The Armagh 5k regular from the North West of England last featured when making a break through back in 2019 when he surprised himself with a 13:54 at the super fast Northern Ireland event.

“I just didn’t think I had the natural talent to run that fast,” was his first reaction, but the hard working athlete has since gone on to prove he certainly does have the right mix of natural talent and dedication to post quick times.

After successfully stepping up to half marathon distance over the last couple of years, Martin is currently preparing for his marathon debut at the Olympic Marathon Trail in Kew Gardens in March.

Photo: Keith McClure

Profile

Name: Nigel Martin
Age: 33
Hometown: Lymm
Club: Sale Harriers
Main discipline: Currently the Marathon, though I haven’t done one yet!
Other disciplines: 5k/10k/Half Marathon/XC
Work: Full-time Mechanical Engineer
Goals or targets for 2021: Sub 2:15 Marathon (British Olympic Trials), Sub 29 10k, Sub 64 HM.

Past Running highlights:
Armagh 5k (every year)
11th at the National XC
Sub 14 at the Track 5000 Challenge (because it was on the track in regular spikes!)
64:10 at the Great North Run, finishing 3rd Brit
Northern XC Team Gold 2017,2018,2019,2020
Northern 12-stage Gold 2017 on a sunny day in Blackpool
Running holidays in Portugal and one in the Atlas Mountains

Normal view for Fast Running editor Robbie when training with Nigel, disappearing into the distance.

Interesting or fun facts

I’ve never dropped out of a race, though I came extremely close in the incredibly muddy Northern XC at Knowsley Safari Park in 2017, when my shoe came off twice within the first 5 minutes. I lost two full minutes sorting it out, but carried on and despite being sure I wasn’t in the scoring six as Sale had a strong contingent, I was told with 400m to go I was the sixth counter. I gained about five places from there to the finish and we won team gold by just two points!

I’ve been injury free for 5 years, but despite doing 80-90mpw fairly often I’ve always averaged less than 70mpw in a year. I also train much slower than I race. Two weeks before the Great North Run, I ran a 15k tempo over 30s/mile slower than I then raced at and not for lack of trying.

I run because…

I love it! I love racing and enjoy training and I’ve been lucky to see consistent and sometimes rapid progress.

Favourites

Favourite training session: Tempo in winter, 5x2k (off 60s) in summer
Least favourite training session: Any virtual race
Favourite pre-race food: Banana and coffee
Favourite post-race food: Chocolate and coffee
Favourite running shoes: Altra for Easy runs. Next% for racing.
Brands or organisations that support me: None.

The post Fast10: Nigel Martin appeared first on Fast Running.

Every weekend there are athletes having ‘breakthrough’ performances, but when Nigel Martin ran 13:54 at the Armagh 5k it really did feel like new ground.

The Sale Harriers’ initial reaction tells it all: “I just didn’t think I had the natural talent to run that fast.”

After first meeting ‘Big Nige’ – which no one really calls him – in Portugal back in spring 2017, the hardworking northerner has been a personal source of inspiration, simply for his consistent dedication to the grind. Big Nige gets the job done, week in, week out.

“It was just a perfect day in Armagh, the weather was great, the field was competitive and the stars just aligned for me,” is how Martin humbly sees his run in Northern Ireland. “I hadn’t done a 5000m last summer so maybe it wasn’t as big a jump as it looked.”

Photo: Keith McClure

Training with the right people

Training under the wing of Sale Harriers stalwart Norman Poole means being at the track on a regular basis, just as the coach is every week. The president of the British Milers’ Club is spoken of highly by all of his athletes and also those he hasn’t coached, such is his reputation.

“At the beginning of each planning season, so September normally, Norman and I sit down and plan out the goals for the year ahead,” Martin tells Fast Running. “There’s a big plan with key races, tied in with the long term ambitions and gradual progress towards them.

“We build carefully and I see this recent string of results as part of three years of consistent training. My training might look underwhelming, but I race better than I train.”

It seems three years of “underwhelming” training has produced some overwhelming results. Built on a basis of controlled two week builds, followed by an easier week which often has a race, Martin has the simple basics of track work, tempo runs and a Sunday long run with easier mileage around this.

“It will usually be two weeks of 85-90 miles, something I have built up to over the years, followed by a lower week of around 60 miles,” he explains. “Norman wants me to always respect my races so we have a taper for those and this usually ties in with the lower mileage.

“I used to have a four week cycle but the recovery is a key part for me so we adapted.”

Focusing on progressive results

When I initially met Nigel in Portugal a couple of years ago it was somewhat strange for me to hear of someone focusing on certain shorter races, like Trafford 10k, Wilmslow Half and the Armagh 5k.

I was used to people targeting marathons or ultras, running in new places each time to build on the experience. Seeing someone dedicate all this training to simpler, but no less respected goals, was new.

“This spring I’ve had a four race streak, with Armagh, the National Cross, Trafford and Wilmslow,” he says. “I was in great shape coming into the year, having already run well at the Northerns, but those four races just went really well.”

Photo: Pete Brown

It is clear that Armagh gave Martin the belief going forward into the next three events. Changing expectations can often throw a runner but the results are built on a solid foundation.

As was the case here, a runner can do wonderful things with the right confidence, as evidenced by his 65:26 win at the competitive Wilmslow Half in late March.

