Featured Athlete: 
John Burnett, Road Runner and Senior Grand Prix winner 2001.

Tell us something about yourself.  My name is John Burnett; I am 23. I graduated from Sheffield university with a 2:1 MSc in Chemistry last year, and spent 7 months looking for a job. I am now based in Essex (Harlow) and work for GlaxoSmithKline (they make Lucozade amongst many other things) as a mad scientist! I've settled quite quickly I think, although the accommodation and beer prices are somewhat absurd compared to up north!
At school I was always quite good at maths and science, not bad with languages, still wondering how I passed English Lit, the exam was a nightmare. Quite funny was the fact that I never took Chemistry into my A-levels, but now I am a fully fledged mad scientist. It was only a coincidence that I made a bad choice of doing English Language, after a year the teacher decided it wasn't in my best interests to continue! So I racked my brains and tried to think of something else to do in it's place - Chemistry! Also did A-level photography at Southport College as a 1 year night class.
Also, I'm single. I'm looking to correct that one though! And, fast. So much so I often undercompensate and punctuality isn't my greatest attribute. I do enjoy almost every sport, watching and playing, and I play to win! Determination is probably my greatest factor in my personality, I do try and sell it a bit. Also a full-time alcoholic, I do love being around people with a pint in my hand!

How did you get into running?  When I was at BB (Boys Brigade), it was Jon Singleton's training that helped me win the Southport BB Xcountry. From then I was hooked. I gave up for about 4 years. It started with a bad cough, then my GCSE's, then my A-levels, but when I went to uni, I decided to give it another bash. Its been a slowish path, but I haven't looked back.

What else do you do now? Anything. I regularly play snooker, although there is a distinct lack of pool tables and competition in Harlow.

What other things do you do in your spare time? I am still getting used to the idea of having spare time since leaving uni. I'm on the Harlow Running Club committee and organised a 10 mile race on 11th August. So that has taken up a bit of time. I would like to say I'm a keen photographer but haven't done any in a long time and don't have access to a darkroom so can't do any black/white anyway. Learnt some computer programming and sometimes go travelling, camping on long weekends.

What are your events - main and any others? Anything from a leg of the 4x400 to 26.2 miles I have done. I prefer to stick to the medium stuff, my 5 mile PB is my proudest (26:32, that will take some beating). My most recent PB was however a bit longer, 20 miles in 1:59:28. I'm going to attempt the steeplechase for the first time next week!

Who is your coach? In Harlow, his name is Alan Stevens, although he calls himself Steve Stevens????? I have to give a lot of credit to Jon Singleton though in my early years. Thanks Jon, there when I needed him most.

What training do you do. Last week I set a new record of 53 miles in a week. 30 is the average though. Track work on Wednesdays and recently Mondays also. Long run through Epping Forest on a Sunday morning (were talking 7 am here, it's not pretty!) that about all.

Who are your favourite athletes or role models and why? Paula Radcliffe's gutsiness always makes my hairs stand on end. I'm so glad she's found an event where quite rightly no-one can touch her. It's just a shame she doesn't have a sprint finish like mine! Well she'd probably kick my **** but I guess it's all relative! And her stance on drugs is also worth a mention, a good role model for up-and-coming youngsters of all shapes sizes and abilities.

What does winning mean to you? I don't lose a sprint finish if I'm level with a mile to go! If I get beaten by someone I think I should beat, I'll be making full use of my ambition gene to get revenge!! And if I beat someone that I have never beaten before, I'll probably be in the pub later explaining the whole race in great detail to anyone who'll listen! So in short, quite a lot.

What are your athletics ambitions? Well I've just recently achieved one of my highest ones: to win a road race. Admittedly the time wasn't great but I'd been building up to it for a while - I got 3 consecutive 2nd places in February/March! I think my next big ambition is a 2:30 marathon, that may not happen this year, but it will happen one day. If I meet Gebresaillassie at 25 miles I'll beat him too!

I know you do some volunteer work. Why do you do it? And how much time does it take? I've organised the Harlow 10 (on 11th Aug) and by virtue I'm also on the committee. The committee meetings take about 3 hours a month, and I guess I ought to be doing a bit more to make sure this race is still on schedule, probably 6-10 hours per month in total. Why? I've been on committees (including president of the photo society) at uni, I'm not sure if it's a power thing or wanting to do something to give a little back. I guess I'll know when I get tired of it and look back, but at the moment I enjoy it.

What is your idea of a good night out (or in)? Curry at Weatherspoons with Jon, Rick, Terry and anyone else who's there. Followed by lots of pool at the Wellie (I win every game ideally!) and then listen to Rick sing karaoke at the Fountains after about 7 pints. Sound quality isn't great but amusement is top marks!

Anything else you would like to share with us? I'll be back!!

Thanks John.

John Burnett, Sam Moran, Graham Pilkington, Helen Taylor, Rick Bowker, Adam Chandley, Sue Cooper, Paul Record Rob Berry Rhea Ellis Norman Marshall Eddie Simpkins James Armstrong