DOB: 8/2/1975
Club: Team Blizard / Rotherham Harriers
PB’s: 5000m 16:09, 5k 16:25, 5m 26:45, 10k 34:08, 13.1m 75:53, 26.2m 2:45:10

Team Blizard wouldn’t be complete without the inspiration behind the team and company’s name, Jenny Blizard, but the former GB international isn’t just making up the numbers.

An integral part of the five-strong physiotherapy clinic, Jenny is a top runner in her own right, and, following a period of achilles problems, she has built her training back up to a competitive level once again.

The V40 endurance runner has started racing more regularly as a result, recording season’s bests while wearing the Team Blizard racing kit of Lornah Sports clothing and On Running shoes.

The Lornah Sports running clothes range, with its vibrant colours and lightweight, responsive feel, has proved so popular with the rest of the larger Team Blizard collective, that we will be giving everyone the chance to wear the same kit very soon!

Jenny has been a keen advocate for the team’s On Running shoes, having trained in the Cloudsurfers, Cloudrunners and the Clouds for several months, and successfully raced at an increasingly rapid pace in the Cloudracers on the track, the road and in a number of multi-terrain events.

She is convinced the On shoes have helped her return to fitness and allowed her to build up her speed endurance following injury, and can support the claims from On that their shoes’ incredible shock-absorbing qualities support weakened joints and tendons, such as her damaged achilles.

The Maitland Concept practitioner gave a detailed analysis of her experiences of the On Running shoe so far, explaining which of the Cloud-based trainers she wears for what sessions:

“The Cloudracers have been great the races I’ve used them for up to 10k so far, they are very comfortable and lightweight, and surprisingly supportive for their weight. What i like most about them is that you can truly feel the quick transition onto the forefoot, which is ideal for the faster pace. 

“I use the Clouds for tempo sessions and intervals on the road as they are the ultimate in lightweight responsive cushioning.
However, my favourite use of these shoes though is for work, as the cushioning system ensures my feet do not take a pounding, as I stand up all day, and I never get that feeling that I am ready to take them off like with other trainers. The Cloudtec technology also helps my posture as well!

“I use the new Cloudcruisers for all my recovery runs and our Tuesday woods sessions - they are fantastic in the woods as the clouds act like a suspension system in a car, where the foot stays neutral rather than reacting to the uneven ground. In addition, because of this ‘suspension’ system and the grip on the clouds, the shoes are extremely responsive and very grippy, even in muddy conditions. 

“Finally, I use the Cloudrunners for my longer continuous threshold runs on the road - they are more supportive than the Clouds for the longer sessions, but are still responsive when undertaking a faster paced run. 

“I never have leg soreness, and I believe the shoes are helping dissipate the forces through the leg when my feet strike the ground. I am currently running 60 miles a week, which includes three threshold sessions and one interval session, so I am certainly testing each of the On shoes!”

Her ever-improving race performances have included podium position finishes, aided by her On shoes and Lornah kit on the road and the track, where she has recorded her best times for the distances for some years.

Not surprisingly, the seasoned former international athlete - who still holds ambitions to return to the sharp end of elite competition - also trains to her individual heart rate zones, and has regular lactate threshold tests with Dave to track her progress.

Additionally, she and Dave are keen advocates for lowering the carbohydrates in their diets and increasing the fat content, believing they are teaching their bodies to use fat as fuel for training, allowing their weight to stabilise at a competitive level as well as increasing energy levels.

With the lactate training, coaching advice from Dave, smart nutrition and an obvious awareness of how to keep her body functioning at a top level using her physiotherapy knowledge, together with the On Running shoes and Lornah Sports racing kit, Jenny is confident of helping Team Blizard make race podiums their second home all across the region!

For more information on both the Lornah clothing range and the On Running shoes, visit the following websites: lornahsports.co.uk and on-running.com.

We stock the On shoes at our pop up shoe shop at the clinic.