Joanna Zakrzewski from UK stood second in 2011 International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) 100 km World Championships at Winschoten in Netherlands. She also stood third in the same race in 2014 at Doha Qatar. She started out as a race doctor, but was convinced by a friend to “try it from the other side”, and so she took part in a multi-stage race across the Atacama Desert in Chile. During this trip, she discovered a love for running and have never looked back, now competing at an international level over various distances on various terrains.
More than 35,397 runners from 164 countries took part in the first ever Wings for Life World Run on Monday on 5th May 2014. The race format involved runners of all abilities and ages competing simultaneously in 32 countries spanning six continents and 13 time zones. Unlike most races, the event did not feature a static finish line. Instead competitors were chased by the official World Run Catcher Cars which began advancing towards participants 30 minutes after they left the start line. The Catcher Cars eliminated runners one by one as they overtook them until there was only one remaining competitor in the UK and eventually one person left in the whole world. The UK event began at 11am on Silverstone Circuit, and stretched out in to the surrounding countryside. The last remaining female to compete in the UK race was Jo Zakrzewski of Dumfries Running Club who outran the car for 45 km.
The Lochaber Marathon on Sunday, April 14 2013, saw the women’s record shattered by more than four minutes,despite the heavy rain and strong wind,as Joanna Zakrzewski, Dumfries, crossed the line in 2hrs 45mins 55 secs. Joanna Zakrzewski completed the The Aspire International 6:50 Open Race 50k Ultra race Trophy Ladies on Oct 31st 2014 She completed in a time of 03:33:23 for an overall 2nd position.
Joanna Zakrzewski is winner of Silver medal in IAU 100km World Championships 2011 and Bronze medal in 2014. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You started as a race doctor, but was convinced by a friend to “try it from the other side”, and so you took part in a multi-stage race across the Atacama Desert in Chile. You stood 1st in women’s category in the gruelling Atacama Crossing in the dry desert of Chile in 2010 where she led the women’s race from the start and completed the entire 250km in a superb time of 33:37:30. The list of your winning and competing at international level over various distances on various terrains is endless. What factors you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?
Ms. Joanna Zakrzewski:
I’m not sure really – I think a lot of it comes from just being willing to give it a go. I had always thought that I was unfit and “bad at sport”, but then I found that I loved running, especially when it was about running in beautiful places! I’m not speedy but I think I have the ability to keep going which helps in the longer distance races. I enjoy meeting new people and seeing new places and not being afraid of trying different distance and terrains has enabled me to do that. Several people have commented that it is, in fact, my amazing ability to eat, that has helped me achieve the results I’ve had. I have seen people fade in many races, as they cannot stomach enough calories, or they restrict themselves too much – whereas I’ve never been one to limit my intake 🙂
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
One question which comes in everyone’s mind when they see you running for miles at a stretch is, How you are able to ‘beat the monotony in thought’ in hours of running apart from physical endurance needed for reaching the success at the end?
Ms. Joanna Zakrzewski:
I have to admit that I’ve never found it monotonous – I am a relatively low mileage person in training, and in races there is plenty to keep your mind occupied. Sometimes it’s the scenery (in both road and trail runs), and sometimes it’s looking out for other people and encouraging each other (in lapped runs such as the recent races in Doha). I sometimes listen to music when out for solo runs, I sometimes use the time to mull over work/other issues, but at other times you seems to have covered the distance without even realising it, eg a few times in Doha I found myself finishing a lap, when I thought I’d just started it!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?
Ms. Joanna Zakrzewski:
Unfortunately, as I have to fit my training in around a busy job, I don’t have the time to do some of the cross-training I’d like to do. It would come at the expense of being able to get a run in, so I actually only really manage to fit in a pilates reformer class each week. I do this instead of a run on a recovery day, and I feel it helps me to stretch and to try to increase my flexibility and strength, so helping to avoid injuries. When training, I aim to do one good speed session and 1 long run per week. If injured and so unable to run, I try to keep up some level of fitness , so it’s then that I manage to get out on a bike or go to a gym.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Joanna Zakrzewski:
I am probably the worst person in the world to ask about this, as I have a really sweet tooth. I know how far it is to run to every cafe near me, as then I can reward myself with coffee and cake afterwards. I find that not being too strict with myself in terms of diet means that I can enjoy my training and racing – and that’s why we do it isn’t it? I am, however, a vegetarian, and contrary to what most people think, a vegetarian diet doesn’t lack protein so you can get all you need for recovery and repair, though I do have to take iron supplements for anaemia.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding ultramarathon girls who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in field of ultramarathon ?
