Yesterday saw the first edition of World Athletics’ Continental Tour Gold meetings since the Olympics, with the Memorial Kamili Skolimowskiej in Poland.

Some stellar fields were assembled, particularly in the field events of which the Poles are so fond. There was British representation in two of the distance events, led out by Jemma Reekie who took a close win in the 1000m in 2:35.47, a new Meeting Record, the second fastest of her career over the rarely-run distance.

Elliot Giles, Daniel Rowden and Jake Wightman, in his season ending race, took to the track for 800m in a packed field including Olympic bronze medalist Patryk Dobek and Commonwealth Games champion Wycliffe Kinyamal. Roden was the first of the three across the line in 1:44.89 for third, closely followed by Wightman in fourth.

We were going to label this picture, but thankfully everyone remembered their name tags. Photo: James Rhodes

Wightman’s 1:44.97 makes him the eighth Brit to run under 1:45 in 2021, a statistic all the more impressive when you consider a twelve year period from 1993 to 2005 didn’t see a single British athlete accomplish this. Elliot Giles finished sixth in 1:45.20.

At the Bronze meeting in Padova, Italy, Charlie Da’Vall Grice ran 3:35.39 to take third over 1500m and Archie Davis took seventh place in 3:37.92.

Friday night fireworks

On Friday, Brussels played host to the latest of the Diamond League meetings. The women’s 800m was the strongest event for GB, with Keely Hodgkinson and Jemma Reekie finishing second and third in 1:58.16 and 1:58.77 respectively. It was a thrilling race with the Brits only fractions of a second behind Jamaica’s Natoya Goule who won in 1:58.09.

In the 5000m Eilish McColgan ran 14:31.26, the 3rd fastest time in British history and just seconds off her British Record. Despite this she only ranked seventh in the race, such was the quality in Belgium.

Photo: Bobby Gavin

Eilish has since announced that she’ll be making her half marathon debut at the Great North Run next weekend.

Into the mountains

Moving onto very different terrain – at the Swiss Peaks 100k in the Swiss Valais, part of the Fast Running family Natalie White, was back for redemption on steep and technical trails. The event was part of a festival of running which included a 360km event, all the way down to a half marathon.

White, a former British and English fell running champ, excels in the rougher terrain and ran strongly throughout to finish third in 18:55. “It was very technical, rough and rocky,” said the Italy based athlete. “I was really happy to go back and finish this year after a tough DNF in 2020. You have to be in the right head space to go well through the long night in those mountains.”

Sat down at the finish line at 6:00am in the morning, contemplating the journey ahead to go get the car from the start. Photo: Robbie Britton

Back on the track

Back to the track but on home soil, Highgate Harriers held their mid-week Open Meeting. Parliament Hill was a peach for Ben Winfield who ran a 4:01.09 to take the honour of fastest 1500m of the night. Brogan Wallace was fastest lady in 4:38.46. Opting for a few more laps, Oliver Newton took and Carole Coulon (V45) both took home new 5000m PB’s, winning in 15:21.94 and 18:15.98

The BMC Regional Races in Exeter saw the top three run PBs in both the women’s and men’s 1500m – 4:40.22 for Nicole Edmunds, 4:40.63 for Jessica Hill and 4:41.78 for Isla Bryson. In the gents race it was Iestyn Williams with 3:54.13 , James Vaughan with 3:59.55 and Gregory Hayward with 4:00.56

On Sunday the Paddock Wood Half offered some speedy results as usual, with Nick Dawson racing home to first place in 67:51 ahead of Ben Savill (68:00) and Chris Thomas (68:08). Savill, part of the AB Training group, posted that it was quite the back and forth battle at the front with training partner Dawson and the others.

Another Allison Benton coached athlete Izzy Coomber topped the women’s podium in 81:33, beating Caoimhe Nic Fhogartaigh (81:44) and Hannah Roberts (84:09).

Sometimes the taper doesn’t go to plan

The ABP Southampton Marathon saw Sean Hogan take the win in 2:35:02, over 10 minutes ahead of Iain Trickett’s 2:46:16. Melissah Gibson had a shocker of a taper week where illness and hip problems meant she hadn’t been able to run much at all. Nonetheless she ran 2:54:16 to take the win ahead of Rosie Smiles (3:07:49).

The Half Marathon was won by William Cork in 72:21 and Claire McErlean in 85:55 and the 10k went to Isaac Farnworth (32:39) and Alice Burch (41:09).

Gemma Hillier-Moses came fifth overall and won the women’s race in a storming 78:16 at the Air Products Worcester City Half Marathon. The men’s victory went to Gary Whitehouse in 73:52.

The Garstang Half Marathon resulted in a comfortable first for Tristan Windley, running 74:44 and leaving Robert Bee in 80:54 for second place. Tori Nixon was first lady in 96:55. At Southport 10km Kirsty Longley took the win in 36:38 despite still recovering from at PB at last weekend’s Antrim Coast Half. The mens winner was Martin Peck in 33:19.

It was a bit of a local derby at the Framlingham 10k with Ipswich Harriers taking the women’s win thanks to a 39:44 from Alice Heather-Hayes and Ipswich Jaffa RC taking the men’s win after a 33:54 run from Cooper Berry.

At Britains Ocean City Half Marathon in Plymouth the men’s winner was Tom Merson in 69:46, whilst Ruby Orchard was first lady in 82:03. Wilne 10km always attracts a strong field and this year was no exception with Will Battershill (29:54) and Hannah Robinson (35:30) taking victory. Worcester City 10km was won by Omar Ahmed in 29:40 and Sally Russell in 41:03.

