From the July 2012 issue of Runner’s World

Julie Brims, 46, of Mount Cotton, Queensland, set an Australian record for the W45 200 metres (25.21s)

1 Good Prep
“A focused warm-up is important to ensure mind and body are ready to run. I warm-up for 40-45 minutes; 400m jog, stretch (hamstrings, quads, calf, hip flexor), sprint drills (fast legs, butt kicks, high knees), 60m run-throughs, stride block starts, 30-40m fast block starts.”

2 Good Plan
“I keep to myself before a race. I find a quiet spot and visualise the race in my head. In the call room I keep my head down so as not to allow others to intimidate me. It also helps me stay focused on my own plan.”

3 Good Form
“Running form is key to performance. It's important that form is matched to body shape. As I have a long stride length, I aim for my heel to be high under my butt, allowing for a high knee swing-through to maximise my stride.”

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