NICK ‘PEANUT’ BAINES

THE KAISER CHIEFS KEYBOARDIST, 39, ON RUNNING FOR HEADSPACE AND GOOD CAUSES

‘I become more mindful and aware of myself when running’

I GOT RUNNING ALL WRONG AT FIRST. When I started, about three years ago, I wore hard trainers, hurt my calves and could barely walk after a run. But I read up on it and spoke to runners, and now I’m pretty good.

THERE WAS NO SINGLE REASON WHY I TOOK IT UP. I wanted to lose some weight, and also you have so much spare time on tour – sitting around all day for an evening gig – that it seemed like a good use of that time. I NEVER LIKED GYMS, SO RUNNING IS GREAT FOR MY FITNESS LEVELS. I wasn’t much into sport at school and came to running pretty late. But now my friends text to ask if I fancy going for a run; we’d never socialise like that in the past!

I HAD A ‘ FLY- IN’ START TO THE GREAT

NORTH RUN IN 2016. We'd just played in Berlin, so I got the night flight to Stansted, a bus up North and finished in 1:34. Last year I got a decent night’s sleep and did 1:30. I felt I could have pushed more on the hills, so this year 1:29 is the aim.

CHARITIES ARE A BIG MOTIVATION FOR

ME. I did the GNR for the Graham Wylie Foundation – a children’s charity – and the Leeds Abbey Dash for Age UK.

RUNNING IS THE PERFECT WAY TO

SEE A PLACE. I like photography, so when I’m on tour I’ll run around a city first and get an idea for photos. I try to stick to rivers or canals, but occasionally I end up lost and having to cross a highway.

I’M LUCKY TO HAVE RUN IN SOME

AMAZING PLACES – recently I was running in Santa Monica, LA; I’ve run along Copacabana sea front and around the coast in Cape Town. I’d love to do the Great Wall of China.

RUNNING CLEARS MY HEAD. It helps you collect your thoughts and to forget everything at the same time. I become more mindful and aware of myself when running.

LISTENING TO MUSIC IS LIKE HAVING A

RUNNING COMPANION. I’ll get into a rhythm and before I know it I’ve run for miles. I’ll listen to Motown, synth-pop, electric pop…whatever has a bit of a beat to it, really.

I RECENTLY DISCOVERED I'M GLUTEN

INTOLERANT – I used to run with this weighty feeling in my stomach, but since I changed my diet I feel a lot more comfortable when running.

I’D LIKE TO TRY A MARATHON BUT I’M A

BIT WARY OF GETTING INJURED. I hurt my hip flexors when I started out; the physio put me right but I know a marathon can take its toll. RUNNING HAS CHANGED MY LIFE. Even though those first couple of miles are always hard – especially after a rough night – once I’m in a rhythm, out in the crisp air with just shorts, T-shirt, trainers and headphones, it’s bliss.