Where to begin? What a week! On the roads and the track indoor and outdoor our athletes have really been putting their winter training to the test and reaping the rewards.

Mageean stars at the AIT International Grand Prix

Getting us off to a flying start was Ciara Mageean (City of Lisburn AC/ Team New Balance) who broke her own Northern Irish Senior record, ran a PB and a Stadium Record at the AIT International Grand Prix in the Women’s 3000m on Wednesday night.

After battling with GB’s Rosie Clarke from the start the Northern Irish Olympic hopeful won out and Clarke had to settle for second in 8:49.49. Third place also went to team GB – Beth Kidger finished in 9:18.53 and Eloise Walker set a GB U20 record to finish fourth in 9:21.30. Read more here.

The Men’s Mile was similarly competitive. Ethiopia’s Samuel Tefera ran a PB of 3:55.86 for the win, followed by Ireland’s Brian Fay who bettered his previous indoor record to take silver in 4:00.77 ahead of Brazil’s Thiago Andre (4:01.55). Also heading home with a PB was Adam Craig who placed sixth in 4:03.34

Møller and Clarke win in Armagh

It was a night to remember at the Armagh International Road Races. Not just for the scrappy beginning of the men’s race that saw several tripped, stumbling or even falling in the crush to get a fast start.

Near perfect conditions led to 50 women running under 10 minutes in the Intersport Women’s 3k. 135 men ducked under 15 minutes (113 last year) in the 5k, with 21 going sub 14. In that depth of field it is not surprising that it took a new course record to secure the win for Anna Emilie Møller in 8:58 with Adam Clarke clocking 13:42 in an exciting finish.

Blazing after Møller in the women’s 3k was Alex Bell, who would normally race over 800m but appears to have plenty to offer over longer distances. According to her twitter she rather enjoyed the chance to stretch out her run and was rewarded with the silver in 9:06. Amy Griffiths was just behind Bell to take third in 9:09 and Kate Avery was fourth in 9:10.

Tight race for men’s podium

For the gents, it was Johnny Davis and Phil Sesemann who were both just two seconds behind Alex Clarke in the 5k to take second and third with the same time of 13:44. As suggested by the crazy start, the race was a battle for every place, and the next two positions were also neck and neck at 13:46 for Phil Norman and Jake Shelley.

In the team competition England was victorious in both the men’s and women’s competition. An astonishing average of 13:50 won it for the guys, led by team captain, Phil Sesseman (3rd, 13:45), Jake Shelley (4th, 13:46) and Graham Rush (12th, 13:55). The ladies scorers were Charlotte Dannatt (7th, 9:21), Laura Brenton (16th, 9:32), Rebecca Johnson (19th, 9:34) and Kirsty Longley (31st/1st W40, 9:44).

 

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When you realise that the race record is within reach, and the finish line smile changes slightly Had good fun racing my first 3k on the road last night! Didn’t really focus on the time – just on the . Enjoyed the great atmosphere in Armagh, a nice little town in Northern Ireland. Definitely worth coming back for Ciara had left, so this time the race was NOT cancelled. Last weekend I wasted a trip to Holland, where I was meant to run a 10k, which Ciara cancelled.. So I was pleased to finally get to do a road race again | : Keith McClure

A post shared by Anna Emilie Møller (@anna_moeller97) on Feb 14, 2020 at 11:55am PST

Scott, Reekie, Muir and Learmonth impress on the track

In Seattle, Washington the Husky Classic 3000m was part of a weekend of indoor racing and resulted in a 7:46.11, a little indoor PB and second place for Mark Scott of Cambridge & Coleridge who was running for Bowerman Track Club in this setting. James West who was running for Oregon but is a Tonbridge athlete when on home turf ran a sizeable PB to place sixth in 7:47.10 with Jack Rowe 10th in 7:51.00.

