Radio presenter and podcast host Jenni Falconer talks about her love of running, overcoming injury and coming back stronger than ever…
For many people, the idea of running the London Marathon even once is the stuff of bucket-list dreams. But when radio presenter and podcast host Jenni Falconer takes to its starting line on April 23, it will, in fact, be her ninth time completing the gruelling 26.2 mile race – and she couldn’t be more excited.
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‘It’s possibly the most iconic, most incredible race ever,’ the 47-year-old says of the famous event. ‘It’s got an electricity about it, even if you’ve done it several times before. The camaraderie amongst the runners is very special, and the noise from the crowds is so amazing – it’s almost like a blazing cacophony that carries you along. There’s something very special about getting past Big Ben in the final stretch. You’ve got maybe a kilometre to go – and it’s the longest kilometre in the world – but once you turn the corner at Buckingham Palace and see the finish line, you give it your all. Even if you hate every minute of the run, you’ll be overwhelmed with pride when you cross the finish line. I just love it.’
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Unbelievable atmosphere and sense of achievement aside, Jenni Falconer’s anticipation for this year’s event is higher than ever following her injury-riddled journey to the start line. Whilst training for last year’s London Marathon, held on October 2, the mum-of-one tore her IT band in August and was subsequently diagnosed with gluteal tendinopathy, a painful type of tendon disorder that causes tendon tissue to break down. As a result, she was forced to stop running for four whole months.
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Rest and recovery
‘I was training seriously and following a great programme written especially for me, but I think I just upped the distance or intensity a bit quicker than I should have,’ Jenni Falconer explains. ‘One day I was running, and the next I couldn’t walk.’
After two months of rest, an MRI scan detected Falconer’s injuries, which meant another two months of slow recovery. ‘And for someone who pretty much ran their commute five days a week,’ she adds, ‘taking four months off from running was horrible, horrible, horrible.’
Falconer’s biggest fear during this time was the impact not running would have on her mental health, but she found a solution by filling her time with other activities, including walking. ‘I even walked my normal running commute once or twice, which took forever! But I got the same kind of buzz from being outside and getting my steps in.’
‘I started taking collagen and noticed a big difference to my exercise recovery,’ she explains. ‘But then I also noticed the skin benefits; my acne went, and my hair was thicker – I felt I was onto something.’ – Jenni Falconer
Interestingly, none of Falconer’s injuries have been joint-related – something she credits to taking a collagen supplement since 2009 on the advice of a TV doctor, to help counteract the effects of excessive pavement pounding. ‘I started taking collagen and noticed a big difference to my exercise recovery,’ she explains. ‘But then I also noticed the skin benefits; my acne went, and my hair was thicker – I felt I was onto something.’
Jenni Falconer co-founded and launched liquid marine collagen supplement Kollo, in April 2020 after ‘boring everyone else about the benefits’ and says the results from clinical studies ‘show it can slow the ageing process by reducing wrinkle development. But it also helps recovery after exercise, supports the joints, protects the cartilage, and aids muscle growth – it’s everything you could want if you’re working out or running.’
‘[The London Marathon has] got an electricity about it, even if you’ve done it several times before. The camaraderie amongst the runners is very special, and the noise from the crowds is so amazing.’ – Jenni Falconer
Inner strength
After taking up CrossFit earlier in 2022, Falconer also returned to the gym under the guidance of her trainer Mike Gornall, head coach at CrossFit, Putney. ‘I loved CrossFit, but I was too scared to return after the injury because I couldn’t squat, lunge or do anything that impacted my hip. So, I went to Mike for personal training, and he tailored my strength and conditioning workouts to my recovery.
‘I’ve since recognised that when I did weight training in previous years, I didn’t get injured, and when I didn’t, I did pick up injuries. Now I believe, if you love running and you only run, you’re setting yourself up for a fall, because you need to support those muscles and joints with strength training. Clearly, going to the occasional CrossFit class last year wasn’t sufficient enough to support my marathon training, so this year it’s been an unconditional extra,’ she says.
‘I was training seriously and following a great programme written especially for me, but I think I just upped the distance or intensity a bit quicker than I should have. One day I was running, and the next I couldn’t walk.’ – Jenni Falconer
Falconer finally returned to running at the beginning of December last year, but admits she was ‘terrified’ because the last thing she wanted was to get injured again and not be able to run for another four months. ‘I was told to run only once or twice a week max, so I wasn’t running far and I definitely wasn’t running fast. A normal short run for me had been around six or seven miles, but that became my long run, which was difficult to get my head around.’
A new path
Today, Falconer is feeling strong, but admits her recent injury has forced her to reassess her running goals. ‘It’s now 14 years since I ran my first London Marathon and my fitness has definitely changed in that time. I’m not a young, single, child-free person anymore, so my ability to train is very different. I’ve been running since I was 19 and I’m now 47, so right now, I’m more concerned with being able to keep running in the future. Maybe, after this marathon, I’ll take a break from long-distance running and try to get a fast 5K or 10K to mix things up, because I love running and I always want to be able to do what I love.’