The running community shines bright

We finish this week’s roundup with a couple of moments that highlight two brilliant members of the running community and show the close-knit nature of our sport and the support it offers.

This weekend saw the launch of the Natasha Lewis Foundation, with a half marathon run in her memory. The Foundation will support young athletes and give them the chance to work with team Bath Athletics.

Lewis, who was tragically killed by a driver on an early morning run, was a shining light in the Bath running community and many turned out to honour her at the Natasha Lewis Foundation Half Marathon. It was not a day for fast times or results, more a case of of hundreds of athletes sharing a journey together. Team Bath AC’s Dan Jones and Bournemouth Ac’s Georgia Wood were the first athletes home.

The Leicester Road Running League wound up their competition with the Desford 5 in honour of Stuart Hall. Stuart was a keen member of the Desford Striders and had taken part in two of the league races this season while training for his first London Marathon.

He often ran multiple club bubble-runs during lockdown so that everyone who wanted to run could do so. His contribution was marked by a minute’s applause at the start of the race, which was won by Tom Mahon of Wreake Soar Valley in 26:56 and Charlie Nurse of Wigston Phoenix in 30:54.

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The Diamond League was back in action in Monaco. Luckily with an exemption the athletes were able to focus on the races on the track rather than the race to get back and beat the lockdown deadline.

Joshua Cheptegei nabbed most of the headlines with his world record smashing, perfectly paced 5000m in 12:35.36 but in this round up we’ll focus on the GB and IRL results.

National records for Muir and Mageean

Over 1000m Laura Muir came second (to a super strong looking Faith Kipyegon) in 2:30.82, running a new National Record and finally beating Kelly Holmes’ mark, which she’s been after for some time.

The battle of the Scots over 1000m was the one I was particularly tuning in for and Gemma Reekie looked like she had a podium spot sewn up and indeed, ran a PB of 2:31.11 to be second fastest ever Brit, but it was only enough for fourth place.

Ireland’s Ciara Mageean had been showing form that meant she was definitely one to watch and boy did she prove it on the night. Mageen came absolutely blasting down the last 200m to take third in 2:31.06 and a new Irish record.

2 for 2

Second National Record in the bag in my second race of the season.

Delighted to be part of a world class field flying the flag for Ireland and @teamnbmcr

@rickysimms #diamondleague #nationalrecord pic.twitter.com/uPG5Ff3am0

— Ciara Mageean (@ciaramageean) August 14, 2020

Weightman and Wightman with stunning personal bests

Another lady who showed her intent for the rest of this year was Laura Weightman who ran a 10 second PB over 5000m to take third in 14:35.44  – 2nd fastest British runner of all time over the distance. In a fantastic, brave run Weightman ran hard with a group including Helen Obiri, Sifan Hassan and Letesenbet Gidey.

As Hassan dropped out and Obiri and Gidey pulled away Weightman dug deep to finish six seconds off Paula Radcliffe’s British record. Eilish McColgan had a tough race, finishing seventh in 14:57.37.

Also going second on the all-time list was Jake Wightman who ran a 3:29.47 over 1500m for third place. As with Weightman, Wightman went out hard with a group including Timothy Cheruiyot and Jakob Ingebrigtsen holding on to take nearly two seconds off his PB and to finish less than a second outside Mo Farah’s British Record. Charlie Da’Vall Grice was 8th in 3:34.63.

Kyle Langford finished 5th in the 800m to edge forwards his PB clocking 1:44.83. Zak Seddon had a tough race in the 3000SC finishing 11th in 8:38.86.

Brits in action in Dortmund

Team NBRMCR could already have classed this as a successful weekend after Ciara Mageean’s result, but it didn’t stop there. At the Puma Jump ‘n’ Run meet Jonas Reass also smashed his 5000m PB, running 13:26.01 in Dortmund, coming second to Germany’s Mohamed Muhamed. Sol Sweeney (Perth Strathay) placed sixth in 13:54.52 and Emile Cairess was eighth in 14:07.52.

Over 1500m Josh Lay (Rugby and Northampton) stormed to victory in 3:38.18 improving on the PB he set at the Pfungstadt Gala a fortnight ago. Adam Clarke placed fifth in 3:40.5 and Luke Duffy (Mansfield) was 20th in 3:45.39.

Norman smashes PB

3000m Steeplechaser Phil Norman spent 2019 teetering on the edge of World Championship Qualifying standard (8:29:00). Not so this year. After a strong showing at the Armagh 5k back in Feb, his first chase outing of 2020 left us in no doubt of his form.

He obliterated his previous best with an 8:23.60 at the Paavo Nurmi Games earlier this week, which moves him to 15th on the UK all-time list and leaves him a fraction away from Olympic standard.

Also racing in Turku was Melissa Courtney-Bryant who was just a whisker off her PB, running 4:03.69 to take gold in the 1500m. Rosie Clarke took 5th in 4:11.25 and Erin Wallace completed the GB contingent running in 4:16.75.

 

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It’s great to be back! So happy to be racing on the track again, I opened my season last night in Turku (Finland) at the Paavo Nurmi Games. I ran a huge lifetime best of 8:23.60 only 1.6 seconds away from the Olympic standard. Very grateful to have the opportunity to race, it was a great meeting and hope to come back again next year. #tokyo2021 #steeplechase #teamnorman #paavonurmigames #continentaltourgold @quincehoneyfarm

A post shared by Phil Norman (@phil_norman) on Aug 11, 2020 at 11:31pm PDT

Bird breaks British record

In France, Shaftesbury Barnet’s Lizzy Bird was in action at the EACPA Open in Pontoise and making sure Phil Norman wasn’t the only Steeplechaser smashing out fast times this week.