It is weekends like this when athletes thank their lucky stars for indoor meets. With races being cancelled left right and centre on Saturday, the Müller Indoor Grand Prix Glasgow was a safe haven for runners wanting to burn it up on the track. In the Men’s 800m Adam Kszczot of Poland took the 10 points for top spot in 1:46.34. Scotland’s Guy Learmonth ran a 1:47.16 for third with Josh Kerr and Elliot Giles fourth and fifth but with the same time of 1:47.40 and Alex Botteril seventh in 1:47.77

What a day!!! Thanks so much for all the messages today, love being back to my old self!!
Put so much graft in the last few months to get back here and I couldn’t be happier. My team is the best in the world!
Now the ball is really rolling!! #TeamNB #F8TC pic.twitter.com/PFd1vobyZS

— Guy Learmonth (@GuyLearmonth) February 15, 2020

The Men’s 1500m victory belonged to Bethwell Birgen of Kenya in 3:36.22. First home for GB was Piers Copeland who took fourth place in a new PB of 3:38.81. Following him for GB were Geroge Mills in 3:39.25 for sixth (also a PB) and Archie Davis in seventh 3:44.48. Charlie Da’vall Grice sadly had a fall midway through the and Jamie Webb also did not finish.

Laura Muir proved that although she’s battled injury over the winter she can still command a strong victory in the Women’s 1000m. The Scot said it was a tough race, commenting “I was a little down at 600m and oh that last lap was so sore“, but nevertheless she took home the win in 2:33.47 and will “be back out training in the wind and rain tomorrow” ready for the outdoor season.  Adelle Tracey couldn’t quite reach Muir and had to settle for second in 2:37.95 to make it a GB one-two.

It was Muir’s training partner Jemma Reekie though who grabbed everyone’s attention yet again. After breaking the national 800m, British indoor mile and British indoor 1500m records just weeks ago Reekie just went and churned out a 4:04.07 to grab top spot in the 1500m ahead of Ethiopia’s Dawit Seyaum (4:04.24). Reekie said ““It was a good race and a good confidence boost. I try to focus on myself out there because I’ll only ever work with the pressure that I put on myself and I don’t feel it off other people.”

Goolab claims British 5km record

On Sunday morning at RunMonaco, the 5k World Record was smashed to smithereens by Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei. He went into the race ‘thinking of sub-13’ and he certainly achieved it with his 12:51. That makes him 27 seconds faster than the previous best.

Britain’s Nick Goolab (Belgrave Harriers) ran an absolutely sensational race to finish third in a new British record of 13:27 – three seconds faster that Mo Farah and Rob Denmark’s joint record. France’s Jimmy Gressier was second in 13:18.

Connor and Arter lead home strong British challenge in Barcelona

Meanwhile it may not seem very spring-like here at the moment, but the season for long distance road running IS warming up and athletes were tuning up and testing out at the Barcelona Half Marathon.

Good conditions at the start gave way to a bothersome headwind at 15k. This caused a lot of runners to slow in the latter part of the race but didn’t stop some impressive times. Kenya’s Victor Chumo broke the tape in 59:59 to go sub-1hr for the first time.

Ben Connor placed ninth with a speedy 61:34 – not far off his PB and only two weeks after winning Murcia Half Marathon. Kristian Jones finished 22nd in a 22 second PB of 63:33 ahead of Josh Griffiths (29th in 63:34, PB) Frank Baddick (38th in 63:54, PB), Scott Overall (42nd in 64:23), John Travers (48th in 64:42), Eoghan Totten (52nd in 64:58), Eric Keogh (55th in 65:11), Conor Bradley (60th in 65:35) and Thoman Hayes (63rd in 65:58). There were many other fine performances under 70 minutes so be sure to check out the full results list.

Went for it today. 28.37 through 10k and a few seconds outside 46mins through 10 miles, then blew up a little. still happy to hold on for a 61.33, my second fastest time over the distance. In a good place with 10 weeks to go #Londonmarathon #ne… https://t.co/WwVbovOTwg pic.twitter.com/2pZSjWbiZw

— BEN CONNOR (@bdconnor) February 16, 2020

Arter 6th as Brits pack top 40

Charlotte Arter has a good history with the race, having run a Welsh record there last year to finish fifth in 69:40. This year she was chasing the likes of Ethiopia’s Ashete Bekere who won in 66:37. She couldn’t quite beat her 2019 showing but came close, placing sixth in 70:00 right behind Valencia Marathon winner Rosa Dereje. Ireland’s Fionnuala McCormack finished just outside the top 10 in 71:39 and Samantha Harrison ran a huge PB to scrub out her 73:01 on Power of 10 and replace it with a 71:43 and 13th place.

