Answering “What is London’s running scene like?” is like answering “What is London like?”, broad-scope, ever expanding and near impossible to distill into a concise response. In order to begin to tackle this question, photographer Adrian Varzaru has, over the last couple of years, been documenting London’s run-clubs to capture their energy, spirit and to tell their story through the visual medium.
A community, however, is more than one entity: it is the sum of its parts (and then some). Diving deeper into the London scene alongside Adrian, we will be focusing on a collection of stories that showcase the individuals that make up communities within the city. In our Athlete Through The Lens project, we'll feature athletes from across the spectrum of London’s runners, telling the stories of the people behind the performances and clubs.
Where better to start, then, than in the storied Athletics Club scene within the city, where, for decades, runners of all abilities have gotten together to chase personal bests and race. London is, after all, home to some of the oldest ACs in the world, with many clubs dating back to over a century ago.
Mimi Corden-Lloyd is a member of Belgrave Harriers, which was founded in 1887 and has become one of the most successful clubs in the UK. Throughout its history, the sport and its athletes have seen many shifts in what it means to be a runner in London and what it looks like to compete at the top level. It is only correct that we begin our series with Mimi, an athlete who is defining what it means to be an elite club-athlete in the contemporary running world.
Since joining Belgrave in 2019, Mimi has become a regular feature for the club team on the Track, Road and Cross Country throughout the seasons, competing at National championships and beyond, all the while balancing her athletic pursuits with a career as a financial planner. Regularly she’ll fit training sessions into a busy working week and travelling for competitions during weekends. She has been part of Belgrave's successes at the Surrey League Cross Country, National Championships and, most recently, has been competing on the British and European Track circuit over 5000m.
Often, with athletes like Mimi - those juggling full-time jobs with competing and training - running feels like an accepted part of a routine, something matter-of-fact that is a part of every-day life without being a chore. These runners are pushed by a little voice that encourages them on their way. But the desire waxes and wanes over time. The early mornings and late evenings can become hard to get fired up for. Sometimes, Mimi says, she is fitting her life into her running, sometimes, it’s fitting her running into her life.
Motivated by a love not only of running, but of performance, Mimi tells us: “I am a racer”. To keep chasing goals so passionately means fitting in solo double days into a busy working schedule and grasping the opportunity to train with her group when possible, making the most of the community that surrounds her. It is this community that also serves as an engine which keeps Mimi motivated to continue pushing towards her goals – and she hopes that she has a similar effect to encourage her friends in the group to do the same.
Molly, Abi and Adrian met up with Mimi at Battersea Park where she took on her session and caught some time to catch up and tell her story.
- Words by Liam Dee, Photography by Adrian Varzaru
