Like many of us, Jonty Brown has found running to be his outlet of choice. What started off as a friendly charity run has grown into something much more for the adidas runner & Type 1 diabetes ambassador. Fast-track too now with his own London-based running group ‘Runlimited’ well and truly off and running, Jonty aims to bring a kind and gentle community back to running, making it inclusive and welcoming for all ages and abilities.

We caught up with East-London’s pace setter to hear more about juggling life and running with Type-1 diabetes, what’s involved with Runlimited & how he’s spending his time off and on the track.

 

 

Could you give us an inside into how running all began for you?

I, like a lot of people out there – started running during lockdown. It was after a friend had nominated me for that ‘run 5km, donate £5, nominate 5 people’ to raise much needed funds for the NHS. I did it every day for 7 days, got injured and it was during my recovery, I decided I was going to be the first type 1 diabetic to run across the UK- 18 months later I was. Fast forward to now, I am an adidas runners coach, ultra-runner and official type 1 diabetic ambassador for JDRF.

 

What are your aims as an official ambassador for JDRF? & How do you incorporate this into your running? 

I love running for my mental health, the community and fitness, but I also love running for a purpose. Be it a charity place at a marathon or my own event. Being a type 1 diabetic, I love to encourage other diabetics to run, some may be worried about exercise with type 1, and I’d like to show that anything is possible! Get out and move! 

How did Runlimited all begin? & Can you explain how it’s progressed? 

I started Runlimited about a year and a half ago with one of my best mates Molly, to create a safe space for people to feel comfortable whilst running in the dark in London winter mornings. We host a track session at 7am every Thursday morning at Victoria Park in East London. All abilities All welcome!

From there, Molly and I decided to open Runlimited as a physical space. A community focused high end running store here in East London. A hub for all run clubs, coffee, retail, and studio that we hope to open by the end of the year.

In the meantime, with the forever growing community, we are partnering and building strong relationships with the brands we will stock in store by offering a monthly Friday night track night. So far, we have worked with adidas, ON and Tenzing, by providing the opportunity for our community to try out the latest shoes, whilst we host a super fun track session. 

 

When you’re not hitting the pavement, what do you get up to? 

My life at the moment is pretty much run, run, run, as it’s my career, my hobby and also my challenge. I love to go to gigs, adventures with my girlfriend and get into the wild as much as I can. Get me by the sea! 

 

What events are you currently training for? 

As an adidas runners coach, I was very kindly offered a space for Berlin marathon, so I am deep into training for that.

Although something close to my heart, for world diabetes day this year I will be running 102km to raise money for JDRF and to celebrate 102 years since insulin was discovered, which happens to be 21 laps of Victoria Park, and funny enough, it’s my 21st year of having diabetes. I’m going to try raise £10,200 for JDRF. To help fund research to eradicate diabetes for good. Click here to find out more. 

 

Could you give any advice for anyone looking at getting into running but maybe slightly apprehensive as where to start? 

Today’s 1km could be tomorrow’s marathon, take your time, go out with friends, join a run club, find what you enjoy about running and hold onto it. I can guarantee that enjoyment will progress into love. Running is an incredible thing and can open so many doors. Be it clarity in your mind, creative freedom, new friends or just that boost of energy that you needed. 

 

 

Lastly, running aside- how are you spending your summer holiday’s and what do you have planned for the tail end of Summer and transition into Autumn. 

I’m a very busy boy working, running, planning Run-limited, but I’m very fortunate enough to have just returned from a week in Sardinia with my girlfriend which included some trail running, swimming, sunbathing, eating, and wondering little towns. It was the best! 

To get behind Jonty raising funds to find a cure for Type-1 Diabetes, please click here.