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

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

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

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

Photo: Keith McClure

Training with the right people

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

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

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

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

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

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

Focusing on progressive results

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

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

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

Photo: Pete Brown

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What’s next?

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

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

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

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

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

Dutch athlete Bart van Nunen won the men’s race at the Trafford 10k on Sunday (March 10) from Ireland’s Conor Dooney by five seconds in a classy 29:26.

Irish international and Bedford athlete Matt Bergin was just eight seconds behind in 29:39 to take the third spot.

Weightman’s winning time of 31:59 in the women’s race was a hugely impressive result in horrendous wind and rain on the Trafford course. That time also represented a notable PB for the Steve Cram-coached Morpeth Harrier.

While Weightman is more often seen racing on the track, second placed Beth Potter is just as likely to be seen in a tri-suit as a running vest as she pursues careers in both elite triathlon and athletics.

Impressively Potter equalled her 10,000m track PB with a superb 32:03 clocking to just beat her previous road best of 32:07. 

Photo: Pete Brown

Weightman’s 31:59 clocking sees her jump to 12th on the UK all-time rankings, with Potter dropping one place to 13th.

There was another Irish athlete on the podium with Birchfield Harriers’ Sarah Treacy debuting over the distance with a strong 34:16 result.  

GB marathon and mountain runner Robbie Simpson retained his Inverness Half Marathon title in convincing fashion, despite ferocious wind and driving rain.

Photo: Inverness Half Marathon

The 2018 Commonwealth Games marathon bronze medallist won in 66:15 and said afterwards: “It was so bad towards the end that I’m convinced a seagull had come to a complete halt in mid-flight. I don’t normally mind the wind and rain too much but it was bitterly cold as well. I was running low on energy over the final 20mins and wanted to take a gel with some water but my hands were so numb I couldn’t do it.”

GB ultra international Michael Crawley from Corstorphine AC was second behind Simpson in 68:40 while Edinburgh’s Mike Christoforou, the Scottish cross country bronze medallist, finished third in 69:07.

There was a phenomenal run to win the women’s race from Lytham St Anne’s RR’s Liz Abbott, who took nearly 10 minutes off her PB in her first half marathon in a decade to win in a top class 76:52.

Photo: Inverness Half Marathon

Abbott finished 20th overall, which should boost her confidence ahead of next month’s Manchester Marathon.

Garscube Harriers’ Katie White was second in 77:34 to follow up on her win here in 2017, while Hungarian international Fanni Gyurko of Central AC and the victor in 2016, was third in 78:51.

Rotherham’s Dan Kestrel and Sheffield’s Ellen McLeod swiped the top prizes at the Liverpool Half Marathon on Sunday (March 10), while Southport’s Mark Dunham and Penny Lane Striders’ Liz Turner were first across the line in the city’s 10M event.

Kestrel was dominant in victory in the half when he ran 71:01 to win from Liverpool Harriers’ Alistair Rutherford’s 72:56. There was another big gap back to the third placed Andrew Barron from Manx Harriers, who posted a 75:37 result.

McLeod’s winning time was 88:00 exactly, a fine time in the strong winds, with second placed Eleanor Jones running 89:47 and Sally Waterworth’s 89:59 ensuring she also made the podium.

Dunham was also a convincing victor in the Liverpool 10M, crossing the line in 56:08 to runner up Matthew Taylor’s 56:57 for South Cheshire Harriers. Tom Garbett took third in 57:11.

Turner enjoyed a tighter battle for the win with Northern Masters’ Alison Reid, their times 70:12 and 70:36 respectively. Claire Haslam was also under 71 minutes with a 70:55 clocking.

The Chester 10k saw an enthralling finishing sprint between Meirionnydd RC’s Tomos Roberts and City of Stoke’s Jamie Arnold on Sunday (March 10). 

Roberts just won the battle by a second in 31:49 to Arnold’s 31:50. Patrick Townsend took third in 32:26.

It was an all veteran women’s podium at Chester, with Pontefract’s Faye Lightowler taking the top spoils in a strong 36:49. Ellesmere Port’s Carol Parsons was the second prize winning master in 37:35 while Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton’s Helen Sahgal took third in 38:35.

The Brett Lydd 20M and Half Marathon saw some gutsy performances in the gales and rain on Sunday (March 10).

Cambridge Harriers’ Ben Shearer was a clear winner of the men’s 20M race in 1:51:50 from Cambridge & Coleridge’s Thomas Stevens, who ran 1:55:31. 

The current results have an unattached ‘Amy Redden’ finishing third overall in a phenomenal 1:58:33, but considering she doesn’t have a Power of 10 profile and can’t be found on RunBritain’s site either, it’s likely that result is incorrect.

The third man across the line was Dulwich Runners’ Jonathan Senker in 1:59:01.

