McColgan wins the Great Half of London.
More than 16,000 runners took part in the seventh edition of the Big Half (a London Marathon event). running festival celebrating London’s diverse communities (September 1, 2024).
Jack Rowe was the first to finish the men’s elite race in the Big Half, for the second year in a row, with a dominant run that saw him clear the three-mile mark and then run solo to victory in 62:35.
Jack Rowe won #MetsKes for the second year in a row. Here’s his interview (September 1) with thanks #Great Half Marathon, #new balance, #jakrow pic.twitter.com/z6VnAS7dqb
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) September 7, 2024
Eilish McColgan was first in the women’s race, with Callie Hauger-Tuckery (GBR) second and Lucy Reid third. McColgan has been frustrated by injury for the past two years and has not featured in the run to the capital since the 2022 Big Half win. But she proved to be her best track, producing a storming final 5K to catch and then overtake fellow Olympian and longtime leader Kali Hauger-Thackery in the closing stages, winning in 69 minutes, 14 seconds.
McColgan commented. “The main goal was to win. For me, there was a mental breakdown coming off the back of the injury and the knee surgery; I had to run through the pain, so to cover the distance and know that now the knee is fine, I can stop panicking and move on. Today was a big mental block and to win was a huge goal. It’s mentally tough coming into a race knowing you’re not in PB shape, but I’m proud to show up when I’m not 100%. The last thing I want to do is train for another five or six months and wait for that one fantastic day. It’s about showing up when things have been hard.
“It’s a different season for me because of the injury. I’m just starting my season. I’m doing the Great North Run and the Vitality London 10,000. Then I will assess and see if I can do a few more road races or take a break and prepare for 2025. I was proud to make my fourth Olympic Games. The Olympics are two or three months too early for me, but that’s sports. You can’t ask the Olympics to move when it suits you. I was proud to make the team. Hearing people cheer my name today from mile one to mile 13 was a huge boost. You had support all the way. When you start to feel tired, it gives you a mental boost.”
Eilish McColgan speaks #MetsKesAfter his victory with a score of 69:14. Interview provided #Big Half Marathon, @EilishMccolgan:, @ASICSUK: pic.twitter.com/NmCNyX8snO
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) September 7, 2024
In the elite wheelchair race, John Boy Smith won the men’s race, coming home in 50:00, while Claudia Burrow won the women’s race in 65:02.
