After having to withdraw from this year’s London Marathon due to a hamstring injury the AFD man will look to lay down his 26.2 credentials on the stress of New York.

Vernon could be well suited to the hard undulating course and there will keen interest amongst British distance fans to see how the popular athlete runs in his debut marathon. We know his pedigree at cross country and at 10,000m where his has won a European silver medal and has a PB of 27:42 but he remains an unknown quantity at the marathon.

The chase for times

The New York City Marathon has tended to be less popular in recent years amongst Brits looking for a quick autumn or winter Marathon with Berlin and Chicago offering flatter profiles and longer build up to spring races including the London Marathon.

With the IAAF standard now set at 2:11:30 for men and 2:29:30 for women the most Brits will have their eyes on courses that offer the best chance for quick times for Tokyo next year.

However the dual qualification system also recognises a top 10 finish in a World Marathon Major event (which includes NYC Marathon). 10th placed finisher Chris Derrick ran 2:13:08 in 2018 and in 2017 the 10th place finisher ran 2:14:57. Despite the profile of the course these times are well within Vernon’s ability but regardless of times the race clearly affords the opportunity to build critical experience before London 2020.

A happy hunting ground

History shows this can be a happy hunting ground for British Athletes. Steve Jones’ winning time of 2:08:20 in 1988 and Paula Radcliffe’s wins in 2004, 2007 and 2008 are testiment to that along with victories for priscilla Welch in 1987 and Liz McColgan in 1991.

In 2018 eight British men went inside 2:30 with Jonny Mellor leading the way in 2:16:09 for 15th place. Three British women ran inside three hours with St Albans Strider Gillian Pease (2:55:14) the fastest.

Champions return

Defending champions – Kenya’s Mary Keitany and Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa will both return in 2019.
Keitany will go for her fifth career title in New York and Desisa will look to post back-to-back victories.

This year’s TCS New York City Marathon professional athlete field was officially announced by a pair of Rising New York Road Runners Youth Ambassadors, as NYRR marks 20 years of its free youth running programs.

“We’re thrilled to have all four of our defending champions return to the TCS New York City Marathon and lead a world-class professional athlete field through the streets of the five boroughs on November 3rd,” said NYRR president and CEO Michael Capiraso.

Keitany, Diver, Aga and Degefa line up

In 2018, Keitany became the second woman to win in New York in the open division four times, recording the second-fastest time in event history in 2:22:48. It was her fourth win in five years and she’s the only woman other than Grete Waitz to win the race four times.

Keitany is the women-only marathon world record-holder (2:17:01) and is a two-time winner of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, having taken the series titles in 2012 and 2016.

Keitany will be challenged this year by 2019 Boston Marathon champion Worknesh Degefa, 2019 Tokyo Marathon champion Ruti Aga, 2019 United Airlines NYC Half champion Joyceline Jepkosgei, 2018 Boston Marathon champion and two-time U.S. Olympian Des Linden and Australian sensation Sinead Diver. No British or Irish women feature in this year’s elite field.

Kitany said “New York has become a second home to me, and every year I circle the TCS New York City Marathon on my calendar as a date to look forward to. I’m very excited to return on November 3 to race for my fifth New York City Marathon title on my favourite course in the world.”

Desisa, Kitata and Kamworor go head to head again

Desisa won his first TCS New York City Marathon title last year after finishing on the podium three times previously. He held off fellow Ethiopian Shura Kitata by two seconds to finish in 2:05:59, the second-fastest time in event history. Desisa also has two Boston Marathon titles to his name, having won in 2013 and 2015.

Runner-up Kitata will be back again this year to challenge Desisa, as will 2017 TCS New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor, who finished third last year.

“After finishing second and third before, I finally won my first TCS New York City Marathon title last year and it was one of my proudest moments in my life” said Desisa at the elite field press conference “I had been waiting for that day to come for some time. I’m looking forward to defending my title this November and lining up against Shura Kitata”

Men’s elite field

Abdi Abdirahman, USA 2:08:56
Collin Bennie, USA
Michel Butter, NED 2:09:58
Mizael Carrera, PUR 2:19:29
Kiya Dandena, USA 2:12:56
Birhanu Dare, ETH 2:12:21
Lelisa Desisa, ETH 2:04:45
Arne Gabius, GER 2:08:33
Mo Hrezi, LBA 2:18:40
Tyler Jermann, USA 2:13:39
Jamie Julia, PUR 2:20:17
Geoffrey Kamworor, KEN 2:06:12
Shura Kitata, ETH 2:04:49
Jarrett LeBlanc, USA 2:13:51
Craig Leon, USA 2:13:40
Albert Korir, KEN 2:08:03
Jorge Maravilla, USA 2:21:57
Brendan Martin, USA 2:15:30
Tyler McCandless, USA 2:12:28
Matt McClintock, USA 2:18:03
Connor McMillan, USA 2:23:28
Daniel Mesfun, ERI 2:10:06
Mustafa Mohamed, SWE 2:12:28
Harbert Okuti, UGA 2:13:01
Tyler Pennel, USA 2:13:32
Yassine Rachik, ITA 2:08:05
John Raneri, USA
Brett Robinson, AUS 2:10:55
Jack Rayner, AUS 2:11:06
Stephen Sambu, KEN 2:11:07
Louis Serafini, USA 2:17:25
Yoshiki Takenouchi, JPN 2:10:01
Tamirat Tola, ETH 2:04:06
Andy Vernon, GBR
Joe Whelan, USA 2:13:39
Jared Ward, USA 2:09:25
Tadesse Yae, ETH 2:11:50