Other top performances came from Ann-Marie Mclynn (16th in 72:12), Tracy Barlow – who went out in gutsy style and hung on in that headwind to run a PB of 72:12 (17th), Clara Evans (19th in 72:29, PB), Jenny Spink (30th in 74:09), Danni Nimmock (32nd in 74:47), Fionnuala Ross (34th in 74:54), Lucy Niemz (58th in 78:47), Rosemary Jennings Maun (59th in 78:36), Catherin Whoriskey (65th in 79:55) and Georgina Weston (67th in 79:55).

UK road racing roundup

A rather different half marathon experience awaited those taking part in the Kinloss to Lossiemouth Half. The point to point course had forecast a tailwind gusting into the 30s. We’re awaiting official results but a bit of Strava stalking suggests that Kenny Wilson was blown to a PB of 64:55 and Robbie Simpson ran 65:00.

In Chessington the Valentine’s 10k saw some good results. Daniel Cheeseman (City of York) raced home in 31:42. Ollie Garrod of South London Harriers (33:00) was 2nd and Ben Chown (33:20) 3rd. Isabel Brinsden of Epsom and Ewell Harriers brought home the win for the women in 36:06 with Suzannah Month (36:57) and Lisa Rooney (39:29) shortly after her.

RunThrough Battersea Park 5K / 10K beat at least the worst of the storm on Saturday morning in London. Lucy Reid was a little way outside her PB with 35:29 but claimed the win. Steph McCall of Herne Hill Harriers followed her with 35:42 and Lou Hunter rounded out the podium with a 35:53.

For the men, Matthew Dickinson of Clapham Chasers raced over the line in 31:33 ahead of Nick Bester (Herne Hill Harriers) in 31:52 and Ewan Cameron in 32:23. A mysterious man-with-no-name topped the 5k race in 16:59. Nacho Garcia (17:44) and John Ross (19:10) took the other two awards. Hannah Pullen of Waverly Harriers won the women’s 5k in 17:57, followed by London Heathside’s Amy Cook in 19:18 and Marta Acosta in 19:30.

Soggy conditions didn’t deter runners at Devon’s Tavy 5k. Local boy Lewis Mill of the Tavistock Run Project was champion of the day in 19:04 in a comfortable lead over Lee Herbert (19:20) and first lady, third overall Jodi FIsk (19:25).

The Harrow Hill 10k does what it says on the tin. Harrow AC’s Lucy Ashe took 4th overall and won the women’s race in 39:34 just two weeks after her PB at Watford Half Marathon. Sarah Gerrie came second in 42:36 and Joanne Kent was next home over the hill in 43:23. For the men, Thomas Grimes (East London Runners) took top spot in 37:26 ahead of Adam Horne (38:37) and Werner Kranenburg (38:51).

Jo Meek hit the trails in Arizona and took fifth place at the Black Canyon 100k in 9:49. In Costa Rica the Coastal Challenge, a multi stage race over 6 days with 10, 000m+ of elevation over 236k through rainforest, mountains, river valleys and beaches sounds like a beast of a race. It was enough to stop Oxford City’s Rebecca Ferry who finished the whole lot in 17:57:12. Susie Chan finished third with an overall time of 21:14:31.

I tried my hardest but it wasn’t good enough. 5th in #blackcanyon100k

My goal for a @wser golden . I had time on the trail (the later half of 9hrs 49mins!) to come to terms with it.
Blog to follow

@aravaiparunning for hosting such a great race

Run Run pic.twitter.com/5PauYwIZSb

— RunningSquirrel • Ultra runner (@jo_meek) February 16, 2020

Most Cross Country races seem to have been cancelled or are awaiting results. Club runners could still have their fix against each other in the North East Road Relays. Gateshead Harriers were victors in the women’s race in a combined time of 52:33 thanks to their team of Chloe Wellings, Gillian Manford Jane Giles and Innes Curran. For the men it was Kieran Hedley, Taylor Glover, Dan Melling, Rowan Bennett, Sam Hancox and Adam Pratt who grabbed the premier honours for Morpeth Harriers.

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The post Top racing in Armagh, Barcelona and Monaco – weekend roundup appeared first on Fast Running.

