Featured Athlete: 
Rhea Ellis : Junior cross country and distance runner; Junior Athlete of the Year 2003; Performance Trophy winner 2004; U15 & U17 Girl 3000m record holder
 
Tell us about yourself. How would you describe yourself to someone who has never met you? As you already know my name is Rhea. I am 14 years old and go to Chesterfield High School where I am in year 10. I live in Waterloo which is in Liverpool. For a person who had never met me before I would say I am a bit shy and innocent, but that’s not the real me! I would say that I am very lively and talkative but still serious at the same time. I just love to have fun and mess around!!!

What is your favourite subject at school? I love school but not the work most of the time. My favourite subject has got to be geography. I find it really interesting and quite easy too! Although I don’t like the work, I do like school, I love being with all my friends and having a good time. School can be so boring sometimes though. Its just too hard!

How did you get into athletics?Well, when I did my first ever race for my school I came 5th in a year 4/5 race and I was only in year 4. Next year I won the race by miles and also won other races around Sefton. I then ran the Good Friday fun run when I was in year 5 and came 20th which was a great achievement for a 9 year old. This was all with no proper training. I ran this with Mr. Preston who was my teacher in year 5, even though he was sick every time he ran. At this time my sports teacher Mrs.Cave said I needed to join a running club so I occasionally went down to train at Chaffers. At this time my mum had started running with me, but then she got too slow. So I went with my uncle and he also got too slow. So my dad took over and every Sunday we would go running on the sand dunes which I loved! I then moved into the under 11 age group and ran a 600m track race and came 2nd, but then it was cross-country season. My first season and I won every race I ran. I started going up to Edge Hill to train with Ron and I am still training up there now.

Are your parents or other family members sporty? All my family are very sporty. My dad and brother Liam run and play football. Ste and Paul my two uncles play football and my cousin Adam plays semi-professional football. My nan and grandad both still cycle and are very fit for their age. Now you can see where my competitive nature comes from. At birthdays and parties there is always a competition and if someone gets beat there will be arguments and sulks. We all hate being beat!

Do you do any sports other than running? I do two other sports in school. I do gymnastics and trampolining but these are just for fun and for something to do. I love these as I don’t have to do well and they are not competitive and you don’t have to achieve anything.

What other things do you do in your spare time? I don’t really have a lot of spare time as most nights I go running, which I love doing anyway, and the rest of the time is spent doing homework or coursework. Most nights I am on my trampoline or just relaxing if I have any time, but some nights I will go to friends. At the weekend when I am not running I love going out with my mates and going shopping for new stuff. One of the best nights has got to be a Thursday. Although we have hard training I love going to see everyone and have a laugh. I also like going out with people from running, we have a great time.

You do both cross country and track running. Which do you prefer? It’s got to be cross-country. I just love the mud and the hills and the challenge of the course. The track you just run round and round, it’s so boring. Cross-country is different, every course is different and every corner you turn there is a new challenge.

Which is your favourite cross country course? Stadt Moors - because it is very challenging and very muddy.

Tell us a bit about your training My coach is Ron Scott and I train at Edge Hill. At the moment for the winter season I train 6 times a week. I go running on my own Monday, Wednesday and Sunday. I also do pilates on a Sunday. I do road running at Ainsdale on a Tuesday, Edge Hill on Thursday and sand hills on Saturday. Thursday sessions are very varied. Sometimes we will do 300m walk back 100m with partners for 2 x 6mins but sometimes we will do 3 x 1000m. It just depends on the time of the year.  

What were your best performances? What makes them special? I have lots of best performances and most came when I was top age under 13. They were coming 3rd in the Northerns, 4th in the Nationals, 6th in the UK inter-counties (even though I was coming around 200th at the top of the first hill!) I also came 4th in the Northerns on the track in an under 17 3000m, running 10: 39.29. This year, I came 4th in the Northerns as a top age under 15. I think they were special because it gives you confidence to know that you are competing and keeping up with the best runners in the country.  

Who are your favourite athletes or role models and why? My favourite female athlete used to be Paula Radcliffe but after giving up so many times it has shown that there is no determination. On the other hand Kelly Holmes has not had as much publicity as Paula and has showed pure determination to get where she wants to be. But my favourite athlete has got to be Haile Gebreselassie. He is a true role model to me winning so many long distance events and always smiling whatever the result.

Tell us about your athletics ambitions My athletic ambitions in the short term are to win the English Schools and Inter-Counties cross-country. In the long term I would love to make a living out of running as its something I love and earn as much as Paula Radcliffe. I would also love to go to the Olympics and win Gold (maybe in London.)

Changing the subject, what kind of music do you like? My favourite type of music has got to be R ‘n’ B. I also like pop music but not as much as R ‘n’ B. I haven’t really got a favourite artist. I like anything that’s good. My favourites are Kayne West and Mariah Carrey and people like that. I usually listen to Juice on the radio.

And I guess you find time for a bit of television. Do you have a favourite programme? I haven’t really got a favourite TV programme. My brother has always got control of the remote so I watch all the kids shows with him. I end up watching shows like Recess, That’s so Raven and Lizze McGuire. I only get control of the remote when he’s not up in the mornings. My favourite soap has to be Coronation Street.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us? I would just like to say thanks to everyone who started me running because without them I wouldn’t be where I am now. Thanks for all my lifts, mum and dad. Thanks to Cath and Dave who first started me running and have helped and supported me all the way and finally thanks to Ron who is the best coach ever. Thank you all very much for believing in me so much. Also thanks to Mr. Preston for starting me running and also Ray and Lynn Handley in the Fitness Connection gym who let me go every week!!!!!

Thanks Rhea. You were born to run and its been my privilege to work with you! Ron
 

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