Helen Clitheroe all set for Half Marathon debut in Newcastle – Athletics news
Helen Clitheroe, the 37-year-old middle and long distance runner from UK, who also happens to be the European Indoor 3,000m champion, has decided to line-up for the Bupa Great North Run which is scheduled to commence next month.
The Bupa Great (North) Run, which is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, can prove to be a turning point for the veteran runner who is presently preparing herself for next year’s London Olympic Games.
The British runner, who had bagged a gold medal in the indoors event this March, has had a tremendous track career this year. Running on the weekend in the 5000m event, a pre-requisite to enter the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, she also
earned the B Ranking and has successfully earned herself a place in the mega athletic event going to kick off on August 27.
The experienced English runner, who happens to be the former Commonwealth bronze medal winner over 1500m contest, has a number of running events on her list for next couple of years, after returning from South Korea. She will appear on the Bupa Great North
Run track on September 18. What it means is that after the Daegu event, she will have about two weeks to recover from the physical fatigue caused by the world championships.
Road racing for the British athlete is not a new discipline as before setting her goals for this month’s global athletics event, she has contested in the Bupa Great Manchester Run where she dominated the 10km track with a significant margin. With the form
and fitness level she is presently cherishing, emerging in the September 18 event will not at all be a big deal for the veteran runner.
Undeterred by the fact that she is no more a young girl and her physical capabilities are on a decline, the experienced runner is rather excited about marking her presence on the Bupa track spread from Newcastle to South Shields, next month. At the prestigious
running event, the British athlete will be challenged by the world’s leading performer, Jessica Augusto.
Given the fact that road running races are all about clocking fast finishes, Clitheroe was of the view that since it was her first Half Marathon, she had not set any specific time targets to meet in the event. She said, “I haven’t done a half marathon and
honestly have not considered what time I think I can do. I’m not going to set myself any real targets and I’ve just got to start and see how it feels. It will be a big test and I’m quite excited about the race. But I’m not going to put pressure on myself and
I think it will be a good experience for the future.”
Revealing her future plans about contesting in road running events, the robust runner said that after the London Games, she will consider them with greater seriousness. She was of the view that given her interest in the discipline and the fact that she wishes
to continuously surprise herself, she could contest in the category on a permanent basis.
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