Charlotte Purdue
Lessons from the world of marathon running
"Every time I seem to raise the bar, it gets higher. So, I'm up for raising the bar again. It obviously gets harder every time."
In this episode we talk to Charlotte Purdue, British Marathoner and Running Coach. Charlotte takes us through her remarkable career so far, including securing the second-best British Marathon time at the prestigious Berlin Marathon. Delve into the world of a dedicated athlete as she reveals the thrill of running faster and her unique tradition of creating picture frames to immortalise the significance of major marathons.
Charlotte discusses the evolving landscape of women's marathon running, shedding light on the growing competition, the pursuit of setting records, and the importance of intrinsic motivation for personal improvement. Learn about her coaching relationship with Nick Bideau in Australia and the distinctive dynamics of training between the UK and Oz.
Charlotte shares her ambitious aspirations, including making the Olympics and achieving a sub-2:20 marathon, and talks about the satisfaction she gets from her coaching venture, Purdue Performance.
Go Do:
Take 5 minutes this week to have an honest audit of your life. Think about the competing opportunities which take up your attention. Are your time and focus on the right priorities for your life right now, and if not what needs to change?
We'd love to hear what emerges for you as you try this. Follow us and tag us on twitter, instagram, linkedin, tiktok or send us an email: hello@runalive.co.uk
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Run Unbound Endurance Coaching.
Whether running your first half, discovering trail running, tackling an ultramarathon or attempting one of the UK big 3 rounds, Run Unbound can help you to achieve your goals in a fun and inspiring way.
We are so grateful for Run Unbound's support Find out more about them here.
Show Notes:
The RunAlive Podcast x Charlotte Purdue
Podcast Title: Lessons from the world of marathon running
Hosts: Ed Perry and Gary Armstrong
Ed welcomes Charlotte Purdue, a professional marathon runner for Adidas and coach for Purdue Performance, to the podcast.Charlotte talks about her running career of over 15 years, focusing on marathons, half marathons, and occasionally the 10k.Running Goals and Achievements:Charlotte expresses her love for pushing her limits and running as fast as she can.Reflecting on her recent performance at the Berlin Marathon, Charlotte mentions the quick turnaround to getting back into training and the surreal feeling of the race already feeling like a distant memory.She shares the tradition of creating frames for each marathon major, preserving memories with pictures, race numbers, and medals.
Berlin Marathon Experience:Ed congratulates Charlotte on her second all-time British Marathon time at Berlin, highlighting the unique experience of having her partner, Adam, pace her.Charlotte discusses the emotional aspect of the race, the framing tradition, and the post-race illness she experienced, forcing her to cancel celebrations and stay at home.
Pacing and Partnerships:Charlotte talks about Adam's role as her pacer and the pressure he felt during the race. She shares the humorous story of Adam testing her marathon pace in training.The conversation delves into the post-race period, dealing with illness, and the challenges of recovery and resuming training.
Reflecting on Achievements:Gary asks Charlotte about her post-marathon celebrations and how she coped with being ill after the race.Charlotte reflects on the timing of her illness, acknowledging the potential impact on her performance and appreciating the element of luck involved.The discussion shifts to the framing tradition and how each frame represents a unique story and achievement in her running career.
Dealing with Illness Post-Marathon:Charlotte shares the story of waking up with a sore throat before the marathon and how the illness affected her in the weeks following the race.Ed and Gary humorously discuss the potential advantage of running with a bit of viral load and the dynamics of dealing with illness as an elite athlete.
Motivation and Intrinsic Drive:The conversation transitions to Charlotte's motivation and the internal drive that fuels her training and racing.Charlotte emphasises the importance of intrinsic motivation and the joy she finds in the big occasions and major marathon events.The discussion touches on the pressure and competition in women's marathon running, with Charlotte expressing her willingness to keep raising the bar.
Longevity in Marathon Running:Ed explores Charlotte's long-standing presence at the top of British marathon running and her perspective on the evolving competition.Charlotte talks about the continuous challenge of raising the bar and the positive impact of competition on the sport.The conversation touches on the potential retirement from other distances compared to the marathon, where Charlotte feels there's more to achieve.
Coaching and Training Structure:Gary shifts the focus to Charlotte's coaching relationship with Nick Bideau and the practicalities of being coached from Australia.Charlotte explains the decision to join Nick's coaching group, the initial adjustments to a new training approach, and the routine of spending time in Australia for training.She details the training phases, the importance of having a group during specific times, and the adaptability of her coaching structure.
Choosing Nick Bideau as a Coach:Charlotte discusses the decision to join Nick's coaching group, influenced by the success of his athletes, positive vibes from other runners, and the need for a change in her training.She mentions the initial challenges of adapting to the new coaching style but expresses satisfaction with the choice in hindsight.
Running Philosophy and Intrinsic Motivation:The conversation circles back to Charlotte's intrinsic motivation, emphasising the individual nature of marathon running and the personal drive required.Charlotte explains the importance of internal motivation in adhering to training plans and race goals.The discussion concludes with Charlotte's acknowledgment of the importance of enjoying the journey and finding joy in the process.
Coaching Philosophy:Purdue Performance, the coaching venture she runs with Adam Clarke, adopts a bespoke training approach, recognizing the uniqueness of each athlete's needs.The coaching philosophy focuses on tailoring plans based on factors such as lifestyle, running surface, and individual goals.
Balancing Coaching and Personal Goals:Charlotte discusses the balance between her coaching responsibilities and personal running goals.The Purdue Performance team takes an individualised approach, limiting the number of athletes to maintain quality coaching.Regular communication with athletes is a key aspect of their coaching strategy, aiming to avoid a distant coach-athlete relationship.
Managing Life Stress and Training:Charlotte acknowledges that not having children allows her to focus on her training and coaching.She shares the story of her elderly dog, explaining the challenges of caring for a pet while maintaining a busy schedule.Despite her demanding training routine, Charlotte finds inspiration in witnessing her athletes' dedication to running amid their busy lives.
Role as a Role Model:Charlotte humbly downplays her role as a role model but recognizes the privilege of being viewed as one.She expresses that everyone's running achievements are valuable, and she doesn't see herself as more special than any other runner.
Advice for First-time Marathoners:Charlotte advises early planning and starting training well in advance.Setting a target race helps maintain motivation throughout the training period.Stressing the importance of gradual progression, Charlotte encourages beginners to avoid last-minute preparations.
Future Goals and Potential:Charlotte is currently focused on base training after a marathon block.She expresses a desire to run sub-2:20 in the marathon, acknowledging the challenge but seeing it as achievable.Charlotte is open to exploring new goals and awaits discussions with her coach to plan for the upcoming year.
Closing Thoughts and Where to Follow:Charlotte shares her excitement about the running community and the unique camaraderie in marathons.To follow Charlotte Purdue and Purdue Performance, you can find her on Instagram (@charlottepurdue) and Purdue Performance's website.