Interview: Mel Bound of This Mum Runs
If you live in Bristol and you happen to be a mum then chances are you will have heard of multi award winning This Mum Runs.
It started with a desperate Facebook plea (“aaagh I’m an out of shape mum”) calling for running buddies back in November 2014. Two years later Mel has found herself leading a 10,000 strong (and growing) community of women with dreams of global domination.
Her story is one of hard work, commitment, strength and endurance (and I’m not even talking about the running here). In the process she has inspired and helped thousands of women to not only fall in love with running, but to find some much needed headspace. She took time out of her busy day to answer some questions …
Tell us a bit about you and how This Mum Runs began
I’m a 44 year old Mum of two. I’ve been running since I was 10 but after kids and back surgery struggled to do anything active for 3 or 4 years.
A chance shout out on Facebook for a running buddy, led to 75 mums turning up for a run on a rainy November evening in 2014. We met again the next week, then again the next. Mums from other areas asked if they could join in, so I set up a Facebook group and called it This Mum Runs to help manage it.
6 months later I was made redundant and loved This Mum Runs so much I started working on it full time. Two years later, we’ve built a community of more than 10,000 women, trained 60 mums as running coaches, 200 as Run Angel volunteers, and offer hundreds of free runs in Bristol, London and Bath every month. It’s an understatement to say it’s been life changing!
How would you describe yourself?
Determined to make a difference.
What do you love about your business?
Working with women who have never exercised before and empowering them to believe they can. Being my own boss and building a business that I am proud to tell my kids about. And I get to talk about running ALL the time.
What’s your favourite place for a healthy brunch/lunch in Bristol?
I’m a massive sushi fan and love Obento’s for authentic Japanese sushi as well as Yo Sushi for the multi sensory experience. I also love a classic smashed “avo and eggs” at Tincan on North Street.
What’s your fitness routine and how do you fit it in around work and kids?
I’m injured at the moment so my usual routine has gone a little bit out of the window while I focus on rehab.
My typical routine though would include some stretching and mobility every morning and evening — usually lying in my kid’s rooms while they are getting dressed or ready for bed. Then running 4 times a week once the kids are in bed — a couple of times with TMR and longer runs on my own or with a friend. I try and get off road and into the woods as much as possible. I do a Body Balance session on a Saturday morning which I absolutely love.
Fitting it in is a challenge for sure. But the key is being organised, planning it into my diary every week and letting my family know when I’ll be out. Then being disciplined to get out and do it, even on the days when I’m feeling tired at the end of a busy day. I never ever regret a run and that thought is the one that gets me out the door on days when motivation is low.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of taking up running?
The most important thing when you’re just starting out is to build up very gradually. So many people do too much too quickly and end up injured, or hating it because it feels hard! Our Run30 programme starts with just a minute or two of running in between walking and builds up super gradually over 8 weeks so that you don’t really notice the increase and your body gets used to the additional load. If you join a group like This Mum Runs, or start with a friend it’s so much easier to find the motivation to go every week too.
What would your perfect day in Bristol look like?
A lovely long run with friends through Leigh Woods and Ashton Court. Then a river taxi to the Harbour side with the kids for a wander and play in the fountains, followed by dinner and cocktails on the balcony at Riverstation in the sunshine. And no tantrums. Or is that asking too much?
I think after all your hard work Mel, that’s not asking too much at all!
You can find out more about This Mum Runs here:
