Editor’s Note: Elish McColgan is on a trip. Stuart Weir and I have watched him from 1500m, then onto the track, then 5000m and 10000m and now onto the roads. In 2024, Elish made his marathon debut in 2:24:25 minutes in London. Ailish has been racing well and this 30:07 in her season opener hints at some strong performances in 2026.
This writer recalls Eilish McColgan’s North American 10,000m debut a decade ago at the Payton Jordan Invite at Stanford University. Looking forward to him competing in 2026, hopefully at the European and Commonwealth Games, but that’s just the wishful thinking of a few athletics writers.
Well done, Elish.
As Stuart Weir embarks on his second million words with RunBlogRun, we thank our senior UK/Europe writer for his insight, candor and sense of humour.
European 10 km record For Elish McColgan
Elish McColgan Set the European women’s 10km record in Valencia, seven days after breaking her previous record. The 35-year-old Briton took three seconds off Jana van Lent’s time to finish eighth in the women’s race in Valencia Ibercaja in 30:07. McColgan held the record for more than three years after setting a time of 30:19 in Manchester in 2022. The record was previously held by the British, and Paula Radcliffe’s record of 30:21 was unbeaten for almost 20 of the 19 years since she was run in Puerto Rico in 2003.
McColgan then said: “I’m really proud of myself. Crossing the finish line I was a bit emotional because it’s been a very long three years to get back to this level.” (BBC website)
Aylish is a versatile athlete whose previous achievements include:
2017 European Indoor Bronze 3000m
2018 European Silver 5000m
2022 European Silver 10,000m and Bronze 5,000m
2022 Commonwealth Games 10,000m Gold and 5,000m Silver
Elish has been GB Champion in the 3000SC, 5000m, 10000m, 10K road, half marathon and marathon.
In 2024 Elish McColgan ran his first marathon (London), finishing 8thth at 2:24.25.
Women were recognized as winners in Valencia. Inside Jepchirchiri (Kenya) 29:26 and men. Andreas Almgren (Sweden) 26:42