Elite Women’s Field

Ruti Aga, ETH 2:18:34
Meseret Ali, ETH 2:40:41
Jennifer Bigham, USA 2:41:37
Molly Bookmyer, USA 2:44:07
Worknesh Degefa, ETH 2:17:41
Nicole DiMercurio, USA 2:36:03
Buze Diriba, ETH 2:28:06
Sinead Diver, AUS 2:24:11
Belaynesh Fikadu, ETH 2:26:41
Megan Foster, USA 2:43:44
Bose Gemeda, ETH 2:39:15
Bizuwork Getahun, ETH 2:36:29
Sasha Gollish, CAN 2:32:54
Kaitlin Goodman, USA 2:32:08
Alia Gray, USA 2:34:00
Roberta Groner, USA 2:29:09
Sara Hall, USA 2:26:20
Yinli He, CHN 2:27:35
Danna Herrick, USA 2:32:19
Joyciline Jepkosgei, KEN
Katy Jermann, USA 2:33:41
Ana Johnson, USA 2:43:11
Mary Keitany, KEN 2:17:01
Allie Kieffer, USA 2:28:12
Nancy Kiprop, KEN 2:22:12
Kate Landau, USA 2:33:29
Desiree Linden, USA 2:22:28
Margo Malone, USA 2:42:22
Mary Ngugi, KEN 2:28:33
Diane Nukuri, USA 2:27:50
Ellie Pashley, AUS 2:26:21
Paula Pridgen, USA 2:41:29
Lindsey Scherf, USA 2:32:19
Gerda Steyn, RSA 2:31:04
Kellyn Taylor, USA 2:24:29

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The post Andy Vernon set for debut marathon in New York appeared first on Fast Running.

Great Britain’s Andy Vernon has been forced to withdraw from the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon due to injury.

The 33-year-old, who is a former double European Championships medallist on the track over 5000m and 10000m, was due to make his marathon debut in London on Sunday, April 28.

But a recurrence of a hamstring injury has forced him to withdraw.

“I’m gutted I have had to withdraw from the Virgin Money London Marathon,” said Vernon. “I was really looking forward to running my first marathon and being in London was going to be extra special.

“Having started my marathon preparation with two injuries it was always going to be a tough ask to make the start line healthy, but one of them has got the better of me and it just wouldn’t be sensible to attempt a marathon with my body not being 100 per cent right, they are hard enough as it is.”

North American pair Chris Derrick (USA) and Cam Levins (CAN) have also withdrawn for the men’s race, while Mikael Ekvall (SWE) and Matt Sharp (GBR) are no longer running.

In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba has withdrawn from the London Marathon for personal reasons.

Photo: photorun

The three-time Olympic champion and current 5,000m world record holder was second in the 2017 race when she set a personal best (PB) of 2:17:56, making her the fifth fastest female marathon runner in history.

USA’s Allie Kiefer, who was seventh at last November’s TCS New York City Marathon, has withdrawn as has Denmark’s Anna Holm Jorgensen.

Swiss pair Maude Mathys and Martina Strahl have both also pulled out, as has Irish internationals Emma Mitchell and Laura Graham, plus England international Eleanor Davis.

For the most up-to-date start list, click here, while the latest news on the London Marathon can be found here.

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The marathon remains the jewel of the road racing crown for the majority of endurance athletes, and after much success on the track and in the mud, Andy Vernon is ready to step up to the distance.

For the two time European Championships medallist, April’s London Marathon debut promises to be the biggest challenge of Vernon’s illustrious career so far. 

“I’m looking forward to the marathon and a change of training regime,” he says. “My training has been the same for years, so it will be nice to mix it up a bit, adding in longer stuff. It won’t all be as quick, but I’ll enjoy running for longer and being more relaxed during those sessions.”

Vernon is well aware of how his recent injury issues have made an unavoidable dent into his marathon build up.

Happily, the Aldershot, Farnham & District star remains defiantly positive about his necessarily revised approach.

“Ideally at this stage, 13 weeks out from London, I’d like to be in good 10k shape, but realistically I’m not,” he admits. 

“I’m a few weeks behind where I want to be, but I am just concentrating on building a decent base. The marathon specific training won’t be until 10-11 weeks out, so I have time.”

Building up the miles and a change of running style

With PBs ranging from 13:11.50 and 27:42.62 for 5000m and 10,000m to 47:29 and 62:46 for 10 miles and the half marathon, he is no stranger to big miles and intense sessions.

Arguably, his wealth of endurance built up over more than a decade will prove to be his greatest strength to bring to the marathon.

That, and his scorching track speed.

Averaging 90 miles a week for a lower mileage period and 110 miles in peak training, he says that higher figure will rise above his biggest mileage week ever – that currently stands at an incredible 122 miles.

“I’ll be looking at building it up to 130 miles over the next couple of months,” he reveals. “I’m used to big miles though, and already cover between 18-20 miles on long runs as it is.

