Lockdown reignites the running bug for Derbion's Adam Tamsett

Adam Tamsett, who is competing in this June’s Derbion Ramathon, pulled his running shoes back on when lockdown was announced in 2020, and he hasn’t looked back since.

We catch up with Adam, who is Centre Director at Derbion, the East Midlands’ leading retail and leisure destination and also the title sponsor of the Derbion Ramathon, RAM 5 Mile and Team Challenge, all of which take place on Sunday 19th June 2022.

Check out our Q&A with Adam below.

Why is Derbion sponsoring the Ramathon this year?

At Derbion, we’re extremely proud to support the Ramathon and to be the new title sponsor. We’re looking forward to seeing the city come together in June to pull on their trainers and take part in the Derbion Ramathon.

What made you decide that you wanted to personally take part in the Ramathon?

I first took part in the Derby half-marathon in November 2021, when we decided to take a team of runners from Derbion.

I had run a bit before, but nowhere near the distance of a half marathon, so I decided to set myself a challenge and try and do it.

 I didn’t care what time I did it in, as long as I finished the course. I even had to check the slowest time that you can run it before they re-open the roads, fortunately, I stayed ahead of that pace!

How long have you been running for?

I started running casually in 2014 to try and gain a bit of fitness. I started with the Couch to 5k app and took it from there. I’ve had plenty of lapses in-between. I took up running again during lockdown, where it was such a release to be able to get out of the house and do that one bit of daily exercise. My first race of any distance was the Ramathon last year, so I’m certainly still a novice.

What has your training regime been like?

I had the double whammy of Covid and then the flu in the month before the Ramathon last year, so I stepped onto the starting line seriously worrying that I wasn’t going to be able to make it to the finish.

I remember standing at the starting line in Derby Market Square and the temperature being minus three degrees, wondering if I was going to regret my decision to run. But I actually coped much better than expected. The course is really flat (I’m terrible with hills!) and I hadn’t done the run before, so the new route kept me going. I particularly enjoyed the run around Elvaston Castle, which is really beautiful. The last eight kilometres were really tough, as I started to get aches and pains, but I gritted my teeth and got around the course.

One thing that was really amazing was to see the people of Derby on the streets who were clapping and giving encouragement to the runners. I’ve never experienced that level of support before, so that’s what I’m most looking forward to in June.

How have you fitted in training for the event with managing a busy shopping centre?

I have a busy job, so it’s not always easy to find time to run. One thing that I do like about running is that you can just slip on your trainers and do it when you get a spare hour. It’s a bit nicer to train in the spring with the lighter evenings and warmer weather, so I tend to run as soon as I get home from work, or at the weekends.

What are your top training tips?

I’d really recommend that you do it at your own pace and don’t set your initial expectations too high. For my pre-race training I’ve been running twice a week and adding a kilometre to my schedule each week. I’m up to eight kilometres this week, and I plan to get to 12km before the Derbion Ramathon. Make sure you are suitably rested in the approach to the big day, so that you have plenty of energy left for the race.

Are you raising funds for a particular charity? How can we donate?

We're hoping to raise £1,000 to support our Derbion Cares charities of the year: YMCA Derbyshire, Safe and Sound and RSPCA Derby by running the Derbion Ramathon. Charities that represent some really notable causes throughout Derbyshire. 

If you would like to donate, please visit our JustGiving crowdfunding page and help us to get to our target.

What is on your running playlist?

Usually I listen to music, but for longer runs I’ve been listening to podcasts to try and distract me from the pain! I’m a big football fan and support Chesterfield F.C, so I’ve been listening to both ‘the Sky is Blue’ or ‘Legends of the Spire’ podcasts, which always keep me going.

Do you have a pre-run ritual?

One of the most enjoyable things about the run last year was the carb-loading the day before the run! However, on the actual day I had a healthy breakfast of granola, yoghurt and fruit. I had some more fruit before the run, and took some energy gels with me to give me a boost during the race.

What is the best thing about taking part?

I would say the camaraderie with the other runners. When I was struggling in November, I had a lovely chat with another runner who encouraged me on and told me that I could do it. I didn’t know her, but her words did the trick. They definitely gave me the boost that I needed to keep going.

How will you celebrate at the end of the run?

Last year I was exhausted so I couldn’t wait to get home to relax and have a long hot bath. I will be celebrating this year with a nice cold beer when I get home. Thornbridge is my favourite brewery, so a nice IPA from there will go down a treat.