As a quick bit of background for those maybe less familiar with Tom, he runs for Cumbria based race organisers Freedom Racing. He has made a habit of picking up silverware for fun at their 'Summer Sessions’ 10k trail races, picked up 2nd at the notoriously unforgiving MudCrew ‘Arc50’ (50 miles) at the beginning of this year and most recently grabbed top spot at the Bys Vyken Events ‘Cousin Jack’ coastal 18 mile race. He has also made his mark by holding his own further afield in a number of mountain races in the UK and around Europe.
Our first guest is the one and only Falmouth based runner Tom Carthy. Tom is notoriously modest, and the deal we struck for this chat was no exception. No cameras or microphones allowed. Just me, him and some locally brewed Cornish ales courtesy of Pipeline Brewery, St Agnes.
Ok Tom, let’s go back to where it all began. At what age did you compete in your first ever running event? What was it? How did you do?
Ok, so I joined Falmouth Road Runners back in 2011. This was basically because I wanted to keep fit and lose some weight. I always used to see runners going around Falmouth and it looked like fun so one Tuesday I just went along. I joined the road runners in November of that year and by March 2012 the first ever Cornwall Hospice Care Half Marathon was organised so I Jumped into it! Baring in mind this is a good old hilly-half with 365m of climbing. My longest training run was 10 miles or so and I really didn’t know how to run a race, but I did ok and crossed the line in 1hr 38mins.
That’s a respectable time on that Course for sure! You say you used to spot runners going around Falmouth - Who’s a runner(s) that you look up to now?
That’s an interesting question, give me two minutes to think!
When I started it was definitely Brennan Townshend. He’s a runner that used to tear up races in the South, but he knew that to take it to the next level, he had to leave Dartmoor and go find those mountains! He moved to Keswick with the aim of fulfilling his potential and it worked out!
If I could pick a second it would have to be British fell running champion Carl Bell. He’s a very modest and humble guy who gets embarrassed having photos taken. I remember when he came down to Cornwall and did two races in quick succession - the Poldhu 10k which he totally annihilated and still holds the course record for, and a one-off race set up by MudCrew called ‘Man v Gig’. You basically had to race a gig from point-to-point and they put a £200 purse on it adamant that no one could win. Anyway, he walked away with the cash!
I was hoping you’d bring some of these stories tonight! Without getting too spiritual too early, what’s your running Mantra?
Enjoy the training for the social and fun side, but when racing, aim to leave everything out there and compete.
Fair! This next one is something I have always wondered about you. I think I know the answer but I need clarification. Trail or Road and why?
Funny, that question’s asked a lot. It’s got to be trail. I enjoy the technicalities of it. I would also say that I’m a better trail runner than I am a road runner, and I think I’ve definitely achieved my best results on the trails. I would say that my biggest strength lies with elevation - it’s the only place where I feel I can mix it with some of the better runners. There are guys that I can’t get near to on a flat 10k, that I can suddenly compete with when it becomes a bit lumpier!
All of this being said, I can easily get sucked into the odd road race!
The million dollar question now - what is the first thing you reach for post run?
(Laughs) A Pale Ale! Are you happy for me to say that?
Too right!
I always feel like I’ve earned it. Also, the aftermath, as in the social side to running or a race, is just as important to me. When I’m not racing I love an all-nighter marshalling too!