Meet the Harrier: Louise Bisset

How long have you been a Horsforth Harrier?

I am a relative newcomer to the Harriers – joining with my husband, Andy, at the start of 2018. I can’t believe it took me so long to join a club that at the time was based literally 400m away from our house!  People often asked me when they found out that I enjoyed running, if I belonged to a club.  I used to say that I didn’t like running with anyone else – that running was my ‘time out time’ –  and I couldn’t possibly run with another person.

I could never have imagined how different I would feel having now been a member of this great club for 2 and a half years! I now prefer NOT to be on my own! In fact, one of the things I am missing most about lockdown is being with my club mates – though all the social media stuff has also been the thing that has helped me get through it. Joining Horsforth Harriers has been life changing for me.

Which training group/s do you normally run with?

I run with Cath’s group most weeks. I love the slightly earlier start as I am so wired after the session (probably because I chat incessantly!) that an extra half hour calm down before bed helps me get to sleep. Cath is great and I have come on so much under her guidance – I always think of her advice now whenever I run up a hill – instead of stopping and walking – and I can actually get to the summit! If I can’t make 7pm I will join in occasionally with Pete’s group.  In addition, I’ve hugely enjoyed and benefited from Marie’s Thursday training sessions.

What are your running goals for the year ahead?

I had a few goals set this year – tied in with the fact that I turn 50 next year – I had wanted to do a sub 4 hour marathon, a sub 50 10km and run an ultra, all before I was 50. All appeared to be going well. I had a brilliant plan from Garth, all my races were booked and then …. Enter Covid19.

Now, my goal is simply to be able to run with friends again.

In recent years, since discovering how much running helps me manage my mental health, I use my goals and races to give me something to work towards and the buzz of getting to race day and getting the bling keeps ‘my happy tank’ topped up.  To have these races and goals taken away one by one initially as lockdown progressed really affected me mentally  – but the encouragement of other Harrier friends (as well as all the fab virtual events and SOTW) has helped me to just accept it is what it is – and as long as I can get out and run – that’s all I need! Besides, I can hopefully adjust my goals and turn them into celebrations of being 50!

 On a slightly different note, I am eagerly waiting in the wings to start my new role as one of the Run Directors at Chevin parkrun. I just LOVE parkrun!

What is the PB you are most proud of?

To be honest, all my PBs are so special to me. As someone who was laughed at for coming last at sports day, I am so chuffed I can run and complete a variety of distances. Harriers has helped me achieve great things and I have managed to knock 8 minutes off my half marathon PB since joining.

However, the one I am most proud of would have to be the New York Marathon in 2017, just before I joined the Harriers.  As I have alluded to already, I suffer with mental health issues, mainly chronic anxiety, and in the build up to this race I was going through a dreadful time, which had been triggered by very difficult personal circumstances. Andy and I had saved up to go, and planned to run together and cross the line together in central park. With a few weeks to go, I could barely get up and out, and could hardly eat a thing.  I was in pretty bad shape!  We agreed it was only fair that Andy took this chance to get his PB, and I would just get round.  We set off together and I know Andy felt so bad when I urged him to leave me and crack on. But somehow I managed to get round that amazing course in 4 hours 12 minutes – having done 4 h 24m in Paris two years before, and 4 h 46m in London the year before that. I think the encouragement of NYPD police en route yelling things like ‘come on Louise you got this – pump it out – pump it out’ may have helped!

I remember finishing in Central Park as if it was yesterday. I was hugged by the marshal who gave me my bling, and I burst into tears. I don’t know to this day how I ran and completed that epic race. But it showed me that I must have an inner strength, and I can dig in, and whenever I am struggling, mentally or physically during a race, I think back to that day and know I can keep going!

Oh, (and I’m sure Andy won’t mind me mentioning) I actually beat Andy by 3 minutes, which our kids knew way before we did as they had been tracking us from Leeds on the app! He was so shocked to find out how well I had done when we were finally reunited. We are very competitive with each other – but in a very friendly way of course!!

Andy and I were due to run Edinburgh marathon this year, our first marathon as Harriers, and we were looking forward to running in the Blue and White and reaping the benefits of belonging to a running club…. but maybe next year?!

What was your first race?

My first race was in 2001; I joined a group of colleagues to run the corporate challenge of the Leeds Half Marathon. I was given the glory leg and had to run what felt like a huge 3miles – nonstop! I could barely run for a bus at the time! Since that time, I developed a passion for running to fundraise – dragging various friends/family/mums from school/work colleagues along to raise money mainly for Cancer Charities and Parkinson’s UK, two causes very close to my heart. I would train for these events, and then stop running, until the next event came round. And that’s how I ‘did running’ for many years. However, it has been the last few years that I have really known running to be my mental health medicine, and run consistently. I just love it and it puts me in such a good place.

What is your favourite race, and why?

Being relatively new on the circuit of local races, I have only experienced a few.  I guess for now I would have to say the Great North Run which I have done 8 times so far. Andy and I met in Newcastle and lived up there for a while. You can’t beat the crowds and kindness of the Geordies, yelling Oggy Oggy Oggy in the underpasses, running over the Tyne Bridge and finishing next to the sea.

What is your most memorable experience as a Horsforth Harrier?

Given I am a relative newbie – there are loads already!  I really have had the best time being out and about with the Harriers. Other than falling crotch deep in filthy water at the TNT this year, my most memorable is running the BMW relay with Charlie McNicol.  I had so wanted to do it again this year. I felt like Heidi (for those of you old enough to remember the TV series!) running around the moors that day! There was something so special about being part of a relay team.

Do you have any favourite motivational running quotes or things that inspire you?

It has been great reading the Meet The Harriers articles – there are so many  people in our club with their own stories, talents and personal challenges that have all inspired me in different ways.  Having Harriers around at all the events cheering you on, and rooting for you has give me extra motivation in the last couple of years.  And seeing my nemesis, Steve Allen, just ahead always inspires me to pull out a sprint finish!

Also, as a massive parkrun fan, I love to see people grow to love running through the event and its community. I get a lot of inspiration from all the stories people have shared with me at parkrun.

When it comes to quotes, I do like this one, which sums up the benefits regular running has had for me and my mental health. ‘Running has taught me that I’m capable of so much more than I ever imagined’.

Complete this sentence: “I run, therefore I am…” the happiest version of me.

 Thank you Horsforth Harriers. What a fantastic group of folk you all are.