Does she think there’ll ever be a time when she’ll be able to get near to her impressive marathon PB of 3:31:02? ‘Well, pretty much all the marathons I’ve done have been in the 3:50-something range, so it would be amazing to achieve something like that this time around,’ she says. ‘But my main aim is to get round the course and be proud of that, rather than focusing too much on my time.’
‘If you love running and you only run, you’re setting yourself up for a fall, because you need to support those muscles and joints with strength training.’ – Jenni Falconer
Feeling good
These days, Falconer runs three days a week (she now insists on a recovery day between every single run), goes to the gym twice a week and plays golf as often as she can. ‘When I can run and play golf, I’m super happy,’ she says. And she fits it all around her 6am-10am Smooth Breakfast London radio show, not to mention picking up her 11-year-old daughter from school.
‘For eight years, I got up at 2am every morning to start on the radio at 4am for the early breakfast shift, then quite often I’d go on the Lorraine show afterwards or do This Morning, and maybe even another job in the afternoon or evening. It was a killer, and the only thing that helped me through was exercise,’ she explains. ‘In fact, that’s how I started running home, because if I didn’t do some form of activity, I’d fall asleep on the tube or in a taxi home. But if I ran home, I’d feel re-energised, completely awake and ready to carry on with the rest of the day.’
‘It’s now 14 years since I ran my first London Marathon and my fitness has definitely changed in that time. I’m not a young, single, child-free person anymore, so my ability to train is very different.’ – Jenni Falconer
As the host of the hugely popular and inspiring running podcast, Run Pod, Falconer has spent the past four years chatting to a diverse range of famous faces every week – from Paula Radcliffe, Mo Farah and marathon world-record holder Eliud Kipchoge, to Amanda Holden, Peter Andre and Ruth Langsford – all in the name of inspiring others to keep running. And yet, rather ironically, she admits it’s now harder than ever for her to find the time to fit running into her life, especially since her working hours changed and her day has become shorter.
But she makes the time to run, she says, because ‘it’s the difference to me, I suppose, between feeling really empowered, energised and focused, or feeling a little bit anxious and lost. I always say running helps me to see clearly when I’m panicking or feeling stressed, so I use my runs to think things through – one year, I ran a marathon and planned my entire wedding! Running helps me gain perspective, calms me down and take all my stresses away.’
Jenni Falconer: my top tips to get running
Early riser
‘The best time to go running is in the morning, because then you can tick it off and get on with the rest of your day. Commit to getting up half an hour earlier twice a week to get into the habit of running – just 20 minutes will do. You’ll soon like the feeling you get, and then you’ll crave it, so you’ll want to go more. Get up, get out, get it done.’
Buddy up
‘Personally, I don’t think you have to physically run with someone to enjoy the motivational benefits of roping in a friend. Set up a WhatsApp group with a mate or two, decide what the goal is, then check in with each other to talk about how it went.’
Picture perfect
‘Take a photo of yourself at the end of your run. You might be sweaty and look like a tomato, but it doesn’t matter – that face will have joy coming out of it. If you’re struggling to find time to go for a run, or it’s raining, or you can’t be bothered, look at that photo and think about how you want to look that happy again. Always know that you won’t regret going out for that run, but you might regret not going.’
Jenni Falconer: My Running Essentials
‘I’m all about the Runderwear Women’s Anti-Blister Running Socks Low. They’re very cushioned, don’t budge or wrinkle (which is key), and double-layered so you don’t get blisters. I won’t run in anything else.’
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‘A good sports bra is essential, because every step you take when running unsupported is a bounce that could be doing damage to the ligaments in your chest. The Maaree Solidarity High-Impact Sports Bra is a favourite of mine.’
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$89 / £68, maaree.com
‘Every day, I take Kollo 10,000mg Premium Liquid Marine Collagen supplements (£29.97 for 14; kollohealth.com). It tastes great, and contains 100 per cent of our RDA for vitamin C, B12, B5, as well as some L-lysine, B1 and B6.’
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£35.99, kollohealth.com (not available in the US)
‘I’m training for the marathon in the Brooks Glycerin GTS 20 (£155). I need shoes that support my ankles because they’re quite weak, and these are the most cushioned, supportive shoes I’ve found.’
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‘Designed By Sport is a great brand run by two women who do lovely prints, and the price point is a bit cheaper than some of the bigger brands. The Bolt of Gold Shorts (£34.99) are brilliant in the summer.’
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£34.99, designedbysports.co.uk (not available in the US)
Words: Joanna Ebsworth | Photography: Craig Sugden | Clothing: New Balance Printed Impact Run Tank, Printed Impact Run Tight and Fresh Foam X More v4 Trainers; Sweaty Betty Power 7/8 Gym Leggings and Athlete Seamless Vest | Make-up: Gia Mills, founder of Skin in Motion (@skin.in.motion)
