The Brit beats compatriot Kali Thackeray on the streets of London, while Jack Rowe takes the plaudits in the men’s race.
Elish McColgan’s first half-marathon in more than a year and a half has been a success after she won the Great London Half.
The Brit clocked 69:14 to finish 21 seconds ahead of Callie Hauger-Thackery, with the duo battling side by side for most of the judging.
McColgan won the event two years ago but has not run the half marathon since his British record of 65:43 in Berlin last April.
He underwent knee surgery in September and spent the next three weeks on crutches.
A grueling rehabilitation program followed, including everything from cross training to aqua jogging, to help McColgan prepare to return to competition.
After failing to finish the 10,000m at the European Championships, McColgan’s first race on the track since her national record 30:00.86 in California last March, she then finished 15th at the Olympics after 25 laps.
Unlike many other athletes, McColgan actually started his season in Paris and then signed up for the Big Half, the Great North Run (September 8) and the Vitality London 10,000 (September 22).
Eilish McColgan and Kali Tucker (London Marathon Events)
Before the big half, McColgan said AW: that he wanted to “do the half marathon” ahead of longer-term ambitions of 26.2 miles in 2025.
Speaking after her win in London, McColgan echoed a sentiment.
“It’s hard going into a race knowing you’re not the way you are,” he said. “When I went to Berlin, I was ready to run with a personal best. It’s hard going to the starting line when you’re not 100%, but I don’t want to go through the next four months just to get in shape for the race next year.
“I was a bit worried and anxious and it was also a big mental hurdle. I have a chronic injury and it hurts every day. I felt pain every time I walked. Most of today was about moving forward so I could stop worrying about the injury. It was a huge box with a sign on it.
“You can push in training, but there’s nothing like the pain of a race. I found it today. I was in pain for the last 10km and now I’m used to it again. People cheering every step of the way helped a lot too, and it gave me a mental boost. It’s been a really great experience to be back in the UK and I feel ready to take things forward now.”
For a while, it looked like McColgan or Hauger-Tuckery might win the Big Half.
Hauger-Tuckery, who ran 2:22:17 in her marathon debut last September and also won bronze in the European half marathon in June, has covered more than 26.2 miles at the Olympics.
The Briton, however, DNF’d in Paris and later said she learned her mother had been diagnosed with cancer just weeks before the Games.
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Hauger-Tuckery said on her Instagram that she “lost a lot of sleep and appetite” and was “slowly exhausted.”
After the big half, the 31-year-old talked about handling the news ahead of the Olympics and why she’s considering a fall or winter marathon this season.
“I didn’t know whether to release it to the world,” Hauger-Tuckery said AW:. “You know what, that’s life. Cancer is a thing and it was unfortunate that we found out about Paris a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, I had so many beautiful messages that could relate to what was going on. I really appreciate the support as it has been hard and I have a close group that has helped me through this period.
“Running is my savior, and it’s also my job. Life is very crazy and messy. There are a lot of highs and lows, but right now you can’t let the lows get to you. What I know (running) helps me get through the hard times.
“I’m also not going to let the training block I had before Paris go to waste. My performance at St. Moritz was one of the best I have ever had and I felt that the form I had gained would see me in the race for the Olympics. I never felt so exhausted in that race, but this is sport.
“I want to fight another marathon, be it like Berlin or Valencia. I’ve weighed that over the next few weeks. I would like to go under 2:20 and I think my training has shown that I was in personal best shape. Then it’s about working from there.”
Jack Rowe (London Marathon Events)
Jack Rowe was victorious in the men’s field, running 62:35, 1 minute 32 seconds clear of runner-up Jake Smith.
It was Rowe’s final race of the season, in a year in which he set personal bests in the 1500m, 3000m, 5000m and 10,000m.
He also finished 17th at the European Championships over 5000m and then finished third at the British Athletics Championships over the distance.
Rowe, who held the Olympic 5000m qualifying standard, was not selected for the Games, with the three absentees being George Mills, Sam Atkin and Patrick Dever.
The 28-year-old, who clocked a half-marathon best of 61:08, was in a reflective mood after his victory on the streets of London.
“I gave it my absolute all this year,” Rowe said. “It didn’t quite work out (Olympics) and it hurt, but that’s sport. I wouldn’t change a thing and now it should work as I should. I feel like I’ve been really consistent all year.
“I finished seventh on the all-time UK 5,000m list but was fourth fastest this season. No one would have seen this coming a year ago, and it’s exciting to be a part of that group. I just fell on the wrong side of the line.
“I can compete in the 3,000m and 5,000m, although I don’t feel very good in the 10,000m. I can do well in a half marathon. The thing is, you have to choose items at each point in the season, and you can’t just cycle through everything. So I have to find out where my strengths are before next season and how to avoid those weaknesses.”
Johnboy Smith (C) (London Marathon Events)
In the wheelchair fields, Commonwealth T54 marathon champion Johnboy Smith took victory in 50:00, beating Sean Frame by two minutes and 11 seconds.
Claudia Burrow, a Harlequins wheelchair rugby player, had a wider margin of victory in 65:02, finishing 3min 26sec ahead of Joanna Robertson.
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