The combination of a pandemic and stress fracture wiped out any opportunity to race, including my first GB vest.  After spending the whole year craving a race and the buzz that goes with it and I couldn’t wait to get back to a start line… but when the reality of the prospect of a race actually came around- I was terrified.

The journey back from injury

I started back running sessions the beginning of February after a period of easy base miles. Returning to sessions after an injury is up and down, progress is definitely not linear. Some days you see a glimmer of fitness then a few days later you feel as sharp as a crayola.

There was even a text to my coach a few weeks before, trying to chicken out of racing. Just having a wobble following a particularly tough session where I think I even convinced myself the GPS must have been dodgy paces were so bad. 

There are two options with the return to racing, either return before feeling completely race fit and race your way to fitness or wait until you feel back to full fitness.

The former requires you to swallow your pride a little and make sure race results are put into context of where your fitness is in your journey back from injury and take results with a pinch of salt/ stepping-stone to the next but it also means you get to race sooner.

Cold feet

So then I decided to just crack on and blow some cobwebs away. I signed up for the famous Podium 5km.

The week before, I was on call overnight for psychiatry. This involved scattered sleep tucked up in a sleeping bag on top of a bunch of chairs pushed together in the doctor’s office answering bleeps from the wards when needed or admitted patients who have been sectioned.

Not ideal race prep and could have served for a nice excuse to withdraw, which I considered many times. You spend the whole week fretting about it. If you can count on one hand how many runs you have done with any company in the last year, the prospect of getting on a start line with 30 others seems a little overwhelming.

In hindsight, it sounds a bit mad saying it but I was worried I was going to embarrass myself and be totally out of my depth. It’s also been about three years since I even ran a 5km race, I’m most at home running half or full marathons. Going into a race with a quiet confidence you are great shape is a totally different feeling to the way I felt leading into this. 

Race day

It was such a good feeling to see so many familiar faces after so long. A reminder of the wonderful community in our sport. Chatting to others, my nerves eased a little to know I wasn’t the only one feeling apprehensive about racing again.

We were blessed with perfect conditions and the course is pancake flat, I can see why it’s such a popular race. I’m currently doing most of my miles on hilly trails so having a down week prior to the race meant my legs felt pretty fresh at least.

I wore my watch but decided I wasn’t going to look at it at all as I thought it would knock my confidence if splits were slow so I had no idea at all until the clock near the line what my time would be.  I just ran hard and hoped for the best.

It all felt a bit like a blur during the race, I felt good but had no idea what pace I was running. I couldn’t believe I came away with a small PB. I ran 16.09, my previous best from 2018 was 16.16.

You forget how much racing others and the adrenaline makes running faster in races feel so much more comfortable.

Me or the shoes?

I do however appreciate this is hard to interpret given the new shoe technology, which without a doubt provides an advantage.

There are endless discussions about the shoes and everyone has their own opinions and I do feel a little disappointed it has moved in this direction as I liked knowing my results were 100% my own steam. But the way I see it now, is that I’ve set a new benchmark in the shoes without drawing too many comparisons to old PBs and my aim is to just improve my times from there.

Even trampoline shoes considered it has given me a massive confidence boost that my new approach of running lower mileage (around 50 miles per week at the moment) with supplementary cross training in a bid to reduce injury is proving effective.

Often running high miles is looked at like a badge of honour but there are a lot of athletes out there now like Steph Davis and Beth Potter proving that it’s not essential and I think each athlete has to find their own groove. 

Finish line feels 

Crossing that finish line, I was flooded with that post race buzz I have missed so much! It was totally worth all the nerves and I feel ready to attack the next race with a fiercer attitude.

Its taught me that it is good to take chances in life even if you don’t feel prepared, you may surprise yourself and be stronger than you think and even if it doesn’t work out, so what? Next time it will be better. 

Beth keeping the men on their toes

The end of my race however was just the beginning of the evening’s excitement.

This was the first evening “out” my wife and I have had in a while and wow, did it deliver. An hour later we witnessed a world best being set by Beth Potter.

It was so inspiring to watch, she just glided along with the men in such a state of flow- I think a few were a little out of sorts to have a woman float past them in a race.

Photo: Running Live

Chatting to one of the guys afterwards he was like “then an arse came past me and I thought, that’s not a man’s arse….and if it is, it’s nice!”. Really made me laugh.

Seeing her reaction afterwards was class…she was so shocked and asking if the clock was working. It’s clear she works incredibly hard and it’s nice to see athletes get rewards for their graft.

We finished the night off with a Big Mac in the car then drove home to a very angry Bengal cat who has never known his owners stay out so late since his arrival in lockdown. So we poured a glass of wine stayed up a little longer and played fetch with him (he is a weird dog like cat- follow me on Instagram for daily updates).

The post The return to racing appeared first on Fast Running.

As I was looking for results this week I was struck by the amount of apologetic messages from races that were going ahead. All seemed to have had a LOT of contact expressing views on each side of the cancel/don’t cancel fence.

It was always going to be a tough call for race organisers this weekend as to whether to go ahead with their event and our sympathies go to all those who are suffering the impact of Covid-19 in whatever form that may take – financial, physical or mental. Let’s celebrate what we can this week and leave the judging to the clock as we work our way through the remaining rosta of events.

Arter & Wightman light up the Podium

Lancashire’s Podium 5k is known for being a swift one and this edition was no different. Parkrun World Record holder Charlotte Arter topped the ladies race in a blistering 15:53 (her parkrun record is 15:49 and PB is 15:39).

Jake Wightman was the fastest man on the day, breaking the tape in 14.30 (PB 14:19). Daniel Racle of Altrincham & District AC took the 2nd in 14:42, smashing his 15:39 previous best in the process. Nick McCormick of Morpeth Harriers & AC took his place on the third step of the podium thanks to a 14:44 finish.

Backing up Arter’s run were Jemima Elgood of Ilkley Harriers who took eight seconds off her PB to run 16:46. Megan Davies from Sale Harriers Manchester also destroyed her previous best, running a 16:51 for 3rd.

In the B race, Sally Armitage of Ilkley Harriers was first woman in 18:52 and Jack Wilkinson was first gent in 16:45.

