Carl is with Hasting’s running legend Ross Skelton. Ross is an elite runner who has competed in over 238 races.
From death's door to competing on a world stage, against Mo Farah
Ross has faced and overcome personal adversity to be on the start line alongside professionals such as Mo Farrah and shares his running journey in this fascinating interview.
He discusses the importance of consistency, altitude training and having the right mindset if you want to move forward in your life and shares great tips on what it takes to be an elite runner.
Whether you are a runner or not Ross’s journey will resonate and there is great advice about what it takes to be successful in whatever you have chosen to focus on.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
It’s important to peak at the right time and it takes discipline to achieve this.
As you get into bigger races you need to adjust mentally with your focus being on the goals you have set yourself.
You need to focus on working on yourself and achieving the best you can.
It’s important to understand that your focus needs to only be on yourself, others are not important
As a runner, each day is completely different so you can’t rely on an App to tell you what to do.
High altitude training is simulating the experience of running at a high altitude. Running at high altitude above sea level will over time create more red blood cells meaning that when you compete you will be able to maintain your pace due to increased blood flow.
Having the right support system in place is a vital part of running successfully.
In life, you have to be prepared to be uncomfortable if you want to get things done.
When you put yourself in an uncomfortable situation you will adapt and move past the challenges.
If you are consistent you will see drastic improvements in the areas you are consistent in.
You have to believe in yourself 100% if you want to achieve anything.
BEST MOMENTS
‘You are running by yourself to win amongst a big group of other people’
‘You need to know that you have achieved your best’
‘There are lots of health benefits from altitude training’
VALUABLE RESOURCES
HKA Main landing page www.hastingskickboxing.co.uk/kickstartnow
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/Hastingskickboxing
HKA Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Hastingskickboxing
Adult community link https://m.facebook.com/groups/274624209886110?ref=share
carldenne@hotmail.com - Join Leigha every weekday for a workout for a fiver per month
ABOUT THE GUEST
From sleeping in Cot to High altitude tent; From racing my dad down the road to racing against Mo Farah
Ross Skelton has completed in over 238 races, he runs on average 90 - 120 miles a week, most people don’t even drive that.
This is hard to comprehend when Ross has suffered from Mals, from the age of 10 to the age of 23(that very nearly killed Ross).
Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is a condition in which the median arcuate ligament presses too tightly on the celiac artery (a major branch of the aorta that delivers blood to the stomach, liver, and other organs) and the nerves in the area (celiac plexus) and very nearly killed him, Ross was told he would never be able to run.
He’s completed a grueling 26.2-mile race in a time of two hours, 25 minutes, and 50 seconds despite being sick three times. Ross in the 10k I’m ranked 5th.
In the Antrim coast half marathon. Took 30 seconds off his PB with an insane - 64:36 and was 10th overall against the like of Mo Farah.
The importance of having a good coach/support team.
Trains at Bushy park twice a week.
Only really fears himself and always wants to achieve the best he can.
Shout out to HY - https://www.facebook.com/hyaltitude/?ref=br_rs
https://www.runbritainrankings.com/runners/profile.aspx?athleteid=49783
https://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=49783
ABOUT THE HOST
Hi, my name is Carl Denne.
I was born in Hastings in 1980. Married, father of two beautiful daughters, Bethany and Leigha.
My daughters, the wife, and gym ARE MY LIFE.
IF I’M HONEST, I pretty much failed at school. Heavily dyslexic, I was dismissed for being a “naughty kid” that didn’t want to learn. I was heavily bullied for having shit clothes and ginger afro hair. I didn’t have many friends.
When I say bullied I don’t mean called a “short ginger idiot” and being looked at in a nasty way. I mean thrown downstairs, and hit with chairs and tables. Clothes were stolen whilst in the shower. That kind of bullying…
Oh, how things have changed…
Martial arts, and specifically Kickboxing, have changed my life, and now I am much happier and change other people’s lives for the better on a daily basis.
I am a complete adrenaline freak, so In my spare time, track days, jumping out of planes, sitting on top of them, rage buggies in the desert… The higher, the faster the better for me. I’m always looking for the next thing to get my blood pumping, so if anyone has a challenge I’ve not found yet, please feel free to share.
I do like a Saturday night movie night, Chinese, Netflix, lots of chocolate with my three little ladies. I love being around my friends and family. This is why I love the crazy HKA family so much, as this is my extended family.
I left school with pretty much nothing! A few sad GCSE’s C - D grade, BUT I did have a shit-ton of energy and passion to achieve, and to prove all the teachers and people that looked down on me for all those years, wrong. So, after a few jobs here and there, I settled on working for Openreach (BT) as a cabler/jointer copper and fibre optic multi-skilled engineer with HGV.
I left this in 2015 to chase my dream of running my own Kickboxing Academy and working with the future of today, rather than a job that just paid the bills.
I’ve trained pretty much my whole life: Karate, boxing, Judo, from the age of 9, and of course, I’ve now done over 29 years of Kickboxing. I’ve passed many Instructors and coaches courses, attended many training courses and seminars, grading up through the syllabus. I passed my 4-hour hell-on-earth 3rd Dan black belt in July 2018 with the ICO.
If I’m honest my real passion and skills have come from learning the hard way; through being in the trenches. I know how it feels to be on your arse. I know how it feels to have to pull yourself out of the pit. I’ve been through a divorce. I’ve lived through the pain and have worked with thousands of members, students, children, teachers and adults over the years, and the one thing I get told every time is how well I/we keep it very real, and that I have a complete understanding on most eventualities.
Thank you for reading and listening. I hope you connect with myself and the team, take away some ideas, understand you’re not alone, and that it’s good to talk, listen and help others as and when you can.
