Meet Alexandra!
When did running start for you?
In 2016, I was living in Spain, had piled weight on and was not in a particularly happy place.
A good friend of mine at the time was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer and suggested my life wasn’t all that bad considering!
Helen asked if I’d run a Race for Life in her memory, and accept the challenge to run 5 x 5km, 10 x 10km, a half and a marathon in 2017 for charities that she nominated, which I did.
Almost £32,000 spread over 17 charities….it was a tough year, I hated every run, but I was losing weight and alive…..Sadly she never saw me complete the last run, the marathon, which I didn’t actually manage to do until 2020.
I couldn’t face trying. But, when the pandemic meant the London Marathon went virtual, I, alongside my friend Abi, got charity places to raise money for MacMillan – so although time had ticked on, I didn’t let Helen down in the end.
Strength and Conditioning Coach
England Athletics Endurance Coach
More from Alexandra
Nowadays, 25kg lighter, I run for pure joy!
Why do you run?
Nowadays, infinitely more grounded, I run for pure joy.
For the freedom to choose any direction, any path, any adventure. Running is something that can take you anywhere, and I love that it’s entirely yours to shape.
It’s a gift, and I respect it now more than ever
What race or moment in your running career holds the most significance and why?
There have been some big ones over the years but three stand above the rest for what they taught me:
UTMB OCC (2024)
A dream race, 56km, a pilgrimage, a test of everything I thought I knew about myself. The scale, the atmosphere, the community, the mountains. The UTMB OCC was a reminder of what’s possible when you keep showing up. It stretched me, humbled me, and lit a fire that still burns.
Centurion Autumn 100 (2025)
This one is personal. This was my second attempt having been timed out at 66 miles in 2024. I went back. I finished. 100 miles!
Crossing that line wasn’t about pace or splits, it was about resilience, patience, and refusing to let a setback define the story. It changed how I coach, how I race, and how I see myself.
The Ultra Trail Snowdonia (2022) and the Centurion Wendover Woods Overnight Run, both 51km, and both, to say the least, challenging!
These were the early catalysts. UTS was a day of scrambling up Welsh crags, sliding down muddy cliff faces mostly on my backside, wading through bogs, and occasionally running — I loved it. Wendover Woods was the opposite: dark, hilly, lonely, brutally honest — and yes, I loved that too
These moments give me perspective. They remind me to be grateful for every challenge, every lesson, every chance to move forward..
Who is your running inspiration?
My athletes!
They are the heartbeat of what I do. They are the reason I coach, the reason NLRC exists, and the reason I show up with purpose every single day.
I’m inspired by the way they commit to themselves, even when life is busy or messy.
The way they keep turning up, even on the days when motivation is nowhere to be found. By the honesty they bring to the process. The highs, the lows, the doubts, the breakthroughs.
I see courage in every starting line, resilience in every setback, and pride in every small win they allow themselves to celebrate.
Watching people realise they’re capable of more than they ever believed is one of the greatest privileges of my life.
Their journeys shape me as a coach. Their trust pushes me to keep learning, keep improving, and keep showing up with integrity.
They remind me daily that running is about far more than miles, it’s about growth, community, and discovering what’s possible when you give yourself a chance.
Empowering runners is at the core of my work. Whether someone is taking their first brave steps or chasing a lifelong dream, I’m driven by the belief that every runner deserves to feel capable, confident, and supported.
Helping people unlock their potential, physically, mentally, emotionally is one of the most rewarding parts of coaching.
Watching someone realise they can do hard things, trust their body, and back themselves fully… that’s the kind of empowerment that lasts far beyond a finish line.
They inspire me, always.
What golden piece of advice would you give to other runners?
Smile! Focus on the journey, the adventure, not the destination!
You’ve got the drive - now let’s turn it into progress.
