INTERVIEW DANIELLE WOODWARD
It was important for me to be honest about my struggles with mental health in my new book Running Life; I wanted to share the story of being the high-achieving athlete people know me for, but also to talk about the reality of what I went through. People look at the gold medals and think you’re a superhero, but I fought hard to get there. Bereavement, self-harming, anxiety and depression… these things have all affected me, and it feels right to explain how I dealt with them and how I continue to cope.
I want people to find something in my book that speaks to them, to help inspire them and motivate them to change their lives. There’s advice for starting a fitness regime, healthy recipes and self-help sections. I’m not an expert; I just decided to share how I live my life and what works for me, along with professional people who I trust to provide the scientific backup. I’d like people to flick through the book and take what’s relevant for them, whether it’s training tips, finding something tasty to eat for lunch or coping with a bad day… if they find a part of the book that helps them, that’s brilliant.