Visiting Olympian Steph Twell has heaped praised on the EY Easter Running Festival saying she feels “inspired” every time she visits Guernsey.
The athlete took top female honours in the four-day long running event with wins in the 10k road race, and cross country run, and a fourth place finish in the 5k road race.
She told Guernsey Athletics’ Nick Mann that she had not initially intended to run all four races over the Easter weekend.
“I get carried away because I just love the races,” she said.
Twell is a regular visitor to the festival – which is sponsored by EY, and features four different running events over the long bank holiday weekend – and it appears to be playing a role in her changing relationship with running as she moves away from top level competition.
This weekend saw her train some of the island’s youngest athletes while sharing her insights with other runners over the course of the weekend.
“If you can give back, some coaching cues or coaching knowledge to that next generation, I think it’s really beneficial.”
It was Guernsey where Twell got her first taste of racing in a senior environment.
“Giving back to that generation where I started my development is really nice.”
“I come away from Guernsey, and I’m always inspired,” Twell told Mann.
“I think it helps me. The different routes, the different events, just makes you want to run.
“It’s got that magic about it of wanting to take part and it not being so serious, but you can still get a lot out of it. I think that’s the joy of what I need in my running, if I’m honest.
“So it’s been really helpful and inspiring for me to know that I can still turn up on a start line and not feel overwhelmed or feel that performance anxiety.
“The festival makes everyone feel welcome, everyone gives it a go.”
Among the 340 runners who had entered at least one of the races, was Twell’s husband Joe Moorwood who is another regular visitor to Guernsey for the EY Easter Running Festival.
They were joined by entrants from Jersey Spartans, Victoria Park Harriers and Tower Hamlets, Exmouth Harriers, Medway Tri Club, Aldershot, Farnham & District, and other clubs.
Some of those entrants return year after year to take part, and Twell said she knows why.
“We created a lot of memories here.
“Every year you create new stories, you add to the collection of memories. We’re very similar to the Bournemouth and Poole lot, who are very inspiring. We saw them at the Peninsular and they’ve been coming here for 25 years, they always come back.”
All photos with thanks to EY and Peter Frankland.