So how did everything go down at Armagh? Hearing the result when I crossed the finish line a fair bit later did actually make me shout for joy so I have already put forward a theory in this article, but here’s how Big Nige saw it.

“It was the third year in a row that I had competed at Armagh [having run 14:39 and 14:25 PBs in previous years] and this year was my biggest breakthrough for sure,” says the Sale Harrier. “My watch was actually playing up. It started after the race so I only had the lap clock to go by.”

“I knew from previous years that I was going fast, but I was focused on the runners around me. The leaders were just ahead, 5-10 seconds or so, so it was where I expected to be.

“The clock on the last lap read 11:04 and I still didn’t believe I’d break 14 minutes, even though I knew the time it would take me to get back round. It was only on that home straight did I think it was possible.”

The initial reaction when greeting Nige at the finish said it all. “I just didn’t think I had the natural talent to run that fast.” It gives hope to us all of what we might achieve with dedication, hard work and consistency.

“People train faster and race more often that I do, but I’ve found what works for me,” he intelligently says.

What’s next?

Armagh was followed by 11th at the National Cross, 29:55 for fourth in tough conditions at Trafford 10k and then lopping five minutes from his half marathon PB to run 65:26 at Wilmslow Half for the win. It’s a string of results that would make any club runner jealous.

“The next goal is the Highgate Night of the 10,000m PBs,” says Martin, who ran 30:17.69 last year and will be surely looking to bring his 10,000m PB in line with a couple of his recent results. “Then maybe Manchester or another autumn half. Maybe building towards a marathon in 2020… potentially.”

Whether the hardworking northerner decides to focus on the marathon or not, it’ll be exciting to see what the future holds.

No doubt some more inspiring results to showcase the importance of simple, progressive and dedicated training. Big Nige is moving forward. 

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The post Nigel Martin on running faster than he’d ever believed possible appeared first on Fast Running.

Ethan Hussey thinks big. That much is clear when you see he has just set up a crowdfunding campaign to help finance his dream to compete at the Olympics – despite only turning 16 this week (March 5).

Yet his high hopes are not misplaced, judging by his achievements so far.

Last month, he ran 14:29 at the Brooks Armagh 5k to equal a 35-year-old UK under-17 best. A category winner at last year’s London Mini Marathon, he also ranks third on the UK all-time under-15 list for 1500m.

The super-deep 5k road race in Armagh, where his time was good enough ‘for only’ 43rd, would have helped keep his feet on the ground – even if that was literally something of a task due the crowded nature of the start.

“Armagh came as a bit of a shock,” says Ethan, looking back on the race. “I didn’t really expect to run that fast. It was just a case of go out hard and see what we could end up with. It’s a bit daunting on the start line, being probably the youngest and smallest there.

“It wasn’t a normal race where you get on the start line and run out hard – it was a fight for the first kilometre or so. It was a struggle to stay on your feet.”

Although well down the field at the end, it was enough to match the long-standing record held by John Nuttall.

The time was, according to the respected Association of Road Racing Statisticians, a world best for a 15-year-old, although some doubt must be cast on this as the mark currently listed is inferior to that time run by Nuttall when he was that age.

Either way, it compares well to the listed track best for a 15-year-old of 14:10.92.

Nine days after Valentine’s night in Armagh he finished fourth in the under-17 category at the English Cross Country Championships despite being bottom of his age group.

“I’m really over the moon with how the National went, considering I had Armagh a week before,” he explains. “It was just a case of get out there and see what could happen and how long I can last at the front for.”

A strong training group keeps him grounded

Despite his ambitions, Ethan is determined to aim for a gradual progression rather than risk burn-out and he remains grounded, which is no doubt helped by being part of such a large and successful training group.

Coached by Andrew Henderson at Leeds City AC, the group includes Commonwealth 800m fifth-placer Alexandra Bell, world junior 800m finalist Alex Botterill and faster senior athletes such as Phil Sesemann, who was sixth in Armagh in 13:50. Such a high standard among his peers is enough to keep his past achievements in perspective.

Emphasising the benefits of having such a strong and friendly training group, he says: “I think having a strong training group is important to improve instead of just training on my own.

“It’s not just a case of going to train to get in done, it’s a case of having a laugh and having a group there to not only help you improve in training but to support you in everything else.

“Me being the youngest there surrounded by adults, I can learn from their experiences and they always help me with upcoming races and how to deal with stuff better.

“You always know you’ve got to fight for your place to be in the group. Everyone’s a good athlete, so if you’re in and around them, you know you’re in good shape when it comes to a race.”

A long-term approach

Despite his early success and having taken up running as a first-year under-11, he believes Henderson’s long-term approach will see him through to senior level and help him avoid the common fate of young achievers in the sport.

“Everyone goes on about people burning out, but I don’t think it’s an issue in my case,” says Ethan, who played many sports before concentrating on running two or three years ago. “I have trust in my coach and he’s always going to put my best interests first in my training.

“I just turned 16 and I think the most important thing for my coach is that I’ve always got somewhere to improve. We don’t want to peak too early as a young athlete. We’re always looking at the long-term benefits and where things can pick up when I get older.”

When it comes to his current training, he adds: “My mileage varies throughout the year, so in the winter it will generally stay at around a similar range, but then every once a month we’ll throw in a bigger week to set up a foundation for the summer, so we have the ability to drop down and then focus on the speedwork.

