Excellent fields have been compiled for races over distances between 400m and 5000m at a venue that has been hosting BMC meetings for over 40 years. Races are set to run between 16:30 and 21:20 with all the action to be streamed live on Vinco.

It is, of course, the first BMC Grand Prix of this Olympic year. For those who believe in such things, you might be interested to know that in the first Grand Prix of 2012, winners of four of the six events went on to qualify for the London Olympics (Lynsey Sharp, 800m; Laura Weightman, 1500m; Ross Murray, 1500m; and Jo Pavey, 5000m). The other two winners were elite athletes from abroad. Will similar patterns emerge this year?

This is probably the strongest domestic track meeting of the year so far, and to whet your appetite I will take you on a stat-filled run through of some of those expected to be in action and particular times to keep an eye on. I will also be there providing updates on the night via social media (details at the end).

Men’s 5000m

European U23 Championships Standard: 13:53.00
World U20 Championships Standard: 13:55.00
European U20 Championships Standard: 14:25.00
BMC Record: 13:21.17, Micha Kogo (Kenya), 2005 (member record 13:28.22, Kris Bowditch, 2000)

The men’s 5000m may provide the strongest depth of Saturday’s action, with a who’s-who of British middle-distance athletes entered including ten who have run inside 14:00 and two under 13:30.

Based on PBs, Jonathan Davies is the leading entrant thanks to his 13:23.94 best. The Reading / University of Birmingham athlete has a number of accolades on his racing resume, including 2015 European U23 Cross County Champion, silver (5000m) and bronze (1500m) at the 2017 World University Games and 2020 British Indoor Champion over 3000m. His outdoor season got off to a winning start with victory over 3000m on his home track at Birmingham University last month, his 30th appearance at a BMC event. He will be looking to continue the winning trend on Saturday.

There will be tough competition, however, including sub-14 men Adam Clarke, Jordan Crowe, Owen Hind, Kristian Jones, Henry McLuckie, Tom Mortimer, Scott Overall, Phil Sesemann and Michael Ward.

Phil Sesemann will be looking to continue his good form from the indoor season which included gaining his first British vest on the track at the European Indoor Championships and three runs under eight minutes for 3000m, including a new 7:51.27 PB. Indeed his outdoor season has started strong with a second-place finish at the BMC’s Gold Standard Race in Birmingham last month (3000m, 7:57.44) and a 13:40 at Podium 5k, just one second outside his 2020 PB. By my count, this will be Phil’s 34th BMC race since his debut back in May 2013 and his eighth time on the Trafford track.

Jonny Davies. Credit: James Rhodes

Eyes will also be on youngster Henry McLuckie as he targets a World U20 Championships QT. His PB of 13:56.20, set in March at the Comeback 5000, is one second shy of the required time, although almost half a minute inside the European U20 Championships QT. Henry also competed at the BMC’s Gold Standard Races in Birmingham last month where he took the win over 1500m (3:42.71).

Also looking for age-group qualifying times will be U23 athlete Tom Mortimer. His PB (13:43.47, set in taking bronze at last year’s British Championships) is well inside the standard, but outside the time period. His 13:39 at Podium 5k suggests it should be an easily achievable target. Tom is also no stranger to the Trafford track, taking the win over 3000m at last September’s BMC meeting.

I must also add – it is exciting to see Scott Overall entered for a track race! A man best known more recently for his exploits on the road, his 5000m PB was set back in 2008. Indeed, this will be his first race on the track in six years (save for a DNF at the 2019 Night of the 10k PBs) and only his second BMC appearance since 2006. Since then, his career needs no introduction, with highlights incorporating the London Olympics, a host of major marathons (including London, Berlin, Boston and Chicago) and multiple victories on the domestic road racing scene. This year he has taken wins over 10km at Goodwood and Kempton Park, and has the UK lead over the distance by over 20 seconds.

Mick Hill, fresh off his V45 British Record for the distance on the roads, may have his eyes on improving his sixth place on the all-time V45 list on the track, a list topped by Nigel Gates’s 14:42.67 from back in 1998.

Women’s 5000m

European U23 Championships Standard: 16:05.00
World U20 Championships Standard: 15:55.00
European U20 Championships Standard: 16:40.00
BMC Record: 14:49.12 (indoors), Laura Muir, 2017

There is also considerable depth in the women’s races over 12.5 laps, led by Jenny Nesbitt and Kate Avery who are two of five athletes on the entry list to have broken 16 minutes.

