I’m A Runner A Place in the Sun presenter Danni Menzies
A PLACE IN THE SUN PRESENTER, 29, ON BEACH RUNS, EXES AND RACING WITH HER DOG
I’VE BEEN RUNNING SINCE I WAS EIGHT, when I would run endlessly up a hill behind school. I was 15 when I started entering my local Highland Games in Perthshire, Scotland. The prize was £20, which was enough motivation for me at the time. RUNNING IS AN ESCAPE FROM LONDON LIFE. I live in Fulham and run 10km in a loop from Putney to Hammersmith along the Thames. I usually run two to three times a week but if I’m busy with work I’ll do that route once a week and then 5-8km on the other days. WHEN I’M FILMING A PLACE IN THE SUN I try to keep to my schedule but it usually depends on the light. When we were filming in the Caribbean earlier this year I could get up at 5am and run before filming. MY FAVOURITE RUNNING experience was doing 5km on the beach in Barbados. At the end I was so sweaty but I could just jump straight into the sea for a swim and then go and get ready for filming. What a way to start the day. I USED TO HAVE AN AFGHAN HOUND, who ran alongside me four years ago at the Breast Cancer Care 10K in north London. Some friends pulled out at the last minute and I’d planned to dress up for the event, so I ended up getting dressed up with the dog. She wore a tutu and I wore an elephant costume. It was amazing.
THE FURTHEST I’VE RUN IS 14KM but I want to do a half marathon next year if I can. I’ve got a degenerative disc in the top of my back but running is one of the exercises that doesn’t seem to bother it. Kettlebells hurt it last year and now I’m scared of doing free weights.
I USE NIKE RUNNING CLUB’S running app. If I see that friends I follow have gone out and ran 7km, I’ll go and do 9km. It’s a great motivator and I like the training programmes you can get on them.
I THINK ABOUT MY WHOLE LIFE when I’m running. I always try to look up because if you’re looking down it means you’re thinking about the past, whereas if you’re looking up you’re looking towards your future. IT’S AWFUL WHEN YOU’RE IN YOUR RUNNING KIT and you run into your ex. The one day you don’t bother with any make up, you’re really sweaty and there they are. I wear my running kit a lot, though – to the pub, the shops… everywhere. BEFORE EVERY RUN I HAVE GREEN JUICE AND A COFFEE, and then an omelette with avocado when I get back. I’m a health freak Monday to Friday but I love a Domino’s Pizza on a Sunday. I LOVE SWEATY BETTY’S RUNNING LEGGINGS; they feel good and last longer. I always wear black leggings and a luminous yellow top. I like having something bright on top.