“So whatever we do in the winter is generally just laying down the foundations for the summer, when I prefer to race and I enjoy it most.”

Despite the trust in Henderson as his coach, he points out that it is a two-way relationship.

“If I don’t feel like it’s working or if I think it could be improved to benefit a race I’ll drop in a word and then we can negotiate around what would be best,” he explains.

Ethan’s next goals are the Inter-Counties and English Schools cross country championships this month and he’s particularly targeting the latter to aim for a medal.

As for the summer, as well as trying to improve on his middle-distance PBs of 1:52.44, 3:50.37 and 8:29.36, he wants to further demonstrate his range with an occasional 400m race.

Although he will still be too young for the European Athletics Junior Championships this year, he will surely have that level of event as a realistic target in the near future.

But with a good long-term strategy and a competitive training group to keep him humble, senior success could also follow.

Further information about Ethan’s GoFundMe page and details on how you can support him can be found here.

RELATED: Steph Twell and Topi Raitanen win in Armagh

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The post Ethan Hussey has big ambitions appeared first on Fast Running.

Such was the extent of his supremacy in Falkirk, Adam Craig crossed the line arms aloft nearly a minute clear of the competition.

Not restricting himself to glory on the country, the Lauder-born star has enjoyed a superb start to the year on the roads and the track, boasting impressive versatility.

Along with a 7:57.66 runner up spot at the recent indoor Scottish 3000m Championships, Craig preceded his National cross win with the equal fastest 5k by a Brit in five years.

Running in the dark blue colours of his national vest for the second time in a matter of weeks, Craig shot around the Armagh International Road Race to post a 13:45 debut for the 5k road distance, finishing just two seconds behind the victor, Finland’s Topi Raitanen.

Asked how he feels about his redoubtable impact on the British racing scene since returning from university in America – and in particular his Scottish National win – he is modest to a tee.

“I am obviously happy with my run at Falkirk but I certainly didn’t expect to win,” he reveals. “It was a pleasant surprise to win and by such a margin. Along with my run in Armagh, I feel I’ve made up for the disappointment at the British Indoors.”

Photo: Keith McClure

Learning from bad race experiences

That ‘disappointment’ he refers to relates to his below par result at the British Championships 3000m in Birmingham, where a gutsy display of front running following a slow first couple of laps did not have the desired effect.

While he may have eventually crossed the line 12th in a time that in no way reflected his undoubted fiery form, the way he attacked the race when it was in danger of becoming a very slow, tactical affair was admirable.

“I knew I was fit and in low 7:50 shape, particularly following on from my run at the Scottish Indoors,” he explains. “I just felt I needed to execute that time, so when we jogged through the first two laps in 67 seconds I went for it.

“By the time we got to the last four laps I’d burned out, but lessons were most definitely learned, and I loved the whole experience. It was my first time at the Birmingham indoor stadium, and to get the chance to chat with people like Chris O’Hare in the warm up zone was fantastic.”

By now it’s becoming clear that Craig is most definitely a glass half full kind of athlete, focussing only on the positives and learning from the negatives.

Bouncing back with a positive attitude

That upbeat attitude and gleaning as much as he could from his first British Indoors outing meant he bounced back in glorious style in Armagh.

“It was a blessing in disguise to race so soon after Birmingham,” he says with a smile. “There were lots of other athletes in Armagh who were also unhappy with their runs at the indoors, so we agreed to help each other to run as fast as we could in the 5k.”

That gentleman’s agreement paid dividends for Craig, Sam Stabler, Andrew Heyes and Phil Sesemann in particular, all of whom buried their own Birmingham disappointments with PBs and top six positions in Northern Ireland.

Photo: Keith McClure

Earning his second Scottish vest in the space of a few weeks – adding to his fine display in his national colours in the Great Stirling Cross Country International 1.5k relays in January – represented the appreciative recognition from Scotland’s selectors of his incredible form since returning from the University of Mount Olive in North Carolina last summer.

Aside from an ultimately ill-advised decision to take up his first invitation to race the British Championships in Birmingham last June – Craig finished a weary 23rd in the 5000m after a hectic cross country and track season in America – he has been an exciting athlete to watch on all surfaces.

Six months of glorious racing since returning from America

Following a well-earned summer break he bounced back to win the Great Scottish 10k last September in 29:43, and, just two weeks later, finished a fine sixth at the Cardiff Cross Challenge.

Switching back to the roads, the former Edinburgh AC athlete took victory at the Jedburgh 10k, before earning his most high profile podium topping result on British shores yet – the Leeds Abbey Dash 10k title in a PB 29:08.

Proving his formidable ability to race just as well on both surfaces, he enjoyed the first of two fierce battles with Perth Strathtay’s Sol Sweeney at the Scottish National Short Course Cross Country Championships to come a close second, before another creditable British Cross Challenge performance at the European trials in Liverpool, finishing 13th in a stacked field.

The American Collegiate athletics experience

“I definitely believe the amount of racing I did in America has prepared me very well for competing regularly at a high level in the UK,” he reveals. “I spent the first year over there adapting to my new programme, but by the second and third year I was getting some good results. 

“Not just that, I enjoyed some incredible experiences at some of the meets, such as mixing with athletes like Paul Chelimo in the warm up zone at the Camel City Invitational 3000m!

“Races like that, where you get special treatment before and after the race, helped me prepare for the championships experience that I hope to enjoy more of in the future.”

