Interview by David Griffiths - Manx Open 2007
5 years ago, Johanna Jackson had never taken part in a race walking event. Such has been her spectacular progress since that she has risen to the rank of number 1 female race walker in the UK in both 2005 and 2006. Formerly a talented runner, Jo, who is now 22 years of age, represented England at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne finishing 7th in the women's 20k Walk. She has also represented Great Britain at both European and World level, and has a burning ambition to take part in the Olympic Games in the future. As part of her preparations for the 2007 season, she makes her first visit to the Isle of Man to take part in the 20k walk at the Manx Open Meeting. She kindly agreed to take time out of her demanding schedule to be interviewed for the Manx Harriers website
Leamington Grand Prix June 2006 (photo courtesy of Shelley Walsh - Shelley Walsh's Website)
DG -
Jo, I know this will be the first time you will have competed on the Isle of
Man, but have you ever been to the island before – and do you know anything
about the island?
JJ - No I’ve never been to the island before and I
unfortunately know very little about it. My sister has competed there before.
I’m looking forward to coming over to compete there. The walkers I have met
from the Isle of Man have all been very friendly.
DG -
What made you decide to take part in this year’s Manx Open Meeting, and do you
have any particular targets for your race?
JJ - Last year I wanted to compete but unfortunately it was
a bit close to the Commonwealth Games for me. The race will be my first 20km of
this year and will be part of my build up to the European Cup. My target in the
race will be at the very least to equal my PB, weather permitting!
DG -
Several members of your family are travelling to the Isle of Man to support
you, and indeed some are competing in the 10k run. It seems that athletics runs
in the family!
JJ - Yes my whole family is very involved in athletics. My
sister, brother and dad all regularly compete for their clubs. My mum used to
compete at long endurance events, but now her time is taken up with coaching
and officiating and she is also track and field secretary for our local harrier
league. My dad is also a marksman.
DG -
What are your plans for the 2007 season – and beyond?
JJ - My main aim for this season is to gain the qualifying
time, of 99mins, for the Under 23 European Championships. I would hope to get
close to that qualifying time at the European Cup in Leamington, this would
improve my overall race position from the previous European Cup in Hungary. My
main focus for the future is the 2012 Olympics.
DG -
What are your current pb times for each distance?
JJ - 3km (track) - 13min
15s
5km (track) - 22min 46s
10km - 47min 25s
20km - 101min 00s
DG -
You have achieved tremendous success already in a relatively short race walking
career. When and how did you first get involved in race walking?
JJ - I started in 2002, John Paddick (former Olympic race
walker) was encouraging athletes to give race walking a try. I like a challenge
so decided to have a go at it before specialising in a particular event.
Johanna with her mentor John Paddick 1964 Olympian at the RWA 20K championships Sheffield April 2006
(photo courtesy of Shelley Walsh)
DG -
You are a member of the relatively new Redcar Race Walking Club, which was only
formed about 3 years ago. The club has achieved many successes in a short space
of time – is there any secret as to why the club is doing so well?
JJ - Yes the club has been doing well. Most people from the
club have come from a running background like myself.
DG –
Yes, you actually did enjoy considerable success as a runner before you got more
seriously involved with race walking. Do you still compete in any running
events, and how much of a part does running play in your training schedule?
JJ - I still really enjoy competing in cross-country events
but can’t compete at the same level as before. My total weekly volume of
running has now been reduced to 30%. I compete for my club at league and county
level and no longer consider national events to be part of my competition plan.
DG -
Can you describe a ‘typical’ week’s training on the build-up to a major event?
JJ - A typical week of training before a major competition
will consist of a running interval session, a walking interval session (reduced
volume), and a walk/run approx 6 miles. Two days before the competition I will do
a complete warm up routine and then have a rest day before the day of
competition.
DG -
What do you have for breakfast on the morning of a race?
JJ - A bowl of cereal (normally Shreddies), fruit juice,
toast with peanut butter and a yogurt.
DG -
You represented England in the 20k walk in last year’s Commonwealth Games in
Melbourne, performing very creditably on your Commonwealth debut. The race
itself, and the time you spent in Australia with the England team, must have
been a fantastic experience?
