Lincoln runner Abbie Donnelly is now on the cusp of global glory after her call-up to Great Britain’s World Cross Country Championships squad.
She is a four-time winner of the City of Lincoln 10K, and last year she broke her own course record when she completed the event in 32 minutes and 52 seconds, which also happened to be a national record in the Run For All charity events. “I was always trying to sneak a few on my run back, which is funny looking back because I could barely breathe as I was trying to force these sweets in my mouth while running as fast as I can!”It didn’t take Abbie or her family long to realise that she was gifted at running. She would be consistently winning races, whether it be cross country events at school or local track meets.
“I find the hardest part of every session is just getting out there to do it in the first place,” she said. “Training wasn’t in the typical university lifestyle, but when I went to uni I based everything on running. In 2015 she was a part of the female under-20s GB squad for the World Cross Country Championships in China, and eight years later she is now in the senior squad for the event in Australia.
Abbie said that it was good of Innes to “stick to her principles”, and states that the decision could result in wider conversations as to how globally competing sports can cut emissions and get athletes together in a more environmentally-friendly way.
An Advent / Michaelmas sounds nice
Spread over several weeks so Lincoln is more congested and stressful than usual? One constructive suggestion would be to liaise with the trains so when people are travelling into Lincoln they’re not expected to get 5000 bodies in 2 carriages.
I don't think people will want to come to Lincoln in December from miles away to savour the atmosphere of Tritton Retail Park.