Lizzy broke the 2000m SC British record, running 6:11.79 in her first official ever time for the event. Aimee Pratt (Sale Harriers) ran 6:18.48 for 4th which was also a huge PB and a great run that would have also broken the previous British record set by Lenny Waite in 2017.

Earlier in the week at the Bronze edition of the World Athletics’ Continental Tour in Sollentuna, Elliot Giles ran 1:45.46 over 800m to place second in his heat.

Behind him was Daniel Rowden who burst back onto the scene after a two year break, running 1:45.55 over 800m – his second fastest time ever and a photo finish with compatriot Jake Wightman.

In the 1500m Mark Booth ran 3:58.62 and Peter Hodkinson 4:02.37. Neil Gourlay ran a 5:00.73 in his 2000m. In the women’s races, Adele Tracy finished her 800m in 2:01.98 and Sophie Crumly ran a 4:31.55 1500m

Flying Burgin sets u/20 800m best

On the home stage, Max Burgin was the one showing his intentions for the year ahead. The 18 year old broke his own U20 record for the 800m, clocking 1:44.75 at the British Milers’ Club Meeting on Trafford on Tuesday with a stunning run to break 1:45 for the first time.

Also (outdoor) PB setting was Keely Hodgkinson – who ran 2:02.85 in the women’s 800 and Georgie Hartigan who came second in 2:03.60. Jess Judd ran 2:04.58 for third. Over 1500m it was Katie Snowden who took the win in 4:13.9 and Tom Dodd in 3:45.56 (PB).

“𝙃𝙚𝙮 𝙎𝙞𝙧𝙞, 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣”

@MaxBurgin3‘s astonishing British U20 800m record last night! pic.twitter.com/yuC1HmX0YE

— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) August 12, 2020

At the Music City Distance Carnival in Nashville Hannah Segrave opened her post lockdown racing account with 2:02.35 and Amy-Eloise Neale was just outside her PB clocking 4:09.44 in the 1500m.

At the Grand Prix Sopotu Alex Botterill was also in PB form clocking 1:47.09 in the 800m with Oliver Dustin running 1:48.16. Alex Bell was racing over 1000m running 2:43.28 to finish 2nd.

Archie Davis set an 800m PB at the Worthing Track Night clocking 1:48.53 ahead of Tom Niner (1:51.47) and Charlie Baldwin (1:52.55). Beth Kidger ran 2:08.36 and Holly Mills set a new PB of 2:12.32.

Belgrave Harriers hosted the Belgrave Endurance Night in Battersea Park on Wednesday – a series of 3000m races which saw Izzy Fry and Eoin Pierce run the fastest times of the night.

8:14.47 secured the win and a new PB for Pierce of Newham & Essex Beagle, comfortably ahead of his clubmate Josh Trigwell (8:19.25). Coach Craig Winrow will be pleased with the evening’s racing as Pierce, Trigwell and third-placer Euan Campbell (8:24.87 PB) are all under his tutelage.

Izzy Fry had to run in a mixed race for her women’s victory, but 9:22.06 and a PB makes that irrelevant. Sarah Astin of City of Norwich was second lady in 9:29.41 and Verity Ockenden did a quick turnaround from last weekend’s Podium 5k to take third in 9:33.81.

The fastest 3k of the Harrow AC’s No Drafting Evening went to Chris Hudson in 9:26.8. The 5k time trial event saw David Lawrencespeed through in 16:11.2 followed by Adam Towle in 16:57.6 and Micheal Dan in 17:12.9. The mixed B-race allowed Lucy Ashe to make a very strong showing with a 17:50.1 to top the women’s times.

Hughes sets another World best

The Danny McDaid 15k was won by Eoghain McGinley of Letterkenny AC in 48:47 seconds with Springwell Running Club’s Ciara Toner the first woman in 56:42 seconds. The story of the day though went to another sensational run by Tommy Hughes setting a v60 world record with 51:30, a full three minutes off the previous record.

Letterkenny saw an age category World record set by Tommy Hughes. Tommy ran 51.30 to smash the previous O60 record of 54.32 which had been set in 2013 by Dutchman Cees Stolwijk. pic.twitter.com/ezttKGJkzJ

— Letterkenny AC (@LetterkennyAc) August 16, 2020

Off the track and roads and in the scenic Dorset countryside the Maverick Race team were back in action. James Phillips and Amanda Holloway were the winners of the long route, Brian Underwood and Jenny Marshall took the middle victories and Georgie Lambert and Daniel Eyre were top of the short-route runners.

The Stour Valley Path 50k and 100k both took place this weekend. The 50km was won by England marathon runner Jo O’Regan in 4:12:55 snatching the course record by less than a minute, the male winner was Pete Dyson in 3:56:39 – an eight minute course record. The 100k also saw both course records fall to Alice Mcgushin in 10:37:19 and Chris Kelly in 8:08:19.

Finally, if that doesn’t make your plantars ache, imagine running the WHOLE time that the above performances have been going on. Dan Lawson conquered Lands End to John O’Groats in 9 days 21 hours 14 minutes and 2 seconds. Wow. More to come with a full report from Robbie later this week.

SOAR are part of the UK club running scene and we are delighted to support the weekend roundup. To find out how we can help you match your club kit to your ambition check out this article or get in touch here.