Cheptegei finished the Monaco Run 5km in a time of 12 minutes and 51 seconds and by doing so took an impressive 27 seconds of the previous world record set by Rhonex Kipruto (KEN) which stood at 13:18.

Cheptegei said “Wow, this is really great. I had sub 13 minutes in my mind today so when my legs felt good during the race I decided to really go for it. To take this many seconds of the record makes me very happy and is a great first test for me in an important season.”

He wasn’t the only athlete breaking records either as Nick Goolab broke the British 5km road record clocking 13:27 to finish 3rd behind Jimmy Gressier.

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The post Joshua Cheptegei breaks 5km world record appeared first on Fast Running.

Hellen Obiri makes her debut over the 10km. The world 5,000m and world indoor 3,000m champion is expected to perform well over the longer distance after her World Cross Country Championship victory this year. Ruti Aga could be threat having won this year’s Tokyo Marathon and Edna Kiplagat will undoubtedly challenge with a best of 31:06.

In the men’s race Ugandan Kiplimo has run the fastest road 10km of all time with 26:41 but the downhill nature of the Madrid course means he is not the world record holder. Kiplimo comes into the race having finished second in the World Cross. A leading challenger could be former New York Marathon winner Stanley Biwott who is a bit of an unknown quantity with little high level racing over the last year.

Goolab in Flying Form

The race includes some excellent depth when it comes to British runners. Nick Goolab arrives in Manchester riding high after his 13:34 5km at Ipswich Twilight last weekend. The Belgrave man has a best of 28:22 also set this year when winning Brighton Marathon 10km.

European 10,000m silver medallist Andy Vernon is on the start list but suffered an injury in the build up to the Virgin London Marathon. Vernon, who has a track best of 27:42, posted a tweet on the 7th May saying he had been undergoing shockwave therapy and “hopefully I can be running completely pain free in the next couple of weeks.”

RELATED: Jack Gray has his sights on more than just tabloid headlines  

Jack Gray is another Brit arriving at the race in top form. The England 10km international ran 13:47 to finish 4th at the Ipswich Twilight 5km and recently ran a 10km PB in Brighton of 28:57. Under 23 Emile Cairess will be expecting to take a good chunk off his road PB having run 28:48 on the track in April.

The start list also features GB and England athletes such as Dan Studley, Dejene Gezimu and Alex Teuton. Sub four minute miler Ieuan Thomas will be looking to better his PB of 29:13 set at last years Telford 10km.

Twell to Challenge

Steph Twell is likely to be the leading British challenger and is coming into the race in great form having set a 10km PB of 31:57 to win Brighton Marathon 10km. Having recently been selected for the World 50km Championships Alyson Dixon races a month after finishing 16th at Boston Marathon.

Mhairi MacLennan will be a strong challenger having finished second to Twell in Brighton with a new PB of 32:59. The Helen Clitheroe coached athlete finished 32nd at the World Cross in March and arrives in fine form. Third on the UK all time list Gemma Steel races as does Inter -Counties XC Champion Jenny Nesbitt. Having spent time away training in the US Nesbitt recently ran a strong 32:46 at the Payton Jordan Invitational.

Strong Club Times Expected

This is a mass participation race on 10km course but also half marathon and quick times are expected over both with conditions looking ideal. Over 30,000 runners are expected to start on Sunday in what is one of the most popular running events in the UK.

RELATED: Loughborough International Preview

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The post A strong British challenge at the Great Manchester Run 10km appeared first on Fast Running.

Sir Mo Farah, fresh off his tough fifth place at the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon, will be looking for his sixth victory at the Vitality London 10000 on Monday 27 May after previous wins in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2018.

But he will face stiff competition from two-time previous winner Andy Butchart who, after a 2018 scampered by injury, has returned to competitive action in fine fashion this year. The Scottish athlete, who was sixth in the 5000m at the 2016 Olympics, ran a World Championships qualifying time of 13:18.16 for 5000m in the USA earlier this month.

Farah and Butchart will line up with a strong domestic field that includes six men who have run sub 29 minutes including Nick Goolab – the fastest man over the distance in the UK this year (28:22) and 13:34 victor at the Ipswich Twilight 5k this weekend. Goolab arrives in London having finished 4th in last week’s Great Manchester Run 10km.

