SCA: BUILDING A RUNNER P.1.

Introducing the new SKINS SCA Team for 2023-24!

Excelling under pressure is a core component of the SKINS Compression ethos. Building products that help athletes pursue excellence and excel. 

SKINS X PGC1 COACHING

Earlier this year, as part of the SKINS Club Athletico journal pieces, we followed Simon's journey from never having run a Marathon before to running two Marathons in three weeks! Combining equipment from SKINS and the training model from PGC1-Coaching, Simon smashed his target by running two superb races just a shade outside three hours thirty.

It is with great pleasure that PGC1-Coaching will again collaborate with SKINS, this time on a greater scale. SKINS have kindly chosen to support four of our athletes on their journey, aiming to achieve different goals within the next year.

MEET THE ATHLETES

Over the next 12 months, we will follow Tommy Shaw, Gabriella Moriarty, Joseph Shirley and Melissa Hayes with aims ranging from International representation to achieving a championship spot for the London Marathon all the way to building a relationship with running around a running a business. In this journal, we will introduce each of our SKINS SCA x PGC1 Athletes, how they got into running, where they are now and what their goals are.

TOMMY SHAW

Tommy is a 1500m/5000m runner originally from York and now based at Birmingham University. The last 12 months have been a massive breakthrough for Tommy, propelling him from a competitive county-level athlete to making the National finals. Tommy has big ambitions within running and is also studying for a Geography degree alongside his busy training schedule.

Tommy, how did you get into running?

It started with the occasional Parkrun. Then, my Dad took me to the City of York Athletics Club. I met some great friends and have had some incredible experiences.

What's your favourite running memory?

It has to be the English School's Championships and the British University Cross Country Championships. The atmosphere and team support created around these events were insane. Doing it with my close friends also added to the experience.

What has been your best-ever race?

My best-ever race would be breaking my 3000m Personal Best, running a time of 8 mins 17 seconds. This came as a shock to me and really gave me confidence and momentum for the rest of the season to run some more pbs, win the Northern 1500m championships and qualify for a national 1500m final. 

What's your biggest goal over the next 12 months?

A big goal for me this year is to try and qualify to represent Great Britain at Euros XC at the Liverpool Cross Challenge.

GABRIELLA MORIARTY

Gabby is a 5km/10km runner based in Northampton. Having been involved in athletics since an early age. Over the last few years, Gabby has improved her Personal Bests over every distance from the 5km to the Marathon. Alongside her training, Gabby is a Personal Trainer running the very successful GetFitGabby gym in Northampton.

How did you get into running?

I got into running when I was 9, all down to my parents, who were keen runners and would take me on runs with them, and I instantly fell in love with it.

What's your favourite running memory?

My favourite running memory has to be winning my first major race, which was the derby half Marathon. I've never run through tape before, and it felt pretty special.

What has been your best-ever race?

My favourite race has to be the Manchester Marathon in 2022. Purely for all the hard work and gruelling sessions it took to achieve my goal and seeing everything I had worked so hard on for months come to fruition.

What's your biggest goal over the next 12 months?

My biggest goal for the next year is to break 17 minutes for the 5k. It's a pretty big ask, but I'll do everything possible to get there.

JOSEPH SHIRELY

Joseph is an experienced road runner who has competed over every distance up to the Marathon so far. Having come to running quite late, Jo made rapid improvements over the first few years before injuries provided a setback. Alongside his running, Joseph works full-time as a surveyor and has two young sons. Over the last 12 months, Jo has put his injury problems to one side and recently broke 17 minutes for 5km for the first time.

How did you get into running?

I got into running back in 2015 off the back of playing football & using the gym for many years as a form of exercise that I could just do quickly around work. I never envisaged eight years on; I would be here having run 136 park runs, who knows how many 10 km's, over 50 half marathons & 11 Marathons. My obsessive nature to be the absolute best at anything I do has led me to where we are today. 

What's your favourite running memory?

My favourite running memory was back in 2022, not actually a race from myself, but the Manchester Marathon. Team PGC1 took over 30 athletes up to Manchester. Unfortunately, being injured myself, I was just supporting on the day. We all stayed over, had a brilliant party & celebrated many personal bests & the 3rd birthday of PGC1. I gave a speech to the team & won 2 awards on the evening which meant a lot to me.

What has been your best-ever race?

Has to be the big half 77:16 only a couple of weeks ago. Training in the block could not have gone any better & it gave me great satisfaction to go out and do exactly what I set out to do (and a little bit more!!!). To beat a 4-year-old personal best was a huge reward for sticking at it throughout many dark times & changes in my life. Running will always give you back what you put in. Never take more than you give. 

What's your biggest goal over the next 12 months?

To continue supporting my friends within the group & doing my best to set good standards/examples for other athletes. To inspire other new dads to get out there and exercise & benefit from the reward of putting one foot in front of the other. On a personal level, I continue pushing the limits of my body. I will return to the Marathon in 2024, giving everything to break that elusive 3 hours (about time). Exciting times. 

MELISSA HAYES

Mel has been on an incredible upward curve with her running over the last 18 months. Having run her first Marathon in Brighton 2022, finishing in 4 hrs 31 mins, she took 71 minutes off her time to finish in 3 hrs and 20 minutes at Manchester 2023. Mel now sits just outside the sub 20, sub 40, sub 90 and sub 3hr 20 barriers for 5km through to the Marathon. Alongside her running, Mel is a nutritionist working with athletes to help them optimise their diet for performance and lifestyle.

How did you get into running?

I always wanted to get into it, but I'd try and run one mile, run far too fast and give up after a few minutes!! In 2019, I set myself a New Year's resolution to start running. I went to a Parkrun with a friend, who taught me how to pace the distance. And I surprised myself with how comfortable I felt when we finished. Once I started to see my 5km time improve, I was hooked!

What's your favourite running memory?

I was lucky enough to be in Australia when I started marathon training this year! On one of my first long runs, I ran nearly 15 miles across Sydney and paused to watch a little bit of the sunrise behind the Sydney Opera House. It was one of those pinch-me moments that I felt very lucky to experience!

What has been your best-ever race?

Manchester Marathon! I can honestly say I enjoyed every single second of that race! The first 6-8 miles, I remember just feeling so nervous, and I was trying not to feel too overwhelmed by how many miles were still remaining, but actually, I felt fresh. I tried to soak in the atmosphere, sing along to the music, smile at the cameras, and chat with people on the course. When I saw coaches Josh and Jack around mile 22, I was so excited for them to see I was perfectly on track with the plan!! And then after that moment, I just suddenly felt really confident! My legs hurt, but 4 miles just felt like nothing in the grand scheme of things?! So I pushed on, finished strong, and when I crossed that finish line, I was just in shock at what I had achieved!! I'm not sure another race can top that!

What's your biggest goal in the next 12 months?

As much as I have some BIG time goals to achieve, my biggest goal is to gain more confidence with racing! I've previously always negatively split my races as I'm too scared to go out too fast, which can work, of course! But if I really want to see what I'm capable of, I need to be able to run on effort, go out hard and see what I can finish in!

So, welcome to the new SKINS SCA x PGC1 athletes! Over the next 12 months, we will follow these athletes as they use SKINS equipment to help them train for their goals. In this series of journals, we will go into the rationale behind their training, following them through the highs and lows of competition. In next month's issue, we will see how the athletes started the autumn season and have taken steps towards their ultimate goals.

All images courtesy of @RyanJamieJohnson