Podium wins for @JakeSWightman 14.30 and @charlottearter 15.53 (unconfirmed) pic.twitter.com/PHrDWBa6De

— podium 5k road race (@podium5k) March 14, 2020

Strong fields still turn out for Bath Half

Bath Half Marathon seemed to take the full force of social media criticism. One of the UK’s biggest half marathons the race drew criticism from MPs and doctors at the local hospital. Former winner, Kate Read, expressed surprise at the race’s decision to proceed. Many good athletes decided to not race but despite this there was some impressive depth in the results.

Credit: Bath Half

Whatever you think, it’ll be a race to remember for several reasons for Paul Pollock (Kent AC) and Becky Briggs (City of Hull). 2:10 marathoner, Pollock broke the tape in 64:04 this morning. Briggs, who debuted for GB at the Junior Cross championships in Denmark last year, set a new PB to take the women’s crown in 74:34.

Second and third in the women’s race went to Phillipa Williams (Sheffield RC) and Rachel Felton (Shaftesbury Barnet) in 74:34 and 75:01 respectively. For the men, it was Central AC’s Jamie Crowe who took silver in 74:38 and bronze went to Hercules Wimbledon’s Jonathan Cornish with a 75:17. The race saw 24 men dip under the 70 minute mark and eight women run under 80 minutes.

The Bath Half Marathon should not go ahead tomorrow. Here’s my full statement: pic.twitter.com/IHH1excswA

— Wera Hobhouse MP (@Wera_Hobhouse) March 14, 2020

Half marathon racing form North to South

In South London the Croydon Half Marathon also ploughed ahead and Daniel Gaffney made lemonade out of those lemons by setting a course record to break the tape in 70:47. Ben Chown (26.2 Road Runners Club) was right on his tail in 71:00 and Alix Ramsier chased down third place in 72:34.

Croydon Striders’ own Rachel Lindley took the top honour for the women, clocking 85:54 to beat South London Harriers’ Amy Rollason (88:45) and Debbie Jackson (Collingwood AC, 89:19).

Brentwoood Half Marathon boasted two under 70, as Paul Whittaker of Thurrock Harriers won in 67:55 and James Conner of Havering AC clocked 69:11, leaving Billericay Striders’ Crispian Bloomfield in their wake to take third in 72:48.

However, the Striders stood at the top of the podium in the women’s race after Alexa Joel beasted her way around the course in 80:47 to set herself a rather tasty new PB. Catrin Tyler (Heathside) took the next medal position in 81:22 and her clubmate Rebecca Piggot was third in 82:06.

The Carlisle Half Marathon saw Suzanne Smith take the win in 1:32:12 and Jonathan Cos in 71:15 to give Eden Runners the top spot in both the men’s and women’s competition. In their 10k race it was Rachel Brown of Border Harriers (37:40) and Paul Coon (33:35) who placed first. Both of them took convincing victories over Maciej Trzeciak (35:54) and Jon Lethwaite (37:52) for the men and Nadia Shaw (39:24) and Corrin Whaling (41:19) for the women.

England International Kirsty Longley was on to win Knowsley 10k outright but was sent the wrong way by a marshall and so her huge course record (34:17 despite running long) doesn’t feature in the results with the male win going to Aiden Moyles in 36:18 and Lisa Gawthorne in 39:44.

We’re waiting results for the Liverpool Skyline Half Marathon and 10 miler (due to be posted here).

Busy day of racing in Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes hosted a busy day of racing with its MK Festival of Running. What was probably planned as a long run to build for London became the end-game for many runners on the 20 mile option.

Marshall MK AC’s Laura Bromilow may not have beaten her time from last year but she upgraded her placing from 3rd to 1st and can go home triumphant after finishing with 2:14:08 on the clock. Sharon Wright of Harlow AC was second in 2:14:54 and Gabriella Moriarty (Northamptonshire Country AA) third in 2:18:42.

In the men’s competition Chiltern Harriers garnered a 1-2 thanks to Nick Hughes smashing out a 1:58:32 and staying just ahead of clubmate James Repper (1:59:25), while North Herts RC’s Mark Vaughan came tantalisingly close to #breaking2 (!) with a 2:00:06 for third.

In the MK Half Marathon Steve Tuttle won it for the home club, finishing in 72:11 ahead of Jamie Fox (74:14) and Stephen Reid (74:52). Marshall MK were also victorious in the women’s race as Alice Ritchie was first female in 82:59. Leonie Shipley (Chesapeak RR) was second in 86:25 and Katie Godoff (Olney Runners AC) was third in 87:51.

Working our way down the distances, we move onto the MK 10k which was won by Jason Baker (34:46) with Chris Gray (35:21) and Sean Wilson (35:44) in second and third. The female champion was Krisztina Molnar in 37:18, ahead of Olivia Baker (39:53) and Helen Gibbs (42:45).

Finally for the festival, the MK 5k race saw Amy Killick crowned festival-fastest in 19:38, with Ashley Berry (19:54) and Imogen Chesterton (20:09) close behind. A 16:35 on the clock was enough for Jonathan Parr to own the men’s race and keep Harvey Martin (16:57) and Gordon Lee (17:49) at bay.

Rounding up the week

Earlier in the week before we saw the full extent of race cancellations hit training calendars, the latest in the Run Through Chase the Moon 5 & 10k series took place. In the 5k Sarah Worley of Billericay Striders was first home for the ladies in 19:07, followed 20s later by Trent Park RC’s Cara Huckstep. Cara’s team mate Cyn Cano took third in 20:24.

In the gent’s race it was Thames Valley Harriers who took the win with Ryan Keane finishing in 16:49. Martin Murray of New Marske Harriers was second, representing the V50 field rather respectably with a 17:03. Dan Collins rounded out the podium in 17:15.

Over the 10k it was Jack Watson who took top spot in 31:14. Serpentine RC’s James McCann was a safe distance behind, taking second in 34:59 ahead of David Searle (35:20). Jenny Tilley was first over the line for the women in 39:48, though V40 runner Rebecca Ward actually ran faster, with a chip time of 38:17 – two minutes faster than her gun time. You need to get further forward Rebecca! Sarah Cox was third in 39:01.

On Friday 13th as part of the BBC’s Sports Relief efforts, the Beat Beethoven 5k took place in Media City, Salford. Whilst the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra played Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, which lasts roughly 30 minutes, runners made their way round Salford Quays just outside the BBC Sport buildings. The aim was to beat the duration of the music.

All podium placers easily aced the challenge with Simon Stannard doing so in the fastest time as he ran 18:08 for first place. Atsley & Tyldesley’s Tim Campbell came home second in 18:23 and Barnaby Gordon took third place in 18:39. In the women’s race it was the BBC’s own Sophie Raworth who took the win in 21:02, followed by Emily Simpson (21:58) and Sheila Jones (22:22).