The SOAR X TOUR is our way of staying true to the pursuit of summer speed. With a three-staged virtual races series, open to runners worldwide.

SOAR X TOUR sees racers test themselves over 1km, 1 mile and 5km consecutively over a 10 day period, with both stage and overall rankings and prizes up for grabs.

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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.

Olympian Jake Wightman was the stand out performer at parkrun this weekend, running a new course record of 14:43 at the quick Worthing event. A great example of all the levels of parkrun participants with a middle distance star like the Edinburgh AC man rocking up for a Saturday morning session.

Philippa Williams was the quickest female with a 17:24 at Sheffield Hallam parkrun. The Elswick Harrier ran a parkrun best at her seventh parkrun of 2019, but has already shone over the half marathon distance this year. Not happy with a 77:25 for first place at the Sheffield Half Marathon (which, having visited the city, might not be a flat course), Williams ran an excellent 76:40 to win the Sunderland City Half Marathon.

Tim Norton, the only runner to list his eating habits in his club name, led home four runners in the top ten at Bushy Park. The Vegan Runners Australia athlete ran 15:12 ahead of Andrius Jaksevicius (15:16), Alex Milne (15:28) and Elliot Dorey (15:38). We bet that was a quick first kilometre with a good pack racing at the home of parkrun.

Coventry Godiva’s Mohamed Daud Mohamed comes out of a strong cross country season and has already ran a 8:48.43 3000m this May. The Somalian who ran in the 5000m at the Rio Olympics has a PB of 14:34 for the 5000m, which he ran at the 2017 World Championships in London.

Charnwood AC’s Hannah Doran was the second fastest female runner with a 17:25 at Leicester Victoria parkrun. The V35 former GB Cross Country runner ran her first marathon this year after a 74:55 half marathon PB at Reading Half. With a 2:42:38 debut at the Virgin London Marathon the future over the longer distance looks good.

The fastest parkrun this week was Bushy park, due to the four lads racing it out at the front and all making the top ten. It’s the first time we’ve seen Scunthorpe in these rankings so hats off for Scunny for featuring twice.

Of note is Nick Earl’s 14:56 at Parkville parkrun in Australia. The City of Norwich speedster must have been celebrating his recent England selection to run the Toronto Marathon.

Men’s top 10

1) parkrun: Worthing
Jake Wightman, 14:43, Edinburgh AC
2=) parkrun: Bushy
Tim Norton, 15:12, Vegan Runners Australia
2=) parkrun: Coventry
Mohamed Daud Mohamed, 15:12, Coventry Godiva Harriers
4) parkrun: Rother Valley
Jonathan Tobin, 15:13, Swansea Harriers AC
5) parkrun: Scunthorpe 
Kris Lecher, 15:16, City of Hull AC
6) parkrun: Bushy
Andrius Jaksevicius, 15:16, Belgrave Harriers
7) parkrun: Bushy
Alex Milne, 15:28, Enfield & Haringey AC
8) parkrun: Stevenage
Ian Kimpton, 15:37, Team Kimpton
9) parkrun: Bushy
Elliot Dorey, 15:38
10=) parkrun: Kingsway, Gloucester
Lee Stopford, 15:42, Stroud & District AC
10=) parkrun: Hackney Marshes
Paul Martelletti, 15:42, Victoria Park Harriers & Tower Hamlets AC

Women’s top 10

1) parkrun: Sheffield Hallam
Philippa Williams, 17:24, Elswick Harriers
2) parkrun: Leicester Victoria 
Hannah Doran, 17:25, Charnwood AC
3) parkrun: Bath Skyline
Jessica Gibbon, 17:31, Reading AC
4) parkrun: Rother Valley
Emily Simpson, 17:35, City of Sheffield and Dearne AC
5) parkrun: Albert Park, Middlesborough 
Philippa Stone, 17:37, Middlesborough AC
6) parkrun: Cannon Hill, Birmingham
Bryony Haines, 17:40, Birchfield Harriers
7) parkrun: Harlow
Annabel Gummow, 17:52, Winchester and District AC
8) parkrun: Kingsbury Water
Hannah Brooks, 17:55, Crawley AC
9) parkrun: Sloughbottom
Joanna Andrews, 17:58, Bungay Black Dog RC
10) parkrun: Scunthorpe 
Jenny Blizard, 17:59

If you would like to run faster at parkrun, top tips to help runners of all abilities can be found here.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

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The post 10 fastest UK parkrun times on Saturday 25th May (2019) appeared first on Fast Running.

Birchfield Harrier Carruthers was doing a bit of parkrun tourism at the home of parkrun, Bushy Park. The England marathoner ran a swift 16:05, up there with some of the quickest female times ever for the event, only seven seconds behind Justina Hislop’s 2011 course record.

There were 1232 people taking part at Bushy Park today, with Olympian Jake Wightman also amongst them, posting a 15:21 for third quickest this week. The middle distance man wasn’t the fastest parkrunner this weekend though. That honour goes to Cardiff AC’s James Hunt.

The 2018 Welsh National cross country champion ran 14:57 at the Porthcrawl event, taking 15 seconds from his previous parkrun best. The versatile athlete has a 5k best of 14:39 from last year’s Armagh International 5k and ran 14:43 there again this year. Just two weeks ago Hunt ran 30:18 for eighth at the competitive Brecon Carreg Cardiff Bay 10k.

Scotland based Irish international Fionnuala Ross was the second quickest female this weekend with a 16:52 at Springburn parkrun in Glasgow. Ross is part of the Fast 10 this year and recently wrote about the joys of representing your club at the National Relays. You can follow Ross’s season through her Fast 10 blogs on our website here.

