A tale of two 50km races. Medals in one. Men’s 50km World record in another.
The weekend saw a tale of two 50km races on either side of the Atlantic. In the USA, CJ Albertson took on the Ruth Anderson Memorial 50k in San Francisco in a successful attempt at lowering the current Mens 50km World Record, about which more later.
L-R Pardo ESP 2nd, Azizi ESP 1st Andy Davies GB 3rd Pic IAU
In Europe meanwhile, there was the IAU European 50km championship at Sotillo de la Adrado, near Madrid, where individuals and nations ran for titles and medals.
50km Is Gaining Recognition
50km is in some ways an underrated and under-raced distance. Two initiatives in recent years have helped stimulate interest. Firstly the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) have over the last few years instigated The World and European 50k championships. This has slowly gained traction.
Secondly, World Athletics, in July 2022 passed a motion recognising 50km as a legitimate record distance, to set alongside the 100km distance which they have recognised for nearly 30 years now. This too added a little kudos to 50km as a stand-alone event.
It should be noted they recognise it for road performances only and not track. The IAU recognise all surface performances inc 400m tracks, for men’s and women’s 50km world records on certified courses only.
The course in Spain for the European Championships was a 5km loop with a slight elevation gain/fall of around 60 metres each lap which over the 10 laps, according to reports, had an impact on times.
Going into the championships, the Spanish and British teams had targeted the event and looked favourites on paper. This proved to be correct.
Mens Race
At halfway, there was a large men’s group together in around 1:26:08. Over the second half Spain’s Benabbou Azizi, a 2:10:45 marathoner slowly increased his pace to pull away from the field. He ran a negative split of 1:23:12 to take the win comfortably in 2:49:20. His countryman, Alberto Pardo clinched 2nd with GB’s Andy Davies, who ran in the European Championship Marathon In Munich last August, 3rd. Davies’s time also moves him up to second in the GB all-time road rankings behind Dan Nash’s time of 2:49:01. Nash who finished 7th in Spain, set the current British 50km record when claiming the bronze medal at the last IAU world championship 50km event in Brasov, Roumania in 2019.
The GB men packed well with Will Mycroft 4th, Alex Milne 6th, Dan Nash 7th, Nigel Martin 8th, and Ron Richmond 9th to take the team title. It was a close affair with the Spanish claiming second and Germany third
Ladies race
In the lady’s race, there was a popular victory for Ireland’s Caitriona Jennings, only 5 weeks after taking bronze in the IAU world 100km championships in Berlin. Jennings had stayed off the early pace set by GB’s Rebecca Bunting and reached halfway in 1:41:08 to Bunting’s 1:39:01
Like Azizi in the mens race she upped the pace slightly and slowly crept away to also record negative splits 1:41:08/1:38:36. for 3:19:42. Also like Azizi in the men’s race, not a stellar time but championship times are often secondary to medals.
GB’s Ali Lavender, running in the group that included Jennings at halfway, also ran negative splits 1:41:09/1:40:27 to take a superb silver in 3:21:36 holding off Poland’s experienced Dominika Stelmach, who took 3rd in 3:21:50.(Splits of 1:41:09/1:40:41)
GB again packed well to take the Team Gold with Sally O’Gorman 4th, early leader Emily Bunting 5th, Chloe Richardson 19th and Elizabeth Renondeau 24th. Spain took silver and Croatia Bronze.
Full results for IAU 50km European championships, with runner’s split lap times, can be found HERE
Full final results with team standings can be found HERE
Individual and team Podium
Women Individual
1 .Caitriona Jennings, IRE , 3:19:42
2.Ali Lavender GBR,3:21:26
3.Dominika Stelmach POL 3:21:50
GB Womens 50k Road Rankings updated at 10.10.2022
Men Individual
1.Houssame Eddine Benabbou Azizi. ESP 2:49:20
2.Alberto Pyuelo Pardo. ESP 2:52:39
3. Andy Davies GBR 2:53:09
GB Mens 50k Road Rankings updated at 10.10.2022
Women Team podium
- Great Britain and Northern Ireland 10:09:52 2. Spain 10:42:14 3. Croatia 10:57:41
Men Team Podium
1. Great Britain and Northern Ireland 8:41:05 2. Spain 8:42:35 3. Germany 8:58:42
New Men’s World 50km record in San Francisco
MEANWHlLE In San Francisco, C.J. Albertson took on the Ruth Anderson Memorial 50 kilometres. It was an attempt to set a new mens 50km world record.
The Ruth Anderson 50k is run on an Approximately 4.5-mile Lap with a gradual rise and fall each lap.
Albertson is no stranger to going after records. In 2020 he ran a track 50k in a then-world-best performance of 2:42:34. He also holds the best performance for a marathon on an indoor track with 2:17:59.
Albertson and Azizi have very similar marathon times.
Albertson and Azizi, the new European 50km champion, have similar marathon times. The American with 2:10:23 from Boston in April 2022. The Spaniard with 2:10:45 from Valencia in 2019. Azizi, the new European Champion, was running his first 50-kilometre race and paced his first half cautiously in seeking the win.
Albertson, who thrives on going out strong in races and with a world-class 50km already under his belt, seems to have run hard on his own from the start. He was chasing the time, still awaiting ratification from World Athletics, of 2:40:13 set by Stephen Mokoka in South Africa this March.
Averaging 5:07 minutes per mile /3.10mins per kilometre, he recorded 2:38:44, thereby bettering the mark by 90 seconds. Ratification by the relevant authorities can take time. It seems from reports that although it is a local and relatively low-key event in San Francisco, the organisers had all in place for a record attempt regarding permits, labels and officials from USATF and IAU. They also had a course measurement report and crucial post-race drug testing.
Albertsons 10km splits in his men’s 50km world record.
David Monti has posted Albertson’s 10k splits on his Twitter feed.
50km is getting attention now with very competent marathoners like Albertson and Azizi, plus the South African men showing they can adapt to the extra 5 miles. Dessie Linden for the Women, with the African runners, Bosho of Ethiopia and Murioki of Kenya, having also shown capcity.
IAU World Championships in Hyderabad, India, in 2023.
The next IAU World Championships at 50km will be staged, in Hyderabad, India, in late 2023. One would hope it can bring together a collection of the world’s best at 50km, along with some competent marathoners keen to move up. It remains to be seen if it can have the capacity to produce a competitive championship race. One where runners, will inspire some genuinely fast 50km times as well. Roll on November 2023. It will be interesting to see the men’s and women’s 50-kilometre records challenged.
PLEASE SHARE!
If you have enjoyed this post, do see our other ones HERE
If you are inspired by this or think someone else you know will be, please do what you have to do by sharing. You all know how these things work by now:-) You can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram @tarittweets