Loaded women’s race

The women’s race also has a loaded domestic field that includes three former winners: defending champion Steph Twell, 2016 victor Lily Partridge and Gemma Steel who won in 2014. Twell ran 32:41 in last week’s Great Manchester Run.

Charlotte Arter, the reigning British 10000m champion on the track, and Tish Jones, who was the second British woman home at the Virgin Money London Marathon and qualified for the World Championships, are also racing, as are three of the six-strong team that Great Britain sent to the World Cross-Country Championships in March: Kate Avery, Jennifer Nesbitt and Jess Piasecki. It will be the first faster test for some of those who raced marathons in April, as well as Jones and Partridge the race sees Hayley Carruthers, Tracy Barlow and Louise Small lining up.

The Vitality London 10000 takes place on Monday 27 May – the day after the Vitality Westminster Mile where Laura Muir will be starting a summer season which she hopes will end in glory at the World Championships in Doha.

Muir & O’Hare in for the mile

Multiple European champion Muir leads the entrants in a star-studded elite women’s field in the Vitality Westminster Mile. Defending champion Melissa Courtney, the Commonwealth Games 1500m bronze medallist, is back again as is 2017 champion Adelle Tracey.

European Indoor Championships 800m gold medallist Shelayna Oskan-Clarke will make her debut in the event while Sarah McDonald, who won the Vitality Westminster Mile in 2016 and was runner-up a year later, returns to the streets of central London.

Photo: Andy Peat

In the men’s race, defending champion Chris O’Hare is hoping to become the first man in the history of the Vitality Westminster Mile to break the four-minute barrier.

O’Hare, who won a bronze medal over 3000m at the European Indoor Championships in March, is aiming to break the mark and win the Bannister Trophy just weeks after the 65^thanniversary of Roger Bannister’s first sub-four minute mile.

O’Hare will face competition from rising star Jake Heyward, who was fourth in the 1500m at last year’s World Junior Championships, and three-time British 800m champion Elliot Giles. Jamie Webb, who won a bronze medal in the 800m at this year’s European Indoor Championships, and the current course record holder Nick Goolab, who ran 4:01 to win in 2016, will also be on the start line.

Sir Mo Farah will also be at the Vitality Westminster Mile – but not racing. He will be cheering on runners in the family events with some lucky entrants getting the amazing chance to run alongside the four-time Olympic champion and six-time world champion.

The Vitality Westminster Mile is the world’s biggest timed mile event with races for all ages and abilities, from families to adults, schools, wheelchairs, Masters and Olympians. The under-13, under-15, under-17, under-20 and senior races are also the British One Mile Road Championships. Entry for children aged 11 and under is free. Entry for adults is £8 and for children between 12 and 18, entry is £6 with a £1 reduction for Westminster residents. To enter, click here.

A record number of more than 17,000 participants are expected to run the Vitality London 10000 on a course which passes iconic London landmarks such as Admiralty Arch, Nelson’s Column, St Paul’s Cathedral, Mansion House, the Bank of England, the Old Bailey, Somerset House, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

The Vitality London 10,000 also incorporates the British Athletics 10km Championships for men and women.

Entry to the Vitality London 10,000 costs £35 (£33 for members of a UK affiliated running club). To enter click here.

Entries close at 17:00 on Friday 17 May.

For full start lists for the Vitality Westminster Mile click here and for the Vitality London 10000 click here.

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The post Farah, Goolab & Butchart to face off at London 10000 appeared first on Fast Running.

Most runners suffer bouts of anxiety about transferring training form to a decent race performance.

Nick Goolab, who will run for GB at Sunday’s European Cross Country Championships in Tiburg, is not most runners though.

Last year, he ran the third fastest 3000m in the UK at London’s Anniversary Games. His scintillating 7:42.2 lifetime best was only bettered by a certain Mo Farah and Andy Butchart.

Earlier in the year, the Craig Winrow-coached athlete had posted a 13:33.48 5000m PB in Belgium.

The 28 year-old cemented his form over the distance in 2018 with the UK’s second fastest 5k of the year when winning the Ipswich Twilight race in May in 13:50.

Photo: Ipswich Twilight 5k

So when he out-sprinted 13:45 5k man Marc Scott and Welsh internationals Dewi Griffiths and Charlie Hulson to finish runner up to Ross Millington at Liverpool’s Cross Challenge race last month, few would have expressed surprise.