“However, it will be the change of running style inherent to road running that will be the most obvious difference I will have to adapt to, after decades of track and cross country.

“Running on the track involves almost clawing your way through the race, whereas the gait is completely different on the tarmac. I just need to learn that different method, as well as holding my top end speed for a little more than half an hour longer than I’ve done before!”

Andy’s marathon training philosophy

So how will Vernon’s training change on a basic level as he enters the unknown realms of marathon training?

“My average training week up until now has involved three sessions a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with the rest made up of steady runs and a long run on Sunday,” he explains. 

“Now I will move those sessions to Tuesdays and Fridays and make them longer than before. I’ll also add in a longer, harder mid-week run on a Wednesday. The Sunday run will become a faster session too.”

Running to feel, off road and enjoying the scenery along the way

The AFD ace is no stickler for specific paces or a slave to heart rate monitors, though, preferring to run to ‘feel’ and just cover the set number of miles in whatever time it takes him.

“I just roll into it, there are no goals for the steady miles, but I do keep an eye on the watch to see if I’m running faster than I feel or slower, and how that reflects my natural instinct for the pace,” he says. 

Vernon is grateful to live in Blackwater in Hampshire, where he has not one but two forests to train in, as well as Hawley Lake to run around when the mood takes him.

Unsurprisingly, running on trails is his preferred terrain, to both reduce the impact of all of those miles on his joints but also to enjoy the views his training location affords him.

Vernon’s coaching set up

Self-coached since September 2017, he is happy to be in control of his own training schedule after years of being coached by firstly Nick Anderson and then Nic Bideau.

His departure from Bideau’s training group came about after the coach signed an agreement with Nike Australia, who were reluctant to sign Vernon onto their programme. 

Nike UK couldn’t pay the AFD athlete a wage, but when On Running stepped in to sponsor Vernon he gratefully accepted, and thus the two men went their separate ways. 

View this post on Instagram

Good day with the @on_running team today at the Running show, Birmingham. #runonclouds

A post shared by Andy Vernon (@andy_vernon) on Jan 20, 2019 at 12:58pm PST

“The politics involved in running can be complex, but as I’ve said before, I couldn’t be happier now – On Running have treated me so well, and I know what I’m doing with my training after all these years,” he adds. “I do take advice when offered, however. When I was in Stirling for the international cross country I chatted with Paula Radcliffe and Kathy Butler about the marathon. 

“Above all though, I know my body better than anyone else, so I’m happy with how it’s going at the moment.”

An average day in the Vernon household

So what does an average day look like in the Vernon household now marathon training has well and truly set in?

Andy and his wife Tasha take it in turns to look after three month old baby Arya in between Tasha’s hours working as a personal trainer and Andy’s increasing mileage.

“I’ll start the day with breakfast followed by a foam rolling and stretching session to wake up the muscles before the first run of the day – this can take an hour some days,” he reveals. 

“The timing of the morning run will depend on Arya, after which time I’ll have a shower and something to eat. 

“Then, depending on Arya and Tasha’s hours, I’ll relax in the afternoon or go to the gym, then run again around 4pm. 

“Tasha started back running five weeks after having Arya, and, although she’s not bothered about competing again, her runs still need to be fitted in!”

The two time European Championships medallist’s picture of trying to fit in up to 130 miles a week around a busy family life is one that many can relate to, albeit perhaps not such as high a mileage!

RELATED: Andy Vernon calls for better prize money in domestic athletics

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Celebrated amongst the country’s grassroots running fraternity for his regular appearances on the domestic racing circuit and for his approachable, ‘every man’ propensities, he is sure to enjoy plenty of home support when he runs his debut marathon in London this spring.

Vernon has been running at the top of his game, and most of the UK’s too, for more than a decade, winning medals at European and world level on both the country and track.

In recent years, the 33 year-old Aldershot, Farnham & District star has begun to carve out an impressive career on the roads. 

Road running success

A 13:40 5k back in 2014 indicated great things to come for the On Running-sponsored athlete, but it is only this year where he has turned his main focus to the tarmac.

Perhaps boosted by fine road performances last autumn – again on home turf – Vernon is undoubtably a strong contender for a domestic medal in London. It would be an unwise man or woman, however, who bets on a marathon debutant! 

The 2016 Olympian enjoyed a familiar battle on the streets of Portsmouth with club mate and longtime friend Chris Thompson at 2018’s Great South Run, running a very useful 47:29 PB. 

That came just a week after scoring a mental and physical victory against the weather along with the rest of the field at a stormy Manchester Half Marathon, running 63:36. 

Photo: Manchester Half Marathon

Now he hopes he can convert his world-class performances on the track and country to the marathon.

What is it about the man known for his tenacious racing style and his thickset yet lean physique, that makes most domestic runners feel they know Vernon without ever having met him?

The British racing circuit and financial concerns

He is a mainstay of the British cross country racing circuit, having made a name for himself on the toughest of terrains at the Southern and English National Championships in his younger years.

Vernon has competed in every British Athletics Cross Challenge series since 2007, along with a number of English National Cross Country Relays. Therefore it’s no surprise he feels like such a familiar face to runners of all standards on our isles.

“I prefer British courses, and it helps that there’s less travelling so I can be back home that same evening,” he explains, a fact that carries heavier weight now he has become a dad to baby Arya. 