 

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1st lady @bbcradio3 #beatbeethoven 5k First time I’ve won a race…but im not allowed to keep the trophy! Great race, great fun. Thank you to everyone who turned out to raise money for @sportrelief

A post shared by Sophie Raworth (@sophieraworth) on Mar 13, 2020 at 10:09am PDT

On Saturday, many races were cancelled but the Richmond Riverside 10k went ahead, resulting in a first place Werner Kranenburg in 36:03 and Emily Meins in 42:01.

The Benbecula 10k also took place in Outer Hebrides. It looks like a beautiful place to race. The race was won by Aaron Hoyle in 34:52 and Morina MacDougall in 43:51.

At the monthly edition of Buxton Pavillion 5k Will Spalton finished first in 18:31 and Sienna Phillips in 23:24.

On Sunday the Race Organiser’s Spring 10k saw 270 runners still turning out to run through Hyde Park. Belgian 10,000m champion Nina Lauwaert, who was aiming for the marathon, showed the men what’s what by running 34:05 (her PB is 33:07) to take a chunky win ahead of Clara Plennegger (40:42) and Gesin Carter (42:08).

Malaysia’s Wai Ching Soh who normally specialises in Tower Running broke the tape on the flat with a 34:16 as Fulham RC notched up the next two podium places thanks to Stuart Macdougall, who seems to have run well within himself for a 35:01 second place and Hassen Bedhiafi who was third in 35:21.

At the West Worthing 5k and 10k it was Duncan Selmes who took the 10k win in 34:01 comfortably ahead of Daegan Beaumont (36:34) and Toby Benham (37:33). Mel English was first lady home in 42:48.

In the 5k edition Abi Andreev was victorious in 21:28 and for the gents Michael Rix took the honour of first place and the only sub-18 with his 17:46 run.

Unsurprisingly, the Scout-organised Dronfield 10k was a tour de force for the young lads, with the podium entirely populated by M18 category runners. Alfie Manthrope set the gold standard in 32:37 leaving Tom Shaw (33:48) and Joe Sweetnam-Powell (33:58) for dust. Heather Hatton was first female home in 41:34.

Going longer

Phoenix Running’s Track Wars continued with its 3rd instalment which was a 6hr challenge. Ian Hammet covered the most ground, knocking out 76k (47.2mi) and take victory by a 6k margin over Ciaran McAneny (70k / 43.4mi) and Ben Sunkell (66.8k/41.5mi).

Alison Walker churned her way through 65.6k (40.7mi) to finish with more on the kilo-milometer than Jane Duffus who was second with 50.4k (31.3mi) and Emma Hancock in third after running 49.2k (30.5mi).

Ashridge Boundary Run has been on my ‘must get around to doing that’ list for a long time. 16.5miles of trails and paths around the edge of this beautiful estate sounds like a rather lovely prospect. This year it was Charlie Palmer of Bedford and County AC who ran round in the fatest time, finishing in 1:52:02. Matthew Wade of Tring RC was hot on his trai-heels in 1:52:40 and Gaetano Basiaco was next in 1:54:13.

Burnham Joggers took home the women’s title thanks to Tamsin Neale who finished in 2:16:28. Second place went to Catherine Allen in 2:26:45 and third to Liz O’Keefe in 2:28:03.

The Endurance Life Sussex trail 10k, Half Marathon, Full Marathon and Ultra Marathon are still pending and will be released here. Herne Hill Harriers 1 hr challenge took place earlier in the week at Tooting track – we’re told that results will be posted on Power of 10 soon.

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The post Racing against time – weekend roundup appeared first on Fast Running.

Jamie Webb clocked 14:33 and Olivia Mason ran 16.55 as the pair took the victories at the fifth edition of the Podium 5k on Saturday evening (December 1).

Despite the damp conditions, runners weren’t put off from racing in the fast ‘no frills’ race in Barrowford, which has seen some of the fastest times recorded this year in the UK.

RELATED: Who ran the fastest 5k in the UK this year?

Liverpool Harriers’ Webb’s winning run of 14:33 was a big 5k personal best for the middle-distance track specialist who now turns his attention to the indoor season.

Clubmate David Devine, who won T13 5000m gold at the World Para Athletics European Championships over the summer, finished in second place, four seconds off Webb in 14:37.

St Helens & Sutton’s Thomas Griffiths completed the top three in 14:42 as eight men finished under 15 minutes.

17 year-old Olivia Mason won the women’s race in 16:55 to record the second fastest time by an under 20 athlete in the UK this year.

The Border Harriers’ runner finished four seconds ahead of Liverpool Harriers’ Rachael Burns who dipped inside 17 minutes in 16:59.

Salford Harriers’ Carla Davies completed the women’s top three in a personal best 17:02.

In the accompanying ‘B’ race, Horwich RMI Harriers’ Toby Middleton took the men’s win in 16:56, while Ribble Valley Harriers’ Helen Glover was the first woman in 17:48.

Men’s top 10

1) Jamie Webb, Liverpool Harriers, 14:33
2) David Devine, Liverpool Harriers, 14:37
3) Thomas Griffiths, St Helens & Sutton, 14:42
4) Degene Gemizu, Liverpool Harriers, 14:43
5) Jonothan Kay, Bolton United Harriers, 14:52
6) Chris Holdsworth, Ribble Valley Harriers, 14:55
7) Callum Davidson, Ribble Valley Harriers, 14:58
8) Jacob Brown, Vale Royal AC, 14:59
9) Benjamin Preddy, Preston Harriers, 15:05
10) Thomas Rogerson, Liverpool Harriers, 15:05

Women’s top performances

1) Olivia Mason, Border Harriers, 16:55
2) Rachael Burns, Liverpool Harriers, 16:59
3) Carla Davies, Salford Harriers, 17:02
4) Elizabeth Renondeau, Vale Royal AC, 17:29

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The post Fast ‘no frills’ Podium 5k delivers once again appeared first on Fast Running.

Andy Butchart is among a top field announced for the rescheduled Trafford 10k on Sunday (September 2). The Scottish athlete was forced to miss the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast after breaking his foot running in February.

The fast Trafford 10k was rescheduled from March due to adverse weather conditions and race organiser Dave Norman hopes this new September date will be more suitable to fast times. Athletes can come off a fast summer on the track and have shiny new 10k road PBs to start the autumn.

