Kate : You don’t ‘play’ it necessarily, but surfing is a thing I really enjoy. I’m not particularly good at it and am very much still learning, but I love the feeling of freedom from spending a few hours in the water, in the sun with loads of really fun people. Unfortunately living in London isn’t all that conducive to going surfing regularly – which is why going at least three times this year is one of my 2015 goals!

Katie : I haven’t played netball in a long time – I used to play for my university and a bit once I moved back home, but I just don’t seem to have the time to fit it in around everything else. I also LOVE tennis. I just don’t have all the time in the world to do everything I want to. I did bring my racquet into London though (last summer….or maybe the year before) so I’m determined to force someone out on the courts with me!

2. What is your top tip for recovery?

Kate : A nice long bath with Epsom salts. An oldie, but a goodie.

Katie : Sit in your running clothes on the sofa and drink Nesquik whilst watching something really pants on the TV. Maybe eat some cereal. Wear compression socks. Then have a bath, get back into bed and accidentally fall asleep….

3. What is your favourite way to unwind after a long week at work?

Kate : I think I might be old before my time, but my favourite way to relax is to take some time out for myself, head to a quality coffee shop with the paper or a good book and just sit. Also, if I need to spend some time with your own thoughts, there is no better way than to go and swim. With no interruptions and nothing to concentrate on but your own thoughts, there’s nothing that can’t be solved within 100 lengths. The only drawback is if you have a brilliant idea, you can’t quickly jot it down on a bit of paper…

Katie : I run. I always run. And then I am a big fan of a good book on the sofa. If I’m exhausted, the last thing I want to do is be social….sorry everyone, I would much prefer a book to you.

4. How do you like your eggs in the morning?

Kate : Poached. The only cooking tip I’ve ever been able to give my mother is how to poach an egg properly – drop the eggs, with their shells still on, into freshly boiled water for 15 seconds before removing and cracking into a cup; add a couple of teaspoons of white wine or cider vinegar to the water; swirl the water around and drop the eggs into the middle. Et voila – perfectly poached eggs..

Katie : I HATE EGGS. The only time I will eat eggs is a) eggy bread and b) raw cake mix. Bleurgh to all other types of egg. I do realise I am missing out a very large proportion of most brunch menus because of this. I will however eat things where it binds it (e.g. banana-egg-oat pancakes) but I just don’t like them, don’t like the texture (I know there are loads of textures but I hate them all) and I am going to be a child about it and keep refusing to eat them. So don’t make me an omelette. I also don’t like bacon if that is another one to make all you full English breakfast fiends go mental.

5. Who is your sporting hero?

Kate : Jessica Ennis. Does this really require any further explanation? She’s an incredible all-rounder and an inspiration to us all – plus she seems like a thoroughly good egg.
Brian O’Driscoll comes a close second. BO’D is God, after all.

Katie : I really respect David Millar. I mean it’s weird to have a hero who had such a low point and is a certified drugs cheat…. but I find him an incredibly fascinating character and it’s a really interesting story. I was gutted when he didn’t get a last shot at the Tour this year as I am sure he would have gone on a few epic breakaways. Also Jo Pavey for her commitment and grit to stick it out to win European gold at the age of 40 last year, Paula Radcliffe for her incredible world record that no-one is getting close to, and I’m also a sucker for Jess. And Kathrine Switzer who was the first woman to officially run a marathon and was nearly manhandled out of the race.

6. Tea or coffee?

Kate : Coffee. Every time. Way too much of it. But never instant – that stuff is not really coffee.

Katie : Back to my egg answer. Can’t stand either. I will at a push drink fruit tea (mainly berry ones that taste like squash) and green tea if it is flavoured with something else, but even then I am forcing myself to drink it because it is better for me than my uncontrollable hot chocolate habit… I think the smell of English breakfast tea is one of the most vile things in the world and I hate anyone making it near me. So you have been warned!

7. If you could have any super-power for one day, what would it be? Why?

Kate : The ability to fly – just think how much better your commute to work would be! It would be worth just for that alone!

Katie : I really want a Harry Potter style apparate or summoning charm. Mainly for those lazy moments like when I am hungry and the fridge seems really far away. OOOOH actually I want Bernard’s Watch. It would be a convenient way to get a new PB come to think of it.

8. When they divided out the world’s supply of awesomeness why was Clare Balding given so much of it?

Kate : I have no idea, but by-jingo is she rocking it!!

Katie : Because we needed someone to come in and start throwing all the rules out of the window rather than just settling for tackling one problem at a time. And I love her for it! Read her book/s if you haven’t already.

9. What is your favourite post-work tipple?

Kate : Either a nice, cold pint or a G&T with cucumber. It mostly depends on how sophisticated I’m feeling.

Katie : I’m a sucker for a good G&T but I will never say no to a glass of wine. But, sometimes I do behave and opt for cranberry and soda!

10. Worst sporting injury?

Kate : I have never broken a bone (TOUCH WOOD), but I did once find myself at the bottom of a ruck with a rather sizable individual on top of me forcing my knee into a very unnatural position and popping my kneecap out of place. OUCH.

Katie : Stress fracture probably up there. Or the time I fell off during a sponsored cross-country event (admittedly, it was the third time I had fallen off in about 20 minutes) and couldn’t walk for 4 days and my ankle was the size of my thigh. I was mainly gutted that I missed out on jumping the RAF plane at the end of the course. Horse then promptly injured himself once I was able to ride again. I also once completely fell my length out in a field and came back COVERED in blood and grazes everywhere – I basically face planted and slid down a hill of flints.

Did we miss anything? Let us know if you have any other questions you think we should get answering…