Lily Partridge is a professional marathoner from London. If you don’t know her name, that won’t be for long. She ran 2:29.24 at London Marathon 2018 placing in the top 10 and punching her ticket to the European World Marathon Championships. She has her sights on the 2020 Olympic Team with a very strong chance to represent GB in Tokyo.

Since the 2019 London Marathon she’s been dealing with sciatic issues and is focused on getting 100% healthy. After using yoga with Erin IRL — “It was a big turning point in my battle with injury so I was sold immediately.” Lily has been doing Athletes for Yoga via video the last few months and we’re SO thrilled to announce she’s officially joined the Athletes for Yoga Pro Team!

Get to know this fast, fearless runner, and get inspired by how she uses yoga to chase her big goals.

When did you start running competitively

2002

You’ve been competing for over 15 years, what has changed?

I've matured into my training and events. It’s my job now which is something I dreamt when I was younger. I feel lucky but I’ve worked really hard for it.

What is the same?

My motivation and enjoyment of running!

When did you start using Athletes for Yoga?

I met Erin at London Marathon 2018 via American marathoner Steph Rothstein and we spoke on and off for over a year before finally managing to meet up again and we did a yoga session together and it was a big turning point in my battle with injury so I was sold immediately

You placed top 10 at your first London Marathon! How was that experience?

My first London Marathon was special because it was also the British Champs. To place top 10 was incredible. I knew I was in very good shape and it was a shame it was hot that day as time wise there was a lot more there but that’s the thing with the marathon it all has to come together. But it gave me a lot of confidence.

How was your recovery different between your 2018 and 2019 London marathons?

My recovery had to be quick after my first London because I had 12 weeks to turn it around before the European marathon so I was running after 4 days but just easy and then over the next month I built it up before putting a shorter block of marathon specific work down ahead of the Europeans. This year after London was different as I came off London really quite injured. But I didn’t realise that until later on because I took about 10 days completely off after the race. My flared back up again after the break. The two recoveries have been two completely different experiences. I’ve learned a lot from both.

What did the tough recovery after London this year teach you?

That you don’t come out of a marathon without any of the issues you went into it with. Likely they will be worse.

During training I just try and make progress from previous build ups. This time I wasn’t able to run the blocks of mileage I wanted to. During the race that really showed at the end. In future I am working on building my body up to cope with a higher mileage base so I have that strength to hold on. It was literally my last 3/4miles that let me down from getting a PB in London and I solely blame the injury issues for that.

Most used Athletes for Yoga session in your London 2019 block?

The Quick Hip Reset video. I was struggling with recurring sciatica and it just made it possible to complete some of the sessions/long runs if I stayed on top of the hip work. The Athletes for Yoga videos were a godsend for this.

How did you use Athletes for Yoga during your recovery this summer?

Again the Quick Hip Reset video & Morning Warm Up Flow with Stephanie. I recently traveled to the US and I was really concerned because of the sciatic returning but the sessions I was able to do on the plane were invaluable and really helped lessen the impact of the flight on my symptoms.

Any tips for people who want to incorporate Athletes for Yoga into their training but aren’t sure how? Or why?

I was on the fence about Yoga to start with and just considered it stretching but its not. I was stretching as part of my programme for injury and I was making it worse. Athletes for Yoga is set up in a way that the routines understand a runners body and work with it instead of trying to put you in impossible positions that runners aren’t designed for.

I’d start with the shorter videos 7-10mins (Steph’s Morning Routine, Full Body Mobility, Hip Reset) and just really slow it down, focus on the breathing and don’t think of it as a workout — think of it as rehab/me time. Feel the muscles responding and don’t force anything. I use Athletes for Yoga as part of my afternoon sessions, they don’t take long so you could even do them whilst you’re sitting watching TV on an evening. I find now I don't go out of my way to do it, I just sit on the carpet instead of the sofa and find myself just easing into the exercises.

What advice do you have for new marathoners?

Take the pressure off, enjoy the training process and learn. Don’t be scared.

What’s next?

Everything now is focused on Tokyo 2020 and making sure I qualify so I need to stay healthy as that’s something I haven't been able to do for 12 months now.

Can you break down how the Olympic Team selection work in the UK?

I wish I could. It’s not as straightforward as the US system but basically you need the qualifying time (2.29) then be ranked top 3 and/or get in an automatic qualifying spot in London 2020.

Is there a mantra you use?

Don’t give up.

Get to know Lily at her athlete profile.
And follow her on Twitter and Instagram.