The fact that Craig gets as much out of the positive race experiences as the negative bodes well for the future, as what athlete can say he or she always races well, regardless of their level?

Racing on tired legs

Reflecting on last summer’s British Championships he accepts that pure excitement overrode any underlying fears that he wasn’t in the right place fitness and energy-wise for the 5000m European Trials event.

“It was a silly decision to race there, I’d only had seven days off in America between the cross country season and the indoors, and had been racing non-stop from January to May,” he reveals. 

“However, lessons have been learned. I also loved the whole experience again, racing against the likes of Marc Scott and Andy Vernon, I look forward to doing it better next time!”

The nine time All-American graduated with a degree in Exercise Science last summer, and, on his return to the UK, decided to settle in Glasgow.

Inverclyde AC

Joining Inverclyde AC from his old club, Edinburgh, was a straightforward decision for the talented young Scot.

“I wanted to be with a local club in Glasgow, and, because I was already training with some of the Inverclyde lads, it made sense to join up,” he explains.

“We link up whenever we can for long runs and I try to fit my schedule in with some of the endurance group’s longer sessions when possible. It’s also great to be part of a club that puts out strong teams at relay events.”

It’s no understatement to say that Inverclyde AC have been making a name for themselves in recent years, and their award for the Scottish Athletics ‘Impact Club of the Year’ was just reward for the hard work the coaches and athletes have been putting in for more than a decade.

Craig’s storming run at last October’s Scottish Short Course Cross Country Championships helped the club win the team prize for the first time in four years.

Riding high on success boosted by three years of a busy competition schedule in America

It’s clear that the combination of his successful time in America – which included winning the Colonial Relays 10,000m in 29:39.72, the Mt. SAC Relays 5000m in 13:58.52 and a 10th place at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships – and the way he’s hit the ground running on all surfaces since settling back in the UK are signs of much greater things to come from this exciting young talent.

Craig’s next race will be the UK Inter-Counties on March 9th, which double up as the World Cross Country trials.

As balanced as ever in the face of another big challenge, the Loughborough-bound Scot insists he is just looking forward to the experience.

“It will be my first time racing the best of the British elite on the country at this event,” he reveals. “I’ve finished my indoor season early so my training is more cross-country based now before concentrating on preparing for the outdoors. I will do my best at Prestwold Park, and enjoy competing against some top runners.”

Craig may not realise it yet, but he is now undoubtedly counted amongst the top runners he’s referring to. His modesty and refreshing attitude to every race he takes on is something that will surely stand him in good stead as he progresses up the UK, and global, ranks.

Keep an eye out for a follow up piece focussing on Craig’s training and coaching set up and his future racing plans!

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The post Adam Craig is reaping the benefits of his time in America appeared first on Fast Running.

There were over 250 personal best runs across the two main races at the 2019 edition of the Armagh International Road Races. It certainly lived up to the expectations, but not everyone was happy.

Records were broken across the board and an astonishing 113 men broke 15 minutes for 5k and 49 women broke 10 minutes for 3k. Led home by Scotland’s Steph Twell and Finn Topi Raitanen, it was a great sight for British and Irish endurance running.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t one of the runners dipping under 15 minutes, which was the arbitrary barrier I had set myself as a target.

In my mind, it was the ultra running equivalent of a four-minute mile, the bottom end of race distance that I wanted to have a proper crack at after the marathon last year.

When I crossed the finish line I had ran a personal best for not only 5km but also 3km, but I felt disappointed. 15.25, but starting the race from dead last meant the official time was 15:27. Normally I wouldn’t even mention the faster unofficial time but I’m grasping here. Making it sound better to myself. 

So do you have to be happy with a personal best?

The short answer is yes. If you have the right mindset, a growth mindset, then any improvement needs to be celebrated. Well, maybe not celebrated, but appreciated for the progress it shows.

In a sport and age that can be all about the numbers, it can be easy to find disappointment in any performance. But the numbers aren’t always what counts.

For a healthy and sustained relationship with the sport, it can be really beneficial to have a growth mindset – as proposed by academic Carol Dweck – and focus on improving, growing as a person and an athlete, not just the outcome.

The phrase “process not outcome” is becoming increasingly common and was the focus on Stephen Scullion’s recent Fast 10: class of 2019 blog. It was one of the reasons that the Irish international feels he has reached new heights in recent years.

Rather than being entirely taken over by a bad performance or training session, Scullion has learnt to embrace the high and lows of the journey. If you’re moving in the right direction, that is what matters.

Reflecting back

When you think back on a race, a personal best you’re not happy with or any performance, it’s okay to be disappointed. There may always be areas to improve on, but getting down about it doesn’t help anyone. Constrictive reflection is key.

Personally, I ask myself questions such as “Did you try your hardest?”, “How was your pacing?” “Did you give up at any point?” and “What would you do differently next time”.

If you tried your best on the day and just did’t hit that number you wanted, then maybe you’re just not there yet. I’m not in sub 15 minute 5k shape, so I just need to accept that and move on.

Photo: Keith McClure

At Armagh, I did hit a new max HR (always a joy), didn’t start too fast and struggled a little bit in the fourth kilometre. I’m happy I did my best on the day. 

The expectation I placed on myself wasn’t helpful but we all do it. I should have gone to Armagh with the aim of just running as best I could on the day.

