Written by: Nancy Britten

Hello, hello Haries! Somehow it’s already week 3 (time flies!), which means it’s time for our third HOTW. This weekend, other than blown away by storm Amy, I had the pleasure of chatting with Abigail Campbell to get the ins and outs of all things marathon running and all things fifth-year medicine. The interview took place at 8 a.m., and perhaps it was the effect of having a flat white so soon after rolling out of bed, but our shared enthusiasm for peanut butter, baking, and coffee meant that a good half an hour of the conversation was spent monologuing about just that. Great vibes. Enjoy the read, and enjoy the rest of the week!! 

Name?
Abigail Campbell

Degree?
Fifth year Medicine.

How is that going so far?
It’s going well! I’m currently on week two of placement in the Borders. I still don’t know what I want to do (so please don’t ask!)

What made you choose it?
I honestly didn’t know what I wanted to do at school but I did some work experience in a hospital and enjoyed it. My mum was a nurse and didn’t want me to do nursing. 

Coffee order?
Today: oat flat white

However, my ideal situation is when I make my own at uplands – half long black, half steamed milk. (think: flat white with extra water. I later discussed this with my resident coffee expert Miss Amelie Dryer who tells me this is called an Americano Misto. Very cool.) Sometimes oat milk, sometimes normal. depends on my mood. 

Implement of choice to make coffee?
Instant coffee at home (It’s important to stay humble). At work in Uplands, I make it there with this espresso machine. 

How is working at uplands?
Really good! I worked full-time there for two summers and now one day a week during semester. It means free coffee and being sociable. Dreading the cold winter days though. Last year I think I got a permanent burn mark from my hot water bottle and it used to take me 15 minutes to get dressed in the morning with all the layers I would wear. 

Favourite Coffee Spot?
Uplands (officially) but honourable mentions to Machina and the Supper Hall.

Where are you from?
Glasgow, though I lived in Edinburgh until I was 11. I’m also half Irish!

What brought you back to Edinburgh for uni?
I wanted to do Medicine, live in a city, and move out. Edinburgh ticked all the boxes.

How did you get into running?
I mostly danced at school. My PE teacher loved cross country and if you did even moderately well, he pushed you to take it further. I started properly at 16/17, ran for a year before uni, probably overdid it and got injured in first year. I did triathlon for a while, but now I’m back to running and injury-free (at this point we touched every wooden surface in the vicinity so as not to jinx an injury into existence).

Favourite triathlon discipline?
Running, then cycling, then swimming.

You’ve just run a marathon!! Tell us all about it!
I just ran one! Loch Ness with a couple of medic friends. It was really fun. I’d always said I’d do one when I was older, but last semester I was running good mileage without injury, so I thought I’d better make the most of it. One hundred percent would do another!

Did you enjoy the training?
Loved it! I enjoy running, so doing more of it was great!

How was your summer?
Started strong with Harie Holiday – amazing group, amazing place. Long runs in the morning, chilling in the afternoon, happy hour in the evening. This was my first ever happy hour- two glasses of wine for €4… what’s not to like? After Chamonix I mostly worked, but I went to South Uist with my dad and brothers. Gorgeous but freezing, didn’t get above 5 degrees!

Do you have any goals for the year?
Running: more cross country. Starting with East Districts, hopefully National Relays too.
Also I want to be able to do a pull-up (been a goal for 5 years). Non-running:I want to make a croquembouche -not with choux, with macarons. Planning a croquembouche party with party hats, so hold me accountable for this please, it needs to happen 

(this is literally the best answer anyone could have given me to this question. If you don’t know what a croquembouche is: firstly, you need to watch the Bake Off more ardently, secondly google a picture- it’s spectacular. I don’t see how any goal could surpass mastering a croquembouche.)

How are your baking skills?
Love baking, though not much at uni. Better ingredients at home. I always make granola when I’m back ( with pecans, fruit, seeds) then give half to my mum and keep half (which I usually eat in a day). You have to keep an eye on the granola as it bakes though… it burns easily. (from experience, I can testify this is a wise, wise piece of advice).

Favourite granola ingredient?
Peanut butter. A friend gifted me a kilo of boujee Maillefer crunchy PB after my marathon. Life-changing. I even tried making my own, but Lidl’s was better. Want to try Pip & Nut sweet and salty.

Crunchy or smooth peanut butter?
Crunchy all the way.

If you didn’t run, what sport would you do?
Probably dancing, especially ballet. I stopped during Covid. I also played netball at school.

If you didn’t study medicine, what would you study?
Something language-y. Maybe French or Gaelic-related. I’m fluent in Gaelic, went to a Gaelic school, and can speak some French. (Mega kudos for the gaelic speaking ability)

If you could only race one distance forever?
Maybe 10 miles. I’ve never actually done one, but it seems manageable -not too fast, not too long. Half marathons might feel a bit far when I’m 70 years old.

Kilometres or miles?
Kilometres.

Highlight of last season? 
BUCS in Cardiff. Amazing weekend, amazing night out. Cardiff Union was great- think Big Cheese on steroids. I agreed to do a run with Grace Tindall at 7:30 a.m. the next morning before the bus, though I think I was still drunk. (impressive)

Dream dinner party guests?
One of the Off Menu guys: James Acaster or Ed Gamble (settled on James Acaster). Claudia Winkleman, she’s hilarious. And maybe someone serious to balance it out. Olivia Dean, I’m a huge fan of her album and would also like to borrow all of her clothes. (3 excellent choices)

A non-running fun fact?
I speak Gaelic (I decided that repeating this fact was more permissible because it’s frankly a fantastic fact). Also, I have four brothers.

Favourites…

• Meal to cook? Prefer baking, but love cooking new themed dishes for potlucks.
• Day to run? Every day is a running day! (I also asked for the least fave day to run… refused to answer as every day has its own run, how can she possibly choose?!)
• Harie? No comment… but shoutout to my friend Kitty, who finally joined after four years of wanting to and so I am excited for her to get the Haries experience. 
• Place travelled? The Western Isles. But Chamonix has something special too …that alpine air.
• Hill in Edinburgh? Braids – quieter than Blackford. Though the Edinburgh “7 Hills, 7 Shots” day was great (described filling her running vest with everything to make DIY baby guinness shots – iconic.)
• Running route? Hermitage (Total disgust when I admitted I hadn’t been yet this year.)
• Dream sponsor? Saucony. I’ve been on the Saucony train for 18 months. Used to be big into ON, but Saucony just works for me.