This time we talk to Eileen Jones who’s been a member of our club for a year. She’s a journalist and author (including two books about parkrun) who runs her own public relations business, Cumbria PR (part-time now). She’s worked for newspapers and magazines across the north, including the Yorkshire Post, worked in Amsterdam on the KLM inflight magazine, and taught journalism and PR at Huddersfield University.

Where are you from originally?

Grew up in North Manchester, went to school in Bury, went to Old Trafford every Saturday. Studied in Preston and Hull, eventually settled in Hebden Bridge where my boys were born, then when they grew up and went off to London, and my marriage had broken up, I got the chance to move to Ambleside. I lived the dream life there, running and walking the fells, working for some amazing people, and helping with all sorts of adventures. But my son and his wife moved to York, and had a baby, and that was it. I knew I wanted to be part of his life, and help look after him, so I came here at the beginning of last year. It was a real culture shock! But Jacques is my best mate now, and it’s wonderful to feel useful again.

How long have you been running and what got you running in the first place?

Started running in my late 20s after being the least sporty kid in school. But I’d discovered the Lakes, did a lot of fell walking, and wanted an extra dimension. Got dragged up a few rock climbs, to discover that was NOT the dimension I wanted, then met some crazy people called fell-runners and discovered I could do that. Slowly.

What do you like to do when you’re not running (our “what a silly question”)?

I love theatre, got sucked into it by my sons who became the stars of the local youth theatre. The younger one (he’s now the YouTuber, The Wandering Turnip) made it to the West End and I saw Les Mis 11 times when he was in it. (29 times in all. I have an obsessive personality!) I review for my own theatre blog, Stagey Lady, that’s been going for about 15 years. Very pleased that some of my new friends at Haxby Runners are now writing for it too. Love everything on a stage ...except panto.

Favourite events and distances?

I did a few road marathons before concentrating on the fells, and though I did some of the classic races – Wasdale, Borrowdale, Ben Nevis – I was happiest doing medium distances, like the ten mile Fairfield Horseshoe and the Coniston fell race. Now, with a rather deformed right foot, I can’t manage much more than 5k. It’s almost like parkrun was invented specially for me!

The race or event you’re most proud of?

I was always a plodder but did manage to win something the size of the FA Cup at Clitheroe fell race when a lot of of the good runners went the wrong way in the mist. I followed the right man; for the first and only time in my life! I also won a teapot when my partner Judy and I were first ladies team at the 33-mile Haworth Hobble (it was a pairs event back then). But I think the achievement I’m most proud of is completing the Bens of Jura fell race. It’s 17 miles, with nearly 8,000 feet of ascent over seven mountains including the brutal Paps of Jura. Scree the size of rugby balls. I got the navigation spot-on for once, and I wasn’t last. I think 113 finished that year. The last runner gets a pair of Highland socks knitted by the oldest woman on the island. The first three get bottles of Jura whisky, and I happened to be camping next to a generous friend who came third. That night was as close to heaven as it gets.

Any kit hints you’d like to share, favourite shoes etc? Or, what do you know now that you wish you’d known then?

Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and remember to breathe.

Have you run with other clubs as well as or before Haxby Runners?

I was a member of Clayton le Moors Harriers for many years, including a stint as women’s fell captain. That was great fun, organising teams for relays (and dreading those phone calls on the night before the event. A bit like Alex Ferguson getting a call from Ryan Giggs on a Friday night, saying, sorry boss, I’ve sprained my ankle). Just realised that there won’t be anyone reading this old enough to remember who they are...

What’s good about being part of a club?

Whoop! Friendship, motivation, encouraging others to go for it. Joining Haxby Runners was a real game changer for me. I moved to Haxby knowing NOBODY, and though my family are only 15 minutes away in Fulford, it did feel like a foreign country at first. After that crap winter everywhere was sodden and it was only possible to run on the roads, but when there are people to talk to and run with, you don’t notice. In fact, I still don’t know where I am on a Wednesday morning even now. But this is a grand little club full of big hearted and enthusiastic people. I’m very tribal, and I found my tribe.

Running ambitions?

I’d like to get to 500 parkruns . I’ve done 433 so far at 178 locations. It’s an addiction; I am unbearable for the whole week if I can’t run or volunteer. But I guess there are worse things to be addicted to. The crazy challenges, like completing the alphabet, and the Pirates challenge (7Cs and an R), and Stayin’ Alive (three Bs and three Gs) are ideal for people like me who can’t run fast any more, or get a pb. I’ve met some utterly fabulous, eccentric crazy people through parkrun. Like Ali, who always goes to parkrun in fancy dress and asked if she could come to the launch of my book at Heaton Park, dressed as...my book. Whyever not?