098 RUNNERSWORLD.COM/UK MAY 2019COFFEE GIVES ME A KICK IN THE
MORNING. I’ll run on an empty
stomach, but when I get back I make
a shake with almond milk, a banana,
whey powder, flaxseeds, peanut butter
and ice cubes. I’ll have that within
half an hour of training and then I eat
throughout the day. My body burns
1,700 calories a day at rest, so I have
to eat a lot, especially if I’m training.WHEN I DID THE LONDON MARATHON
[in 2010], the longest distance I’d everrun was 12 miles. My hip went when
I was training – I couldn’t even make
it home. My physiotherapist told me
not to do the marathon, but he knew
that I would, so he said I could walk
two miles, jog a bit, then walk again.
Of course, when the gun went off,
I ran, and when I got to the 12-mile
marker, everything was new to me,
because I’d never gone further than
that. It was scary, but I ran to the
finish line without stopping [he
finished in 4:39].Follow Lee’s training
on Twitter and
Instagram at
@llatchfordevans or
via his website,
leelatchfordevans.comI’M A RUNNER
LEE LATCHFORD-EVANS
THE STEPS SINGER, 44, ON RUNNING LIKE A WHIPPET AND PUSHING PAST 12 MILES
IT’S SURPRISING WHAT YOU CAN
LEARN FROM A PROFESSIONAL.
When I did The Games on Channel 4,
we learnt to sprint for the 100m and
it was all about the arms. Then, when
I started training for triathlons, I did
two weeks of calf conditioning with
sports scientist Helen Hall. She taught
me to run from the knee using short
strides, to protect my joints and also
to sustain energy. When my wife
watched me, she said I looked like
a whippet with weird little fast feet.I DON’T LIKE THE TREADMILL, but
when I was touring with Steps it was
my only option. If I’d gone running in
the streets, everyone would have gone
mental. Now I can run outside when
I’m abroad. I love running along the
beach in Mexico, and I’ve got an
apartment by the sea in Egypt, where
I do a four-mile run along the pier.I’M ANAL ABOUT MATCHING. If I’m
wearing blue trainers, it’s got to be a
blue T-shirt, and if I’m wearing a
hoodie, it’s got to match my shorts or
jogging bottoms. It’s a habit I’m trying
to get out of, and I’ve started buying
T-shirts with motivational slogans.
I’ve got one that says, ‘Today’s actions
are tomorrow’s results.’I’VE ALWAYS BEEN INTO FITNESS. As
well as running I do CrossFit. There’s
a workout we do called The Murph,
named after a US Marine called
Murphy. It’s a mile run followed by
100 pull-ups, 200 press-ups and 300
squats, then another mile run. We do
it wearing 10kg vests.I DO LISTEN TO STEPS WHEN I RUN.
I put in my headphones and it’ll be
everything from pure pop to Linkin
Park, Bon Jovi and U2. I like Ruelle,
who does uplifting, motivational
music, and I’ve just started listening
to fitness podcasts.‘I’m anal about
matching. If I’m
wearing blue
trainers, it’s got to
be a blue T-shirt’
INTERVIEW:SAMANTHA^REA.PHOTOGRAPH:^ DANROSS