“Financial concerns are another significant factor in racing in the UK – it costs money to race abroad, whereas I can win decent prize money at home.”

Building a successful career as a full-time professional runner is clearly no easy task, with the weekly grind of, in Vernon’s case, 100 plus miles, together with the significant requisite gym and injury prevention work being part and parcel of any international athlete’s life.

But when those same runners are forced to race more often than perhaps is ideal in order to reach the next level because of the need to win prize money to sustain their lifestyle, that task becomes even harder.

The aforementioned Cross Challenge series is one example of this, although competing at the sharp end of one of the most cut throat cross country circuits in the world would have done his progress no harm. 

“The prize money on offer in the Cross Challenge races is a huge bonus to me,” he reveals. “It’s a shame the national championships can’t follow their lead as I’m sure the organisers make a lot of money from the thousands of entries? 

“They would attract a far stronger field if there was a decent financial incentive. Just look at the American circuit – they have thousands of dollars on offer for every race distance from 5k to the marathon. Can’t we look at adopting a similar system in the UK?

“Unless a race is a trial for a championships, unfortunately it has to go to the bottom of the priority list if it doesn’t offer good prize money. I have to maximise my earnings when I race, as aside from the support I get from On Running, it’s a big part of how I sustain my career. I have to make hay while the sun shines!”

Life as a full-time professional athlete

Vernon’s words are a stark reminder of the tough world he inhabits, where truly impactful sponsorship opportunities are thin on the ground for athletes trying to make world championships and even Olympic Games.

“I previously did combine part-time work as a nanny with running, but it was tricky to balance it with high mileage and racing all over the UK and sometimes abroad,” he explains. 

Vernon was instrumental in setting up ‘Athlete Mannies’, a nanny business in South West London now headed up by fellow runner Richard Goodman and former top 1500m athlete, Ben Coldray.  

“It fitted in really well around my training, meaning I could run in the morning, rest then pick children up at 3pm, look after them for the afternoon then run again at 7pm,” he reveals.

“The parents were really understanding of my need to sometimes take time off for training camps or races abroad, but then I had a great year in 2014, made enough money to survive without the work, and, with the 2016 Olympics fast approaching, I needed to concentrate on running full-time again.”

Sponsorship opportunities

Vernon is effusive in his thanks for the support he receives from sponsors On Running, which includes full kit and a wage to help him focus on his intensive training.

“They are great people to work with, and the bonus structure they operate is a big help too,” he adds. “I’m also grateful to receive £2000 this year from the London Marathon.”

Support of any kind is essential to athletes trying to compete with the best in the UK and the world on a regular basis, but that is particularly true when injury strikes.

Photo: Keith McClure

Injury and fitness issues

The GB cross country regular made a return to the mud at the Great Stirling XCountry in January, where he finished a below par 16th.

Vernon reveals that he had been struggling with firstly an Achilles tendinopathy and then a hamstring tendinopathy, and thus his performance in Stirling came off the back of very limited training.

“I have never raced off such a low level of fitness before, and it proved how difficult it is to compete at the top of your game when you’re not fully fit,” he explains. “I am clearly only human, I have to train very hard to get the results I do, it does not come easy.

“The injuries put me out of the European cross country trials and championships, and led to me having to have shock wave therapy, which interrupted training further.”

Thankfully, he seems to have put those injury woes behind him ahead of his marathon debut.

Racing goals for a man who likes to compete domestically but has raced internationally for over a decade

What next for the man who has already competed in three Commonwealth Games, a World Indoors, six World Cross Country Championships and won three European cross country medals (bronze in 2013, an U23 silver in 2008 and an U23 bronze in 2007), not to mention two European track medals?

“I am done with cross country for the season now, so it’s all about road racing in the build-up to London,” he reveals. “I need to find another race paying decent prize money before March, but then the main goal pre-marathon will be The Big Half, which really does look after British athletes. 

“It’s great how they offer British only prize money alongside the main prizes, which means that, if a British runner finishes in the top three, there will still be those top three British prizes to be won regardless.

“More race organisers should take heed, it would really encourage top domestic athletes to compete against each more often, and hopefully raise standards too.”

Keep an eye out for a follow up piece on Andy Vernon, where he talks about how his training will change as he prepares for his first marathon, his self-coached status and an average day in the life of a one-time Olympian hoping to return to the biggest athletics stage on earth in Tokyo in 18 months time.

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Andy Vernon has been announced on the same day as fellow British athlete Charlotte Purdue for the Virgin Money London Marathon on April 28.

With an excellent career on the cross country and track, including numerous British vests, running fans can now look forward to Vernon taking on the marathon for the first time. The strong finishing athlete will surely be an exciting prospect to watch over 26.2 miles this spring.

“It felt like the right time in my career to move up to the marathon,” said Vernon. “I feel like I am getting a little bit slower on the track. It’s tough to make teams, it’s tough to do well at championships, especially over 10,000m. For that reason, I thought if I don’t do it now, I won’t ever do it.”

Having run well over the half marathon distance, with a personal best of 62:46, there is certainly great potential over the full 26.2 miles. The On Running competitor seems to be growing stronger on the roads with a 10 mile PB of 47:29 at the Great South Run last October and a 63:39 Manchester half in wet and wild conditions the week before.