Assuming the results are in need of revision for the first woman, it was Laura Judd who took the top prize in 2:09:33, with Arena 80’s Emily Proto second in 2:17:42. Dover RR’s Zoe Holmes was third in 2:19:08.

Dartford RR’s Hazel Behagg topped the Brett Lydd Half Marathon women’s podium in a decent 85:25 from Eastbourne’s Natalie McCreath’s 95:28. Invicta East Kent’s Amy Old was just two positions overall behind in 97:05.

Ashford’s Nick Collins was well clear when he took the men’s race in 79:38, with Folkestone RC filling the next three positions. The club’s Daniel Voller and Ian McGilloway were second and third in 80:54 and 80:57.

Axe Valley Runners organise the hugely popular yet incredibly demanding ‘Grizzly’ trail race every year in wildly differing weather conditions. Last year saw runners battling snow while this year’s event meant those taking on the notorious Grizzly 20 miles had to contend with gales and intermittent heavy rain. 

We will update this report with the results once they become available.

East Kilbride’s Grant Baillie and Edinburgh’s Jacqueline Rainger won the Balloch to Clydebank Half Marathon, with both athletes inhabiting the V40 ranks (March 10).

Baillie won the men’s race in 71:20 from Inverclyde’s John Bell’s 72:47, while Bellahouston Harriers’ Gregor Yates took third in 73:05.

Rainger was a worthy winner of the women’s half in a time of 86:21. Bellahouston RR’s V40 Louise Ross was second across the line in 87:26, while Laura Donohoe also made the podium in 89:29.

The Big Half

Mo Farah and Charlotte Purdue took the victories at The Vitality Big Half on a bright but windswept morning in London on Sunday. Farah and Purdue retained their titles and won back to back British half marathon gold.

A full report and the top 20 results can be found here.

Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships

Jenny Nesbitt and Adam Hickey won the senior battles and secured their spots on the GB team for the World Cross at the Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships at Loughborough’s Prestwold Hall on Saturday.

A full report can be found here.

parkrun

Andrew Fyfe ran 15:14 at the Dulwich parkrun to record the fastest men’s time across the UK on Saturday, while Chloe Richardson took the women’s top spot after running 16:57 at the Cannon Hill parkrun in Birmingham.

The UK parkrun top 10 can be found here.

Elsewhere

Finally, it’s not always all about speed when taking on a running challenge. Fast Running’s Robbie Britton and Dan Lawson – both GB ultra runners – embarked on their bid to break the world record for covering the 650km Jordan Trail on Thursday.

The pair are aiming to run the whole trail in under 10 days, which involves traversing mountains and deserts as well as circumnavigating large herds of sheep and wild, hungry dogs.

Britton explained how tough the going has been so far when he said ‘today we managed to cover one half marathon distance in 6.5 hours!’

So remember, it’s not always the time it takes to complete a challenge, it’s enjoying the journey along the way.

View this post on Instagram

Another day of awe on the @jordan.trail, tough going at times from a running point of view with very tricky trail, hence only 70 + k in 13 hours. But from an adventure and experience of view it was bonanza !!! Finished in the dark and now setting up our wild camp looking across the dead sea to Israel XX #werunwithrerun #thankyouuniverse #precisionhydration #jordantrail #ultrarunning #fkt #fuelledbyfirepot

A post shared by Dan lawson (@therunningdan) on Mar 9, 2019 at 10:25am PST

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The post Laura Weightman runs PB to win Trafford 10k – weekend round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

Laura Weightman and Beth Potter are among the leading runners set to race at the Trafford 10k on Sunday, March 10.

Following the initial postponement of the 2018 spring race due to heavy snowfall across the UK, it was Marc Scott, who triumphed ahead of Andy Butchart, and Jess Piasecki who took the victories at the rearranged September date.

Returning to the traditional March fixture this year, the field for one of the fastest 10k road races in the UK doesn’t disappoint.

This year’s women’s race promises to be an exciting contest with 2016 winner Eli Kirk lining up against Weightman, Potter and Rosie Clarke.

Weightman, who represented Great Britain at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, will look to improve on her PB of 32:31 she set to win the Ribble Valley 10k in 2017.

The 27 year-old comes into the race in good form following a 15:28 clocking at the Herculis 5K in Monaco.

However, it’s fellow Olympian Potter who boasts the fastest time on paper with a 10k best of 32:07. The Scottish athlete clocked her PB to win the 2018 edition of the Ribble Valley 10k.

Photo: Pete Brown

British international steeplechaser Clarke is another athlete to keep an eye out for and will look to improve her 10k road best of 33:03.

Other top entries in the women’s race include 1ok debutant Sara Treacy, Abigail Howarth, Irish marathon champion Lizzie Lee, Bronwen Owen and Clara Evans.

Ben Connor was set to headline the men’s field but will not be racing now, however an exciting race is still on the cards.