It has been a good couple of months for Cardiff’s Jenny Nesbitt, with victories on the track at the Comeback 5000m in March and the Speedway 10k last weekend (although making it clear on social media she was unhappy with how that race went) alongside a 3000m PB when coming second to Jess Judd at the BMC in Birmingham last month. With a PB less than one second shy of the qualifying standard, eyes may well be on a second Commonwealth Games and the Welsh QT of 15:30.

Another athlete with Commonwealth Games experience is Kate Avery, who finished fourth in the 10,000m in Glasgow in 2014. The Shildon athlete has no shortage of international experience both on the track and cross country, including team wins at the 2013 and 2015 European Cross Country Championships. Kate took a comfortable victory in the BMC’s 3k Road Race at Tameside last month in her season opener, her 31st BMC race having made her debut as an U13 athlete back in 2004.

Jenny Nesbitt. Credit: James Rhodes

Three others on the entry list have run under 16 minutes; Claire Duck, Louise Small and Mhairi McLennan, all of whom will be opening their track seasons having run 5k on the roads. Scot Mhairi ran an impressive 15:47 at Podium 5k, four seconds faster than her track best, and one would expect her to feature here.

Two Herne Hill Harriers will have their eye on a particular time, with Saskia Millard and Charlotte Alexander looking for European U23 and U20 qualifiers respectively. Saskia’s PB (16:02.03) was set last summer, but she needs to replicate this in 2021. Charlotte meanwhile ran under the 16:40 standard at the Comeback 5000 in March; however, the use of male pacemakers means the run does not count for qualifying purposes.

Ribble Valley’s Eleanor Bolton will be looking to improve her PB by two seconds to give her a U23 QT, and her 15:58 at Podium suggests this should be possible. Fast Running’s Hannah Irwin, who ran largely solo at the Comeback 5000 to improve her PB by over 20 seconds to 16:01.29 will be looking to dip under 16 minutes for the first time.

Women’s 1500m

European U23 Championships Standard: 4:14.00
World U20 Championships Standard: 4:17.00
European U20 Championships Standard: 4:22.00
BMC Record: 4:03.09, Nancy Chepkwemoi (Kenya), 2015 (member record 4:03.74 Charlene Thomas, 2013)

The women’s 1500m features one of the few international athletes competing with Ireland’s Sarah Healy leading the entrants. Sarah is no stranger to success at the age-group championships, having won gold over both 1500m and 3000m at the 2018 European U18s and silver over 1500m at the European U20s in Boras in 2019. Her PB of 4:09.25 is over a second faster than anyone else entered and is well inside the European U23 qualifying time of 4:14.00.

Revee Walcott-Nolan is also entered and certainly one to watch. Whilst perhaps best known as an 800m runner (with a 2:01.74 PB), she has been experimenting over longer distances in recent weeks, with a 9:09.9 3000m at the Comeback 5000 in March, her first time over her distance since 2012, and a 15:50 on the roads at Podium 5k. This will be Revee’s second 1500m of the season, having run 4:14.88 for second behind Alexandra Bell at Birmingham University last month.

 

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Two athletes will be targeting Championship qualifiers, Erin Wallace (U23) and Emily Williams (U20). Both have PBs inside the respective qualifying times; Erin has a PB of 4:12.57 and was less than one second shy of the 4:14.00 U23 standard during the indoor season. Emily took silver at the 2018 European U18 Championships behind Sarah Healy, and her 2019 PB of 4:16.89 is inside the World and European U20 QTs. However, it will be her first race in 15 months and her first outdoor track race since July 2019.

It will also be interesting to see how Issy Boffey, reigning European U20 Champion over 800m, goes in only her second race over 1500m. Issy is mixing up the distances in the early part of her season and is due to race over 400m next week. Her 4:20.67 PB was set at the 2019 Loughborough International when finishing third behind Dani Chattenton and Rosie Johnson. She’s improved her 800m PB by over two seconds since that race, and so an improvement would be no surprise. Danielle Hodgkinson is the England 1500m Champion and returns to the track after getting over Achilles issues which hampered her training in 2020.

