has all been to help me with the track racing. I'm still in my 1st years training and this summer will
help me determine where my strengths in running lay and clarify which distance is my forte.
What are your running goals for the future, either short term, medium or long term goals?
Short term: I want to sub 2:30 800m. Middle term: i would love to make the top 200 or even 100 female
800m runner in England. Long Term: I'm just going to persevere and see where these little legs will take me.
What other Sports and hobbies do you have in your spare time ?
I do Pilates once a week now to compliment my Running. I Cycle to and from all my training sessions. And
once a week I push a very heavy buggy full of shopping back from Tesco haha. Not to mention at lease 15
mins of each day are dedicated to dancing around the room with 2 stones worth of cute blonde girl.
Then finally (I have started, so I will finish) whats the most interesting fact about you, that
your friends at the running club would not be aware of ?
Ermm... I was a county gymnast when I was about 18 (but don't ask me to do a back flip because I'd
probably seriously hurt myself ), and I'm also a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate (although I
haven't actually done any karate since I was about 19!!)
Oh yeah, and if it wasn't for getting pregnant with Molly I'd probably just be another girl working in
Costa right now...
Thanks Rhiannon for answering all of these, very insightful and interesting stuff. On behalf of
FVS then we need to thank your daughter for getting you into running in the first place !!
Good luck with your goals.
Tune in again here soon for the next in the series of SITP, which next time will be featuring
Mr Andy Prior.