Sandwiched between Hunt and Wightman was Newham & Essex Beagles AC’s Edgars Sumskis. The Latvian runner ran 15:08 at Peterborough parkrun and has already seen acton this year in winning the Cambridgeshire County XC Champs, a 66:27 half marathon at the Mitja Marato De Terrassa and 23rd at the National XC in Leeds.

Third placed female was Laura Hesketh with 17:04 at Stratford parkrun, which isn’t far from the V35’s best last year of 16:54. The Clayton-le-Moors Harrier has been racing over 10k this year and won at the Lancaster Valentines 10k in February (37:26), finished ninth at Trafford 10k in 35:21 and grabbed second place at Cheshire Arley Hall 10k in 34:37 just a few weeks ago.

Two Edinburgh AC men made it into the top rankings, but the Birchfield Harriers women were more successful with three featuring, led home by Carruthers in the top spot and all winning their respective events.

Men’s top 10

1) parkrun: Porthcrawl
James Hunt, 14:57, Cardiff AC
2) parkrun: Peterborough
Edgars Sumskis, 15:08, Newham & Essex Beagles AC
3) parkrun: Bushy
Jake Wightman, 15:21, Edinburgh AC
4) parkrun: Dulwich
Nicholas Torry, 15:22, Serpentine RC
5) parkrun: Elgin
Kenny Wilson, 15:29, Moray Road Runners
6) parkrun: Penrith
Noah Hurton, 15:33, Eden Runners
7) parkrun: Lee-on-the-Solent
Ben Harding, 15:38, Kent AC
8) parkrun: St Andrews
Robert Sparks, 15:39, Fife AC
9) parkrun: Edinburgh
Michael Christoforou, 15:40, Edinburgh AC
10) parkrun: hackney Marshes
Crispian Bloomfield, 15:46, Billericay Striders

Women’s top 10

1) parkrun: Bushy
Hayley Carruthers, 16:05, Birchfield Harriers
2) parkrun: Springburn, Glasgow
Fionnuala Ross, 16:52, Shettleston/Armagh
3) parkrun: Stretford
Laura Hesketh, 17:04, Clayton-le-Moors Harriers
4) parkrun: Long Eaton
Lori Handbury, 17:15, Rotherham Harriers & AC
5) parkrun: Millennium Country
Hannah Oldroyd, 17:32, Airedale Dodgers
6=) parkrun: Telford
Jess Humphreys, 17:36, Wrekin College Triathlon Club
6=) parkrun: Cannon Hill, Birmingham
Bryony Haines, 17:36, Birchfield Harriers
8) parkrun: Bushy
Yasmin Marghini, 17:42, Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC
9) parkrun: Wyre Forest
Chloe Richardson, 17:43, Birchfield Harriers
10) parkrun: Swindon
Kiya Dee, 17:53, Highworth RC

If you would like to run faster at parkrun, top tips to help runners of all abilities can be found here.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patron. 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 10 fastest UK parkrun times on Saturday 13th April (2019) appeared first on Fast Running.

With Sky Sports on mute in the background, Jake Wightman sits himself down for 20 minutes for a prescribed slice of RnR.

Recuperation and Rehabilitation, in his case, on the high-tech ultrasound system that is designed to speed up the healing of his presently injured butt.

Which, if you allow yourself a small snigger (since he does, it’s allowed), makes for a particularly revealing treatment session in the lounge of his London home.

“We live next to an old peoples’ home,” he guffaws. “So hopefully they can’t see too much through the window.”

The glute, the whole glute, and nothing but the glute. A pain in the you-know-what which Wightman sustained just after Christmas – swiftly diagnosed as a stress fracture in his sacrum – means that the outdoor European 1500 metres bronze medallist of 2018 will not be chasing down an indoor version in Glasgow this spring.

Instead he has embarked upon a period of self-treatment, then a rehab stint at Bisham Abbey, with the mind-numbing tedium of jogging in a swimming pool as his sole running option until the middle of the spring.

Patience will become his virtue and Netflix his best chum.

“The (longest spell out) I’ve had before was before Commonwealth in 2014,” he recounts. “That was a strain and I had a little tears in my hamstring, and I probably didn’t run for two, maybe three weeks, but then I could get back running by the end of that, whereas this is just going to be a complete two months off running.

“It’s a bit nervy, because I don’t really know how I’m going to respond coming back to running. I hope I can almost keep my fitness up from cross-training and get back into my running as quick as I’d hope to.”

Who needs to be buying new technology?

Idle hands make online shoppers, so the saying goes. Not for Wightman a discount set of new pans on Amazon or that Alexa-enabled toaster you never knew you needed.

Try bidding on second-hand antiques.

“It’s funny,” he reveals. “I bought this thing called a Nordic Track Ski Machine, which Paula (Radcliffe) used to use a lot.

“My physio suggested getting one of them, so I went on eBay and for 60 quid I got one down in Portsmouth. I drove there, and it was an old couple that had had it in their garage for months.

“It was rusty and all sort of squeaky, so I oiled it up, gave it a little clean, and I went on it for the first time this morning.”

View this post on Instagram

Bringing the Alps to my flat for a session this morning

A post shared by Jake Wightman (@jakeswightman) on Jan 13, 2019 at 4:20am PST

Beats sitting on his problematic posterior. Takes the mind off what could, even at the age of 24, have been the final chance of his career to pick up a major title on his native Scottish soil.