Top entries include Mo Abu-Rezeq, who has a PB of 29:11, Sale Harriers’ Nigel Martin, who clocked a 13:53 PB at the Armagh 5k, and Bedford’s Matt Bergin fresh from a 5k PB of 13:59, also in Armagh.

Irish cross country champion Kevin Dooney, who featured in the Fast 10: class of 2018, and Commonwealth Games marathon fourth place finisher Kevin Seaward should also be in the mix, along with Welsh Commonwealth Games marathoner Andy Davies.

Newham’s John Beattie and Liverpool Harriers’ Danny Cliffe and Lincoln Wellington’s Lucian Allison are also set to race.

International interest includes Dutch runner Bart Van Nunen, fresh off a PB of 28:57 at the recent Dutch 10k championships in Schoorl, plus American Matt Crowe and Australian Dylan Evans, both who boast sub 14 minute 5k bests.

RELATED: Marc Scott and Jessica Piasecki win Trafford 10k

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The post Laura Weightman headlines Trafford 10k field appeared first on Fast Running.

A stellar field, that includes Olympians, British champions and international athletes will race at the Trafford 10k on Sunday, March 10.

The 2019 edition of the road race, which has traditionally been one of the fastest 10ks in the UK, is set to live up to its rich history with a top field set for the start line this spring.

Following the initial postponement of the 2018 race due to heavy snowfall across the UK, it was Marc Scott who triumphed ahead of Andy Butchart at the rearranged event in September, while previous winners of the men’s race also include Chris Thompson and Tom Lancashire.

This year’s field doesn’t disappoint with Team New Balance Manchester’s Ben Connor set to lead the charge.

The Derby AC runner is looking to make a winning return to action following a long lay off with injury and has a 10,000m personal best of 28:14 set in 2018. Connor will face a stiff challenge from the field behind, which includes Mo Abu-Rezeq who has a PB of 29:11.

Sale Harriers’ Nigel Martin clocked a 13:53 PB at the Armagh 5k and should also challenge for the top prize, while Bedford’s Matt Bergin also posted an impress PB of 13:59 in Armagh and is expected to race.

Irish cross country champion Kevin Dooney, who featured in the Fast 10: class of 2018, and Commonwealth Games marathon fourth place finisher Kevin Seaward will be in the mix, along with Welsh Commonwealth Games representatives Andy Davies and Ieuan Thomas, Newham’s John Beattie, Liverpool Harriers’ duo Dejene and Danny Cliffe and Lucian Allison.

International interest includes Swedish athlete Mikael Ekvall and Dutch runner Bart Van Nunen. Ekvall has a 10,000m best of 28:31 with Van Nunen fresh off a PB of 28:57 at the recent Dutch 10k championships in Schoorl.

Stockport’s Jess Piasecki won the women’s race last year in 32:51 and this year’s race promises to be an exciting contest with 2016 winner Eli Kirk lining up against Laura Weightman, Beth Potter and Rosie Clarke.

Weightman who represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympic Games in London will look to improve on her PB of 32:31 she set to win the Ribble Valley 10k in 2017.

The 27 year-old comes into the race in good form following a 15:28 clocking at the recent Herculis 5K in Monaco.

However, it’s fellow Olympian Beth Potter who boasts the fastest time on paper with a 10k best of 32:07. The Scottish athlete clocked her PB to win the 2018 edition of the Ribble Valley 10k last December.

Photo: Pete Brown

Clarke is another athlete to keep an eye out for with the steeplechaser recently returning from high altitude training in Kenya and will look to improve her best of 33:03.

Other top entries in the women’s race include Abigail Howarth, Lizzie Lee, Bronwen Owen, Kirsty Longley and Clara Evans.

RELATED: Marc Scott and Jessica Piasecki win Trafford 10k

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The post Star studded field set for Trafford 10k appeared first on Fast Running.

The Trafford 10k is looking for a new organiser after Dave Norman announced he will be stepping away from the popular South Manchester race.

Norman, who has been sharing his running journey on Fast Running this year, has spent the last 20 years arranging the Trafford 10k, which has grown to become one of the competitive road races for club runners in the UK.

“It is with great sadness I announce that I will no longer be organising this race,” said Norman in a social media post. “After 20 years of organising it, the race has got bigger and bigger each year and has become too time consuming for me to continue to commit to.”

The 39 year-old’s involvement and commitment will be sadly missed, but he hopes someone new will take on the future organising of the race: “The hard work and time put in has been totally worthwhile as it has provided so many runners with a positive racing experience.

“I very much hope that somebody will come forward and keep this very special race going.”

RELATED: Fast 10: class of 2018 – Dave Norman

With the majority of races now geared towards mass participation first and foremost, under Norman’s leadership, the Trafford 10k maintained club runners at its heart, while still being an open and friendly event for all.

