Meet orienteer and distance runner Kris Jones who will share his journey throughout 2019 on Fast run.

Orienteering is Kris Jones’ first love, but he’s also an established distance runner who continues to impress whether on track, road or cross country.

After winning orienteering medals for Great Britain, the Welshman made his British athletics debut at the European Cross Country Championships in late 2018.

Looking ahead to this year, and without a sprint distance at the Orienteering World Championships, Jones has more flexibility than he usually has with his season. The 27-year-old plans to use the time to explore new things, including taking part in the marathon for the first time.

Profile

Name: Kristian Jones
Age (January 2019): 27
Birthplace: Swansea
Club: Swansea Harriers and Dundee Hawkhill Harriers (Athletics), Forth Valley Orienteers and Lillomarka OL (Orientation)
Main discipline: Orienteering, focusing on the discipline of sprinting and relays
Other disciplines: I’m going to try my hand at a bit of everything: Track, cross country, hill climb and road racing. My favorite distance is probably 5 km to 10 km.
Full-time / work / study athlete: Full-time / Research engineer

Goals or targets for 2019

1) Continue to improve as a runner and push myself out of my comfort zone
2) Marathon debut – discover the distance and have a positive first experience
3) Represent Great Britain

* There is no sprint distance at the World Orienteering Championships next year as a new alternating program comes into effect. It gives me a little more leeway to explore other things, rather than building a season around the Orienteering World Championships like I normally would.

Highlights of the race

1) European Orienteering Championships 2018, Sprint – bronze
2) 2018 European Cross Country Championships, 12th
3) 2016 World University Orienteering Championships, Sprint and Sprint Relay – Gold

Best personal bests

1) 5000m: 1:45 p.m. (Loughborough BMC Grand Prix, June 2018)
2) 10,000 m: 29:05 (Highgate Night of the 10,000 m PB’s, May 2018)
3) Half Marathon: 63.55 (Cardiff Half Marathon, October 2018)

Interesting or funny facts

I just completed a doctorate in the biomechanics of the golf swing, but have never played a round of golf myself.

I never had a “correct” running trainer.

I listen to podcasts and audiobooks almost every day on the go, but rarely listen to anything while running. If I’m listening to something then you know it’s because I had a hard time getting out or I’m really good.

I run because …

I appreciate. The reasons change quite regularly; the scenery and the outdoors, the feeling of progress or accomplishment and often just because I can relax and disconnect.

I rarely come back from a race feeling worse than when I started.

Favorite workout

Long runs in the hills are always enjoyable, but I get a lot of satisfaction from the daily training routine, so one type of workout doesn’t come out as a favorite.

Least Favorite Workout

Everything that keeps me inside; therefore mainly bodybuilding.

I try to maintain one session per week because I think it helps me stay relatively injury free, but it’s not something I look forward to.

Favorite food before the race

Porridge or cereals.

Favorite food after the race

Anything sweet and sweet.

Favorite runner or runners

Steve Ovett and Charlie Spedding from a racing perspective. Jamie Stevenson and Jon Duncan from an orienteering perspective.

Rather than pure accomplishment, it’s the work ethic that inspires me. I also take a lot of inspiration from my competitors, it inspires me to improve my game when I see others working hard.

Kris Jones is featured in the “Fast 10: Class of 2019” and, during the year, will be sharing her running journey. You can follow Kris on Instagram and Twitter, while fMore information on the ‘2019 promotion’ can be found here.

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