#81 - How Winning Is Done w/ Claire Thomas (The Welsh Wonder Woman)
In this week’s blog/podcast we catch up with Claire Thomas from Wales, UK. Claire is currently on a running streak over 250 day’s, ran 3 major marathons around the world and competed in a ultra marathon. Claire wasn’t always a runner. What life changing event in her life caused her to take a deeper look inside to make changes? Well, lets find out how an attorney from UK turned herself into Wonder Woman
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Coach: What do you do for a living?
Claire: I am a part-time Solicitor or as you would say Attorney and specialize in personal injury. I also work in television as a Supporting Artist sometimes and have done background work and singing on some television series and some films/documentaries.
Coach: Wow, how long have you been in your profession?
Claire: I have worked in law for approximately 23 years. In television for almost 3 years. I am doing more television work these days as I prefer it to law. It's less stressful and more fun.
Coach: What moved you to get into this field?
Claire: I have always had a moral sense of right and wrong and am very much a people person. I knew I wanted to help others. I took law in college and found it interesting. As far as tv work is concerned, a friend was doing it and it sounded so glamorous and fun, I wanted a part of the action.
Coach: That’s awesome! Claire, you have two iconic heroes that you love and one is Wonder Woman, (Now we had a guest on the show once named Jennifer Ballance and the title of her episode was Becoming Wonder Woman! A mother who runs every race with a double-wide stroller. Jennifer would practice at 5 am with the stroller with 100lbs sandbags in the stroller so as not to wake the children up that early to run.) Now for those that are not familiar with comic book characters, there is a thing called the multiverse where there is another Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman on Earth 2 and beyond, LOL.
So there is more than one Wonder Woman. And you are known in your community as the Welch Wonder Woman.
Let’s tell everyone where you are from and why this character means so much to you?
Claire: I am Welsh, born and bred in South Wales UK. I always loved the original Wonder Woman as a child with Linda Carter. She represents glamour, strength, and a role model for others. The idea of me dressing up as her started in 2016 after I had lost a lot of weight - approx 68lbs. I had started to run and very quickly. Within 3 months of starting to run I was doing my first half marathon. Within 10 months of running, I was doing my first London Marathon. I set up a Facebook run support group for other runners. The idea came about when we decided to meet at the expo of the London Marathon. As a way of identifying ourselves, we all wore superhero wristbands.
The Wonder Woman costume and theme came later. I love dressing like her, she makes me smile as well as others. Wearing the costume reminds me of how far I have come in my weight loss journey. I would never have dreamt of wearing the figure-hugging costume before as a heavier lady. I have worn the costume at Major Marathon expos and also at fundraising events.
Coach: Your second hero is Rocky, and I found out that one of your favorite quotes from the movie ends by saying: “That’s How WINNING Is Done”
How about you read us that quote in its entirety, and let us know why it resonates with you so much as it will be a perfect way to tell us about the start of your journey.
Claire: “It ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done. If you know what you’re worth then go out and get what your worth, but ya gotta be willing to take the hits.”
I love the quote and the film so much as it's a powerful tale of the underdog who rises up against the odds. Nobody believed he would but he worked hard, dug deep, and never stopped believing in himself even though he had hits and setbacks. It’s a special quote for me as I changed my life 5 yrs ago drastically with weight loss and also adopting a healthy lifestyle so it resonates with me. I had a lot of weight to lose approximately 60lbs. It seemed that I had a massive hill to climb but I never stopped believing that I could do it. I took one day and one step at a time and reminded myself that change does not happen overnight.
The quote is special because it can apply to any goal in life. You’ve gotta get out there and grab the opportunity, work hard. Yes, there will be setbacks but we have to keep moving forward.
Coach: Take us back to the start of your journey, how were you feeling?
Claire: Apprehensive as it seemed that I had a massive hill to climb.
Coach: What was your wake up call?
Like what made you get up one day and say I need to change my habits?
Claire: My health and we were trying for a baby. We had some fertility issues and I couldn't get any medical help unless I lost weight and got my BMI down from morbidly obese to normal. I did achieve it and ironically when I hit my goal we decided we didn’t want to go through the trauma of IVF after all. We were happy and had a full life without children,
Coach: Wow, what a powerful reason to take your health seriously. Although you decided not to go through with having a child at this time, you are healthy and happy! That’s amazing.
What has running done for you in 2020 during this pandemic?
Claire: I started a run streak. I started the streak in March, then we went into a UK lockdown. I am aiming for a full year. I did compete in my first ultra-marathon in Oct.
Coach: I met you through a mutual Running Motivation group on FB and you've been posting about your streak and you have the most vivid photos to go along with it, just showing your excitement for life right now. What does this streak mean to you right now?
Claire: It means everything and I am as determined to reach my goal as I was with my weight loss journey back in 2015. I look forward to my daily running, it’s my escape from the stresses of life. It’s my time to lace up, listen to my tunes, and go explore. My mood can go from a 1 out of 10 before going. Upon returning from a run, my mood becomes an 8 or 9 out of 10.
Coach: That is so cool Claire. I feel the same way. I like to say; I leave the house with a problem but return with a solution.
What At The Moment Are Your Healthy Habits?
As a busy attorney and television star, what is your current exercise routine?
What time of day do you get your runs in?
Claire: My runs are generally early morning and to start the day. If I have a busy day then I sometimes go in the evening. I also try to go to spin classes a few times a week as I find cross-training helps.
Coach: Any special diet that you are currently following?
Claire: Following a slimming world lifestyle, here in the UK. Cooking from scratch, lots of fish and meat, and vegetables. I aim to drink approx 2 -3 750ml beakers of water a day.
Coach: How do you feel now since adopting this healthier lifestyle?
Claire: Much better. I feel more confident in what I wear and I love the colors.
Coach: One more time, how much have you lost?
Claire: 68 Pounds!
Coach: How do your family and friends enjoy this version of you?
Claire: They are amazed at how much energy I have. They cannot believe that I run marathons and ultras marathons.
Coach: What are you excited about today, any special goals that you are working on at that moment?
Claire: My 1 year run streak,
I have a deferred race for the New York Marathon. Hopefully next year or 2022. I am chasing the 6 marathon majors. I have done 10 marathons so far and 3 of those were majors. (Chicago, London, and Berlin.)
Coach: Thank you for sharing your story with us.
Before we let you go........
WHAT can you say to our listeners who may be ready to start their journey tomorrow?
Claire: Don’t be scared. When you doubt yourself, remind yourself how far you've come in life and how strong you are. Great things happen outside that comfort zone and you just have to take that leap of faith, go for it, and don't look back!
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Remember, we are just one run or walk away……
So Keep Calm And Run To The Best You My Friends!
-Coach Tadris
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