Fast Fields

Butchart leads a pack of 10 men who have previously run under 30 minutes for the distance. Marc Scott, fresh from his blistering run at Mid Cheshire 5k, will also challenge for the win and actually has the fastest 10k mark (28:07) in the field.

Scott Overall (28:49/13:28) and Nick McCormick (29:04/13:18) complete the four men who have run under 30 minutes and 14 minutes for 10km and 5km respectively.

McCormick is fresh from setting a season’s best 14:46 at the Podium 5k this Bank Holiday Monday.

The women’s field has Jessica Piasecki (32:41/15:29) with the quickest times and the only runner to have broken 33 minutes. Like McCormick, Piasecki was also victorious at the no frills Podium 5k. The 28 year-old former British half marathon champion ran 15:55 in Barrowford and starts as a favourite in the women’s race.

There will be six sub 34-minute women chasing for the win, including the ever improving Elsey Davis who has had a cracking 2018 so far.

Kendal’s Rebecca Robinson (33:09/15:48) has the second fastest set of PBs in the field so look out for the mountain runner featuring in the top 10. Juliet Potter (33:27/15:27) has the quickest 5k PB of the women’s field but her 10k best was back in 2008.

Former 800/1500m runner Charlene Thomas is also an exciting prospect for the race, having run her 33:27 PB this year at the Brighton 10km.

Fast times

The weather forecast for Sunday looks to be perfect for fast times and the move to September will hopefully pay dividends. Last year only five runners broke 30 minutes, but in 2016 it was 28.

Yet even in the tough conditions of 2017, which saw Chris Thompson run a solo 28:55 for the win, 126 runners broke 33 minutes. Tough times brings out tough people and the speed of the pack will show again this weekend.

The race is organised by Dave Norman, someone at the heart and soul of British distance running. After running 15:29 at Podium 5k this week, the Altringham runner warmed down with Piasecki and is excited to see how the two 5k winners run this weekend.

A fountain of running information Norman said: “Nick McCormick is entered and after retiring in 2014, he has competed in three hometown races this year ‘for fun’, but is now training for the New York Marathon where he hopes to run 2:25.”

Related: McCormick and Piasecki winners at Podium 5k

Related: Butchart to miss Commonwealth Games

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The post Andy Butchart to make injury return at competitive Trafford 10k appeared first on Fast Running.

Nick McCormack and Jessica Piasecki battled the unfavourable weather conditions to take the titles at the fourth Podium 5k race of the year on Monday (August 27).

Morpeth’s McCormack returned to Barrowford to win a close men’s A race in a season’s best 14:46. The 36 year-old’s winning time was 40 seconds quicker than his performance in the March edition of the popular no-frills 5k.

McCormack, who boasts a superb 13:45 personal best from 2014, crossed the finish line seven seconds ahead of Matthew Crehan, who finished second in a time of 14:53. The St Helens & Sutton runner held off Rob Samuel of Eryri Harriers, who completed the podium in 14:55.

Competing in her first race of 2018 and a first 5k outing since 2015, Stockport’s Piasecki was the deserving women’s winner with a fantastic sub 16-minute clocking of 15:55.

Photo: Pete Brown

The 28 year-old former British half marathon champion finished 35 seconds ahead of Irish Olympian steeplechaser Sara Treacy, who posted a personal best of 16:30.

Vegan Runners’ Rachel Robinson completed the women’s top three with a big PB of 16:40.

In the B race Ashley Crawford took the men’s honours in a time of 17:16, while Hastings Runners’ Louise Nash finished fourth overall and first woman in 17:50.

Elsewhere a special mention goes to Fast 10: class of 2018’s Dave Norman who finished 11th in the men’s A race in a time of 15:26. More about the Altrincham athlete’s running journey this year can be found here.

Men’s A race results

1) Nick McCormack, Morpeth Harriers: 14:46
2) Matthew Crehan, St Helens & Sutton: 14:53
3) Rob Samuel, Eryri Harriers: 14:55
4) Callum Davidson, Ribble Valley Harriers: 15:05
5) Callum Elson, Roundhay Runners: 15:12
6) Euan Brennan, Ilkley Harriers: 15:16
7) Ben Coop, Bury AC: 15:17
8) Callum Rowlinson, Sale Harriers Manchester: 15:24
9) Grant Cunliffe, Rossendale Harriers: 15:25
10 Sam Hart: 15:26

Women’s A race results

1) Jessica Piasecki, Stockport Harriers: 15:55
2) Sara Treacy, Birchfield Harriers: 16:30
3) Rachel Robinson, Vegan Runners: 16:40
4) Julie Briscoe, Wakefield & Dist. Harrs: 17:06
5) Jo Williams, Lothian Runners: 17:26
6) Elizabeth Renondeau, Vale Royal AC: 17:36
7) Nicola Squires, Hallamshire Harriers: 17:51

RELATED: Richard Allen breaks Podium 5k course record

RELATED: Laura Weightman and Mo Abu-Rezeq win Podium 5k

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When Edinburgh Uni Hare & Hounds’ Mhairi MacLennan broke the tape at the recent Podium 5k, her winning time was not only a massive 69 second personal best, but also a validation of her big goals for this year.

MacLennan ran 16:11 to win the sub-16:30 elite race at the Barrowford event in June, beating off stiff competition from the reigning champion, Becky Rigby, and fellow Scot, Steph Pennycook, both of whom also ran their fastest ever 5k times that night.

The 23 year-old is now ranked joint 10th in the UK for the 5k this year, but MacLennan has bigger goals for the rest of 2018.

Considering her pre-session warm-up jogs were nearly an hour long when she spent a year training in Spain at the country’s High-Performance Centre in Madrid, the Edinburgh University student certainly has plenty of endurance behind her.

MacLennan has plenty of speed too, having clocked PBs across the board this year for the mile (4:34.23), 3000m (9:32.06), 5000m (16:36.27 within a 10,000m race), 10,000m (33:28.61 at the Highgate Harriers Night of the PBs where she finished 26th), 10k (33:41 at Brighton), and 10M (56:30 at the Scottish Championships).

Now she is keen to build on her success so far this year to convert her hard-earned endurance and speed into even faster times on the track this summer.

We chatted to the talented Scot about her achievements so far, her training and 50-minute warm-ups in Spain.

Why was she in Spain over 2015/16, what was the training like and what did she learn from her time there?

