Image supply, Rachel Hodgkinson
Both Team GB’s ladies and men sealed a podium end on the IAU 50km World Championship earlier in November
Running 50km is already a tricky process for any skilled athlete due to to the space alone. But what about in temperatures of 30C and 100% humidity?
Team GB endured these circumstances on the IAU 50km World Championship in Hyderabad in India earlier in November.
GB’s males sealed a podium end whereas the ladies received the occasion, with Carla Molinaro taking individual gold, Sarah Webster claiming bronze and Anna Bracegirdle and Rachel Hodgkinson ending fourth and fifth respectively.
Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside, Liverpool’s Hodgkinson talked about Team GB’s achievement, dodging snakes and coping with the powerful circumstances.
Snakes, dogs and automobiles
Hodgkinson, 31, arrived in India having by no means represented her nation earlier than and located that the occasion was one thing of a baptism of fireside.
A seasoned marathon runner, she nonetheless needed to adapt to the space of the occasion earlier than she jetted out however she nonetheless needed to tempo herself to cope with the circumstances.
“For myself and Anna, we have by no means represented GB earlier than, so it was a privilege to have that chance to go and compete,” she mentioned.
“Because Anna and I are marathoners, we performed it fairly secure and when the tempo picked up we dropped again just a little bit simply to preserve some vitality for the previous few laps, however it was actually onerous to do this.
“I had completed a few gradual 50ks simply to psychologically know I may cowl the space however it wasn’t in warmth like that.
“It’s true it is solely 5 miles longer than a marathon in distance. But whenever you’ve completed a marathon, telling any individual to do one other 5 miles just isn’t simple.”
But it was not simply the warmth that was inflicting issues for the opponents.
“There have been automobiles slicing in entrance of runners. We noticed that the primary three males practically obtained run over at one level. There have been some wild dogs that have been casually walking across the course,” Hodgkinson defined.
“I did not see the snake however apparently it slithered throughout the street. It should have waited till the British girls ran previous.”
‘I began to lose consciousness’
Having completed fifth – itself a outstanding achievement for her first aggressive try on the distance – Hodgkinson’s euphoria was short-lived as she felt the speedy results of working within the tough circumstances.
“It was the humidity greater than the warmth that obtained to us,” she added. “I did not discover out till we obtained again that it had been practically 100% humidity once we began after which it was within the 90s for the remainder of the race.
“We completed at 29C however then it went into the 30s. We have been simply glad to have completed.
“Crossing the road there was a aid but additionally I did begin to lose consciousness, so it was nearly attempting to verify I used to be secure.
“I sat with an ice bag on my head for about 10 minutes till I may see correctly once more after which we may begin to have fun just a little bit, however we have been all simply knackered.”
With each Team GB’s ladies and men ending on the rostrum, it was a powerful return, however particularly for Hodgkinson and Bracegirdle who had not had the expertise of competing in such occasions earlier than.
“For our workforce, I’m so pleased with Team GB as a result of we got here first, third, fourth and fifth within the worlds and the boys obtained third place out of the workforce competitors, so that they did superb to get bronze,” mentioned Hodgkinson.
“It’s unimaginable as a result of myself and Anna, we might by no means raced for GB earlier than or raced a 50k, and we’re actually proud to say that we each come from Liverpool, so after all we have been going to do one thing superb.”