It would have made for a happier day and a faster run may have been possible. Watching the clock tick past nine minutes before I had run three kilometres wouldn’t have mattered as much, but that’s easier said than done.

So what next?

Take what happened on race day and use it to make you stronger. Even just the experience of a hard 5k race for someone inexperienced over the distance will make you stronger. Focus on what worked, but also talk to your coach or peers about what you could do differently. A second or third opinion can work wonders.

Getting disappointed with a PB isn’t worthwhile. It’s unproductive. You might use the disappointment to drive you in training for the next time, but it’s very much a stick rather than a carrot motivation. It’s extrinsic motivation linked to an outside factor, rather than intrinsic motivation, the more valuable and long lasting.

Berating yourself to try harder might work for some, but working hard to feel the enjoyment of a PB will provide more longevity in your work ethic.

It sounds a simple difference but it all stems from how we feel about our last performance. Being disappointed with a PB can lead you into a negative mindset.

Look around for inspiration

The greatest thing I took from Armagh from inspiration from others. The power of the group, helping everyone achieve their best and strive forward together.

Friends ran huge PBs and were clearly really happy with the race. It helped me refocus my mind on the positives and have faith in the journey ahead. Most notably were friends Paul Navesey and Nigel Martin.

Having trained with Paul for years and known Nigel since a trip to Portugal two years ago, they are relatable people to me, unlike superstars in the telly or the people unknown to you at the front.

Yet both have seen the fruits of years of hard work and determination. Paul broke 30 minutes at Chichester 10k recently and then ran 14:07 in Armagh to finish 15th. If you consider that Paul is also a former British 100km champion, that’s some range.

Then you have Nigel, or ‘Big Nige’ as no one calls him. The quote from him after the race that sticks with me was: “I didn’t think I had the natural talent to run that fast.” The Sale Harrier posted 13:53 to finish ninth.

When first told the time after the race I felt almost as happy as I might have done breaking 15 myself. The power of running in a strong race, training consistently and dedicating to one’s sport was shown in both men’s performances.

Next year?

With everything I have taken from the race, the value of coming to Armagh is there for me to see. Firstly I’m happy with a personal best, it’s moving in the right direction.

Secondly, I believe I can go faster, much faster. Not from some strange belief that I’m naturally talented or I just didn’t try hard enough, but from seeing friends run brilliant times it shows me just how it can be done.

Now I just have to decide if I want to feel the pain of a 5k again. Do I want to chase another personal best and get closer to that 15 minute barrier in the future?

RELATED: 2019 Armagh International Road Races report

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The post Should you always be happy to run a PB? appeared first on Fast Running.

Steph Twell clocked a course record equalling 8:59 to clinch victory in the Intersports women’s 3k race, while Finnish athlete Topi Raitanen ran a blistering 13:43 to break the Brooks men’s 5k course record.

Both athletes took the top honours in an excellent night of racing, but there was lightning fast running across the board at the 29th edition of Armagh International Road Races on Thursday night (February 14).

Some of the standout stats of the night include a record 49 women breaking 10 minutes for 3k, 10 men broke the previous course 5k course record of 13:54, 12 men went sub 14 minutes, and an astonishing 113 run inside 15 minutes to smash the previous best in Armagh.

In the women’s 3k race, Twell, 2018 runner-up Jess Judd and Amy Griffiths took the front of the field early on around the lapped Armagh Mall course.

Photo: Keith McClure

As the race went into the closing stages on the final lap it was reigning British 5000m champion who pulled away to clinch the win in 8:59, finishing six seconds ahead of Judd who crossed the line in 9:05.

Twell winning time equalled the course record set by two-time winner Laura Weightman in 2017.

Amy Griffiths improved on her fourth place from 2018 to complete the podium in 9:10, with Kate Avery fourth in 9:11 and Lauren Heyes fifth in a time of 9:16.

Crossing the line in sixth place was Claire Duck in 9:18 ahead of Kerry MacAngus (9:23), Emma Mitchell (9:24) and Hayley Carruthers (9:26), while Beth Kidger completed the top 10 in 9:26.

Elsewhere, Armagh AC’s Fionnuala Ross, who is a member of the Fast 10: class of 2019, finished 15th in 9:29.

Taking the club team title was Leeds City thanks to Duck in sixth, Brownwen Owen in 16th and Jennifer Walsh in 19th.

Highgate Harriers were the second placed club ahead of North Down AC, while Scotland took the international team honours.

Following the excitement of the women’s main event, it was time for the men to take to the start line in Armagh.

Following a fast first lap, Poland’s Krystian Zalewski and Scottish duo Adam Craig and Luke Traynor were at the front of the tightly packed lead group at the end of the second lap.

Photo: Keith McClure

As the race progressed it was anyone’s guess who would take the honours from about a large group that included 2018 champion Sam Stabler, Jonny Mellor, Andrew Heyes and Finland’s Raitanen to name a few.

At the bell for the final lap, it was Mellor, Craig and Raitanen who had a small lead on the rest of the field.

In the final stages, it was the strong finishing Finn who clinched the victory in a course record breaking 13:43 and led home a plethora of personal best performances.

Raitanen’s winning time took  11 seconds off American David Nightingale’s 2009 course record.

Taking the runner-up spot was Craig in a time of 13:45 ahead of defending champion Stabler who was also awarded 13:45.

Mellor was also among the PB performances and clocked 13:46 to finish fourth.