“I studied Spanish and English Literature at Edinburgh University, so part of that was a year abroad in my third year,” she explains. “I was studying at Universidad Autónoma in Madrid, so I joined the local club, AD Marathon, and was put into a mid-long distance training group. It was great for my Spanish and I learned a lot about different styles of training.

“We would often do those 40-50 minute warm-up jogs, which was very different to what I’d done at home. I would never do this now but it was an interesting insight to how different athletes train!

“My year in Spain opened my eyes to another level of running I hadn’t experienced in Edinburgh, as I was training at the High-Performance centre, with access to endless trails in Casa de Campo. It’s also where many of the top Spanish athletes train. I competed in a lot of the international races out there, like the Cross Elgoibar, Atapuerca and the Spanish National Cross Country Championships, representing Madrid.”

MacLennan has transferred her success on the country in Spain to top class form off road in Scotland this year, following up victory at the Northern cross championships with a win at the Scottish national championships. She also enjoyed a great run at the Great Edinburgh Cross representing Great Britain, finishing first U23 in the senior event.

Photo: Bobby Gavin

Last year she came ninth in the U23 European Cross Country Championships in Samorin, proving her ability to compete on an international stage under pressure.

So would the well-travelled athlete say cross country was her preferred discipline?

“Definitely, I’ve always been a fan of the mud and the physical challenge of the hills, grass, mud and whatever else it throws at you,” she confirms. “I grew up in Inverness, in the Highlands, and experienced some very challenging courses up there which sparked my interest in running!

“There are no words to describe how exciting it was to receive my first call-up to the GB team last December for the U23 team at the European Cross Country Championships, I honestly couldn’t believe it until I was on the plane to Slovakia! It was a huge learning experience, and I would love to make another team in the future!”

MacLennan may have proved her speed off road at the top level, but she is now also showing her pure class on the road, winning the latest Podium 5k in 16:11.

Photo: Pete Brown

Did she have any idea of what form she was in beforehand, bearing in mind her PB was much slower going into the race, and did her victory at the Lancashire event give her confidence for further success over the distance?

“Although my PB previously was 17:20, I’d not really raced the distance on the road very often,” she says. “I went through halfway at the Highgate 10,000m in 16:36 (in May), so that gave me the confidence that I could go a lot quicker over 5k.

“I have quite a few track 5ks lined up this season, but thought the Podium 5k would be a great opportunity to just get out and test myself before the British Champs. I enjoyed racing there, and would highly recommend it to others. It’s no frills, flat and fast with plenty of competitors to pull you round.”

Looking at MacLennan’s soaring progress this year, it’s intriguing to find out – from a fellow runner’s point of view – how she has achieved it all. We all know consistency is key, but is there another secret to her success?

“Consistency definitely, being injury-free too, and having a great training group is also important,” she reveals. “I’ve been able to put together a really consistent block of training this year, which has given me confidence over races. I’m really happy with the set-up I have in Edinburgh, at home and within my training group.

“During term-time we have an amazing group of girls and we all help each other in training. I get great support from my fiancé (Edinburgh University AC’s James Taylor) at home and in training, and my coach, John Lees, is massively supportive too. He’s an independent coach but he also coaches a lot of the girls in the Hares & Hounds. Whilst I don’t train with the club, they’ve been very supportive since I joined four years ago, and I enjoy racing for them at BUCS each year.”

Mhairi MacLennan’s training

The 23 year-old juggles her training with a research masters in 20th Century Spanish Women’s Writing at Edinburgh University, as well as part-time work as a receptionist and Spanish tutoring.

She explains how she works alongside her coach (Lees) to ensure her training schedule is as specific to her needs as possible.

“My coach and I identify goals and then plan my training to build up to those,” she says. “We discuss the training and set the specifics on a weekly basis depending on my races, my menstrual cycle and any other commitments, such as work or university deadlines.

“While most weeks follow the same structure, the exact sessions may be different each week. My coach doesn’t set specific paces for sessions or easy runs, as it’s important for me to listen to my body – the effort level is more important than the pace.

“I generally wear a watch for races, but not to look at during the race, it’s more to help understand and learn from the race afterwards. I do the same in training, I run to feel and generally don’t over-analyse data but it is useful to track improvement.”

A general training week looks like:

Monday AM – Gym plus 30mins easy running
Monday PM – 45-60 mins steady running or a fartlek (depending on whether I’ve raced)

Tuesday AM – 30mins easy
Tuesday PM – A grass session, with reps generally totalling 8k. My favourite, but also dreaded session is 20 x 400m with short recoveries.

Wednesday – 60-90mins recovery run to feel

Thursday AM – Gym plus 30mins easy
Thursday PM – Tempo run 30-45 minutes

Friday – Rest day

Saturday – Race or hill reps and tempo work
Sunday – Long run varying anywhere from 12-18 miles depending on the time of year and the phase of my training.

So what’s next for this bright young Scot?

“I have the British Champs next (this weekend), and I’m also looking to getting my first senior Scottish Championships title on the track over the 5000m in August,” she says with impressive confidence. “Then I’m looking to get another solid 10,000m track race in at Ladywell in September (in Lewisham, London).

“However, this season I’m just focusing on enjoying racing and being competitive at a senior level.”

The grounded Edinburgh-based athlete is all too aware that she is not a one-woman team, and professes her thanks to everyone who has helped her so far.

“I’d like to say a massive thank you to my coach and to my fiancé for their continuing support and seemingly endless patience with me,” she says. “Thanks also to my training group for getting us all through the toughest sessions year-round, and to Inverness Harriers and Morpeth Harriers for their support, and to the Duncraig Eductional Trust.”

Keep your eyes peeled on this weekend’s British Championships 5000m for the girl who earned team gold in her first outing in the GB vest at last year’s European U23 cross country championships.

She may well be up against the likes of fellow Scots Steph Twell and Eilish McColgan, as well as Charlotte Arter and US-based Amy-Eloise Neale, but don’t bet against her finishing in the top three at least.

MacLennan is one to watch.

The post After cross country and road success Mhairi MacLennan is hungry for track glory appeared first on Fast Running.

Former elite duathlete Richard Allen – he is the reigning U23 World Duathlon champion – runs free of all technology when racing, preferring to race ‘naked’.

It clearly did the 22 year-old no harm at all at the increasingly competitive Podium 5k event at Barrowford, as he ran 14:05 to slice 14 seconds off Olympian Tom Lancashire’s previous record in one fell swoop.