Ms. Joanna Zakrzewski:
I think that anyone can complete an ultramarathon if they set their mind to it, but have respect for the distance and so prepare your body and mind. Make sure you’re doing it because you want to, not because you feel that you ought to, and then you’ll enjoy the preparation in itself and the actual event will just be the icing on the cake. (And enjoy all the food and drink you can have on the way!!!)
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
How did you feel before and after your memorable Silver win at International Association of Ultrarunners 100 km World Championships 2011 at Winschoten, Netherlands?
Ms. Joanna Zakrzewski:
I was selected as a “wildcard” to compete for GB at Winschoten, so I felt rather unworthy of being allowed to compete against/run with such great runners. I had never run the distance before the race, but I was confident that I would finish it, as long as I didn’t start too fast, or develop an injury. There were 4 of us GB ladies, and so my dream goal before the race was to finish as 3rd counter and so help the team to a good result. I never dreamed I would finish 2nd lady and first GB runner -and so even afterwards, I still doubted myself and worried that it was a fluke result. I was very nervous of ever running another 100K race incase I proved this to be the case – hence I am so relieved that it went well again in Doha!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have been associated Marie Curie Cancer Care and with a number of charities which are all dear to your heart, tell us how you have been able to achieve and quench your thirst of giving back to the society through this endeavor of your?
Ms. Joanna Zakrzewski:
I have raised money for charities when I have first set myself a challenge that I wasn’t sure I could do – and kept it close to my own heart. I did my first half marathon for the Anthony Nolan Trust in memory of my grandfather, then my first marathon raising money for care homes in Poland in memory of my grandmother. When I did my first ultramarathon – the multi day Atacama Crossing, I chose Marie Curie as it was the only charity that guaranteed to keep all the money that raised within the region it was raised in. Other charities said they would take funds raised back to their head office and allocate it themselves – I wanted something that would benefit the people (and my patients) in the local area, so that I could give something back to those who support me.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
On 14th April 2013 you won the “Lochaber Marathon” breaking the women’s record by more than four minutes, despite the heavy rain and strong wind, as you crossed the line in 2hrs 45mins 55 secs. Tell us about this ‘memorable win’?
Ms. Joanna Zakrzewski:
I ran the Barcelona marathon in March 2013 and unfortunately the race didn’t go particularly well. I found myself running alone for most of the race, as a small elite field were set off 2 mins before the rest of the field, so anyone else running my pace was 2mins behind me, and those catching up to me were obviously running faster. I wanted to run a smaller low-key marathon so that I had some company to run with (and I’d never run a marathon in Scotland) so I entered Lochaber. There was no pressure on me to run a specific time, as I only entered 5 days before the race and drove up with a friend that morning.
There was every type of weather possible during that race – sun, wind, hail and rain…but you could also see snow on the surrounding mountains. Unfortunately I did end up running alone again, but the out and back course meant that you did get to see and cheer other runners en route. With it being a well-known local race, there were mainly friendly faces out by the side of the road to encourage me, so I enjoyed it and completely surprised myself (and some of the men) by finishing second overall!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You ran and won a unique format race where more than 35,397 runners from 164 countries took part in the first ever “Wings for Life World Run” on 5th May 2014. The race format involved runners of all abilities and ages competing simultaneously in 32 countries spanning six continents and 13 time zones. Tell us about this experience of yours?
Ms. Joanna Zakrzewski:
I thought this was a very interesting new concept, and it seemed to work exceptionally well. Basically, all runners around the world started running at the same time (it was 11am here in the UK), and then a “chaser car” started off from every start location exactly 30 minutes later. The chaser cars all speeded up at a constant rate, and the runners’ timing chips were deactivated when the car passed them. In this way, the event catered for runners of all speeds and all abilities, and it enabled people to compete against others (including friends and family) in completely different parts of the globe. I found it a very friendly and sociable event, and made some good friends as we ran along chatting away in the beautiful British countryside – and all the money raised worldwide is used for research into spinal cord injuries, so we were also running “for those who can’t”!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Joanna Zakrzewski:
Thank you for contacting me and thank you to everyone reading this. I hope that I have helped people to see that it’s never too late to start running, or any fitness for that matter. there are endless opportunities and possibilities out there for people, whatever your background, body shape, speed, fitness or ability – and you’ll never know whether you’ll enjoy something until you give it a go….so go try!
To know the latest about Joanna Zakrzewski, check her out at: https://twitter.com/jozakruns
Her blog can be checked at: http://www.joasiazakrzewski.blogspot.co.uk
Women Fitness Team thanks Joanna Zakrzewski for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and made this interview happen.
All content on this site is copyright of Women Finess and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.