With the field for Glasgow in March likely to be disrupted by the need for self-preservation ahead of a highly belated summer IAAF world championships in Doha, some medals may be there for the taking.

Given his performances last year, when he also acquired a bronze at the Commonwealth Games, it is an opportunity that knocked but no longer. Acceptance, then moving on.

Photo: Bobby Gavin

“I keep thinking to myself, if it wasn’t in Glasgow, would I be as bothered?” he acknowledges. “But I think I probably would be … but I’m glad I’ve got a diagnosis that means I have to miss it.

“Because if it was something that put me out for a couple of weeks and there was still a chance I could do it, I think it could get pretty frustrating.”

Focus now turns to the World Championships in Doha

Instead, it will be a global gong in the heat of Qatar that will keep him afloat in the shallow end, using his other online splurge – a pair of waterproof headphones – to block out any curious stares.

Before Christmas, prior to the strain, it was all going so swimmingly following an altitude stint in Arizona that was teeing him up for the campaigns ahead.

Dad Geoff is now a full-time coach, his stints on stadium microphones apart. Funding from British and Scottish Athletics has allowed him to jet back and forth across the Atlantic, including a dart to Spain to oversee Steph Twell’s marathon debut before re-joining his son in the mountains.

When Wightman Jr. first tried training up high, there were mis-steps and illnesses but it is an approach with which he now feels comfortable.

The latest foray to Flagstaff seemed perfectly ideal for his needs.

“I’d come back probably fitter than I had done at any time,” he declares. “I don’t know if that’s probably a bad thing, having seen what’s happened now. But I know how I can train without digging myself into a hole and I know how to recover properly.

“I know how to get the best out of myself now and listen to symptoms, whether I’m too tired, whether it is just the altitude. I had a really good camp all of December, which is why it’s even more frustrating this has happened, because it came on with nothing.

“Nothing out there suggested that my body was in any sort of bother. Then within two days, it was just, yeah, I could barely run.”

Perversely, he knows, a sedentary spell might work in his favour. Doha is a long way off. Sensible pacemaking is needed off the track in 2019, as well as on it.

The timetable there would afford him the chance of an 800-1500m double. It is a twin test that worked well for him last year. I’d do it again, he confirms.

Photo: Bobby Gavin

The coming of Jakob Ingebrigtsen means that Wightman can no longer be considered a young man on the rise. Time marches on. Fortunately, his race craft has accelerated greatly since three years ago when talent propelled the former European junior champion into positions of strength but tactics let him down.

“I think when I went to London (worlds in 2017), I definitely was fit enough I think to make the final, but just didn’t race well at all,” he reflects. “I think I needed a championship like that just to realise what mistakes I made, and I tried to make amends to that last year.

“And it came off for me. So I hope that I can get myself in the right shape to be able to go through the rounds and then see what we can do in the final.”

Missing out, if you’ll excuse the obvious, would be a pain in the behind.

“At the moment, I just have to focus on getting myself back running,” he underlines. “It’s going to be tough to make that team in the first place.

“So I have to get there first.”

RELATED: Seb Coe hails Jake Wightman’s progression

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The post Jake Wightman ‘in good spirits’ after injury appeared first on Fast Running.

Hayley Carruthers ran 15:59 at the Walsall Arboretum parkrun to record the fastest women’s time across the UK on Saturday (December 22).

It was the first time under 16 minutes for the ever improving Birchfield Harrier, who was just four seconds away from the women’s parkrun best. It was also nearly two minutes quicker than the time Carruthers ran on the same weekend last year.

On the men’s side, there were five runners under 15 minutes as people are coming home for Christmas and invariably hitting their local parkruns.

Christmas Day could be a super fast one as people escape the family mayhem in the morning to get a good run in. Who will be the Christmas number ones on Tuesday?

Kieran Clements was the fastest of the bunch with a 14:32 at Kesgrave parkrun in Suffolk. Taking two seconds from the speedster’s own course record on the Ipswich course.

The 13:53 5000m man posted the run on Strava and described the course as a little “muddy, windy and rough underfoot”. Considering there is a 180 degree turn on the course as well that’s a cracking time.

The other four men under 15 minutes included an Olympian, a Gibraltarian middle distance runner and a British/New Zealand ultra runner on a long run.

Paul Martelletti actually ran faster than his top ranking time from last week, but was knocked down to fourth place by the competitive turn out on Saturday. The marathon and ultra runner was in the middle of a 16 mile training run so hopefully won’t be too dismayed.

Second placed lady was Zoe Wassell, the youngster who ran so well over cross country in Spain earlier this winter. The GB youth international ran 17:01 for the second fastest ladies time of the week, but was over a minute behind Carruthers.

Second placed male was middle distance specialist Jake Wightman, who was training fast around the track at Loughborough earlier this week, but was down at Dulwich parkrun in London by the weekend to fly around the flat and fast course in South East London.

Chloe Richardson was the third place female and thus has family bragging rights on Christmas Day as her brother William was only fifth in the male rankings. Both made the news in 2017 as dual winners of the Birmingham half marathon.

The AB Training group in Sussex made an en mass outing to Worthing parkrun but only times of 15:09 and 15:11 made the top 10, although 10 runners broke 16 minutes at the one event. The power of the group there again.

Both Dulwich and Cannon Hill Birmingham parkruns featured three times this week so they can share the fastest parkrun for the week. It seems the Midlands featured heavier than usual at the weekend, maybe everyone is returning home for Christmas to the middle of England.

