Do you remember your first ever race? How old were you, and how did you fare? It probably would have been at primary school on sports day or in the playground. I thought I was quite fast but it wasn’t until I did a cross-country race and was the first girl in the borough to cross the line that I knew I could run.
What’s your greatest running achievement? I’d say being double European indoor champion in the 400m in the European Championship just gone. That was a great achievement for me because it wasn’t my usual event. I’m a 400m hurdler. So to have won an individual race … plus we also won the 4×4 relay. Even though I’ve been to the Olympics, I would still say the European because I got a medal. It felt brilliant.
When someone asks for a training tip, what do you tell them? Be prepared to train hard; there are no shortcuts. Put 100% into it because hard work pays off and what you put into it you will get back out.
Do you like a running gadget? If so, what’s your favourite? I use the Nike FuelBand. People don’t really realise what’s on your wrist, they are like: “What’s that bracelet?” But there is a lot that it does, in terms of tracking the amount of steps and calories that I’ve done. A lot of athletes I know use them.
Do you run to music? What do you listen to? Yes, especially to warm up before a race. It gets me into the zone and psychs me up. I don’t have a particular playlist. I just let my iPod play on shuffle. I have a range of stuff on there – house, garage, basement, R&B – both current and old.
Where is your favourite place to run and why? I love racing around the world but also at home. I’ve got really good memories of the Alexander stadium in Birmingham. I tend to perform really well there.
What’s your favourite post-race indulgence? It gets boring being healthy all of the time but I will treat myself sometimes. I love cake and custard and sweets but not chocolate – although if you gave me a Ferrero Rocher, I wouldn’t say no. I eat a lot of energy bars and nuts like almonds and cashews.
What is the worst thing about running? When it comes to going to the physio, people think you are going to have a massage and it’s really nice. It’s not at all; it’s extremely painful. It has to be done, though, as it’s part of your recovery.
What do you eat on the morning of a race? The week before, I carb up with pasta, potatoes and rice. Then on the morning of a race I always, without a doubt, have porridge with nutmeg and a smoothie with vegetables in it, because I don’t like eating them otherwise.
What’s the furthest distance you’ve ever run? 5k. It was tough. When I come to the end of my athletics career as a sprinter, I would love to do a marathon – or the We Own the Night 10km race! [We interviewed Perri just before she acted as starter for this race]. But it would not benefit me doing longer distances now.
Do you ever run barefoot? The closest I get to barefoot is when I’m wearing my Nike Frees. It feels easier to run in them because they are so light.
If you had to choose who to watch, would it be Mo Farah or Usain Bolt? Mo because he is GB, he’s my team-mate. I only got to watch him on TV at the Olympics. It is very emotional when you see your team-mate doing well and you know the training that it took to get them where they are.
Who is the greatest runner ever? I’m hoping it will be me!
Perri Shakes-Drayton recently started the women-only We Own the Night Nike 10km run in London. The race series also takes place in Berlin, Paris, Milan and Amsterdam.
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