Representing England Heyes finished fifth in 13:48 – a nice Valentines moment for newlywed Andrew and Lauren Heyes as both athletes finishing fifth in their respective races.

Philip Sesemann was next across the furious finish line in 13:50, Graham Rush clocked 13:51 in seventh, while Jack Gray bagged eighth in 13:52. Completing the men to break the previous course record Nigel ‘Big Nige’ Martin in 13:53 and Kieran Clements in 13:53.

Also going sub 14 minutes was Polish athlete Zalewski and Matt Bergin representing Ireland in 13:59. Elsewhere, Kevin Dooney finished 16th in 14:08, while Luke Traynor was 19th across the finish line in 14:14.

The final two of 113 men to break 15 minutes in 14:59 were Salford Harriers Marc Brown and North Down’s Craig McMeechan.

Among other notable performances, 15 year-old Ethan Hussey ran 14:29 to equal the under-17 UK all-time record – set by John Nuttall in 1984 – and Shane Healy clocked 15:20 to set an Irish over-50 record.

Leeds City’s Sesemann and Rush led the club to the team title ahead of Clonliffe Harriers AC and Liverpool Harriers in third place, while England claimed the international team honours.

The final race of the night was the men’s open 3k and the race victory went to Scottish runner Jamie Burns in 08:44 ahead of Northern Irish duo Jack O’Farrell in 8:47 and Conall McClean in 8:47.

Former GB international James Thie finished fourth in 8:50.

The full results from the Armagh International Road Races can be found here.

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Some of the fastest athletes from the UK, Ireland and further afield are ready to race at the 29th edition of the Armagh International Road Races on Thursday (February 14).

Last year in the cathedral city, Sam Stabler led home a record 93 men under the 15-minute mark in the Brooks men’s 5k, while Laura Weightman was at the forefront as 34 women dipped inside 10-minutes in the Intersport women’s 3k.

Stabler clocked 13:59 to clinch the win and returns to defend his crown against another stacked men’s field. However, women’s course record holder and two-time winner Weightman sits out this year, leaving the path clear for a new champion on Thursday night.

After a period on the sidelines, Wreake and Soar Valley’s Stabler is still working his way back to race fitness, but should be in the mix for the top prize once again.

The 26 year-old’s first race back was at the Northern Ireland International Cross Country in January before competing over 3000m at last weekend’s British Indoor Championships.

Also among the leading British entries in the men’s 5k are Luke Traynor, Richard Allen, Jonny Mellor, Kieran Clements, Graham Rush, Philip Sesemann and Luke Caldwell.

Traynor produced a number of impressive runs in 2018, including a 5000m performance of 13:39.95, and no doubt aims to knock a big chunk of his 14:41 5k road best from 2016.

Joining the Giffnock North runner in a strong Scottish team is Caldwell, who ran a PB of 14:05 to finish seventh last year, and 2018 Leeds Abbey Dash 10k winner Adam Craig, who races for the first time over 5k on the roads.

Liverpool Harriers Mellor, who is also a member of the Team New Balance Manchester set-up, is another one to watch and previously clocked 13:57 to finish third in 2012.

Aldershot’s Allen will run for England and is one of the most prolific 5k road runners in the last 12 months.

Photo: Pete Brown

The 23 year-old ended 2018 ranked third in the UK after a PB run of 13:51 in Ipswich.

RELATED: Racing ‘naked’ of technology key for Richard Allen

Also set to race in Armagh for the first time is Shaftesbury Barnet’s Clements who posted a PB of 14:00 in 2018. Leeds City’s Sesemann joins him in the England team and certainly has the potential to lower his 14:09 best.

Leeds City clubmate Rush returns for the third consecutive year and has previously finished seventh and sixth, posting times of 14:07 and 14:05 respectively.

Matt Bergin clocked 14:08 to finish 12th in 2018 and features in the Irish team along with Kevin Dooney, who ran 14:24 two years ago. David Flynn and Brian Maher complete the Irish quartet.

The trio of James Hunt, Abed Teweldebrhan and Guy Smith compete for Wales, while Adam Kirk Smith, James Edgar, Neil Johnston, Ben Branagh and Conor Duffy will race for Northern Ireland.

Among the leading international entries is American Matt McClintock, who has a 13:49 road 5k best, while Belgium’s Yannick Michiels returns to Armagh after a fourth place finish last year in 14:03.

Poland’s Krystian Zalewski is also back and has previously clocked a 14:02 best to finish fifth in 2015.

Meanwhile, Fast Running’s Robbie Britton, who is more widely known for his exploits in ultra running, is set to continue his step down through the distances.

Britton recently clocked a sub 2:30 marathon and now aims to greatly improve his 5k road time of 15:41. Rumour has it he has is eyes on taking to the track over 800m in the future.

Steph Twell, Jess Judd and Kate Avery head the women’s 3k

Steph Twell and Jess Judd are the two standout entries in the women’s 3k field, however, a host of other top athletes, including Kate Avery, should challenge for honours.

Reigning British 5000m champion Twell races in Armagh for the first time – and over 3k on the roads for that matter.

Last November, the 29 year-old announced her plans to focus on the roads following an illustrious track and cross country career.

Photo: Bobby Gavin

The marathon at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games is Twell’s target for future, and after a strong 2:30 debut at the Valencia Marathon in December, she certainly looks to have a bright future over the distance.

