Meet the athlete: Mimi Corden-Lloyd
Mimi photographed by Ollie Trenchard
Name: Mimi Corden-Lloyd
Age: 25
Where I grew up: I have lived in 7 countries, growing up mostly in the Middle East and UK (Yorkshire)
Where I live now: London
Job: Associate Financial Adviser
Proudest athletics achievement: A tough choice between winning the XC cup this year or my championship half marathon debut last year!
Goals: I would love to get my coaching license renewed and help our team win the league. For myself, transitioning into half marathon as a specialty which I can consistently medal in and see where it takes me.
How did you get into athletics?
I was scouted when I was 9 at English Schools and have been in and out of competitive running ever since (when not injured...). When I was a lot younger I had a really love/hate relationship with running because I would get so nervous weeks before a race and I didn't have any formal training bar one or two sessions with York AC so my schools just expected me to go out and win. The pressure felt huge and I didn't have the easiest time at school, especially when you're about two foot tall and beating all the boys, which at that age they didn't like much. I gave up for a while but re-discovered it at GCSE level and never really lost it again after that. Running has always felt natural for me and it really helps calm my anxiety and keep me on track for goals both on and off the race circuit.
When I came to Belgrave I had been through a really tough few years that took pretty much all my confidence away. I had heard about their incredible reputation and met coach Charlie and the team and it instantly felt right. Being at the club has given me so much more than PB's and they are all family to me who really built me back up and have helped me thrive in everything I do, even beyond running.
You're a key runner in a very tight Belles squad - how did you cope with being separated from the others during lockdown? Did you have to reassess your approach to training?
We are a really tight unit so there was a lot of communication which really saved me! I definitely dialled down the sessions slightly and switched to lower impact off-road running and a lot more strength training to reduce injury as well as really giving time to focus on getting my nutrition right and learning about my body and what it needs/responds well to. As we won't be competing for a while it's been important to accept that and then make sure that I can make the most of it when we do go back. I have found that I am training really well out of it so it's definitely a formula that's working for me.
Mimi at the National cross country earlier this year.
You can't win the Belgrave XC plate without consistency and commitment, where do you think you picked up those values?
I don't think you can get anywhere you want to be without giving it 110% 100% of the time and it's an attitude I take through everything I do. My family are all pretty inspiring and we have a lot of very able athletes and competitiveness on both sides so I fell into the active lifestyle, but I think I got the grit from my dad - he has done some incredible things and been through unimaginable situations and kept his head and I aspire to be able to do the same.
What's the goal for whenever racing resumes?
I'd like to put all the training into some really good work and come out with a few wins, especially on the half marathon front. I know the team will be in a space to potentially win the league so hopefully i'll be able to support and score to help that happen.
If you could have a night out with three guests - dead or alive - who would they be and why?
I have an obsession with Tudor history so I would have Anne Boleyn (I'd like to hear the story from her perspective!) and I think she would probably teach me a thing or two. Secondly, I would like to meet Jane Austen as I reckon we would get along and she would be great company! And lastly Freddie Mercury because every time I see his LiveAid performance I cry and I think he would make any night out unforgettable....