Men’s top 10

1) parkrun: Dulwich
Kieran Clements, 14:32, Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers
2) parkrun: Dulwich
Jake Wightman, 14:48, Edinburgh AC
3) parkrun: Mile End
Paul Martelletti, 14:49, Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets
4) parkrun: Dulwich
Harvey Dixon, 14:55, Aldershot, Farnham & District AC
5) parkrun: Cannon Hill, Birmingham
William Richardson, 14:58, Birchfield Harriers
6) parkrun: Kingsbury Water
Ellis Cross, 15:01, Aldershot, Farnham & District AC
7) parkrun: Dulwich
Joe Morwood, 15:02, Aldershot, Farnham & District AC
8) parkrun: Coventry
Mohamed Daud Mohamed, 15:05, Coventry Godiva
9) parkrun: Worthing
Maxwell Dumbbell, 15:09, Brighton Phoenix
10) parkrun: Worthing
Howard Bristow, 15:11, Brighton & Hove City AC

Women’s top 10

1) parkrun: Walsall Arboretum 
Hayley Carruthers, 15:59, Birchfield Harriers
2) parkrun: Chipping Sodbury
Nicola Sykes, 17:29, Bournville Harriers
3) parkrun: Cannon Hill, Birmingham
Chloe Richardson, 17:05, Birchfield Harriers
4) parkrun: Leicester Victoria
Hannah Doran, 17:09, Charnwood AC
5) parkrun: Sherwood Pines
Emily Collinge 17:13, Vegetarian Cycling and AC
6) parkrun: Cannon Hill, Birmingham
Nicola Sykes, 17:29, Bournville Harriers
7) parkrun: Higginson, Birmingham
Jessica Gibbon, 17:27, Reading AC
8) parkrun: Delamere
Holly Weedall, 17:29, Vale Royal AC
9) parkrun: MUSA Cookstowns
Grace Carson, 17:29
10) parkrun: Lincoln 
Abbie Donnelly, 17:30, Lincoln-Wellington AC

If you enjoy running at parkrun but want to develop and get a bit faster then find a running club near you. Clubs have all the social aspects of parkrun and cater for all levels to help you progress. More information can be found here.

Also if you would like to run faster at parkrun, top tips to help runners of all abilities can be found here.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patreon. 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 10 fastest UK parkrun times on Saturday 22nd December (2018) appeared first on Fast Running.

Kelly Holmes believes the short-list for FPSG Athlete of the Year in November could easily have reached double figures. The double Olympic champion, who won 800m and 1500m gold in Athens in 2004, is guest of honour for this year’s awards in Glasgow.

Five athletes are in contention for the main award backed by sponsors FPSG with a trio of track medallists – Eilidh Doyle, Laura Muir and Jake Wightman – joined by hill runner Charlotte Morgan, who won the world long distance hill championships, and Robbie Simpson, who won Gold Coast 2018 marathon bronze.

Holmes will help present the top award in November and is simply relieved she has not been involved in the selection process.

“I am really looking forward to coming to Glasgow in November for the FPSG Annual Awards and helping to present the FPSG Athlete of the Year trophy,” she said. “It has been such a superb year for so many Scottish athletes – across various events – that the one thing I am glad I haven’t been involved in has been choosing the short-lists!”

“As you can see, it is down to five names now and I think any athletics fan in Scotland or beyond looking at it right away will spot how difficult it has been. When you add in other athletes who won medals or broke national records then maybe the short-list could have gone right up to 8-10 athletes and still been very credible indeed.

“All five of these are great nominations and, as I said, I can see how tough it has been for the Awards panel to come up with a short-list. And there’s a lot of talent there, too, on the age group awards and fine performers in the Masters and Para categories, as well.”

Zoey Clark, Maria Lyle, Mark Dry and Eilish McColgan won international track and field medals this year at the World Indoors, Commonwealths or Europeans as well as Doyle, Muir and Wightman, while Beth Dobbin and Chris O’Hare smashed Scottish outdoor records at 100m and 1500m respectively.

The FPSG Para Athlete of the Year short-list reflects the medal success of Scottish race runners at the European Championships with nominations for Hannah Dines and Gavin Drysdale – with the other two contenders being Maria Lyle and marathon runner Derek Rae.

Callum Hawkins won the FPSG Athlete of the Year award in 2017, with Muir, Doyle and Lynsey Sharp having dominated the preceding half-dozen years.

On Laura Muir, Holmes said: “Laura Muir has had a cracking year and that was confirmed by a number one ranking for 2018 in the 1500m by the IAAF, which is a great achievement.

Photo: Getty Images

“The World Indoors in Birmingham in early March really set her up. To win two medals in three days with a bronze in the 3000m followed by a silver in the 1500m was a great achievement – and especially when snow and ice made travelling so difficult in Britain that week!

“I think those medals boosted her confidence even more for the European Championships in Berlin and she dominated that 1500m final to win well. To then go and win the Diamond League final really was the icing on the cake for the season and again she came up with a special performance that night in Brussels to win from the front – the way she loves.

“Laura has already taken a couple of my British records but I will try not to hold that against her!”

When it came to Robbie Simpson, Holmes added: “Robbie Simpson is a name everyone know now after bronze in that Gold Coast marathon at the Commonwealths.”

Photo: Bobby Gavin

She continued: “I don’t think anyone can argue that Robbie proved he is one of the fittest men in British athletics with that performance in those stamina-sapping hot conditions, which unfortunately struck down Callum Hawkins (and a few others) that day.

“He’s impressed since then in road and hill races – including winning the Jungfrau Marathon in the Alps. I understand this is the second time in his career Robbie has been short-listed for the main award which is great for him.”

