TWO Westbury athletes competed at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Malaga this month – with one athlete running away with a gold medal for Team GB.
Avon Valley Runners members, Fiona Price and Robin-Mark Schols, both competed in the 5,000m and the half marathon in their respective categories.
Alongside fellow Team GB athletes, Susan McDonald and Samantha Woodward, Fiona won team gold in the half marathon – W50 category.
Fiona said, “I set off comfortably at 7’04 with the intention of averaging 7’10 to 6 miles as planned and doing a review to push on from there. Hmm I wish! I linked up with a great Spanish guy who picked up on my pacing and Sean (my husband) cheers to let me know I was 3rd GB W50. He guided me to 8 miles pointing to the left or right to shelter behind him for the breeze, great encouragement from him with the odd shout of medal and come on!
“At 48 mins in, I took 1/2 a gel but was 2 miles away from water. My first mistake. I didn’t feel quite right as soon as I took it ,so didn’t give a thought to taking the 2nd one.
“When I got to the water station at 9 miles everyone was taking 2 bottles and runners started walking and pulling out. At this point the temperature had suddenly gone from 23 to 33 degrees. I didn’t realise, not that I could’ve done much about it. I knew I was slowing and dehydrating. I poured so much water over my head it ran down in to my shoes which seemed to absorb like a sponge! Mistake two. I was now running in, what felt like wellies!
“My Spanish friend slowed right up and a W50 came pas,t so I made the decision to run just behind her but I couldn’t do the pace. I then saw 2 more W50 walking! When I passed them they got going again and ran past me. It was really distracting. I knew everyone was suffering and the thought. “It’s the same for everyone” came to mind. I wasn’t happy with the drop in pace; mile 9 was 7’38! I stopped checking and focussed on checking at the cone turns that I was keeping enough distance between me and 4th GB W50 to hold the team place.
“At 11 miles I overtook a Spanish W50. I knew that could be crucial to getting any medal. Sean had moved places to see the finish so hadn’t clocked that, but knew we would get a podium spot.
“It took 4 hours for the results to come in but boy had it been worth the wait!”
In the 5,000m, Fiona portioned 19th in the world for her category.
Robin-Mark Schols, also known in the community for organising the annual Hilly Helmet Run, crossed the line as the 5th British male in the M55 category in the half marathon, narrowly missing out on a team silver medal.
Robin said, “I was very proud to represent Team GB. To run in 33 degree heat was very challenging – but the whole thing was very rewarding. I’d like to thank my coach, Alan Hayes, all my club mates and my wife for all their support.”
