Julia Armstrong
Encyclopedia
Julia Helene Armstrong is a British
marathon
runner who achieved most success running as Julia Gates in the mid to late eighties, winning the 1985 Dublin Marathon
and setting a course record with 2:41:24 and competing in the 1986 Commonwealth Games
in Edinburgh
. Her personal best was 2:36:31, set in the 1986 London Marathon
, where she came in as 3rd British finisher and 7th female overall. She still competes at a high level, running as an elite female in the 2008 London Marathon, and in October 2008 she took up ultrarunning, coming in as 3rd female in a 56 mile cross-country race from London to Brighton.
, Sierra Leone
. Her family moved back to England in 1962, and settled near Farnham
, Hampshire
. She began her athletic career in 1974, joining Haslemere Border AC as their first female member.
Armstrong met Nigel Gates, a fellow athlete, in 1979 at an international race in Manresa, Spain, and they married in 1982. For the majority of Armstrong's international career they lived and worked together in Bath, having founded Springs Health Club in the city. They separated in 1993, and she has been married three times since then, competing as Julia McGowan (1994–1997) and Julia Cornford (1998–2001) before changing her name back to Armstrong.
Throughout her early athletic career, Armstrong suffered from an eating disorder
and this is documented in her book, Running to Learn. She has spoken frankly about the disorder in a number of articles and interviews with the national press.
In April 2008, Armstrong published her first book, Running to Learn, which offers a mix of autobiography and the ideas and philosophy behind her successful career as a therapist.
Armstrong was part of the British team that finished 3rd in the 1987 New York marathon.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
runner who achieved most success running as Julia Gates in the mid to late eighties, winning the 1985 Dublin Marathon
Dublin Marathon
The Dublin Marathon is an annual marathon in Dublin, Ireland, normally held on the last Monday in October, which is a public holiday in Ireland. Held each year since 1980, in 2007 there were about 11,000 race participants, half of whom were from overseas....
and setting a course record with 2:41:24 and competing in the 1986 Commonwealth Games
1986 Commonwealth Games
The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986.-Organisation and Controversy:...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. Her personal best was 2:36:31, set in the 1986 London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
, where she came in as 3rd British finisher and 7th female overall. She still competes at a high level, running as an elite female in the 2008 London Marathon, and in October 2008 she took up ultrarunning, coming in as 3rd female in a 56 mile cross-country race from London to Brighton.
Background
Armstrong was born in FreetownFreetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
. Her family moved back to England in 1962, and settled near Farnham
Farnham
Farnham is a town in Surrey, England, within the Borough of Waverley. The town is situated some 42 miles southwest of London in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
. She began her athletic career in 1974, joining Haslemere Border AC as their first female member.
Armstrong met Nigel Gates, a fellow athlete, in 1979 at an international race in Manresa, Spain, and they married in 1982. For the majority of Armstrong's international career they lived and worked together in Bath, having founded Springs Health Club in the city. They separated in 1993, and she has been married three times since then, competing as Julia McGowan (1994–1997) and Julia Cornford (1998–2001) before changing her name back to Armstrong.
Throughout her early athletic career, Armstrong suffered from an eating disorder
Eating disorder
Eating disorders refer to a group of conditions defined by abnormal eating habits that may involve either insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of an individual's physical and mental health. Bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are the most common specific...
and this is documented in her book, Running to Learn. She has spoken frankly about the disorder in a number of articles and interviews with the national press.
After international career
Armstrong's work as a personal trainer led her in the direction of coaching and counselling, and she now works as a sports coach and therapist.In April 2008, Armstrong published her first book, Running to Learn, which offers a mix of autobiography and the ideas and philosophy behind her successful career as a therapist.
Personal bests
- 5000 metres - 15:51 Bath, 26 Jun 1985
- 10000 metres - 33:29 Swansea Bay, 15 Sep 1985
- 10 miles - 55:10 Woking, 23 Feb 1986
- Marathon - 2:36:31 London, 20 Apr 1986
Armstrong was part of the British team that finished 3rd in the 1987 New York marathon.