• Question: Would you call yourself an athlete? Why do you find running fun? Do you eat a lot of crisps?

    Asked by 243thaf44 to Christie on 14 Jun 2016.
    • Photo: Christie Waddington

      Christie Waddington answered on 14 Jun 2016:

      I actually used to be a semi-professional athlete! I was sponsored through TASS (Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme) and Newcastle University Elite Athlete Squad. I competed for GBR and even won gold at the Commonwealths! That was in 2006 though! Nowadays I wouldn’t call myself an athlete, just someone who likes running!

      I find running a good way of switching off. With a PhD, you are constantly thinking about the next experiment, what went wrong, what your last results were, what research articles you have to read and running is a good way of escaping it! Newcastle has great places to run, especially up and down the Tyne river. And of course the Great North Run (I’m running it for the 4th time this year!).

      I don’t eat a lot of crisps, no. I know at some running races they offer crisps as a energy snack but this is not the best source of energy! If I’m doing a long run I would eat Haribo or Jelly Babies! There are energy gels, but I don’t like them at all!

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