Training for the Nottingham Post Corporate Challenge – an interview with Simon Gray

The Nottingham Post Corporate Challenge – Team NMB Profile: Simon Gray

Occupation: Chief Executive of Nottingham Means Business.

Distance to run: As part of the Nottingham Post Corporate Challenge, the Ikano Robin Hood Half Marathon.

SenshuseiSimon Gray (back row, fourth from left), training in Tokyo, Japan.

Q. Are you a regular runner?

A. Not on a daily basis but I usually run at the gym a few times a week. I ran the London Marathon a number of years ago without preparing properly and I hurt for weeks afterwards. I’ve definitely learnt my lesson and will be training properly this time around!

Q. How are you honing your training, are you doing anything different in preparation?

A. In the four weeks running up to the Corporate Challenge I’ll step up the distance and if the weather stays nice and dry, I’ll get out of the gym and onto the road.

Q. Aside from the vigorous training, are there any other ways you are preparing? 

I’m a big believer in ‘mind over matter’, which I think comes from my many years of training in the Martial Arts. Back in 2006/7 I completed an intensive Aikido boot camp with the Tokyo Riot Police, which lasted 11 months. The instructors used to say to us “don’t worry the pain will end” and “your mind controls your body, not the other way round” – I’ll remember this advice on the 28th! 

Q. Have you got any personal goals to beat?

A.  I’ve ran the Half Marathon before in 1hr 35mins, but I was a bit younger then. I’d be happy to come in under 1hr 45mins and to not collapse over the finish line!

Q. Why have you entered the Corporate Challenge?

A.This year Nottingham Means Business (NMB) are proud to support the Nottingham Post Corporate Challenge. As Chief Executive of NMB I had an idea earlier this year to get representatives from some of the business, tourism and public sector organisations across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to come together (away from the office) to have fun, build relationships and raise money for charity – this is the culmination of that.

The NMB team will be running for CityCare, who the late Jim Taylor, founder of Invest in Nottingham Club (Invest in Nottingham Club was rebranded to NMB in June 2014) was passionate in supporting – we’ll be running for them and remembering Jim at the same time.

The funds raised by the Nottingham Means Business team will be donated to CityCare, a staff-led enterprise, which works across Nottingham to provide extensive health services specifically in the home but also in health centres across the city.

CityCare gave a high level of service to Jim Taylor, the founder of NMB who sadly passed away earlier this year, to donate to the team please visit: http://www.gofundme.com/cl7auk