Tina Wilkins

Receptionist

As well as being the newest recruit to the LMC reception team, Tina is a keen runner, running coach,
and advocate for women’s sport and the importance of movement for health and well-being.
In 1985, at 9 years old, Tina was inspired by Ingrid Kristiansen, whom she watched run (and win) the
London Marathon (with a WR time of 2h21m06s), and despite not being particularly “sporty”, she
decided that, she too, would one day pound the streets of London. Tina then spent many years
trying to become a runner (a recreational one) but with no-one to guide her it seemed like a pipe
dream. There were no running groups to join, no Parkrun to go to, and using walking as a training
tool was heresy!
Everything finally clicked into place some 28 years later when a friend suggested Tina join the Ladies
Running Group in Rugby, to train for her first 5k. The bug was caught and that 5k Santa Run was
swiftly followed by a 10k, a Half, and of course, the dream, London Marathon (battling an ITB issue
in the process). If she knew it would take her more than twice as long as Ingrid she may never have
decided to try; perhaps venturing into the unknown can be a blessing. Life events, such as marriage
and children aside, Tina says London 2015 was up there as one of her proudest moments.
A health induced hiatus from running later that year saw Tina embark on her coaching journey with
England Athletics. Starting as a Leader in Running Fitness (and leading sessions for the Ladies
Running Group), she progressed through Coach in Running Fitness, to Event Group Coach in
Endurance. (For anyone wondering, that’s all running (and race-walking) disciplines from 800m to
Ultra.) Tina particularly enjoys working with other “late starters” like herself; getting them started
and keeping them going. Believing that all runners should be able to access the support of a coach,
much of her coaching is currently done online supporting those who can’t, or don’t want to, join a
club or group.

In 2022, to broaden her coaching knowledge (and in part due to another running hiatus brought on
by a back issue and sciatica) Tina went on to become a certified Level II Lydiard Endurance coach.
This is a coaching philosophy based on the principles of New Zealand Coach Arthur Lydiard;
considered to be a forefather of the current 80:20 style training methods.
Alongside her interest in running and coaching, and to support herself and her runners further, Tina
has also undertaken two diplomas with The Health Sciences Academy; Clinical Weight-loss and
Sports Nutrition. She is now a huge advocate for Chocolate milk post-run!
With her own injury and health setbacks to deal with, Tina has developed an empathetic
understanding of many of the issues that LMC clients are facing when they come into clinic, and
hopes that in her own small way, she can help you on your road to recovery.