Super running once again at the @podium5k last night!

Richard Allen broke the course record and Mhairi Maclennan ran a big PB to take the women's honours.

REPORT https://t.co/MTzkwoCBKq pic.twitter.com/wchZ64SPX6

— Fast Running (@FastRunning_) June 16, 2018

Perhaps due to the fact he’d run a 13:51 personal best at the previous month’s Ipswich 5k (where he was narrowly beaten to victory by one second by Belgrave’s Nick Goolab) he was confident he could “have a go” at the Podium course record.

“I’d only heard about the event a week earlier on Facebook,” Allen tells Fast Running. “I wanted to have a go at the course record, and I really love road racing!”

It was an intriguing sight to see the AFD runner striding out hundreds of metres ahead of his nearest rival, completely unaware of what pace he was running or what his heart rate was, wearing his club vest and shorts and trainers and nothing else.

The contrast between the dominant winner’s attire at Podium and the majority of the field nearly a minute behind was striking, with almost all competitors wearing at least a watch – most of those GPS and HR-monitor enabled – and some also wearing compression socks or arm warmers, technology claiming to encourage more efficient blood flow during exercise.

What does Allen have to say about running ‘tech’?

Racing ‘naked’

“I’ve never raced with a watch and I don’t think that will ever change,” he explains. “I understand people like to know their splits and I like to do that in training, but to me racing is an opportunity to forget about all that and enjoy the experience – your watch won’t make you run any faster!

“I do have a GPS watch along with a basic watch without the technology that I like to use for my easy runs.”

Allen’s refreshing attitude to running ‘tech’ in a world increasingly swamped by sports technology companies claiming to help runners of all abilities improve their speed and stamina with the help of the latest GPS watch, compression gear or head visor stands out.

His impressive successes as a GB U23 and senior duathlete may have had an effect on his approach to race technology, though, as it’s notable that many top athletes in duathlon and triathlon race watch-free.

Running improvements since hanging up his duathlon suit

Since Allen gave up triathlon training at the end of 2017, he has sliced more than 90 seconds off his 10,000m PB (he ran 28:54.95 at this year’s Highgate Harriers Night of the PBs) and has also made significant inroads into his 10k road best.

Photo: Vitality London 10,000

However, it is likely that his years of training on the bike and in the pool alongside running have given him a supercharged engine to race with – and he still cycles and swims, just not in competition.

He acknowledges that, along with the obvious benefits of multiple discipline training have had on his fitness, the fact that he can now concentrate more on his running has paid dividends in his race performances this year.

“I had to make a decision between duathlons or running and decided to focus on running, which I think has helped, as well as a progression in my training volume,” he adds.

“I didn’t run that much growing up because the triathlon focus meant I was sometimes more interested in swimming than running, or I was too tired from the bike to run the volume that I wanted.”

That’s all changed now, and, as a consequence, he is achieving the times he is well capable of, and he’s still only 22.

London 10,000, racing alongside Mo Farah

One of Allen’s more well-publicised performances this year was his second place at the London 10,000 road race in May, where he finished runner-up to multi-Olympic gold-winning track legend, Mo Farah.

Photo: Vitality London 10,000

The two athletes ran alongside each other for much of the race, with Farah encouraging the young AFD star to keep in line with him as they wound through the streets of the capital, well ahead of big GB names including Callum Hawkins.

The experience clearly had an impact on Allen: “London was wild! The main reason I competed there was to win the team event for AFD, I didn’t have any expectations individually. It was really inspiring to run alongside Mo, and then to share a podium with him as well! I think it’s one of those memories that you will always have in the back of your mind.”

Memorable performances as he rose through the ranks

Although it is only this year that Allen has really shone under the national athletics spotlight, he has an impressive pedigree of English Schools results, two of which stand out for the 2018 English 5k champion, along with the first time he broke 30 minutes for 10k back in 2016.

He reveals: “Winning two bronze medals at the English Schools as a top year Inter and then as a senior for 3000m were big highlights for me. I enjoyed the whole experience not just the race, as it was the first time I felt like an elite athlete. It meant a lot to me, although I did find it challenging once I had outgrown the English Schools.

“Breaking 30 minutes for 10k for the first time at Ribble Valley in 2016 was unexpected, but I remember how much confidence I took from it. I’d never enjoyed cross country, so I felt like I had discovered road racing, which was exciting.”

Fittingly, his victory at the Mid-Cheshire 5k – which doubled as the England 5k championships – is a big feather in his increasingly brimming hat, a win which he admits “was a surprise to win”.

“It was even better to share the podium with my training partner, Emile Cairess, (Leeds City’s 13:54 5000m athlete)” he adds.

Photo: Chloe Broad

Allen’s racing aims for the rest of 2018

The Huddersfield-based athlete is clearly capable of attacking the European Championships 5000m qualifying time of 13:42, but he remains refreshingly grounded about his aims for this year.

“I am planning to compete in the 5000m at the British Championships, but I have no expectations to run the European qualifying time this season – I’m still only 22, I just want to continue improving and enjoy learning,” he says. “However, it would be nice to run PBs for both the 5000m and 3000m by the end of the season!”

Studies and training

Allen spent two years at the University of Leeds, where he was based for his triathlon and duathlon training, but left last Christmas when he decided to concentrate on running instead.

He is now set to start a degree in psychology at Royal Holloway in September, and explains: “It’s hard to make the right choice as a 19-20 year-old, because you don’t really know what you want to do. I have always taken an interest in psychology and I like to balance training with something else, so I’m really looking forward to it!”

It certainly sounds like Allen has got the right attitude to balancing training with the rest of life’s demands.

He runs between 60-65 miles a week – much of that with Phil Townsend’s endurance group at Leeds City AC – alongside swimming and cycling, and does strength and conditioning twice a week, following a programme written for him by Tim Jarrett at Leeds Triathlon Centre.

If his achievements this year since concentrating on running just six months ago are anything to go by, the future is bright for the athlete who likes to ‘run free’, breaking records as he goes.

The post Racing ‘naked’ of technology key for Richard Allen appeared first on Fast Running.

The Podium 5k races on Friday evening were as red hot as usual, with Richard Allen breaking the men’s course record in 14:05, and Mhairi Maclennan running a big PB to win the women’s race. A report from the action in Barrowford can be found here.

At parkrun, Chris Olley ran the third fastest time across the UK this year with a 14:17 run at the Pegwell Bay event, and you can read his run and the top times this week at parkrun here.