Despite a tough time at the recent Great Stirling XCountry, where the strong runner fell back from the lead group quite early on, you can fully expect Vernon to turn up to London ready to roll. Here’s to many years of cheering the Aldershot, Farnham and District man as he brings his trademark charging finish to the world of marathon running.

Kipchoge to return

Meanwhile, on Monday (January 14), organisers announced the return of world record holder and defending champion Eliud Kipchoge.

Kipchoge won his third London Marathon title last year before going on to set a new marathon world record of 2:01:39 in Berlin. The 34 year-old will once again face Britain’s Mo Farah.

Farah ran a British record to finish third in London before running a European record 2:05:11 to win October’s Chicago Marathon.

The latest news on the London Marathon can be found here.

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World class cross country runners from Great Britain, Team Europe and Team USA are set to battle at the Great Stirling XCountry on Saturday (January 12).

The event will be held in Stirling for the first time – at the city’s King’s Park golf course – after organisers were forced move the event from it’s long standing home at Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park.

Set against the backdrop of Stirling Castle, athletes will race over challenging terrain for honours in the men’s 8km race, women’s 6km race and the mixed relay, ultimately targeting the overall team prize, which was won by Europe last year.

Defending event champion Leonard Korir aims for a third straight win in the senior men’s race, however USA teammate, Garrett Heath will have other ideas as he eyes a fourth win in Scotland.

Ben Blankenship, who won the 2018 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships, also makes the transatlantic trip, along with fellow 2016 Olympian Hillary Bor.

Photo: Keith McClure

Andy Vernon has won three individual medals at the event’s former home and leads the British charge after missing the European Cross Country Championships through injury. Joining Vernon in the GB senior men’s team are European team silver medallists Charlie Hulson, Kris Jones, Ross Millington and Nick Goolab, plus senior debutant Patrick Dever.

Team Europe will have ambitions of claiming the men’s individual title with European silver and bronze medallists Isaac Kimeli of Belgium and Aras Kaya of Turkey set to compete.

In the senior women’s race, European U23 cross country champion Anna Emilie Moller will lead Team Europe’s hopes. The Danish athlete is based in the UK and will race against some familiar British athletes after winning October’s Cardiff Cross Challenge ahead of Kate Avery and Emily Hosker-Thornhill.

Avery, who won the Edinburgh XCountry in 2016, leads a strong GB team that boasts fellow European team silver medalists Charlotte Arter, Verity Ockenden, and Pippa Woolven, along with senior debutants Hosker-Thornhill and Amy Griffiths.

Photo: Andy Peat

RELATED: Kate Avery will be fighting for medals in Stirling

The USA’s senior women’s team features returning athletes Anne-Marie Blaney and Olivia Pratt.

After an impressive indoor season opener in Glasgow last week, Laura Muir heads to mud to make a fifth straight appearance in the 4x1km mixed relay race.

Muir will anchor the GB line up of Phil Sesemann, Alex Bell and Jamie Williamson, who formed part of the relay team in Tilburg. Along with Muir, 800m specialist Bell featured in 2018’s winning quartet. There will be added responsibility on the relay race this year, with the event now counting in the scoring for overall honours.

Photo: Keith McClure

The Spanish gold medal winning quartet from Tilburg of Saul Ordonez, Esther Guerrero, Victor Ruiz and Solange Pereira make up the European team, while Craig Nowak, Stephanie Schappert, Danielle Shanahan and Frankline Tonui feature for the USA.

Adam Craig, Michael Ferguson, Mhairi Hendry, Adam Craig and Steph Pennycook will also compete in the senior mixed relay for Scotland.

To the disappointment of many athletes and running fans, there will be no individual under-20 races at the event’s new home in Stirling.

Instead, this year sees the introduction of the under-20 mixed relay race, with GB’s team featuring Charlotte Alexander, Grace Brock, Jack Meijer and Tom Keen.

Ireland’s Darragh McElhinney is a notable inclusion for Team Europe, along with Swiss duo Delia Sclabas and Sibylle Haring and France’s Valentin Bresc. In the USA’s under-20 mixed relay team are Kelsey Chmiel, Katelynne Hart, Drew Bosley and Jake Renfree, while the home crowd will cheer on the Scottish quartet of Kane Elliott, Erin Wallace, Joe Ewing and Sarah Calvert.

Great Britain full team can be found here, with Team USA here, while Europe’s team, which includes seven individual medallists from the recent European Cross Country Championships, can be found here.

Timetable (UK time)

Following the Inter District races, the international action gets underway with the Great Stirling XCountry women’s race at 13:23.

10.25: Inter District races
12.15: Senior and junior men’s and women’s Scottish Inter District races
13.23: Great Stirling XCountry women’s race – 6km
13.55: Great Stirling XCountry men’s race – 8km
14.35: Great Stirling XCountry mixed relay – 4 x 1.5km

How to watch

Live coverage will be available in the UK on BBC One and online from 13.15 on Saturday.

The programme concludes at 15.15.

Meanwhile, ahead of the action in Stirling, GB’s Kate Avery spoke to Fast Running about her impressive return to competition after injury. The full interview can be found here.

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The post Great Stirling XCountry: Who, what and when? appeared first on Fast Running.

The 37-year-old has won the last two races on the south coast, and victory on Sunday will make it an unprecedented hat-trick as he lines up for the seventh time in the world famous race.

