Harrison victory gives GB selectors a timely nudge

With 400 miles of training behind her already this year, the Leamington C&AC athlete felt in good form to tackle the Cotswold 35.35 Challenge, a road race of 35.35 miles held on roads around the Cotswold villages of Temple Guiting, Kineton and Barton.

The course comprised four hilly laps, with runners having to climb and descend more than 1,000m during the race in bitterly cold conditions.

The event was also billed as a trial to select the Great Britain & Northern Ireland athletes for April’s IAAF/IAU 100k World Championships in Seregno Braianza, Italy, and attracted the cream of British ultra runners.

Harrison set off with the women’s pre-race favourite Emily Gelder from Dulwich Harriers before pulling away at the three-mile mark.

Running comfortably just inside seven-minute miling pace, the 40-year-old completed the first lap with just six men ahead of her and a three-minute advantage over Gelder.

The field was widely spread and for the majority of the second lap, Harrison found herself running alone.

She said: “It was difficult to concentrate in the cold wind and I wondered if everyone was having a joke and had gone home and left me.”

After the second lap, Harrison had stretched her lead over Gelder to eight minutes and began to lap some of the slower runners on the third circuit.

Passing the marathon mark in 2hr 59min 48sec, Harrison was still hovering around seven minutes a mile and, knowing Great Britain selection was at stake, she continued her relentless progress throughout the final nine-mile lap.

The 2010 IAU 50k world champion finally crossed the line in 4:06:15, beaten by just three men, including race winner Andrew James (3:50:07) from Newbury AC.

Gelder hung on to second place in the women’s race, some 17 minutes behind Harrison, with Karren Rushton (South West Vets) third in 4:24:32.

The first three ladies, who are all current Great Britain ultra distance internationals, now face an anxious wait until selectors meet on March 6 to choose their World Championship squad.

However, Harrison looks to have done enough to secure her place after producing her third race win of the year.

“That was probably the toughest race I have ever done in this country,” said Harrison.

“I find racing up hills is tough but trying to race down them is even worse.

“At times it was so cold I couldn’t feel my hands.

“However it will all have been worth it if I am selected for my second World Championships.”