Brian Goodwin Memorial 10k, Bellahouston, Friday, June 15

GB international Luke Traynor laid down the gauntlet to the rest of the British elite distance runners when he ran a superb 28:32 on Friday evening to break the course record at the Brian Goodwin Memorial 10k in Scotland.

Traynor’s winning time was the third fastest ever by a Scot, only bettered by Allister Hutton and Andy Butchart.

Corstorphine AAC’s Calum McKenzie 30:49 would normally have been enough to easily win any 10k road race in the UK, but the Giffnock North athlete put paid to that with his world-class performance on the fast and flat course.

There was a fierce fight for the final podium position between Inverclyde’s John Bell (31:21) and Cambuslang Harriers’ Fraser Stewart (31:22) with just a second separating the pair.

Inverness’s Jenny Bannerman won her title back from the 2015 edition when she broke the course record in 35:08, just one second shy of her 2017 PB, while second placed Kilbarchan AAC’s Elspeth Curran also dipped under the old course record with a 35:25 clocking. Edinburgh AC’s Lauren Wilson was third in 37:25, running well to maintain her position ahead of club mate Katie Bain, who was never far behind in 37:52.

Summer Speedway 10k, Chepstow, Sunday, June 17

Cardiff’s Matt Clowes ran a solo 30:19 to win his third 10k of the year in the first ever running of this Chepstow race.

Photo: Tosh Simpkin / Chepstow Harriers

Organiser James Blore had set out to attract as many fast runners to the event, keen to encourage a competitive race for those wanting a stripped back racing experience.

Clowes was followed home by Bideford AC’s Shaun Antell in 31:17, with Antell’s club mates Aaron Richmond and Mark Jenkin claiming the next two spots in third and fourth with times of 31:25 and 31:26 respectively, clearly highlighting Blore’s success in creating a competitive environment for fast runners.

Chepstow athlete Katherine Matthews was a clear winner of the women’s race in 37:17, with the V40 Gwent cross country league champion doing well to beat to Fife AC’s Helen Sharpe, who holds a 35:40 PB from 2014 but ran 37:46 on the Beachley course on Sunday morning.

Photo: Tosh Simpkin / Chepstow Harriers

As predicted, Parc Bryn Bach’s Lauren Cooper made it onto the podium when her 38:40 earned her the third prize.

British Masters 5k Championships, Horwich, Sunday, June 17

Although the official results were unavailable at the time of going ‘to press’, the winners were confirmed as Blackburn’s Victoria Mousley and Gala Harriers’ Darrell Hastie.

Eastleigh 10k, Sunday, June 17

John Beattie won an extremely a tight battle for the title when he held off Crawley’s James Westlake by just four seconds, crossing the line in a classy 30:29 to Westlake’s 30:33. Southampton’s Aiden Lennan may have been 90 seconds adrift in third with his 32:04 clocking but it was nevertheless a PB for the 2018 Southampton half marathon title holder.

John Beattie wins the Hendy Eastleigh 10k. @hendygroup pic.twitter.com/6qeXxDs8e1

— Eastleigh 10K-2K (@Eastleigh10K2K) June 17, 2018

Lennan’s club mate Jen Elkins proved her impressive consistency by posting her second sub-35 result this year when claiming victory in 34:52. Elkins was well ahead of her nearest rival, but Fleet & Crookham’s Helen Cozens ran her fastest ever 10k when she finished in 36:47, as did third placed Emma Jolley from City of Portsmouth AC, who posted a 37:03 result.

Guernsey Dairy June Half Marathon, Sunday, June 17

Ryan Burling and Ulrike Maisch, who won the women’s marathon at the 2006 European Championships, but now lives in Guernsey, won the island half marathon.

Burling, who ran a half marathon PB of 66:28 and went to represent England, was the clear winner in men’s race in 67:51, while Maisch took the women’s honours in 85:13.

Fantastic win and 2nd fastest ever time I’ve ran in the Guernsey ‘Milk Run’ half marathon in 67.51. So happy to start the next big block of training with a solid performance. The buildup for autumn starts now… @BBCGuernsey @islandfm @ITVChannelSport @GsyAthletics pic.twitter.com/XHRkTXSmhd

— (@ryanburling) June 17, 2018

Freckleton Half Marathon, Sunday, June 17

This Lancashire half produced some sizzling performances on an otherwise grey, cool June morning. Border’s John Mason smashed his three year-old PB of 69:46 when he won the race of his life in 67:19, 38 seconds clear of Blackburn Harriers’ 65min half marathoner Ben Fish, who ran 67:57 for second place.

Salford Harriers’ David Rigby also ran well to claim the final podium spot with a 69:19 result.

The women’s race was a similarly competitive affair, with the top three separated by less than 90 seconds. Southport Waterloo AC’s Tracey Allan was the first across the line in 91:53, with Jess Kennedy and Jenny Pilling never far behind in 92:46 and 93:16 respectively.

Ranelagh Harriers Richmond 10k, Sunday, June 17

Clapham Chasers’ Steph Davis clinched her fourth road race victory of the year so far when she ran 35:41 to win this highly competitive South West London event ahead of Basildon’s Emma Houchell, who ran a 35:56 PB to take second place. Italy and Serpentine AC’s Marta Bagnati also ran her fastest 10k when she clocked 36:37 for third.

The men’s race saw a clear win for Epsom & Ewell’s Ollie Garrod, who crossed the line in a PB 31:54, while Woking’s Ben Goddard’s 33:05 was also a PB in second. V35 Steve Woolley was only seconds off his lifetime best when he clocked a 33:29 result in third.

The post Luke Traynor stars as fast times are clocked UK wide – weekly round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

The latest Podium 5k road race took place on Friday evening (June 15) and yet again produced some of the fastest 5k times across the UK.

Run on the pancake flat Barrowford course, Friday’s event included the first ever Podium sub-16:30 race, which saw Morpeth’s Mhairi MacLennan annihilate her PB by more than a minute with a scintillating 16:11 winning women’s time, while Aldershot, Farnham & District’s Richard Allen continued his meteoric rise to the top of the British men’s 5k rankings as he ran a 14:05 course record to take victory in the Lancashire speedfest.

Allen, who won the England 5K Road Championships in April, was the runaway winner with his nearest challengers Morpeth’s George Lowry and Salford Harriers’ Chris Richards. The pair were so far adrift of the man who currently stands second in the 2018 British rankings he effectively ran a time trial, albeit on one of the fastest courses in the country.