No athlete has won three consecutive Great South Runs – and only Gary Staines has won three in total in the race’s 29-year history.

Thompson, fresh from winning his second consecutive Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run a fortnight ago, will go up against Aldershot, Farnham and District teammate Andy Vernon, who was forced to pull out of the half marathon in Glasgow owing to food poisoning.

Also lining up in the men’s race is 2012 Olympian Scott Overall, Libya’s Mohammed Hrezi and Euro XC team bronze medallist Alex Teuten.

Thompson, who competes in the New York City Marathon next month, said: “I’d be absolutely delighted to make it three wins in a row in Portsmouth. It’s a race which is close to my heart and to win it for the first time in 2016 was a massive moment for me.

“Everything is going in the right direction at the moment as New York draws near. I thoroughly enjoyed the victory in Glasgow two weeks ago and I’m determined to continue the good work into this race.”

Steel going for a double as well

Another athlete aiming for a repeat performance is Gemma Steel, who will return to the South coast a year on from her win in the 2017 staging of the race.

The Charnwood 32-year-old tasted victory in the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run 10K a fortnight ago and represented England in the Commonwealth Half Marathon staged in Cardiff last week.

Despite victories over 10K in Gateshead and Glasgow this year, Steel has struggled to replicate the form that saw her achieve the third fastest 10KM in British history, and will go up against two distance running heavyweights in Steph Twell and Jo Pavey.

Twell showed her versatility earlier this year when she represented Scotland over the 1500m, 3000m and 5000m in the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, while flexing her muscles over the half marathon in Cardiff a week ago.

She made her Great South Run debut in 2010 which remains her sole 10-mile outing to date.

Pavey, however, is no stranger to Portsmouth having won on two occasions in 2006 and 2012. The hugely-experienced Olympian is still going strong at the age of 45 and will be among the contenders for the race which is broadcast live on Channel 5.

Making her 10-mile debut will be European medallist Eilish McColgan. The daughter of two-time Great South Run winner Liz took her first senior silverware this year when she claimed silver in the 500m in Berlin over the summer. The Scottish international has not raced further than 10K in her career to date.

The Simplyhealth Great South Run is televised live on Channel 5 on Sunday from 10am until 12pm.

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British athletes Luke Traynor and Andy Vernon head the elite men’s field for the Manchester Half Marathon on Sunday, October 14.

There is an intriguing competition emerging in the forthcoming Manchester Half Marathon, as the event has already attracted two of the UK’s top male runners.

Traynor is returning to defend his title after his record breaking 64:07 run on his debut half marathon race. Since then he has clocked 61:55 seconds at the Barcelona Half Marathon in February, so a course record could be on the cards.

His performance in Spain took him to third fastest in history on the all-time Scottish rankings. Most recently, the Giffnock North athlete finished third at the Great Scottish Run on Sunday, September 30.

“I am really excited to be going back to compete in the Manchester Half Marathon,” said Traynor. “Last year was my first ever half marathon and it was a brilliant experience.

“It’s a super flat course and the atmosphere was awesome. This year is going to be even better and faster, I hope, as I’m aiming to break my own course record. If you’re looking for a PB I’d encourage all runners to come and join me on October 14th.”

Also joining the line-up is British great Vernon. It was successful summer track season for the 32 year-old who finished fifth in the 10,000m at the European Championships in Berlin. His 2014 half marathon PB of 62:46 could be under threat given his recent strong form.

Andy Vernon said: “It will be my first-time taking part in the Manchester Half Marathon which is an event I’ve heard great things about.

“It’s a half marathon that is starting to attract lots of top club runners as the course is famously fast and flat. There are some great competitors this year, so it should be a fantastic race.”

Meanwhile, this year’s wheelchair race is set to be one of the most competitive in its history. 2016 Team GB Paralympian and British Marathon record holder, Simon Lawson, will also be making his Manchester Half Marathon debut.

Simon said: “I’ve heard competition is growing with more Wheelchair Elites entering year on year, so I’m looking forward to my first time on the course.”

2018 European Championships silver medallist in the 400 and 800m wheelchair sprints, Ben Rowlings, will be another contender for the first place. He’s also the wheelchair world record holder for the 5000m. Adding to the elite wheelchair field is Anthony Gotts, he suffered from depression after losing the use of his legs and completed an incredible 900-mile world record from Cornwall to John O’Groats in Scotland.

Anthony said: “As a Mancunian, I am looking forward to racing through my City of Manchester and seeing the crowds. I’ve heard the support from everyone at the Manchester Half Marathon is quite something.”

Eden Rainbow-Cooper looks promising to be the leading female elite wheelchair athlete. Her career began only five years ago, aged 14 Eden was one of the fastest under 15 athletes nationally, now the Weir Archer Academy racer is ranked number one in the t54 classification for female wheelchair racers in the 100m to 1500m on track.

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Mo Farah will be looking to make it five wins in a row when he returns to Tyneside for the Simplyhealth Great North Run on Sunday (September 9), but it will not be a foregone conclusion as his competition includes Jake Robertson, Daniel Wanjiru and Stanley Biwott.

The ten-time Olympic and world champion became the first runner to win four consecutive times when he beat Jake Robertson on the iconic 13.1 mile course last year – and victory on Sunday will put him clear at the top of the roll of honour in the event’s history.