RELATED: Callum Hawkins collapses as Robbie Simpson bags marathon bronze

Finally on Jake Wightman, Holmes said: “What can I say about Jake Wightman? What a year! Jake stepped up in 2018 and he was superb at the Commonwealths with fourth in the 800m and bronze in the 1500m – not too many British athletes are taking on that middle distance double nowadays and I know from personal experience how tough that is!

Photo: Bobby Gavin

“Jake then peaked again to get bronze at the Europeans in an amazing 1500m final and the last I saw him in race action he was winning the 5th Avenue Mile in New York against Nick Willis, who has two Olympic medals to his name. Jake really has had a breakthrough 12 months.”

Short-lists for 2018 FPSG Awards

FPSG Athlete of the Year:
Eilidh Doyle; Charlotte Morgan; Laura Muir; Robbie Simpson; Jake Wightman

U20 Athlete of the Year:
Anna Macfadyen; Alisha Rees; Erin Wallace

U17 Athlete of the Year:
Scott Brindley; Kane Elliott; Ellie O’Hara; Keira Waddell

Masters Athlete of the Year:
Zara Asante; Fiona Matheson; Charlotte Morgan; Alastair Walker

FPSG Para Athlete of the Year:
Hannah Dines; Gavin Drysdale; Maria Lyle; Derek Rae

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

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Jake Wightman grabbed his first victory at the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile on Sunday (September 9), while USA’s Jenny Simpson raced to her record-extending seventh win.

Wightman, won the men’s race in 3:53.5, well exceeding his seventh and 16th-place finishes at the event in the last two years.

The 24 year-old’s win in New York brings the curtain down on a fantastic season that included bronze in the 1500m at the Commonwealth Games representing Scotland, followed by another bronze in the same event in a British vest at the European Championships.

Photo: NYRR

New Zealand’s Nick Willis, 35, who was aiming for his record-breaking fifth event title, was the runner-up in 3:54.2, while Great Britain’s Neil Gourley was third in 3:55.3 in his road mile debut.

Chris O’Hare, who was second in 2017, crossed the line in sixth and Charlie Da’Vall Grice finished seventh, with both runners posting an official time of 3:57.

In the world’s oldest road mile race, 32-year-old Simpson won for the sixth time consecutively – and seventh in total – holding off her competition in the final steps by four tenths of a second to clock in at 4:18.8. It was the 10th fastest women’s time in the event’s 38-year history.

“I love that this race is American-made right down 5th Avenue, and I love that where I’m best known is here at home,” Simpson said. “Being a seven-time winner is very special to me.”

The USA’s Colleen Quigley, 25, finished second in a personal-best time of 4:19.2, recording her second podium appearance in the 2018 NYRR Pro Racing Series after winning the NYRR Wanamaker Mile in February. Great Britain’s

Great Britain’s Melissa Courtney was third in a personal-best time of 4:20.2. Laura Weightman, who set the British record of 4:17.6 in last year’s race, crossed the line in seventh in a time of 4:22.

Photo: NYRR

Sarah McDonald secured a top 10 place in 4:25, followed by Adelle Tracey in 12th and Steph Twell completed the British athletes in action in 14th.

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patreon. 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 Jake Wightman and Jenny Simpson win 5th Avenue Mile appeared first on Fast Running.

Laura Muir and fellow medallists Eilish McColgan and Jake Wightman are among the 13 European medal-winning British athletes looking to continue their memorable 2018 seasons at the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham on Saturday (August 18) at the Alexander Stadium.

Confirmed to be competing alongside the 12 other individual medallists who secured medals for Great Britain in Berlin, Muir was one of several athletes to make history at the European Championships as she became the first British female ever to win 1500m European outdoor gold.

Now aiming to make further history this coming weekend, Muir will take to the track in Birmingham with the aim of breaking Dame Kelly Holmes’ 21-year-old 1000m British record of`2:32.55.

“We British athletes are incredibly lucky to have such a great event straight on the back of a major championships,” said Muir. “It gives us the opportunity to say thank you to the amazing British fans for all of their support through the European Championships, and obviously, we all want to put on a show for them and perform really well too.

“I’ve had some great times in Birmingham – I remember that when I broke the British 1000m record indoors there last February the crowd were so loud that I couldn’t hear my footsteps or sense where anyone else was in the race – it was crazy – so I’m sure it’ll be much the same on Saturday at the Alexander Stadium.”

On Dame Kelly Holmes’ time to beat, 2:32.55, Muir added: “First and foremost, I am looking to win the race but if I can break the British record in doing so that would be fantastic.

“1000m is a distance I don’t often run over, but I am looking forward to the challenge and just going out there and hopefully putting on a show for the home crowd.

“You know that any record held by Dame Kelly Holmes is going to be a tough one to beat, but I feel in really good shape and am going to go after it with everything I’ve got.”

Further history was made in the women’s 1500m as Laura Weightman claimed European bronze – the first time two British females have both been on the same European podium – with Weightman running over the same distance in Birmingham.

A silver medal star over 5000m at the Olympiastadion, Eilish McColgan will run over the shorter distance of 3000m in Birmingham, with fellow Scot Jake Wightman racing the 800m, an event in which he continues to perform brilliantly as he continues to develop as one of Britain’s brightest middle-distance prospects.

RELATED: Muir wins 1500m gold, Weightman bronze and McColgan takes 5000m silver

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patreon. 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 Laura Muir to target Dame Kelly Holmes 1000m record in Birmingham appeared first on Fast Running.