The Aldershot athlete, who has a 3000m PB of 8:40.98, most recently clocked 33:17 to break the course record at the Chichester Priory 10k.

No stranger to the podium in Armagh, Judd claimed the runner-up spot last year in a time of 9:03, following a third-place finish in 2017.

The 24 year-old, who has an 8:43.24 best over the distance on the track, most recently finished fourth at the BUCS Cross Country Championships.

Last year in Armagh was one of Avery’s first races back after missing the majority of 2017 through injury.

The Shildon athlete ran 9:26 to finish 11th before working her way back to race fitness throughout the year. Avery ended 2018 with a number of strong cross country performances and few will be surprised to see her on the podium on Valentine’s night.

Lauren Heyes (Howarth) and Amy Griffiths finished fourth and fifth 12 months ago and both athletes are among a strong English team that also includes Elsey Whyman-Davis and Holly Archer.

Northern Ireland 5000m and 10,000m record holder Emma Mitchell finished sixth in 2018 and is set to race in Armagh ahead of making her marathon debut in two months time.

Commonwealth Games steeplechaser Iona Lake finished seventh last year and returns, as does Leeds City’s Claire Duck after securing a top 10 place in 2018.

Also among the entries is 2017 fifth place finisher Katie Snowdon, and Commonwealth Games athlete Alex Bell, who finished 14th last year, while 2:35 marathoner Hayley Carruthers races for the first time in a 3k road race.

Fionnuala Ross of race organising club Armagh AC finished 12th last year and heads the Northern Ireland team that also includes Kelly Neely, Jessica Craig and Teresa Doherty.

Kerry MacAngus, Morag Millar and Eloise Walker join Twell in the Scotland team, while Bronwen Owen and Beth Kidger compete for Wales. Set to compete for Ireland are Grace Lynch, Emma O’Brien, Nakita Burke and Una Britton.

Poland will be represented by Mariola Slusarczyk, who finished 19th last year, while Isabeau Lenaerts and Elise Van Raemdonck compete for Belgium.

The night of racing gets underway with the juvenile races at 6.30pm, before the women’s 3k action at 8.10pm, followed by the men’s 5k at 8.30pm. The open men’s 3k will conclude the 29th edition of the Armagh International Road Races at 8.55pm.

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Luke Traynor, Steph Twell, Richard Allen, Matt Bergin, Fionnuala Ross and Kris Jones are among the runners named in international teams for the Armagh International Road Races on February 14.

Year after year, with unmatched depth in each field, the men’s 5k and women’s 3k produce some of the quickest times across the UK and Ireland.

Last year a record 94 men dipped under the 15-minute mark, while and 34 women ran under 10-minutes.

Scotland’s team for the 2019 races includes a number of runners who will race in the Northern Irish city for the first time, including Traynor and Twell.

Giffnock North’s Traynor had a number of impressive runs in 2018, including a 5000m performance of 13:39.95, and no doubt aims to knock a big chunk of his 14:41 5k road personal best from 2016.

Photo: Bobby Gavin

Leeds Abbey Dash 10k winner Adam Craig and GB Euro cross country representative Jamie Williamson will race over 5k on the roads for the first time, while Luke Caldwell returns after finishing seventh in 2018.

British 5000m champion Twell, who ran a 2:30 debut marathon in December, heads the Scottish women’s selection along with Kerry Macangus and Eloise Walker.

In the women’s 3k race, the trio faces a strong English team with experience of racing around the lapped Armagh Mall course.

Lauren Howarth and Amy Griffiths finished fourth and fifth in 2018, while Eleanor Davis and Holly Archer race in the city for the first time.

England’s 5k champion Allen, whose PB of 13:51 was the third fastest time in the UK last year, leads the men’s quartet, which also includes Kieran Clements, Joshua Grace and Philip Sesemann.

Photo: Pete Brown

Northern Ireland’s women’s team features Leeds Abbey Dash’s female winner Ross, who is a member of the race organising club Armagh AC, along with Kelly Neely, Jessica Craig and Teresa Doherty.

Adam Kirk Smith and James Edgar both competed at last year’s Commonwealth Games and are joined in Northern Ireland’s men’s team by Neil Johnston, Seeley Cup 10k winner Ben Branagh and Conor Duffy.

Matt Bergin finished 12th in last year’s race and returns for Ireland in a strong quartet alongside Kevin Dooney, Brian Maher and David Flynn.

The Irish women’s team features Grace Lynch, Emma O’Brien, Nakita Burke and Una Britton.

Wales’ team was the final international lineup named and includes the returning Jones, who ran a PB of 14:03 to finish fifth in Armagh two years.

Joining the GB international orienteer and cross country athlete in the men’s team are James Hunt, Abed Teweldebrhan and Guy Smith.

Bronwen Owen and Beth Kidger are the sole Welsh females making the trip across to Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, other athletes also expected for the international racing on Valentine’s night include Emma Mitchell, Jess Judd, Claire Duck, Graham Rush and Charlie Grice.

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Online entries for the renowned Armagh International Road Races in Northern Ireland on Thursday, February 14, closes today (January 18).

Year after year the men’s 5k and women’s 3k produce some of the quickest times across the UK and Ireland with unmatched depth in each field.

Last year a record 94 men dipped under the 15-minute mark, while and 34 women ran under 10-minutes.