Men’s 1500m

European U23 Championships Standard: 3:41.00
World U20 Championships Standard: 3:43.00
European U20 Championships Standard: 3:46.00
BMC Record: 3:36.69, Ross Murray, 2012

The 1500m entrants are led by U23 athlete Thomas Keen, who has an indoor PB of 3:41.44 set in Vienna last February. The 2018 European U18 Champion over 3000m has spent recent weeks training in Flagstaff, Arizona with Jake Wightman and the race will be his season debut after three indoor races in January and February. He is no stranger to the Trafford track, having finished fourth at this meeting two years ago.

He will be joined by Michael Wilsmore in his first race of 2021 and Rory Leonard, fresh from his 3:45.70 PB last month in Birmingham. The Morpeth and Hoka One One athlete is in good shape after a 13:50.22 at the Comeback 5000, comfortably under the European U23 Championships QT.

Two athletes will have their eyes on qualifiers for the European U20 championships, Ethan Hussey and Kane Ellliot. Ethan ran inside the 3:46.00 standard at this meeting in 2019 (3:45.85), whilst 2018 European U18 Champion Kane needs to take less than one second from his 3:46.83 PB set in 2019.

Men’s 800m

European U23 Championships Standard: 1:47.00
World U20 Championships Standard: 1:47.50
European U20 Championships Standard: 1:49.00
BMC Record: 1:44.75, Max Burgin, 2020

It is expected to be a battle of the young guns in the men’s 800m, as U23 athletes Ben Pattison and Alex Botterill head up the field. Both set 1:46 PBs last year, inside the European U23 Championships standard. Ben will be looking to make his third age-groups championships this summer, having taken silver at the last edition of the European U20 Championships and competed over 400m at the European U18s in 2018. He took the win at his last two BMC races (over 800m in Watford in 2019), and Saturday will be his first outing in Trafford.

City of York’s Alex Botterill has made a positive start to the season after taking over three seconds off his 1500m PB (3:49.43) at the BMC Gold Standard in Birmingham last month. Alex ran under 1:47 for the first time last summer at the Bromley Twilight meeting and will have fond memories of the Trafford track, having set his previous PB here on his last visit in August 2019. Another to watch will be Brighton Phoenix’s Archie Davis, who took over a second off him 800m PB (1:47.26) last weekend Worthing.

Three U20 athletes (Henry Johnson, Joe Ewing and Daniel Joyce) have PBs within one second of the European U20 Championships standard and will undoubtedly be looking to get under the 1:49 mark required.

 

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Women’s 800m

European U23 Championships Standard: 2:03.00
World U20 Championships Standard: 2:04.00
European U20 Championships Standard: 2:06.00
BMC Record:1:59.91, Sarah McDonald, 2019; 1:59.33 (mixed), Lynsey Sharp, 2017

There is good depth expected as the women take to the track for two laps, with six of the field holding PBs under 2:05. They are led by 1:59 runner Alex Bell, fresh off her win over 1500m in Birmingham last month in her second fastest time over the distance. The Pudsey & Bramley athlete has no shortage of experience of the Trafford track, having raced on it 16 times over the past 14 years. This will also be her 30th BMC race, and she will be looking for her ninth BMC victory.

World Indoor Champion representative Mari Smith, who opened her season with 2:03.77 at the Birmingham University last month, and Irish Indoor Champion Louise Shanahan, who set a PB of 2:01.67 indoors in February, will be looking to challenge.

Katie Kirk (who in the spirit of continuing the London 2012 references was one of the seven athletes to light the Olympic Cauldron at the Opening Ceremony), Kirsty Fraser and Amy Griffiths also feature on the entry lists. Katie and Amy both opened their season in Birmingham last month (2:05.17 and 2:07.37 respectively), whilst this will be Kirsty’s first race of 2021.

Alex Bell. Credit: James Rhodes

400m & 400m Hurdles

In conjunction with British Athletics, the BMC is also looking to provide domestic competition and Olympics qualification opportunities through the addition of 400m and 400m hurdles races to the schedule, a first for the BMC.

Stand out entrants include five athletes who competed at last weekend’s World Relays in Silesia (James Williams, Kevin Metzger, Lee Thompson, Jess Turner and Jessie Knight) and World Indoor relay medallist Amy Allcock. However, middle-distance eyes will be focused on 800m specialist Keely Hodgkinson as the World Junior Record holder and European Indoor Champion makes a (fairly) rare appearance over the shorter distance.

How to Follow

The evening’s action will be streamed live on Vinco via: https://www.vincosport.com/live/132376/. I will also provide updates from trackside via twitter (@james_athletics) and Instagram (@jrhodesathletics).