However, nothing is ever as it seems.

Confidence issues plagued the Belgrave Harrier

Goolab explains what he’s been going through: “For a few years there was always something festering in my head. It came to the fore and overwhelmed me during the indoor season and into the summer.

“For example, I spent the whole of the Ipswich 5k in May telling myself ‘you’re rubbish, you shouldn’t be here’, ‘you’re not good enough to race, you should drop out’, and ‘you can’t handle racing, you shouldn’t be doing this’.

“Those thoughts are very counterproductive and I’ve kept them at bay over the years, but it became too much this year.”

The 3:44.76 1500m man even dropped out of the sport for two months in the summer.

Aside from one good performance in the Surrey League in October – where he finished runner up to Phil Sesemann – followed by the fourth fastest leg at the Southern Cross Country Relays, he had little racing form to take confidence from.

Racing disasters happen to elite athletes too

Worse still, just two weeks before Liverpool Goolab finished 51st in the Surrey League, which, although again was not how it appears, wasn’t the ideal way to approach a championship trial event.

He explains what happened on the sodden Wimbledon Common course.

“The Surrey league performance was down to a couple of issues,” he says. “Firstly, my spikes weren’t long enough so my grip was virtually non-existent. Secondly I have bad eyesight, and that day was particularly dark.

“I couldn’t see where I was putting my feet and was struggling to see where I was going in the woods with the heavy rain.

“I managed to get through one lap, but during the second I had to go off course to negotiate a downhill due to the grip situation. When I got back on course I was fed up and just gave up. I ended up jogging the last two miles!”

As is so often the case, that race was no indicator of Goolab’s current form. In the month leading up to the trials he completed two 100 mile training weeks, ensuring he had the endurance in his legs.

Goolab’s impressive racing CV speaks volumes

His raw speed has clearly never gone away. The 2017 European Indoor Championships competitor has superb pedigree over the track and country from his junior days.

He won silver for Great Britain in the 2009 U20 European Cross Country Championships as well as winning the junior Inter Counties before enjoying an incredible purple patch in 2010.

That year he took the BUCS 5000m title, won the junior English National Cross Country title before placing 25th at the U23 European Cross Country.

Thankfully, his superb run at Liverpool to qualify for Sunday’s European Cross Country Championships in Tilburg has helped to boost his confidence in time for a performance worthy of his undoubted ability on the big stage.

Goolab’s self belief returned after securing his spot on the GB team for the Euros

“Liverpool has changed my mindset and my confidence has really improved,” he reveals. “I didn’t think I was in shape going into the trials, but clearly I misjudged myself! I had the physical attributes to get involved.

“What allowed that to come out, though, was excitement. I just enjoyed being part of that lead group and being involved in the race. I was running with those guys and I was treating it like a steady run. Mentally, not physically.

“I didn’t care where I finished, I was just happy to be with them and to be around classy runners.

“At one point I was happy to settle for fifth, because I was having a great time and didn’t care about results. It wasn’t until the final straight where the competitor in me kicked in and positions became important.”

The Birmingham University maths graduate – who now makes a living as a tutor – has been running with a spring in his step ever since.

“I had a really good week’s training after the race,” he reveals with a smile. “My coach was on the bike during a session, and, during a rep he rode next to me and said ‘it’s easy when you’ve got a bounce in your step’.

“He’s right, running becomes so much easier when you back yourself and enjoy it.”

Looking ahead to the European Championships and the track season beyond

Now Goolab is approaching the sport he loves with a more positive outlook, his goals have understandably changed.

Before he earned his spot on the GB team for Tilburg he’d assumed he would have to just spend the winter getting race fit following his prolonged summer break.

“At one point I was even thinking I may not be ready for the indoor season, and I would only get back into racing next spring!”, he exclaims. “I couldn’t have been more wrong. I like to think I’ve already ticked the ‘get fit again’ box, but it’s happened so quickly I don’t know what to do with myself!”

The 2011 BUCS champion is full of excitement for his European challenge this weekend, but just wants to make the start line in a healthy state.

