I’m A Runner
THE BAFTA-WINNING STAR OF THE IT CROWD, 41, ON PRE-THEATRE RUNS – FOR LUCK
IT Crowd star Katherine Parkinson on lucky pre-performance runs
‘Because I run mostly on my own, when I do run in races, I find it very emotional
I DIDN’T FIND A NATURAL home playing team sports at school and we weren’t allowed to play football. But I discovered in my early teens that I liked running, so I started doing 400m and 800m for the athletics team. It was from there my love of running grew.
I STARTED SMOKING WHEN I WAS AT UNIVERSITY, studying classics. I blame ploughing through all that dry Latin and Greek for turning me into a smoker, which also stopped me running for a few years. But after giving up smoking, in my 30s, I joined a running club and realised how it had affected my body.
I LIKE RUNNING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, but I’m scared of dogs and I seem to come across loads there. I also live near Greenwich Park, London, and so avoid a particular time of day, when the park is full of people walking their dogs.
ONE OF MY FAVOURITE PLACES EVER TO RUN was on the Cornish coast when I was in the TV series Doc Martin. With long days on set, runs on the beach at Port Isaac, where it is filmed, gave me a huge rush of energy.
I’VE STARTED DOING YOGA because of stiffness in my shoulders and hamstrings. I’m more of a natural runner than a natural at yoga.
I DON’T HAVE ANY GPS WATCHES or technology. In fact, my character in The IT Crowd is totally based on me because I’m hopeless with computers and smart devices. One of the things about running for me is getting away from all that, so I don’t usually have any music on, either.
RUNNING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT PLEASURE for me because it gives me time to clear my head. If I’m wound up by something when I start, by the end I’ve burnt off some energy and things are usually more sorted.
I’VE DONE PLENTY OF 10KS and half marathons, but I’m a bit frightened of doing a marathon. I’m most worried about getting an injury that will impact on my family life and work.
I’VE SUPPORTED BARNARDO’S FOR A FEW YEARS, after being invited to do a reading at one of their events. I’ve now done several races for them and had signed up for the London Marathon before, but I got pregnant, so I had the perfect excuse to pull out.
BECAUSE I RUN MOSTLY ON MY OWN, when I do run in races, I find it very emotional. With the crowds urging you on and reading heartfelt messages on other runners’ T-shirts, I’m usually crying my eyes out when I finish.
BEFORE GOING ON STAGE FOR HOME,
I’M DARLING, I used to go on a run. It was a great warm-up for a physical show in which I wore 1950s high heels. I got so superstitious that I made sure I never missed doing that run.
RUNNING HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY THING. I don’t play an instrument or do any other sport. I thought about maybe doing triathlons, but I can only swim on my back. I think I’ll stick with running, as it is a constant in my life.