Fionnuala Britton piece on Newstalk

ecoli

Piece with Fionnuala Britton from Newstalk:

http://corkrunning.blogspot.ie/2012/07/newstalk-radio-profiles-fionnuala.html

walshb

Hell of an athlete. Three events qualified for. Unreal. And damn tough ones too. Will she compete in the three?

ecoli

walshb wrote: »

Hell of an athlete. Three events qualified for. Unreal. And damn tough ones too. Will she compete in the three?

I think the focus is solely on the 10,000m

Pisco Sour

ecoli wrote: »

I think the focus is solely on the 10,000m

Would be amazed if she didnt run the 5K also. It does not interfere with the 10k as it comes after. Honestly, what has she got to lose?

Steeple is out obviously as it clashes with the 10.

Krusty_Clown

I guess the question could also be asked 'what has she got to gain'?
Are there many other female athletes running the 10,000 and the 5,000?

Pisco Sour

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

I guess the question could also be asked 'what has she got to gain'?
Are there many other female athletes running the 10,000 and the 5,000?

If you've gone to the hassle of reaching the qualification standard, and your best event is out of the way, and you are sitting around in London for the rest of the week then I don't see any reason why she wouldn't attempt it (assuming there are no ill-effects from the 10k). The Olympics don't come around very often and who knows what will happen in 4 years time. You'd imagine an athlete would take every opportunity. As I said it doesnt interfere with her stronger event. It would be a different story if the 5k came first.

I remember Rob Heffernan saying in an interview to Joanne Cantwell in Barcelona that he did the 50k because he was bored, and he had to wait around for the week after his 20k race on the first day!

I'd imagine there'd be a few doubling up in London.

ecoli

Pisco Sour wrote: »

If you've gone to the hassle of reaching the qualification standard, and your best event is out of the way, and you are sitting around in London for the rest of the week then I don't see any reason why she wouldn't attempt it (assuming there are no ill-effects from the 10k). The Olympics don't come around very often and who knows what will happen in 4 years time. You'd imagine an athlete would take every opportunity. As I said it doesnt interfere with her stronger event. It would be a different story if the 5k came first.

I remember Rob Heffernan saying in an interview to Joanne Cantwell in Barcelona that he did the 50k because he was bored, and he had to wait around for the week after his 20k race on the first day!

I'd imagine there'd be a few doubling up in London.

Could argue that it can have a negative mental approach to your goal race. Having a "back up" race is going to play on your mind when you are hurting in any race.

The only way I can see her running it is a last min decision made after 10k if it does not go well for any reason.

Pisco Sour

ecoli wrote: »

Could argue that it can have a negative mental approach to your goal race. Having a "back up" race is going to play on your mind when you are hurting in any race.

The only way I can see her running it is a last min decision made after 10k if it does not go well for any reason.

Sonia doubled up in 2000 and having the 10k as a back-up race didnt effect her performance over 5k.

She's an elite athlete and her focus would be 100% on the race immediately coming up. No way would she think about the 5K until after. I can't imagine why she would be thinking about it. Lots of elite athletes double up. As long as the stronger event comes first then I dont see the harm (which is why I'm not sure Felix should be doubling). As I said, the 5k wouldn't be the focus, but after the 10K, if she is feeling pretty good then I don't see why she wouldn't give it a crack. She'd have nothing to lose and everything she achieved in it would be a bonus.

I'd love to see her run it. We're a bit thin with regards representation inside the stadium it has to be said (in what is supposed to be a "home Olympics").

woodchopper

Pisco Sour wrote: »

If you've gone to the hassle of reaching the qualification standard, and your best event is out of the way, and you are sitting around in London for the rest of the week then I don't see any reason why she wouldn't attempt it (assuming there are no ill-effects from the 10k). .

You could have a bit of crack in the Olympic village instead!

Chartsengrafs

walshb wrote: »

Hell of an athlete. Three events qualified for. Unreal. And damn tough ones too. Will she compete in the three?

Yeah she's great. Have seen her tearing up the footpaths in my locality a few times lately, it's fantastic seeing such an athlete even just in training mode. Nobody else seems to bat an eyelid, not that there's anything wrong with that.

walshb

Basster wrote: »

Yeah she's great. Have seen her tearing up the footpaths in my locality a few times lately, it's fantastic seeing such an athlete even just in training mode. Nobody else seems to bat an eyelid, not that there's anything wrong with that.

Most folks simply cannot apprciate the brilliance of these athletes. They can't see it, and never will.

Mad. I was at Morton Stadium for the first time ever last week. I have been a T&F fan since Helsinki 1983. Last week was my first time at any staduim to watch a T&F meet. Always followed it when I could. It wasn't until last Saturday that I saw them in person, up close and real. And, no disrespect, these were the lower level guys as regards the elite. I was so impressed at their simple warm ups. I was watching the 1500 guys running past me warming up and it was just like elastic springs bouncing by you at speed. Effortless! Cuddihy ran past me before her heat and it was damn impressive.