The race is a regular fixture in the spring racing calendar, but this year took place in September due to adverse weather conditions.

Marc Scott and Jessica Piasecki were the most recent winners in times of 28:57 and 32:52 respectively.

RELATED: Marc Scott and Jessica Piasecki win Trafford 10k

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The post Trafford 10k organiser Dave Norman steps away appeared first on Fast Running.

Marc Scott and Jessica Piasecki were the impressive winners of the Trafford 10k, which also incorporated the England 10k Championships, on Sunday (September 2).

The fast and flat annual road race in South Manchester was rescheduled from it’s regular March date due to adverse weather, but it was worth the wait, as competitive distance runners turned out in their droves and superb performances were aplenty.

In the men’s race, Scott, who recently ran the fastest 5k in the UK this year, was the emphatic winner with a sub 29-minute clocking of 28:57. Andy Butchart finished 31 seconds adrift (29:28) in his first race after six months out with an injury.

RELATED: Marc Scott runs the fastest 5k in the UK this year

The winning time was a personal best on the roads for the Richmond & Zetland / Bowerman Track Club athlete and the third quickest time this year by a British athlete.

After missing the Commonwealth Games and European Championships it was a welcome return for Butchart to the world of racing.

Liverpool Harriers’ Dejene Gezimu’s completed the top three men in 29:35, while Cambridge & Coleridge Jack Gray crossed the line in fourth in a time of 30:10, followed closely by James Westlake of Crawley AC in 30:15.

In the women’s race, Stockport Harriers’ Piasecki continued her recent winning ways and took the title in 32:52, just eight seconds outside her PB to record the fourth fastest time in the UK this year.

Photo: Pete Brown

The former British half marathon champion finished over a minute ahead of Elsey Davis, who crossed the line in 33:57.

City of Norwich’s Dan Nimmock, who will represent England later this year at the Commonwealth Half Marathon Championships, completed the top three in 34:16.

Finishing fourth was Danielle Hodgkinson of Wallsend Harriers in 34:24, with clubmate Charlene Thomas completing the five women under 35 minutes in a time of 34:54.

Meanwhile, in the England Championships club competition, women’s gold was won by Vale Royal AC, with Salford Harriers silver and Chorlton Runners bronze.

Tipton Harriers won the men’s gold, with Liverpool Harriers clinching silver ahead of Sale Harriers.

Top 5 men

1) Marc Scott, Richmond & Zetland / Bowerman Track Club, 28:57
2) Andy Butchart, Central AC, 29:28
3) Dejene Gezimu, Liverpool Harriers, 29:35
4) Jack Gray, Cambridge & Coleridge, 30:10
5) James Westlake, Crawley AC, 30:15

Top 5 women

1) Jessica Piasecki, Stockport Harriers, 32:52
2) Elsey Davis, Bristol & West AC, 33:57
3) Dani Nimmock, City of Norwich AC, 34:16
4) Danielle Hodgkinson, Wallsend Harriers, 34:24
5) Charlene Thomas, Wakefield Harriers, 34:54

RELATED: Nick McCormack and Jessica Piasecki win Podium 5k

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The post Marc Scott and Jessica Piasecki win Trafford 10k 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.

Graham Rush, who has a 10k personal best of 29:04 from a third-place finish at the Leeds Abbey Dash in 2016, is the quickest runner currently named for the flat and fast race.

Chris Thompson won in 2016, with Elinor Kirk clinching the women’s title. In total five finished under 30-minutes, with 37 dipping under 31 minutes in the super quick Manchester race.

Taking place on Sunday 4th March this year, Mohammed Abu-Rezeq who had a fantastic 2017 with numerous wins on the road, is one of the fastest male entries. The Altrincham runner finished third in 2016 and will aim to get higher up on the podium this time around.

Also among the leading men’s entries are Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers’ Jake Shelley, with a 29:23 PB and Manx Harriers’ Ollie Lockley, a 29:24 10,000m man on the track.

Irish international Matt Bergin is also a confirmed entry along with Lewis Timmins, Matt Barnes, Patrick Martin, Andy Norman. The up and coming up Patrick Dever, who finished sixth last year and made his British senior debut at the Edinburgh XCountry is also one to watch.

Gemma Steel, who started 2018 with a second place finish at the Doha half marathon, heads the women’s entries. With a best 33:28 over 10k last year the Charnwood AC runner will be hoping to get closer to her 2014 personal best of 31:26.

Entries also announced by organisers include British representative at the Edinburgh XCountry, Mhairi MacLennan and well as Bristol & West’s Eleanor Davis, who clocked 34:40 this month at the Telford 10k.

Joining them are Rotherham Harriers’ Jenny Blizard, Rachael Burns of Liverpool Harriers and Morpeth Harriers’ Emma Holt.

A full list of the leading entries (as of January 21) for the Trafford 10k can be found here.

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