Q&A with Jess Ennis-Hill

We caught up with heptathlete and Olympic golden girl Jessica Ennis-Hill…

Q. How did you get into the heptathlon? What was it about the sport that most drew you to it?

A. I first tried athletics when I was about ten and loved doing all the different events. I attended an athletics club when I was around 12 and kept doing all the disciplines. I think it is important for youngsters to try lots of things to find out what they like doing – and it was my coach Toni Minichiello who encouraged me to keep doing the seven events of the heptathlon when he first started to help me out in my early teens.

Q. Looking to Rio 2016, how are you preparing for the next big Olympic games?

A. Having come back from having my son Reggie in 2014, I have had a very big challenge to get back to my best – so every day I am working hard to regain my speed and strength with Rio in mind. It is all going well and I feel that as the weeks go by I am getting stronger and faster.

Q. Talk us through your average training regime on the road to Rio…

A. I train six days a week and most days I do two sessions. My sessions have to cover all of my disciplines – so a week will include sprint sessions for my speed, endurance and strength sessions for the 800m and the technical work for hurdles, long-jump, high-jump and the throws. I have to spend time in the gym for strength and now I have Reggie at home I do this in my home gym in the evenings. My programme is put together by my coach and it will follow a six to eight week plan with a testing week at the end of the rotation to see where I am in terms of progress.

Q. How will you balance the cold training conditions of the UK in winter with the hotter climates of Rio when you are competing?

A. I always train in Sheffield, so cold training conditions are pretty normal for me, but I like to think I am pretty good at adapting to hot conditions. I always attend a training camp before a Championship and then I get used to the weather and time zone.

Q. What motivates you to get out and train when it is cold outside?

A. A little cold weather does not bother us Brits! We are used to it. No, seriously none of us likes to train in the cold but I am very lucky to have my Adidas Climaheat kit, which really makes a difference. The kit keeps warm air in, and cool air out so as long as I stay warm, I don’t mind too much. But if it is really cold we train on the indoor track.

Q. What is your favourite thing about training in winter? 

A. I think it has to be having a hot shower and warm cup of tea afterwards and feeling that sense of real satisfaction that you have done the hard work, despite the cold.

Q. What top winter training tips would you give to those that are looking to remain active this winter?

A. Make sure you have the right clothing and footwear – use layers so you can adjust your temperature as you warm up from training. I use Adidas Climaheat because it’s lightweight and works to keep my body as warm as possible. The right gear makes a massive difference, go for light but warm and breathable. And of course stylish, I love Stella McCartney’s range with Climaheat technology!