The post BMC Grand Prix Preview appeared first on Fast Running.

It could be considered a long way from winning the pancake race in your first school to winning the Roger Bannister Mile…but for Piers Copeland, geographically at least, it was no distance at all!

With athletics competition have been suspended for the time-being due to lockdown, a little creative thinking was required to stay fit and motivated. Step forward the British Miler’s Club (BMC).

The BMC organised the ‘Bannister Virtual Mile’ to celebrate the 66th anniversary of Sir Roger Bannister’s first sub-4 minute mile on that historic day at Iffley Road track in Oxford in 1954. The ‘Virtual Mile’ was to take place over three days, 4, 5, 6 May.

The event was limited to 1,954 runners with athletes running in isolation where they could follow these rules:

• The distance must be no less than a mile or 1609m (completed between 04:00 4th May and 23:59 6th May)
• Observe all government social distancing and safety regulations at all times
• Each individual runner must upload their Strava/Garmin performance by midnight on 6 May
• Routes with significant negative elevation (-15m) or more than 2 loops will not be counted.

Piers, having broken the 4-minute mile in the Olympic Stadium in the summer of 2019, was up for the challenge. After two days of ‘virtual’ competition, the mark to be beat was 4:07 set by his Cardiff housemate, James Heneghan.

Perfect conditions

On the evening of Day 3, with weather conditions close to perfect, Piers was ready to make his bid. He had identified a mile distance that complied with the competition’s rules. His chosen start point was at the end of the newly-built cycle route/footpath from near ‘The Fox’ at Canford Bottom, then along Ham Lane.

The cycle path is a beautiful smooth surface, so is ideal to run on. Unfortunately, it is not a mile long, so the final part of the attempt would have to be made running in the road. Normally you’d be taking your life in your hands running along here, but in these times of lockdown, traffic wasn’t going to be an issue.

It’s a real challenge running a time trial where you can’t see the opposition, or the mark you’re trying to beat. You need a special kind of mindset in order to push to the limit in these circumstances. Piers has the attributes to succeed in these circumstances.

He wore his Garmin watch, so had some indication of how fast/hard he was running, he was concerned that the first part of his race against the clock was marginally slower than he would have liked. In track races he has a reputation for being able to find an extra gear, and on the run towards Hampreston he upped the tempo to record a time of 4:02. He’d given everything over those 1609 metres.

Where it all began

Whilst the event dialled back the clock to Bannister’s incredible feat Copeland also took a trip, literally, down memory lane. His run finished a short distance from the site of his earliest running victory, Hampreston First School pancake race! This is where the idea of Piers as a runner, first got legs on it. (Indeed his sister Grace, also a runner who has represented England and GB, was a later winner of the Hampreston pancake race).

It was as a nine year-old that Piers first rocked up at Wimborne AC and he’s remained with the club ever since, although the 21 year-old is currently based (pre-lockdown) at Cardiff Metropolitan University. For the past five years he’s been under the expert guidance of his coach Bob Smith.

With the time logged with BMC, there was now a wait to see what other times were registered before the deadline. Shortly after midnight the news broke, Piers had won the Roger Bannister Mile! He was four seconds ahead of his nearest challenger Tom Marshall, then there were three athletes on 4:07 and seven in total who ran sub-4:10.

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As the headline sponsor, Saucony will be supporting BMC’s racing program and will look to enhance the high-quality race experience that is seen at their events.

Saucony is a leading global running lifestyle brand that fuses performance, innovation and style to create compelling footwear and apparel. The deal represents Saucony’s continued support of the development of British middle and long-distance running.

Founded in 1963, the BMC is the premier middle-distance athletics club in the country. Through its wide-ranging offering of elite standard expertise and events they aim to improve the world standing of UK Middle Distance running.

The partnership with BMC also builds on Saucony’s impressive roster of race sponsorship which includes; the English National XC Championships, England National XC Relays, Cambridge Half Marathon and the most recent addition of Run Windsor which includes the Running 4 Women 10k and the Windsor Half Marathon.

The sponsorship will begin with immediate effect.

Gareth Lloyd, Saucony UK & Ireland Marketing Manager says ‘’As a brand that prides ourselves on supporting grassroots running development, the BMC run series fits perfectly into our portfolio of events alongside the English National XC Championships and National XC Relays’’

‘’We see the BMC as a vital feeder service into international and GB athletics. We aim to enhance these events and the race day experience. Over the years many of Britain’s best distance runners have had breakthrough performances at BMC races. We hope to see this continue and look forward to helping athletes reach their full potential.’’

