{"id":145199,"date":"2024-11-14T14:33:56","date_gmt":"2024-11-14T14:33:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/11\/14\/teenage-runner-paige-quinn-uses-musical-talent-to-fund-sporting-dream\/"},"modified":"2024-11-14T14:33:56","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T14:33:56","slug":"teenage-runner-paige-quinn-uses-musical-talent-to-fund-sporting-dream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/11\/14\/teenage-runner-paige-quinn-uses-musical-talent-to-fund-sporting-dream\/","title":{"rendered":"Teenage runner Paige Quinn uses musical talent to fund sporting dream"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The 15-year-old impressed after victory in the English National Cross Country Championships but is also making a name for herself as a singer and songwriter<\/h5>\n

Paige Quinn is quickly emerging as a talent to watch this winter after her under-15 victory in the English National Cross Country Championships in September.<\/p>\n

The 15-year-old\u2019s abilities aren\u2019t confined to sport, though. In addition to her running, Quinn is a budding musician. She writes and performs her own songs, which she shares on Spotify, while also busking in her hometown of Torbay to help fund her fledgling athletics career.<\/p>\n

After a challenging three-month injury hiatus over the summer, Quinn made a triumphant return to competition, clocking an impressive 16:31 at the Mid Cheshire 5km in late August, a time that ranks her second on the UK all-time list for under-15 girls.<\/p>\n

A remarkable parkrun, with 16:48 at the Torbay Velopark event, has also earned her the title of fastest-ever under-15 girl in parkrun history. She now has her sights on the European Cross Country Championships in Antalya this December, where she will aim to make her mark in the U20 category.<\/p>\n

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Paige Quinn<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

How did you first get into athletics?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I used to play a lot of football with my sister. She played for a team but I wasn\u2019t old enough at the time, so I just went along to training sessions with her. I wasn\u2019t very good, but I was a bit of a nuisance just running up and down the pitch.<\/p>\n

My dad noticed my energy levels and how I wouldn\u2019t stop running so he introduced me to parkruns and I started doing them regularly. After that he searched for a local athletics club and signed me up to Torbay AC at nine years old.<\/p>\n

How did it feel to win the National Cross Country Championships?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I really wasn\u2019t expecting it because I was injured for a lot of the track season this year with a knee injury. I missed out on a lot of competitions such as the School Games and I didn\u2019t get much training in, either.<\/p>\n

I think the nationals being rescheduled worked in my favour because I wasn\u2019t ready to win it last year. I don\u2019t really get out well on races, but I just went out trying to stick with the front pack and to overtake if I could. I was shocked when I got first place as I\u2019m not used to leading a race, so it felt amazing going into that last stretch.<\/p>\n

Did you expect to run a 16:31 PB in the 5km this year?<\/strong><\/p>\n

After my injury I didn\u2019t really have much time to train so I was just racing for fitness. I did about three track races in the same week and a few 5km road races. I wasn\u2019t really happy with my performance on them.<\/p>\n

But it was amazing when I got 16:31. I wasn\u2019t really expecting that, but I think it helped that I was in a race with a lot of athletes.<\/p>\n

The first kilometre was around 3:05 and I couldn\u2019t slow down. Due to the quick runners behind me, I would have been stampeded on. I didn\u2019t know about the time until my dad let me know after I finished. I was shocked because I beat my personal best by about 20 seconds.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by \ud835\udcab\ud835\udcb6\ud835\udcbe\ud835\udc54\ud835\udc52 \ud835\udcac\ud835\udcca\ud835\udcbe\ud835\udcc3\ud835\udcc3 (@paigegracequinn2009)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\nWhat are your other interests outside of running?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I go busking sometimes in the summer to fund the costs of travelling for races and kit. I\u2019ve written a few songs with my dad, and I have a few on Spotify which were produced by my friend Tom Ward.<\/p>\n

It was a hobby I started a few years ago and then I got competitive with running and realised how expensive it is so I thought busking could be a good idea. I started to learn guitar from there, and I taught myself on YouTube.<\/p>\n

What are your next steps?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I would like to get selected this year for the European Cross Country Championships as an under-20. Obviously, it will be a challenge because I am only in the under-17 age group [in the trials in Liverpool on November 23] but that would be amazing. I would also love to do well in the British Cross Challenge.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d love to get some personal bests in the 1500m and 3000m next year on the track, too, if I\u2019m not injured.<\/p>\n

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READ MORE: English National coverage<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

What has been the biggest lesson you\u2019ve learned so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Listen to your body. With all the injuries I\u2019ve had, I think I was so young and eager to please and impress people that I just ran through the pain. If I had a slight niggle, I would make it worse by running through it. I should have listened to my body, but I know that now.<\/p>\n

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\u00bb This is a feature that appears in the November issue of AW magazine, S<\/i>ubscribe to AW magazine\u00a0<\/i>here<\/i><\/span><\/a>, check out our new podcast\u00a0<\/i>here<\/i><\/span><\/a>\u00a0or sign up to our digital archive of back issues from 1945 to the present day\u00a0<\/i><\/strong>here<\/i><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

The post Teenage runner Paige Quinn uses musical talent to fund sporting dream<\/a> appeared first on AW<\/a>.<\/p>\n