I’m A Runner
Actor Mark Williams will mostly be talking about his love of running
I LIKE THE SELF-RELIANCE OF RUNNING.
I never was – and am still not – very good at running with other people. It’s a solitary thing for me. And I don’t run with music. For me, running is an antidote to thinking. I tend to do all my thinking in a rush when I finish.
I STARTED RUNNING 30 YEARS AGO.
I was at the Royal Shakespeare Company, working very hard, and I felt tired all the time. I thought, ‘This is no good’. If I don’t run now, I miss it very much. It’s like having a wash; if I don’t run, I feel a bit grubby. I’m 59 now, which is the time when you really reap the benefits.
PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS SURPRISED TO HEAR I’M A RUNNER.
Mostly, I don’t bother telling them. People say, ‘Ooh, you shouldn’t run – it’s bad for your knees.’ And I think, ‘ Well, I wonder what you do for exercise. Like, nothing.’
I’VE GOT A TERRIBLE SENSE OF DIRECTION
and running has always helped me get my bearings. When the kids were little and we were away, I used to get up and run round to find out where everything was, which was always really great.
I’M A TROTTER MORE THAN A RUNNER.
I never compete when I’m running. As soon as a stopwatch is involved, it puts the mockers on it for me.
I TEND TO REMEMBER THE LITTLE RUNS MORE THAN THE BIG ONES.
The backstreets of Paris by the Gare du Nord; Teignmouth in Devon very early one morning, when I surprised a local undertaker moving some bodies around.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF DOING THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON.
My real ambition, though, is the Paps of Jura fell race on the isle of Jura, in the Inner Hebrides. I’ve spent quite a bit of time on Jura, but have never got round to it.
I DON’T WORRY ABOUT HAVING EXPENSIVE RUNNING SHOES.
I always use Sealskinz waterproof socks so I can run through puddles and know my feet will stay dry.
I DO LIKE A LEVEL RUN.
Don’t we all? Running around the seaside or docks – or maybe an estuary or canal – is great. I’ve done hills but my preference would always be for a flat route and, ideally, by water.
MY TWO MAIN RUNNING INFLUENCES WERE DAVE BEDFORD AND ABEBE BIKILA.
Bedford was my era and was just so cool. Bikila [winner of Olympic marathons in 1960 and 1964] had this running action where one of his arms used to swing out. If you notice in Forrest
Gump, Tom Hanks nicked his running style. That impressed me. I really liked Tom Hanks after that.
ACTING AND RUNNING DOVETAIL REALLY NICELY.
Most of the stuff I do is on location, but even in a studio, when you’ve got a short break, it just fits. I’ve got my shoes and that’s all I need.
‘I’m a trotter more than a runner. I never compete when I’m running’