JJ - The Commonwealth Games was amazing, an experience of a
lifetime. The most memorable moment was the opening ceremony, walking out with
the England team in front of a packed stadium. The athlete’s village was really
good, mingling with top athletes. Surprisingly despite the big occasion I
managed to remain focused in the race even though it was easy to become
distracted and overwhelmed, especially by the opposition (the Australians).
England Commonwealth Games WalkingTeam Melbourne 2006 Left to Right; Dan King, Johanna Jackson, Andy Penn, Dom King, Niobe Menendez. (photo from Niobe's CWG blog)
DG -
The have been unconfirmed reports recently that the race walking events in the
2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi may be in some jeopardy. How important is it
that the walks are retained in the event?
JJ - At a personal level the Games were a valuable
experience in my development and an important ‘stepping stone’ to World Championships
and ultimately the Olympics. Walks are generally perceived as a ‘Cinderella’
event, and their removal from the Games in Delhi will severely damage their
status as an athletic event worldwide. It will de-motivate ambitious walkers
and potentially create a barrier in attracting new talent to the event.
DG –
Well, hopefully, it now seems that the recent rumours
about the dropping of race walking from the 2010 Games may have been
unsubstantiated – let’s hope so. On a similar theme, do you have any thoughts
about how the profile of race walking can be raised in the UK?
JJ - Race Walking needs to be part of a multi-event
experience for young developing athletes within schools and clubs throughout
the UK. It needs to be put on a par with other athletic events. But to attract
public/media attention it’s going to require a British walker to medal at a
major championship.
DG -
With race walking being very much a minority discipline within athletics in
terms of participant numbers these days, what sort of reaction do you get from
people when you tell them you are a race walker?
JJ - There’s a mixed reaction. My local community and first
claim athletics club and my friends are very supportive and interested in my
progress. Most people are unfamiliar with the event but usually become very
interested when I tell them about it. Unfortunately though there is a small
minority of track and field athletes who have a negative perception of race walking,
they make sarcastic remarks making fun of the ‘hip action’ etc. and suggest
it’s not an athletic event.
DG -
What is your ‘day job’, and how do you plan your training and races around your
work?
JJ - Currently I am a student at the University of Teesside
where I receive an Elite Athletes Bursary. Once I’ve finished I plan to find a
part time job in order to fit in my training. Luckily my mum coaches me now so
we can fit a timetable around my particular needs.
DG -
How do you like to relax away from athletics and work?
JJ - Socialising with my friends. I like eating out at different
restaurants, going to the cinema, and shopping too much!
DG -
You have enjoyed a lot of successes, but on the other side of the coin, are
there any disasters or embarrassing moments that you would like to admit to?!
JJ - I’ve been lucky so far, I haven’t had many actual
disasters and no embarrassing moments I can think of. I had a disaster race at
the 2005 European Cup in Hungary. It was my first senior international and
second ever 20km, I think I was totally unprepared for the heat and in terms of
drinks for the race. I definitely learnt a lot from that experience. Despite
winning I wasn’t happy with my 10km performance at Earls Colne last September.
Apart from a below par performance more importantly my technique and style were
poor and I was nearly disqualified.
DG -
Who were, or are, your sporting heroes and role models (not necessarily just
athletics)?
JJ - Paula Radcliffe would be my sporting hero but within
Race Walking Lisa Kehler continues to be a role model for me. It’s amazing how
she combined success with family commitments and a demanding career.
DG -
What advice would you give to any youngster (or even oldster!) considering
taking up race walking?
JJ - Encourage some friends to join you in training and just
enjoy it. Support your local walking leagues. It can be a good way to make
friends, gain experience and get tips and advice from more experienced walkers.
DG -
Finally, another Isle of Man based question. Do you know anything about our
annual Parish Walk – and would you ever be interested in taking part?
JJ - Yes I have heard about the annual Parish Walk, and have
seen it on television. It’s not out the question. I know it’s a very long walk
and would be something good to achieve sometime in the future when I’m no
longer competing internationally.
DG –
Jo, many thanks for taking time out of your very busy schedule to do this
interview for the Manx Harriers website. It’s a fascinating insight into the
life of an international athlete. I hope you thoroughly enjoy your first visit
to the Isle of Man, and that you will want to come back again regularly in
future years. We all wish you every success with your athletics career.
Commonwealth Games Melbourne 2006 (photo supplied by Johanna Jackson)
David
Griffiths
27th
February 2007