Racing for the first time in Armagh and his first 5k on the road, Sam Stabler won the men’s race in a lightning fast 13:59, while women’s course record holder Laura Weightman clocked 9:00 to finish within one second of her 8:59 best from 2017.

Photo: Keith McClure

RELATED: Sam Stabler and Laura Weightman win in Armagh

The night of racing also includes an open men’s 3k and juvenile races.

The 2019 lapped race around the Mall in the city is shaping up once again to produce some the fastest times around. Could 100 men break 15 minutes for 5k this year?

Further information about race entry can be found here, while Fast Running’s coverage of the action in Armagh can be found here.

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The post Last chance to enter the Armagh road races appeared first on Fast Running.

Not a lot should change in the UK rankings before the close of the year – unless the fifth edition of the Podium 5k in December has something to say – but with the end of 2018 drawing ever nearer, let’s take a look at the fastest times run so far.

Marc Scott ran a superb personal best 13:45 to at the Mid Cheshire 5k in Kingsley over the summer to record the fastest men’s 5k this year.

Scott had an impressive season that included 5000m gold on the track at the Britsh Championships, fifth over the distance at the European Championships, and a 10k road best of 28:57.

Photo: Mick Hall

RELATED: Marc Scott is the UK’s fastest over 5k this year… but he wants more

The US-based athlete at the Bowerman Track Club was five seconds quicker than the next athlete over 5k on the roads.

That honour goes to Belgrave’s Nick Goolab who ran 13:50 at the Ipswich Twilight 5k in May, where he led five men to 14:00 or quicker.

Such was the quality at the front end in Ipswich, the race hosted four of the five fastest 5k athletes in 2018, with Richard Allen, Adam Hickey and Adam Clarke completing the top five with 13:51, 13:54 and 13:57 respectively.

Further down the rankings, the Armagh 5k is ever present, with Sam Stabler’s 13:59 the sixth fastest time in the UK. Wreake & Soar Valley’s Stabler led 94 men under the 15 minute mark at the high quality race in February.

Laura Weightman ran a blistering 15:25 at the Podium 5k in March to top the women’s rankings this year.

Weightman’s superb time at the no frills race in Barrowford also catapulted her to fourth on the UK all-time rankings. It was a fantastic season for the Morpeth athlete who won Commonwealth 5000m bronze and European 1500m bronze on the track.

Leeds City’s Stevie Stockton recorded the second fastest time over the distance after an impressive 15:38 performance at the Mid Cheshire 5K in April.

The Kingsley race also incorporated the English Championships and saw Stockton and Aldershot’s Allen claim the honours.

One second behind Stockton on the rankings was British 10,000m champion Charlotte Arter who clocked 15:39 at the Cardiff 5k in May.

Two time European Cross Country silver medalist Kate Avery began her impressive 2018 comeback with a quick 15:52 at the Podium 5k in March. The Shildon athlete’s time in Barrowford places her fourth in the UK this year.

Jess Piasecki, who recently finished second to Avery in her first cross country race in five years, is another athlete who has made an excellent comeback this season after injuries.

The Stockport athlete’s first race in 2018 was a top 15:55 run at the fourth edition of the Podium 5k. That time bags 15:43 runner Piasecki the fifth spot on the 2018 UK rankings.

Men’s 5k 2018 rankings

1) Marc Scott, Richmond & Zetland, 13:45, Mid Cheshire 5k (August)
2) Nick Goolab, Belgrave, 13:50, Ipswich Twilight 5k (May)
3) Richard Allen, Aldershot, F & D, 13:51, Ipswich Twilight 5k (May)
4) Adam Hickey, Southend, 13:54, Ipswich Twilight 5k (May)
5) Adam Clarke, Aldershot, F & D, 13:57, Ipswich Twilight 5k (May)
6) Sam Stabler, Wreake & Soar Valley, 13:59, Armagh 5k (February)
7) Charlie Hulson, Liverpool Harriers, 14:00, Armagh 5k (February)
7) Kieran Clements, Shaftesbury Barnet, 14:00, Ipswich Twilight 5k (May)
9) John Sanderson, Guildford & Godalming, 14:04, Armagh 5k (February)
10) Graham Rush, Cheltenham (Now: Leeds City), 14:05, Armagh 5k (February)
10) Luke Caldwell, Dorking & Mole Valley, 14:05, Armagh 5k (February)
10) Jonathan Hopkins, Swansea, 14:05, Armagh 5k (February)

Women’s 5k 2018 rankings

1) Laura Weightman, Morpeth, 15:25, Podium 5k (March)
2) Stevie Stockton, Leeds City, 15:38, Mid Cheshire 5k (April)
3) Charlotte Arter, Cardiff AAC, 15:39, Cardiff 5K (May)
4) Kate Avery, Shildon, 15:52, Podium 5k (March)
5) Jess Piasecki, Stockport, 15:55, Podium 5k (August)
6) Emily Hosker Thornhill, Aldershot, F & D, 15:59, Mid Cheshire 5k (April)
7) Faye Fullerton, Havering, 16:01, Ipswich Twilight 5k (May)
8) Lauren Howarth, Leigh Harriers, 16:03, Mid Cheshire 5k (August)
9) Emelia Gorecka, Aldershot, F & D, 16:04, Carlsbad 5000, USA (March)
10) Gemma Steel, Charnwood, Ipswich, 16:07 Twilight 5k (May)

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