As revealed on Fast Running last Friday (August 31), New Zealander Robertson will return to line up against Farah once again on Sunday.

The 28-year-old has been in stellar form in 2018, including a New Zealand record-breaking marathon debut in Japan, followed by a superb 10k performance in New Orleans that equalled his twin brother’s national record.

Robertson came within a whisker of beating Farah a year ago, with the British 35-year-old having to produce one of his trademark sprint finishes to come home six seconds ahead of his suitor on the South Shields coast.

Daniel Wanjiru, who won the London Marathon in 2017, will take on Farah and Robertson on Tyneside, while 2012 New York Marathon winner Stanley Biwott has also been added to the field.

Commonwealth marathon champion Mike Shelley will make his debut at the world’s biggest half marathon on Sunday, while British interest will come in the shape of Andy Vernon, Jonny Mellor and Mohamud Aadan.

RELATED: Mo Farah clinches fourth Great North Run win

Men’s elite field (Subject to change)

1) Mo Farah
2) Daniel Wanjiru
3) Stanley Biwott
4) Jake Robertson
5) Mike Shelley
6) Naoya Takahashi
7) Hiroyuki Yamamoto
8) Scott Fauble
9) Scott Smith
10) Ryan Vail
11) Bashir Abdi
12) Mohamud Aadan
13) Pat Tiernan
14) Brett Robinson
15) Mohamed Ali
16) Andy Vernon
17) Jonny Mellor
18) Richard Weir
19) Ross Skelton
20) Dominic Shaw
21) Ryan Burling
22) Chris Sloane
23) Abdishakur Abdulle
24) Liam Rabjohn
25) Stuart Robinson
26) Luuk Metselaar
27) Michael Cayton
28) Martin Hoare
29) Chris Oddy
30) Nick McCormick
31) Karl Darcy
32) Tom Charlton
33) Gary Foster
34) Michael Coltherd
35) Jack Gray
36) Mark Long
37) Dan Kestrel
38) Sephen Blake
39) Rob Danson
40) Steven Bayton
41) Chris Madden

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The Highgate Harriers’ Night of the 10,000m PBs on Saturday (May 19) promises to be the biggest and most competitive yet since it began in 2014, with the increasingly popular event at Parliament Hill also playing host to the European Cup for the first time. The event once again hosts the British Championships which will act as the GB trials for August’s European Championships.

The elite men’s and women’s races will follow an afternoon and evening of back to back racing from 1pm organised once again by Highgate Harriers’ Ben Pochee, interrupted only by a VIP question and answer session on the home straight of the track at 6pm, which will feature Jo Pavey, Alyson Dixon and the European Athletics President, Svein Arne Hansen.

Make your way down to the north London track by Hampstead Heath and enjoy hours of free to view top class athletics, along with fireworks, a carnival atmosphere and the chance to watch the action from a specially constructed bridge over the track to ensure spectators don’t miss a second’s racing.

British athletes to watch

Last year’s winner, Aldershot, Farnham & District’s powerhouse Andy Vernon will return to defend his title, which he won last year in 28:21.15. The consistently excellent 32 year-old put in a good performance in the Commonwealth Games 10,000m final, where he finished ninth in intense heat last month, and was most recently in action in the Birmingham 10k, where he crossed the line first Brit and second overall.

Vernon’s 27:42.62 PB from 2015 makes him the second fastest athlete on the start line, behind club mate Chris Thompson.

The 2017 runner-up and 2:09:49 marathon man, Swansea’s Dewi Griffiths, will not be in action on Saturday as he continues his return to fitness following a hamstring injury, but the rest of the British challengers include a host of classy performers.

Stockport and Team New Balance Manchester’s Ross Millington (27:55.06 PB) had hoped to compete on the track for the first time since contesting the Olympic Games 10,000m final in Rio nearly two years ago. The talented lifelong Stockport Harrier had more than 11 months off racing while he spent time rehabilitating in Albuquerque after struggling with knee and Achilles problems.

However, he has had to pull out due to injury and said on Twitter: “Unfortunately I will not be racing at this weekends European 10,000m Cup due to injury. Cannot express enough disappointment at having to withdraw, especially having missed so much racing over the last 12 months already. Good luck to all those racing on Saturday! I’ll be back.”

AFD’s Chris Thompson’s 27:27.36 PB puts him at the top of the speed tables, and although it dates back to 2011 he continues to post world-class times as a V35.

He posted a 13:25.29 5000m SB earlier this month at the Payton Jordan Invitational, his fastest in five years, and, along with a 62:43 SB at March’s New York half marathon, he is clearly in sparkling form going into the Highgate race.

Derby AC and Team New Balance Manchester’s Ben Connor’s 28:14.56 PB best came less than two weeks ago at the Payton Jordan Invitational, and he also boasts fast 5000m and half marathon bests, namely 13:29.90 from 2017 and 61:11 from February’s Barcelona half.

Dorking & Mole Valle’s Luke Caldwell’s 28:29.61 PB dates back to 2015 but he has already been in 10k action on the road twice this year, firstly at the rearranged Telford event where he clocked 29:32 and then in Brighton, where his 29:23 was good enough for the win on a hot day on the Sussex coast.

