BRITISH ULTRA-RUNNERS SET FOR VIRTUAL GLOBAL SOLIDARITY RUN

A British team of 12 will compete in the IAU 6 Hour Global Solidarity Run, a new virtual event organised by the IAU (International Association of Ultra-Runners) to help lift the spirit of the ultra-running community’s athletes by providing an opportunity to compete ‘at home’.

The event will take place across the weekend of the 29^th and 30^th August. Each athlete will choose when and where to complete their solo 6 hour race, while conforming to government guidelines, trying to cover as much distance as they can. Performances will need to be uploaded to Garmin or Strava to be verified.

Seven athletes will complete the women’s squad with Sarah Cameron (Robbie Britton; St Helen’s Striders) and Jo Newens (Coach: Matt Holland; Road Runners Club) representing GB & NI after being originally selected for the cancelled IAU 24 Hour European Championships that was originally scheduled to take place in Verona, Italy later this year. Sophie Mullins is selected on the back of her solid victory over 100km at the Anglo-Celtic plate in 2019. The Edinburgh based athlete ran 8h03 to be crowned British Champion.

Also selected for their performances over 100km in 2019 are Lynne Allen (Kirkintilloch Olympians) and Joanna Murphy (Carnegie Harriers), completing the distance in a time of 8h33 and 8h28 respectively.

Finally completing the team are Betty Bohane (Royston Runners) and Melissa Venables (Nathan Flear; SPA Striders) with Bohane boasting a PB of 3h49 for the shorter distance of 50km from 2019, and Venables going sub 4h10 for the distance in recent years.

The men’s squad will consist of five athletes, with Ry Webb (Robbie Britton; Waverley Harriers) the only selected athlete to have competed in a 6 hour race in 2019, where he covered 76km. Webb also raced at the start of this year, showing great form with a 232km 24 hour effort.

Webb will be joined by two 24-hour athletes in Dave Andrews (Metro Aberdeen RC) and Rob Payne (Robbie Britton; Caistor RC). Payne had also been selected for the cancelled IAU 24 Hour European Championships and is capable of a huge 251 km over the 24-hour discipline, whilst Andrews has a best of 235 km from 2019.

Completing the squad are the youngest members Charlie Harpur (Highgate) and Ollie Garrod (South London). Garrod is the fastest man in the squad over 50km with an impressive PB of 2h57, closely followed by Harpur’s 2h59. The tables are reversed for the longer 100km though where 2019 British Champ Harpur’s 6:44 leads the squad, ahead of Garrod’s 7h09. Both athletes showing they are capable of producing a big distance over the 6 hour mark.

More information on the IAU 6 Hour Global Solidarity Run can be found here: https://iau-ultramarathon.org/