One week until UK's fastest 5k in Armagh
This time next week, the 5k rankings for men are sure to have had a complete overhaul after the Armagh International Road Races that take place next Thursday evening.
The Armagh International Road Races are special in so many ways. They offer a wonderfully inclusive programme, catering for all ages from six year olds upwards with invites to all of the schools, mainstream and special, to come and take part. They also reach out to as many of the world's fastest men and women as they can access, offering travel subsidies and accommodation in return for fast, tactical running and an interest in visiting some of the local schools to talk to the children about their lives, their country and their running. This strategy makes for a fabulously exciting event that drives up standards in running, promotes cultural awareness and inspires all that are a part of it.
The vision belongs to race director, Brian Vallely and his team of volunteers from Armagh AC. When they started this race in 1990, inviting runners from clubs in the USA and Europe, where members of the committee had made running-friends, they could not have imagined how the race would grow to the level that it is at now. If you want to run in the main 5k event you need to have a qualifying time as the race, that is run on a loop just over 1km with 90 degree bends, can only be safe if the numbers are capped at around 200. If you are outside of the qualifying time though, you are still included as there has been an extra open 3k race added to the programme. This year, there is also a Sprint Orienteering 3 day event taking place from Friday - Sunday, immediately after the Thursday evening road races.
Last year's 5k rankings show that 29 of the top 50 5k times, by British runners, were from the Armagh race where 66 runners ran faster than 15 minutes. Charlie Hulson (handicap -5.3) won the race in a photo finish from Yannick Michiels from Belgium. They were both given a time of 14:03. Yannick, who is one of the world's best at sprint orienteering, thrilled the crowds when he broke away from the main pack mid-way through the race, forcing his competitors to chase him down to the finish. Both Charlie and Yannick are expected to be on the start line again this year along with Jonathan Davies (handicap -5.3) who has a personal best time over the distance of 13:23. The 3 day orienteering event has attracted more of the world's best orienteers to the event, including Kristian Jones (handicap -5.4) who won the New Year's Eve 5k Nos Galen race in 14:11.
The women's 3k race is expected to see more than 100 on the start line with the fastest aiming to get close to 9 minutes. Last year, 29 went under 10 minutes in the race that was won by Sara Treacy (handicap 2.2) in 9:18 with Sarah Inglis (handicap 0.5) finishing 2nd in a sprint finish with Laura Whittle (handicap -0.2) who was given 3rd and both given the time of 9:20. Sarah and Laura are both set to return next week along with Jess Judd (handicap -0.6) who has a personal best of 9:00.
We look forward to reporting the results and the exciting stories from the race this time next week! Good luck to all who take part.
Photo credit: Kieran Carlin