Bedford & County’s Matt Leach holds a 28:45.48 from last year, and has proved his form over 1500m, 5000m and the half marathon over the last two months in America, his 13:54.40 5000m PB coming earlier this month at the Payton Jordan Invitational.

AFD’s Ellis Cross’s 29:00.49 PB came at last year’s Highgate race where he finished eighth and fifth Brit on the night. Cross enjoyed a strong cross country season, culminating in a 15th place at the English National cross country championships, and has since posted a 14:03.61 5000m SB at the recent BUCS champs.

Cheltenham’s V35 Graham Rush’s 29:04.52 lifetime best was also recorded at 2017’s event, after which he went onto compete at the then separate European Cup 10,000m in Bulgaria, where he finished 13th. The prolific racer has already competed four times on the country, twice on the road (5000m and the marathon!) as well as posting a strong 14:05 PB to come fifth at the Armagh 5k.

Wreake & Soar Valley’s Sam Stabler (29:03.64 PB) holds a super fast 5000m PB of 13:30.50 from 2015, and backed that up with a 13:37.30 clocking last July. Stabler won this year’s Armagh 5k in 13:59 and was the runner-up to Mahamed Mahamed at the Inter-Counties cross country in March.

Glasgow City’s Luke Traynor (29:08.52 PB) also competed in this year’s World half marathon championships alongside Connor, where he ran 63:28 to follow up his impressive 61:57 PB from the now notoriously fast Barcelona half.

Thames Valley Harriers’ Mo Aadan (29:08.94 PB) ran a 62:34 PB at the recent World half marathon championships in Valencia. The TVH athlete finished a fine 12th at last year’s 10,000m night and was the ninth Brit home. He can also boast a 13:57.32 5000m best from last July.

Manx’s Ollie Lockley was featured recently on Fast Running when he secured a clean sweep at the Isle of Man Easter Festival, followed by an impressive win at last month’s Great Ireland Run 10k. His 29:24.18 10,000m PB is from last March.

Shettleston’s Lachlan Oates is this year’s Scottish 10,000m champion, following his 29:48.80 PB performance in Glasgow last month. His victory came off the back of a strong cross country season, which saw him compete at the Great Edinburgh cross country international as well as securing a runner-up spot at the Scottish national cross championships.

Kent’s Alex Yee will make his hotly anticipated debut over the distance on Saturday having helped to pace the event last year.

His astonishing 13:37.60 5000m PB from last May made him the fastest British junior for 36 years, and his recent 14:05 parkrun – the fastest worldwide for the event since 2012 and the second fastest of all time in the UK – and impressive long leg at the National Road Relays points to a potentially scorching debut for the 21 year-old star.

Ireland athletes competing

Hugh Armstrong’s 29:16.73 PB was secured in Stanford two years ago, but he ran a promising 14:28 at this year’s Armagh 5k to show decent current form. The Ballina AC athlete is the fastest amongst the Irish and heads the trio racing in the B race.

Mick Clohisey (29:24.36 PB) has the strength of endurance following an impressive 2:14:55 PB at February’s Seville marathon and recently clocked 49:23 for 10 miles.

Sergiu Ciobanu (30:11.47 PB) holds a 2:15:15 PB from 2015’s Berlin marathon, alongside useful best times of 48:58 and 64:48 for 10 miles and the half marathon respectively. He also competed in the World half marathon in March, where he posted a 66:19 clocking.

Stephen Scullion (28:58.28 PB) was down for the A race but has returned to Flagstaff in America earlier this week to start a new block of training ahead of the European Championships marathon in August.

Best of the international challengers

Spain – Antonio Abadía’s 28:07.14 PB over the distance makes him Spain’s strongest challenger for the title as he can also boast the third fastest PB on the elite entry list. His most recent outing over 10,000m was just last month, when he ran a strong 28:17.24.

Team mate Fernando Carro’s 28:28.68 best from just last month, together with the fact that the whole of the Spanish team have run under 29 minutes, makes the country hot favourites for the team title once again.

Germany – The uncannily English sounding Richard Ringer’s 28:05.96 makes him Millington’s biggest rival as he is the second fastest on paper. His PB dates back to last May, but he has since run a 7:46.18 3000m PB indoors this February, proving he is still a very strong candidate for victory.

Israel – Girmaw Amare has run 28:56.75 this year but boasts a 28:10.32 PB, while his fellow countryman Haimro Alame’s season’s best of 28:55.89 belies his best speed, as his 28:09.42 PB from 2015 proves he is capable of one of the fastest times of the night.

While Ukraine’s Dymtro Siruk holds an impressive 28:34.36 PB, making him one of the speediest athletes on paper, it dates all the way back to 2012, and his 29:37.97 SB from April seems to suggest he is not in the same form.

The rest of the field is still a highly competitive one, with all but six of the confirmed entries having broken 30 minutes for the distance, while seven will make their 10,000m debut on Saturday.

The elite men’s race starts at 8.30pm, following the men’s and women’s B races, which kick off at 7pm.

The elite men’s and women’s races will follow an afternoon and evening of back to back racing and entertainment. All of the action can be watched on Vinco from 1pm, with the footage also being streamed on the BBC website from 8.15pm.

A detailed preview of the women racing at the Night of 10,000m PBs can be found here.

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