Nina started running in 2010 as a way of fundraising for cancer charities after her sister was diagnosed.
Despite her own challenges with a foot condition which required corrective surgery she has continued with the sport and has inspired many other women, and men, to take up running too.
“Once you start running, you get the running bug as they call it. It really is very good for you, mentally and physically. It just keeps negative thoughts away.
“If you’ve had a bad day, go out for a run. If you’ve had a good day, go out. It just clears away all the cobwebs. It’s fantastic.”
Pictured: Nina during a running event in Scotland.
Along with some members of her Thirty Thursday group, which meets at the Pétanque courts at North Beach at 18:00 every week during the winter months, Nina is currently training for the Guernsey Marathon in April, and she’ll be doing the Butterfield Half Marathon in September too.
She said there are many other people training for these events and more, and it always seems like there is someone out running in Guernsey.
“Since I’ve started running I’ve noticed that it looks like about 10% of the population are runners, and it seems like most of them are women!
“I have heard statistics that 6% of the word have run a marathon and I think most of those people must be in Guernsey!”
Although her group is not only for women, there are a healthy number of women who take part each week. The winter route is always from North Beach towards Bulwer Avenue and back, while the group moves around the island during the summer months.
Safety was one of Nina’s considerations when she launched Thirty Thursday.
“That’s particularly why we run along the front on a Thursday, because it’s well lit. There’re pathways all the way along to Bulwer Avenue so you won’t be stuck behind a car. In the summer we do other routes because it’s lighter but in the winter we stick to the east coast, in all weathers, even with waves coming over the sea wall.”
Pictured: Nina Mattinson during the Amsterdam Marathon.
Through her running Nina has made many friends, which highlights how supportive the running community is.
“Most of my friends are runners,” she said.
“I’ve been running for quite a while now so you become accustomed to the culture, and everyone is very supportive, and not only supportive of things in your life but where to get the best running gear from and the best value.”
For anyone wanting to get in to running, as well as Nina’s Thirty Thursday group she says you can also look at some apps.
“There’re loads of ‘couch to 5k’ apps, and different distances you can look at, but the 5k is a very good place to start. My advice is just to get out there even when you don’t want to.
“The moment you’ve gone out, within ten minutes it really clears the air and you just feel so much better for doing something rather than doing nothing. Running is very good for all of that.
“It’s a free sport, really. And I would not have seen the majority of Guernsey if I hadn’t been a runner. I love going along and looking up new routes and running down roads I’ve never been down before.
“And when you’ve completed a distance that you’ve never done before, you just feel really proud of yourself. It’s very good for that sort of thing and mental health and physical health.
“Yes, running is my favourite sport.”
Pictured top: Nina Mattinson completing the Butterfield Half Marathon.