Kenny Wilson has no intentions of trying to stick with British record holder Mo Farah in tomorrow’s Antrim Coast half marathon, but the Moray athlete still hopes to pull off one of the best performances of his career.
Farah, who has a best time of 59min 07secs, is competing in Northern Ireland a week after setting a one-hour track world record in Brussels.
Wilson has not competed since finishing second in the Inverness Half Marathon at the beginning of March, when he recorded 1:06:35.
His best time came one month earlier when he achieved a wind-assisted 1:04:55 to win the Kinloss to Lossiemouth race.
The Scotland international, who is preparing for next month’s Wrexham Marathon, has trained well since then and is confident of a good performance.
He said: “It’s a good opportunity to get a quality race done and it comes at a perfect time in the countdown to the marathon so it couldn’t be better.
“There’s only about 40 men in the race and it will be split into two waves.
“I think everyone in the first wave has run faster than 66mins, so it will be fast.
“However, my training has been good and I’d like to think I can get close to my Lossiemouth time.
“I want to concentrate on running my own race and not thinking about what anyone else is doing. I tend to perform better when I do that.”
Wilson will be joined on the trip by Sean Chalmers (Inverness Harriers), who has run only one half marathon before, winning at Ayr in 2019 when he clocked 1:11:35.
Brian looks to recapture best form
Metro Aberdeen’s Fiona Brian will line up with five-time Olympian and 2007 world 10,000m medallist Jo Pavey in tomorrow’s Antrim Coast half marathon.
The Scotland international is aiming to improve on her best time of 1hr 14min 23secs set at London’s Big Half Marathon at the beginning of March, but admits the outcome is difficult to predict.
Brian said: “I’m really not sure what to expect as I haven’t raced since London.
“I was in the best shape of my life just before lockdown, so it was frustrating not to be able to compete.
“I did a couple of virtual races at the beginning of lockdown and I was running well, but after that I had a bit of a dip.
“However, I’ve been back doing proper sessions since July and I’ve been feeling strong on my long runs, so that’s encouraging.”
Brian had been preparing for the London Marathon, but was not eligible for the elite version of the race on October 4. Instead, she will run in a specially-arranged Wrexham Marathon that same weekend.
She said: “Antrim this weekend will give me an idea of just how my preparations are going.”
Brian will be joined on the trip to Northern Ireland by Metro clubmates Claire Bruce and Ginie Barrand.
Bruce has a best time of 1:18:27 set when picking up bronze in the 2018 Scottish Championships.
Barrand, winner of the Great Aberdeen 10k in 2018, recorded her fastest half marathon of 1:20:05 at Inverness in 2017.
Other top athletes taking part include British champion Lily Partridge, Aly Dixon, Gemma Steel and Northern Ireland’s Emma Mitchell.