Leaving home to study at university is a big change for any teenager, and young athletes can often find it tough to juggle a new routine with training. Kathryn Pennel, a member of Pitreavie shows how with a bit of planning it is achievable.
Kathryn is now in third year at Glasgow University studying for an honours degree in Immunology. She initialy joined the Glasgow University Hares group and from there has joined another training group. Typically Kathryn trains three times a week, in the summer at Nethercraigs track and in the winter at various parks and venues in Glasgow, but mainly Glasgow Green. As well as training nights she fits in early morning training runs on other days and does some gym work on other evenings.
The first couple of years in Glasgow she has been settling into a new environment, getting used to balancing her studies, doing some part time work, whilst continuing her athletics training and competing. She has started to see some improvement this year where she has achieved personal bests in her 1,500m, 3,000m, 5K and 10K Road race times.
Kathryn doesn't like to think too far ahead but as she gets older will probably look to increase the distances which she focuses on. She really enjoys road running, so maybe the marathon will be her eventual target, however that is likely a longer term target for 6 or 7 years time.
Kathryn is now looking forward to the Cross Country season in her last year as an Under 20 athlete.
Listed below are some of Kathryn's achievements over the past year;
- West District Cross Country 1st U'20
- Glasgow University 5 mile road race 1st U'20 & Winner of Shiela Fairweather Trophy for the First Female Student
- Represented Scotland U'20 in Home International Cross Country
- Represented Scottish Universities in Cross Country and 3,000m
- Scottish 5K Road Race U'20 Champion
- Scottish 10K Road Race Championship - 1st Under 20 (8th overall)
Achieved Personal Bests in the 1,500m, 3,000m, 5K road and 10K over the course of the summer.
In addition to these Kathryn went with friends in July to watch the Diamond league in London, The following morning after the Diamond League event they decided to compete in the Mile End Park run where Kathryn set a course record - http://www.parkrun.org.uk/mileend/news/2013/07/29/record-breaker-event-78-27th-july-2013/