“The BMC is pleased to announce that it has agreed a major sponsorship deal with Saucony,” BMC chairman Tim Brennan said ‘we are delighted with our new partnership with Saucony and to be working with people who understand our sport and share our aims. We look forward to working together to improve the world standing of UK Middle Distance running.”

Fast Running is excited by this news and it will be interesting to see how the sponsorship deal will help British endurance runners push forward to new levels.

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At the BMC meeting in Watford earlier this week Jake Wightman brought the heat to an already sweltering track meet by coming back after nearly a year off with a stress fracture. He delighted those who have been hoping for his healthy return by winning the 800m in a very confident-looking 1:45.55.

It was a veritable who’s who of domestic middle distance talent in that one sprint finish with Elliot Giles, Charlie Grice and Karl Langford all fighting for every inch at the tape.

Langford may face a sanction for an altercation with an elderly track referee after initially being disqualified for warming up in lane two whilst the 5000m race was still ongoing. The athlete later apologised on Twitter.

In the women’s race New Balance’s Sarah McDonald PB’d in empathic style, using the last 200m to pick the pace up, bringing it home in 2:00.15.

Andy Butchart also featured on the track winning the 1500m in 3:38.84. He then casually went on to do pacer duties in the 5000m! That race was won by Hillingdon’s Mohamed Mohamed in 14:07.25 while Emily Hosker-Thornhill made the most of her race’s pacer, Jess Judd, for an 11s PB and a win in 15:46.22.

Over in the US at the Pre Classic there was an outstanding performance from Laura Weightman in the 3000m. It may only have been good enough for fifth on the night, where two runners, Siffan Hassan and Konstanze Klosterhalfen ran inside the European record, but it puts Weightman second on the British all time list, only behind Paula Radcliffe.

Weightman’s PB moved from 8:43.46 to 8:26.07, a massive jump at that level and a fine reward for the hard-work of the 2018 Commonwealth Games medallist.

Laura Muir also raced and posted her 10th sub four minute time for the 1500m, but was beaten to the line by Faith Kipyegon.

Alpine success for British athletes

From the flattest of flat to the Mont Blanc Vertical K – a race which is “ not recommended in case of vertigo” and travels up 1000m metres of vertical gain in less than five kilometres. It’s basically just straight up the side of a mountain from 1000m to 2000 in Chamonix, France.

Fast 10’s Jacob Adkin (Keswick AC) and Joseph Morwood (Aldershot, Farnham & District) showed that you don’t have to come from the Alps to be able to run up them quicker than everyone else. The returning champion Adkin took first and Morwood an excellent second in the French mountain town.

Adkin, who won the European Mountain Running Trials at the start of the month, powered up in 35:05 and will be putting that speed to work at the European Championships in Zermatt next weekend. Morwood, who may have less hills to train on than his Keswick based compatriot, still managed to stay 26 seconds ahead of Frenchman Yann Gedufin to finish second in 37:21.

Hannah Russell of Helm Hill was first GB lady to the top, finishing eighth in 51:09 and Clare Prosser finished ninth in 52:42, both having to battle higher temperatures than Adkin, who had the earned the right to start last due to his win the previous year. There was a notable performance from Ireland’s 2:33 marathon runner Nicola Duncan who placed fifth.

Georgia Wood ran the Cross du Mont Blanc 23k and had a cracking race, coming home third lady. After some excellent front running, Wood finished in in 2:49:03 behind two locals – Lucille Germina (02:35:52) and Céline Jeannier 02:46:41.

It was an excellent performance in mountain terrain for the runner who clocks up most of her miles on Bournemouth Prominade. GB mountain runner and Sale Harrier Chris Richards was 11th in the men’s race in 2:27:25.

Going the (ultra) distance

Tom Evans was in action on the dusty trails of California to take part in the prestigious Western States 100. He finished a fantastic third place in 14:59:44. It was the first 100 mile race for the impressive British ultra runner, who was paced to the finish by the British 100km champion Charlie Harpur.  Hoka One One’s Jim Walmsley won in a new course record of 14:09:28.

