Ever run so fast that you’re convinced the clock must be ticking slower than usual?
Us neither, but this is exactly what happened to Beth Potter recently. The British athlete competed in a 5km (3.1 miles) road race, finishing it in 14 minutes and 41 seconds. With this record, she is the second-fastest runner in a road race, right behind Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei, who finished a 10km race in 14 minutes and 32 seconds. Isn’t that absolutely crazy?!
Yesterday @beth_potter broke @paulajradcliffe's record for the fastest 5k run by a British woman, with a time of 14:41 🏃♀️💨⏱
She tells @chriswarburton_ she ran so fast that she was "convinced the clock was wrong"
📲 @BBCSport https://t.co/9HOdBZ1meJ pic.twitter.com/YX2exfKuc1
— BBC Radio 5 Live (@bbc5live) April 4, 2021
Who Is Beth Potter?
Born in Scotland but hailing from Britain, Potter is a long-distance runner and triathlete. In 2016, she represented her home country in the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics, in which she ranked 34th. The following year ushered her shift to the triathlon, subsequently leading to her winning the European Triathlon Championships in 2019. Though the runner recently applied for the 2020 Summer Olympics to be held in Tokyo, she wasn’t selected. But, despite this little hiccup, we’re sure we’ll be seeing her name in the headlines again.
Eurosport | Potter winning the British Triathlon in 2019
Can Everyone Participate in a 5km Race?
Absolutely. One of the most popular distances for running events is the 5km race. The recommended finish time is about 30 minutes for beginners, while 20 minutes is the ideal finish time for regular runners. The lower you can go, the better. These races can be immensely fun, granting a unique opportunity to bond with your local community. And we haven't even gotten to the fitness benefit yet! Parkruns hold the number 1 spot in terms of popularity, with over 650 running locations open across the UK. Also, if you need a special occasion to run, why not wait for a running festival? About 35,000 participants try their hand (or rather, legs) at the 5km race at the Sydney Running Festival every year.
Pexels | Running helps improve your physical and mental health
Running During a Pandemic
With vaccination distributions now at large, the UK Government has released guidelines for athletics and running events. These guidelines state that events can be organized for educational purposes, including schools, colleges, universities, and childcare clubs, in outdoor settings. Travel is now permitted for competitions and training purposes, while spectating is prohibited. For children and disabled personnel, one parent/caregiver supervision is permitted.
