IAU 6H Virtual Global Solidarity Run Great Britain and Norther Ireland
We are pleased to share results for Great Britain and Norther Ireland Team. Fantastic stories from the Team. Congratulations and thank you for participating in the Global Event.
The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the IAU 6H Virtual Global Solidarity run was selected on the basis of 24hr/100k performances in 2019, but with the addition that each would be a debutante for their country.
An opportunity for some of those who had been selected for cancelled championships, but also others who have shown promise for the future, the selection process was configured to provide opportunities for developing ultra distance runners who may be representing their country in the future.
With athletes given the freedom to choose their own racing locations and any time over the weekend of the 28/29 August, it was slightly different to a usual event. Some nations had events happening that particularly reason, but the majority of the British team had to set their own courses. Depending on location and current social distancing guidelines the athletes found themselves on a mixture of local tracks, residential loops and even testing out the London Marathon route in St. James Park in London.
With only Sarah Cameron in France able to compete within an actual race on the correct weekend, the 24hr runner was able to win with 44 miles (70.49km). So a 100% race victory rate for the Great Britain & NI team. The spoils for the victory, wine, pâté and a random ski pass holder, was indeed par for the course for French races.
I didn’t believe it was going to happen until I was standing on the startline. I’ve had 8 races cancelled this year, the most significant being the 24h European Champs" the 24hr runner told Fast Running. "I can always squeeze a bit extra out of myself during a race and I like to push myself to the limit from time to time.Sarah Cameron
Short notice call-up
Selected with just a month to prepare, all 12 athletes answered British Athletics call and performed brilliantly. Normally in the build-up to such an event there would be specific training around race pace and possibly a practice event or two of shorter distance. Evidently the athletes had all been keeping strong during the lockdown months.
It was Jo Murphy (47.66 miles, 76.70km) and Ry Webb (55.06 miles, 88.61km) who ran the furthest distance within the allotted time. Scotland based Murphy chose Perth's North Inch park, often a race venue itself, to compete on the Saturday. Setting off Murphy "had a pace that I felt I could sustain for the duration with an expectation that I may drop off slightly in the latter stages," but the expected slow down didn't really happen.
"It was amazing and went as well, if not better than I expected" said the Carnegie Harrier. "To wear that kit was really special and is without a doubt one of the proudest moments I've had, my friend told me to be bold and be brave and those words stuck with me throughout."
Webb, who had been selected as a reserve for the European 24hr Champs this year, had a storming run on his local track and improved on his own six hour best from 2019.
"I just kept reminding myself that at least it wasn't a 24hr race" laughs the ultra runner. "It was never that long until lunch anyway."
British 100km Champs in action
One athlete who didn't go for loops was 2019 British 100k Champ Charlie Harpur, who used his six hours to set an excellent FKT on the 75km Peddars Way.
Harpur suggested that the point to point choice might have been better if it weren’t for the 45 mph headwinds (or if he’d gone the other direction). His 5:33 time for the Norfolk route is an excellent run and at least one other athlete is rumoured to have attempted the trail on the same weekend and get stopped in their tracks by the weather.
The women's British 100km Champ from 2019, Sophie Mullins, was also chosen for the team and, along with Jo Newens, who had also been selected for the 24hr team, ran around The Meadows in Edinburgh. With both Mullins and Newens running on Sunday morning they ran 47.45 miles (76.37km) and 45.6 miles (73.39km) respectively.
"I was immensely proud to wear the GB vest on my home turf," smiled Mullins. "Having started running when I moved to Scotland in 2007, it completely turned my life around. I have been separated from my entire family by closed borders and quarantines, so while I was sad they couldn’t be there on the day it was great to at least have my running family around me."
Test run for Kipchoge
It was Ollie Garrod (50.4 miles, 81.1km) and Betty Bohane (40.7 miles, 65.5km) who made sure that the loop in St. James Park is ready for Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei in October.
"I was devasted that London marathon got postponed and so teammate Ollie and decided it only seemed right to take our run to the marathon finish," said England 100k runner Bohane.
"We looped St James' Park, running along the mall over 30 times. I'm not sure the tourists nor the police knew what to make of us - the police asked the support crew a number of times what was going on! Luckily for me, Ollie changed direction which meant I took the Local Legend strava badge!"
"We must have photo-bombed literally thousands of selfies across the 6 hours," remembers Garrod "and we certainly bewildered plenty of tourists, pigeons and pelicans!" The sub 70 min half marathoner is a prolific racer so expect to see him on another start line soon.
So many strong performances for the team
Lynne Allen had another storming run with 46.8 miles (75.3km) around a dirt track supported by plenty of fellow runners. Even fellow GB runner James Stewart, who's making a bit of a habit with this support running, turned up with a entertaining haircut to keep everyone entertained.
Rob Payne (54.89 miles, 88.34km) took to his home streets and used a short residential loop to get the most out of 6 hours. Originally selected for Great Britain and NI 24hr team that would have been competing in Verona, Italy, the speedster went well over 50 miles in his run.
In true British fashion, the weather nearly caught Payne out in the latter stages with August cold temperatures and rain adding to the challenge.
Dave Andrews, another selected as a reserve for the 24hr Champs, clocked nearly 50 miles (48.59 miles, 78.19km) to bring the men's total to 411.21km.
Melissa Venables (70.9km, 44.32 miles) deserves an extra bit of kudos, having just recently won the Centurion North Downs Way 100 mile race as well. Supported by family and friends Venables gave it everything, so soon after such a big effort on the trails. Bravo!
The women's total was an impressive 508.65km and the team total 919.86km. Nearly a 1000km added to the global IAU Grand Total, which is still being calculated.
Men
Payne Rob 88.34 km
Andrews Dave 78.19 km
Webb Ry 88.61 km
Harpur Charles 75.00 km
Garrod Ollie 81.10 km
Women
Newens Jo 73.39 km
Cameron Sarah 70.49 km
Mullins Sophie 76.37 km
Murphy Joanna 76.70 km
Allen Lynne 75.30 km
Bohane Betty 65.50 km
Venables Melissa 70.90 km
Robbie Britton
Team Manager
Twitter: @FastRunning