“I’m really looking forward to the gun going off and running, but I do have some paranoia, as wherever I go someone seems to be ill,” he says. “I’m hoping and praying I don’t wake up in the next few days with an illness!”

Looking ahead beyond Tilburg, the track season will be Goolab’s next priority.

“It would be nice to actually have a summer of consistent racing next year,” he adds. “Consistency is key!”

A full preview of the British team competing at the European Cross Country Championships can be found here, while the race timetable and TV guide can be found here.

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The post Nick Goolab is raring to go in Tiburg after conquering self doubt appeared first on Fast Running.

Chris O’Hare, Jake Wightman and Charlie Grice lead the men’s entries, while the women’s race boasts five Commonwealth Games finalists including Sarah McDonald and Melissa Courtney.

The cream of Britain’s male middle-distance runners will attempt to break the historic four-minute barrier at the Vitality Westminster Mile to pay their respects to the legendary Sir Roger Bannister – the first man to run under the magical mark.

Bannister – who famously broke the four-minute mile barrier in 1954 – died in March, aged 88, and the latest generation of British middle-distance stars want to commemorate his passing by emulating his landmark achievement at the Vitality Westminster Mile on Sunday (May 27).

Commonwealth Games 1500m bronze medallist Jake Wightman (Edinburgh AC) and his fellow finalists Charlie Grice (Brighton Phoenix) and Chris O’Hare (Edinburgh AC) are the leading contenders to run sub-four in a star-studded field.

The women’s race promises to be equally as entertaining with five Commonwealth Games finalists in the field including Melissa Courtney who won a bronze medal in the 1500m on the Gold Coast. Up against her will be fellow 1500m finalists Sarah McDonald and Jess Judd plus 3000m steeplechase fourth placer Rosie Clarke.

No athlete has run under four minutes over the course since the event was first held in 2013, with two-time winner Nick Goolab going closest when he clocked 4:01 to win in 2016. Goolab is set to return fresh from clocking a personal best 13:50 to win Ipswich 5k on Saturday night (May 12).

Wightman, who is currently training at altitude in Flagstaff, Arizona, said: “After a month at altitude I hope to be in the sort of shape to run under four minutes at the Vitality Westminster Mile and I think, with the passing of Sir Roger Bannister, this year it would be nice for that to happen. It will be added motivation.

“You always want to test yourself against the best and I think the quality of the field as a whole will mean a sub-four clocking is definitely possible so we need to get after it.”

Wightman, Grice and O’Hare have all run well inside four minutes on the road with Wightman’s personal best (PB) of 3:52.9, set at the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile last year, the quickest. O’Hare has a road best of 3:53 and Grice a PB of 3:57. But both Grice and O’Hare have pedigree on the Westminster Mile course with Grice winning in 2013 and O’Hare in 2014.

Grice, who was fourth, one place behind Wightman, in the Commonwealth Games 1500m final, said: “I’m really excited to race the Westminster Mile this year. I got the win there in 2013 and I remember it was a really big deal for me because it was one of the first senior races I won.

“I am sure this year will be a great race, domestically we are very strong right now, so hopefully we can get a sub-four clocking.”

As well as the trio of the country’s leading milers, the Vitality Westminster Mile field will also include the reigning indoor and outdoor British 800m champion Elliot Giles.

The race starts on The Mall and does a lap of St James’s Park, turning right down Horse Guard’s Road and then Birdcage Walk before finishing in front of Buckingham Palace.

Wightman, who described his bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games as a ‘huge milestone in my career’, added: “It’s important for me to start the (summer) season well and the Vitality Westminster Mile seems like a great place to do it. It’s always nice opening up in the UK and I’m looking forward to soaking up what looks like a great atmosphere.”

As well as the senior races, there will be British Athletics One Mile Road Race championships in the under-13 to under-20 age groups. There will also be, for the first time this year, a Vitality Masters Mile open to runners aged 35 and over.

Sir Mo Farah will also be at the event to run with families in the Family Waves, with people getting the chance to #RunWithMo

The programme also includes family races, school races and The Olympians Mile which brings together athletes who have competed for Great Britain in any sport in an Olympic Games.