Lowry’s time of 14:53 earned him second place and a seven second PB, while Richards’ 15:05 was also a lifetime best. Blackburn Harriers’ Chris Arthur’s 15:06 and Morpeth’s Nick McCormack’s 15:11 made up the top five of the elite race results.

MacLennan’s previous best before the June edition of this notoriously competitive event was just 17:20 from last year, although she ran a 16:36 5000m split within the recent Highgate Harriers’ Night of the 10,000m PBs (which she went onto finish in a 33:28.61 PB).

Photo: Pete Brown

In fact, this year the Scottish rising star has also posted new best times over the mile (4:54.23), 3000m (9:32.06), 10k (33:41) and 10M (56:30).

Preston Harriers’ Becky Rigby won the last edition of the Podium 5k in 16:30, following that up with a 16:17.35 5000m best on the track in May. She may have finished runner up to MacLennan last night but her 16:19 was an outright road PB, with Fife AC’s Steph Pennycook pushing her all the way. Pennycook’s 16:22 represented her quickest ever over the distance, proving just how successful this event is for producing fast times.

The ‘A’ race preceded the elite event, and also saw some impressive results. Clayton le Moors’ Luke Turner ran 15:59 to take victory ahead of Barlick Fell Runners’ Craig Shearer, who was just six seconds behind in 16:05. Shearer’s club mate Jon Cleaver ran 16:09 for third.

Leeds City’s Heather Sellars ran her quickest 5k since 2014 when she posted a 17:17 winning time, with her club mate Alice Leake never far adrift in second, crossing the line four second later. Wharfedale Harriers’ Emma Raven completed a very competitive top three with a 17:24 result, a time she hasn’t bettered since 2011.

Podium organiser Chris Barnes is keen to attract more fast runners to the next event, with a date to be announced soon. If you fancy your chances at beating the course records of 14:05 and Laura Weightman’s 15:25 – and even topping the rankings by running faster than Ipswich 5k’s victor, Nick Goolab’s 13:50, get in touch with the Ribble Valley Harrier on Twitter.

The post Richard Allen breaks Podium 5k course record appeared first on Fast Running.

Friday’s Podium 5k at Barrowford, Lancashire, will include the usual sub-18 minutes A race and the ‘sub-anything’ B race, but this week’s event will be followed by the first ever sub-16:30 minute ‘elite’ race.

Organiser Chris Barnes has offered up a £250 bonus to anyone running fast enough to top the UK rankings in the race, which would see the men breaking Nick Goolab’s 13:50 and Laura Weightman’s 15:25 (set at the Podium 5k earlier this year). There will be the usual winner’s cash prizes too to add extra incentive for fast times.

Top athletes already confirmed for the elite race include (with their PBs in brackets after their names): Becky Rigby (16:13 and winner of the last race), Ben Fish (14:24), Matt Barnes (14:11), Pat Martin (14:18), Karl Darcy (14:49), Marc Brown (14:32), Andrew Challenger (15:03), Jack Turner (15:20) and Dan Kestrel (15:20).

The last edition of the Podium series – which athletes simply turn up on the night to enter, paying £5 in cash and in return have the chance to run on one of the fastest 5k circuits in the country – saw GB international Tom Lancashire break the course record with a superb 14:19 performance, while Rigby took the women’s race in 16:30.

Photo: Podium 5k

Barnes is well known on the racing circuit for promoting simple format running and encouraging a stripped down racing experience – a fast course, cheap entry, and no medals or t-shirts.

The Ribble Valley Harries athlete and coach has previously spoken to Fast Running about this subject, adding: “I want to encourage the higher end of racing.. it is disgusting what is happening to the sport, with corporate idiots trying to make fast cash at the expense of runners wanting to improve their times.”

Sunday’s Summer Speedway 10k takes place at Beachley, Chepstow, and promises runners a flat and fast course, a slimmed down field, chip timing and a basic £12 entry fee, with any profits going back into cash prizes.

James Blore is organising the event, which will be the first of its kind to rank entrants on their best recorded time since 2012, and only allow entry to the top ranked athletes once the deadline has passed on Thursday lunchtime.

He agrees with Barnes that fast races are more likely to be achieved by simplifying things, adding: “That way you can keep costs low for competitors, and the onus should be on race organisers to make costs as low as possible so the entry price is cheap. Our sport is simple – chuck on a t-shirt, shorts and shoes, head out the door. Why complicate things?”

So far the big favourite for the men’s title of this inaugural 10k is Cardiff’s Matt Clowes, who won the Potters Arf half marathon on Sunday in a 66:53 course record (his PB is 64:38).

Photo: Paul Stillman

Although Clowes’ marathon debut in London didn’t go as well as expected, he has enjoyed success in a number of 10k races this year, and has posted two sub-30 results already.

Bideford’s Shaun Antell ran 31:10 at the recent Vitality London 10,000m but has a 30:04 PB from last year, while Hallamshire’s Tom Bains ran 30:05 on the track in America in March and will use the race as a tempo session.

Cardiff’s Dan Nash has a road best of 30:57 from this year’s Cardiff 10k but ran a far more promising 30:24 at the Highgate Harriers’ Night of the 10,000 PBs, and intriguingly Nash’s club mate and Fast Running’s Class of 2018 member Tom Marshall could be a wild card entry. The 1500m specialist has a 10k PB of 29:50 from when he last contested the distance back in 2013.

Fife AC and Bristol & West’s Helen Sharpe is the leading contender for the women’s title, with a 35:40 PB to her name and a host of local 10k victories under her belt, including the Caerphilly 10k last month.

Sharpe’s closest rival for the top prize could be Chepstow’s Kath Matthews, who, according to sources is capable of a sub-37 minute result and has won the Gwent League cross country series overall in three of the last four years.

Parc Bryn Bach’s Lauren Cooper is reportedly in good shape, has a PB of 37:23 from March’s Newport 10k and recently won the last leg of the Welsh Castle’s Relay.

Blore is also offering cash prizes for the winning men and women in incremental amounts, as well as veteran category and team prizes, with four needed to score for the men and three for the women.

There is still time to enter Sunday’s Summer Speedway 10k here, while entry for Friday’s Podium 5k races is on the night, with more information on the event’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

The post ‘Back to Basics’ pure speed races double whammy this weekend appeared first on Fast Running.