With the 2020 Olympics just around the corner, we caught up with former team GB runner, Ross Murray, to discover more about his history, his hopes, and his very own wellness routine.
I discovered my love of running after taking part in school races when I was 8 years old, and from there my journey towards the Olympics began. I joined my first running club at 10, competed in school championships at 14, and joined the GB international cross country team at 17.
After this, I went on to study at St Mary’s University in Twickenham. They have an internationally-renowned Endurance and Performance Centre which I think really excelled my training. I then qualified for the 2012 Olympics in my third year of uni, and even got to the semi-finals of the 1,500m race!
Unfortunately, I experienced several health issues after that, which meant I had to stop training professionally, but my love for the sport very much lives on.
There are two things you need to do to qualify:
I only got the call 3 weeks before the Olympics started, so things got hectic fast, and I had to make training my top priority.
Training for the Olympics is truly a full-time job. I was running 1-2 times a day on top of going to the gym. The most exhausting thing about it was the fact that I was also studying for my final year of university. I can safely say it was the most draining time of my life, but it all paid off in the end!
I didn’t train much in the years after the Olympics due to health problems and a heel injury. After having surgery, I started using the WholyMe Relief Balm on my heel, which has been fantastic for alleviating the pain and tension.
I’m still running and training for fun and do a bit of coaching too. My training is now more heavily focused on quality than frequency – making this switch and using the WholyMe Relief Balm has massively aided my recovery.
Running is undoubtedly my strongest passion, and it’s something I will continue to do for as long as my body allows. I hope to be 81 and still running around a track somewhere!
I hope it all goes well for the athletes of course, and I’ll be cheering on Team GB from my sofa. It’s a shame that some of the events won’t have spectators, but I know the athletes will have worked so hard for this, and I’m sure they’ll give it their all regardless.
I’m still very much involved in the running community and have a lot of friends who I’ll be cheering on from home.
Some of the guys I’ll be looking out for are Jake Wightman, who’ll be running 1,500m, and Andy Butchart, who’ll be running 5,000m.
That’s a tough question, as I use all 3! If I had to choose, I would say it’s a tie between the Relief drops and the Relief Balm, as both are excellent for helping me recover after an intense training session.
I take the Relief Drops every night to help me wind down and get a better sleep, and I apply the Relief Balm religiously to my heel and any other achy bits. I also enjoy a good soak once a week with the Relief Salts – these work particularly well when my muscles are feeling tired and sore.
The Olympic Games 2021 will kick off on 23rd July, with the Paralympic Games following the next day, on 24th. You can find out more about the Olympic Games, including schedules and information about athletes, by clicking here.
