Beginner’s pluck: Running coach and journalist Lucy Waterlow

'The Ultimate Guide to Parkrun' tells you everything you need to know about parkrun, with contributions from numerous parkrun addicts.

Lucy Waterlow: 'I’ve ghostwritten two running books and co-written two more. And I contribute to 'Runner’s World', and other running magazines.'

Lucy started running aged 10, following her father, who was her first running coach. She continued at university and has won numerous county medals in cross country.

She started work as a journalist on local papers.

“I did that for two or three years, and in that time moved to the South Watford Observer. Then in 2005, I went freelance.”

She worked on show business magazines; for the Sun online, the Mail online and for Sky News.

“ Big Brother was on my doorstep, and I went to all the press conferences.”

Over the years, alongside running cross country races and marathons, Lucy became a running coach.

“And I started to focus my writing on running too,” she says. 

“I’ve ghostwritten two running books and co-written two more. And I contribute to Runner’s World, and other running magazines.”

Lucy has always loved Parkrun and was thrilled when a publisher asked her to write The Ultimate Guide to Parkrun for Parkrun’s 20th anniversary.

Who is Lucy Waterlow?

Date/ place of birth: 1980/ Norwich, and at eight years old moved to Cheshire.

Education: Altringham Grammar school for girls, Cheshire; Loughborough University, English. “It was big on sport”; De Montfort University, Leicester. Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism.

Home: St Alban’s for the past 20 years.

Family: Husband Ed, Dylan, aged 6, and Lyra, aged 4.

The day job: Running coach and journalist.

In another life: “I’d be either a historian or an archaeologist. I’ve always loved history.”

Favourite writers: Philip Pullman; Mat Haig; Kate Moreton; Sarah Waters; Kate Mosse; Charles Dickens.

Next book: “I’d love to write the ultimate guide to the London Marathon, but I’ve not pitched it yet.”

Top tip: Perseverance. “And focus on one chapter at a time. [Like in a marathon you focus on each mile].”

Website: www.runningjo.co.uk/about-us/lucy-waterlow/

Instagram: @runningfeatlucy

The debut

The Ultimate Guide to Parkrun
Canbury Press, €22.95

Parkrun started in London with 13 runners. Twenty years on, 350,000 people take part every week, worldwide (With 152 locations in Ireland).

This guide tells you everything you need to know, with contributions from numerous parkrun addicts.

“Hopefully it will inspire people to take part. You don’t have to run fast. You can walk, or volunteer.”

The verdict: Brilliant! As a prolific parkrunner, I learned a lot.