British doctor Beth Pascall also made the iconic journey from Squaw Valley to Auburn. Despite saying she prefers cooler, more mountainous races she showed that she is in brilliant form, coming home fourth in 18:06:51 in a field of fiercely competitive women. Pascall started conservatively and stormed through the field in the latter stages in an excellent display of ultra running.

Over in the Italian Dolomites at the Lavaredo Ultra Trail even more British runners were having an impact. Anne-Marie Watson (Avon Valley) and Sophie Grant (Beta Running) took eighth and ninth place in their 119k trail race past the iconic Tre Cime mountains. Watson finished in 17:17:29 and Grant in 17:24:09.

Welshman Harry Jones was seventh in 13:30:32, 1 hr 11 min 45s off Hoka Team-mate’s Tim Tollefson’s win in 12:18:47. Keep your eyes peeled for an in depth interview with Jones in the future.

A busy weekend of UK trail running

On the edge of the Scottish highlands it was the Arrochar Alps race and the heat that were challenging our athletes on their home turf this Saturday. Mountain running legend Angela Mudge was first in the Scottish Hill Racing fixture, followed by Helen Fallas and Andrea Priestly. For the men, it was the Ben Nevis race legend Finlay Wild who won (3:07:39). Andrew Fallas came second and Tim Morgan third.

It was truly a jam-packed week for off-road antics. Sabrina Verjee followed in Jasmin Paris’s footsteps to become the outright winner of the Montane Spine Fusion. She covered the summer edition of the 268 mile race in 82 hours, 19 minutes and seven seconds. This was a full six hours ahead of the nearest competitor. That is an incredible feat considering Verjee finished second at Dragons Back only three weeks ago and won The Fellsman a month before that.

Back on the roads

Back to the roads and there were some fast times at Springfield Striders Friday Night Five with their own Pete Robinson finishing first in 25:51 ahead of Braintree & District AC’s Tim Woulfe (26:05) and club-mate Chris Burgoyne (26:32).

Rachel Sweatt of Grange Farm & Dunmow Runners, who has already gained half and full marathon PB’s this year, ran 29:35 for 13th overall and the women’s win. She was followed by Nikki Brockbank (Springfield Striders) in 30:55. Rebecca White of Saffron Striders RC took third place in 32:23.

The Lordshill 10k rounded off the Hampshire Road Race Season. It did so in pleasing fashion for the hosts as their women’s and men’s team won the meeting and look in a strong position for a top three in the league overall. In the race itself it was Ruth Thom of City Of Salisbury AC who topped the table, coming home in 39:19. Abigail Woolaston of Andover AC was second in 39:26. Local lady Kirsty Wood in 40:49 completed the podium.

Photo: Lois Elliot

For the men 25 seconds separated the top three. Aiden Lennan ran 33:03 for first place. Gosport Road Runner’s Ben Toye was second in 33:10. Stuart Holloway from City Of Salisbury AC was third in 33:28

Elsewhere on the roads

In Norwich at the Humpty Dumpty 10k Juliette Watkinson of Wymonham AC took the crown in 39:48 with a hot day seeing a slower finish than Dani Nimmock’s 35:14 last year. Waveney Valley AC’s Matthew Jefferies was the men’s winner in 33:47

Southport Half Marathon was won by Mandy Dohren of Victoria Park Harriers in 1:24:24 and Matthew Crehan (St Helens Striders) in 1:10:41.

At the North Devon AONB Half Marathon Mara Yamauchi took her Olympian legs for a spin to win in 1:36:54. Bideford AAC’s Ronnie Redmond was the men’s champion in 01:20:30.

Callum Elson was back to defend his title at the Humber Bridge Half Marathon taking over a minute off his winning time from last year to finish in 73:14. Elson was well clear of second place Ben Evison (76:46) and third place Gary Couzens (79:03). Naomi Bright of City of Hull AC was the first woman with 92:08 ahead of Caroline Teasdale (94:49) and Jessica Walker (96:31) in second and third.

High quality top 10 times at UK parkruns

Photo of Hayley Carruthers, our top parkrunner again this weekend : Stephen Lee

Despite the heat it was a fast weekend at parkrun. Hayley Carruthers kept her winning form but just with a few seconds knocked off at Walsall Arboretum (16:05). Omer Ahmed ran 14:26 to nudge tantalisingly close to his 5k PB at Brueton parkrun.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

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The post Strong performances at home and abroad – UK weekend roundup appeared first on Fast Running.