With the Swindon Festival of Literature beginning next week, MARION SAUVEBOIS previews a visit by model and fitness guru Nell McAndrew

AS A full-time mother, Nell McAndrew has learned to squeeze in a spot of exercise whenever and wherever she can – be it on the school run, or any time her husband watches the children in the park.

This radical upheaval of her fitness regimen was softened somewhat by a priceless discovery – the running pushchair.

“I run to school and back with a running pushchair – it’s the best thing that I’ve got. That’s my exercise for the day,” the fitness guru and TV personality said.

“When you have children you don’t have a spare minute.”

A scrunching noise is audible on the other end of the phone. She pauses. The timely interruption only proves her point.

“As I’m speaking to you my two-year-old is drawing on everything in sight,” she said.

“That’s life with a toddler.

“I’ve got to make use of any opportunity. On a weekend I go to a park where my husband looks after the children and I do a British Military Fitness class. It’s a whole body workout. I absolutely love it.”

Nell began her working life as a bank cashier before forging a career as a glamour model.

She went on to bring video game heroine Lara Croft to life and grace the pages of Playboy magazine. She spent time in the jungle taking part in I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in 2002 and has released a string of workout DVDs.

Through her various careers moves and rising fame, fitness – and hard work – remained a cornerstone.

“I never thought ‘Oh I want to be famous’,” she said.

“I wanted to work hard, earn a living for myself and my family and try my best.

“I come from a working class background and this is what my parents instilled in me.

“My whole life revolved around fitness for so long. You’ve got to really work hard and look after yourself when you’re self-employed.”

If two highly-motivated teachers had not taken it upon themselves to introduce Nell and her classmates to the joys of exercise after school, her life may have headed in quite a different direction.

“The teachers, who were man and wife, stayed behind to do athletic activities on the school field,” she said.

“We were running – it was just general exercise. But now that I think of it, if they had not given up their time off I may not have experienced it as a teenager. It’s a credit to them.”

With six London Marathons under her belt – she completed the race in a laudable 2:54.39 three years ago – and countless charity races, Nell was approached to write an ABC to running and jumped at the opportunity.

In Nell McAndrew’s Guide To Running, which she co-wrote with journalist Lucy Waterlow, the mother-of-two shares her love of running.

She offers tips on how to get started, improve performance as well as nutritional advice.

“It’s a great privilege to be in a position where I can look after my own health and fitness and give something back,” she added.

“We worked on the book for two years and I’m really proud of it. It’s really an A to Z of running.

“People can dip in and out to keep motivated.

“We have some real-life stories to give them encouragement, race plans, advice on kit and nutrition. It covers all levels.

“Running is for everybody. I hope this book encourages people to start. With the right people around, encouraging them in the right way they can do it.

“It’s the best thing I do. For me running is thinking time; it’s a great way to boost confidence and self-esteem. I can’t imagine my life without exercise.”

As part of the Swindon Festival of Literature, Nell will take part in a 5km run at Lydiard Park on Monday, May 4 at 2pm, before introducing her book to festivalgoers at the conference centre at 3pm.

Tickets to her talk cost £5. To book call 01793 524 481 or visit swindontheatres.co.uk.