I first started running as a teenager in Suffolk, along the beach and through the fields. A move north to University then led to twenty years running the fells of Lancashire and Lakeland. These days, I can often be found running among the hills and woodlands of Charnwood in Leicestershire (generally while trying – and failing – to keep up with my spaniel, Topsy).
When not training for off-road ultras I also enjoy cycling, and a favourite pastime is cycle-touring around the abandoned Second World War air bases of East Anglia.
My love of both history and running recently led to a special feature in Runner's World magazine. It included several specially designed routes exploring a variety of different histories, from the World War II defences of the Suffolk coast, to the deer park at Bradgate in Leicestershire, to the legacies of transatlantic slavery in Lancashire.
I've also contributed insights on running culture to BBC Radio 4's On the Run, to the Runner's World podcast, and to various media outlets, including The Economist.
Image: Nicola Bishop
Image: Nicola Bishop