Elite men’s field

Jake Wightman (Edinburgh AC)
Charlie Grice (Brighton Phoenix)
Chris O’Hare (Edinburgh AC)
Tom Marshall (Cardiff AC)
Ieuan Thomas (Cardiff AC)
Steve Mitchell (Bristol West)
Nick Goolab (Belgrave Harriers)
Michael Wilsmore (Bristol)
Rowan Axe (Cardiff AC)
Tom Hook (City of Norwich AC)
Shaun Wyllie (Bracknell AC)
Robbie Fitzgibbon (Brighton Phoenix)
Zak Seddon (Bracknell AC)
Phil Sesemann (Blackheath & Bromley AC)
John Ashcroft (Liverpool Harriers)
Sean Molloy (Tonbridge AC)
Jack Hallas (Birchfield Harriers)
Rob Umeokafor (Birchfield Harriers)
Jonathan Davies (Reading AC)
Jake Heyward (Cardiff AC)
Elliot Giles (Birchfield Harriers)
Will Fuller (Blackheath & Bromley AC)
Jamie Webb (Liverpool Harriers)
Dale Clutterbuck (Newham & Essex Beagles)
Harvey Dixon (Aldershot Farnham & District AC)
Anthony Wightman (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers)
Tom Horton (Hallamshire Harriers)

Elite women’s field

Jade Williams (Amman Valley)
Charlotte Taylor Green (Bristol & West)
Jenna Hill (Sale Harriers)
Sarah McDonald (Birchfield Harriers)
Rosie Clarke (Epsom & Ewell)
Amy Griffiths (Aldershot & Farnham District AC)
Harrier Knowles-Jones (Warrington AC)
Jess Judd (Chelmsford AC)
Hannah England (Oxford City)
Lily Coward (Invicta)
Sophie Connor (Shaftesbury Barnet)
Tamara Armoush (Birchfield Harriers)
Revee Walcott-Nolan (Luton)
Hannah Viner (Highgate)
Sarah Astin (City of Norwich)
Melissa Courtney (Poole AC)
Georgie Hartigan (Birchfield Harriers)
Holly Archer (Cambridge & Coleridge)
Claire Tarplee (Solihull)
Beth Kidger (Brighton Phoenix)

The post Britain’s best to commemorate Bannister at Vitality Westminster Mile appeared first on Fast Running.

Nick Goolab clinched the men’s title at the Ipswitch 5k on Saturday evening (May 12) finishing just one-second ahead of England’s 5k champion as Faye Fullerton enjoyed a superb victory over Gemma Steel to bag the women’s honours.

Belgrave Harriers’ middle-distance athlete Goolab, who was racing in his first 5k on the road since 2012, clocked a lightning quick personal best 13:50 as he led home four men under 14 minutes on the new faster course that “removes many of the turns and elevation that runners experienced on the previous route”.

The two-time Westminster Mile winner’s superb time also betters Chris Thompson’s previous race record of 14:05.

Aldershot’s Richard Allen, who was crowned England’s 5k champion a fortnight ago, was denied a second straight win over the distance but still clocked a fantastic PB of 13:51 slicing 16 seconds off his recent best.

English national cross country champion Adam Hickey completed the podium with a PB of 13:54, while Aldershot’s Adam Clarke completed the sub 14-minute men with, of course, another PB in a time of 13:57.

Shaftesbury Barnet’s Kieran Clements just missed out on the mark running a 14:00 PB to complete the top five men.

In the women’s race, Fullerton, who impressed in Valencia this year at the World Half Marathon Championships with a 73:56 PB, showed the speed is still there over the shorter distances clocking a 17 second PB as she powered to the women’s title in 16:01.

The Havering AC athlete finished six seconds ahead of pre-race favourite Gemma Steel, who clocked 16:07 and settles for the runner-up spot for a second straight year in Ipswich.

Welsh runner Jade Williams of Amman Valley Harriers was on the heels of the 2014 European cross country champion and clocked a big PB of 16:08 to complete the women’s podium.

Cambridge & Coleridge’s Charlotte Christensen and Shaftesbury Barnet’s Naomi Taschimowitz completed the top five with PBs of 16:11 and 16:24 respectively.

In total, four men went under 14 minutes, 12 under 15 minutes, and 11 women dipped under the 17 minute mark. The results can be found here.

The post Nick Goolab and Faye Fullerton win Ipswich 5k appeared first on Fast Running.