Inverness Half Marathon champion Sean Chalmers almost gave up halfway through race as he had to fight through pain barrier to win race
MARYBURGH athlete Sean Chalmers spoke about how he had to fight through the pain barrier to win the Inverness Half Marathon.
The Aberdeen-based physical education teacher took the title on Sunday in a time of 66 minutes and 16 seconds to become the first Inverness Harrier to win the men's race since it was first staged in 1985.
Chalmers admitted halfway through the race, he thought he would have to retire.
He said that he started experiencing the same discomfort which affected him in the Seville Marathon last month.
“At six miles I began to get the same tightness in my stomach that affected me at the Seville Marathon three weeks ago and I thought I might have to call it a day.
“But I wanted to be the first Inverness Harriers member to win the title and that kept me going.”
He added: “It was certainly very competitive, there was a different leader on so many occasions,” he said.
“There was a group of about six of us for a while with Kenny Wilson taking on the pace.”
“It was tough and I had to run harder than I had hoped as I have the Cardiff Half Marathon later in the month.”
Chalmers was pushed all the way in the Half Marathon, as he only claimed victory by three seconds with Shettleston’s Peter Avent second in 66:19.
It was only as they approached the final 300 metres on the track at Queen’s Park Stadium that Chalmers was finally able to break clear.
Cambuslang’s Fraser Stewart took third position in 66:40 while Moray’s Kenny Wilson finished fourth in 66:48 on a day when 14 men completed the course in under 70 minutes making this one of the strongest in-depth turnouts in the 37-year history of the event.
Fife Athletic Club’s Annabel Simpson won the women’s title in 73 minutes and 40 seconds
Ardross athlete and Nairn 10k champion Catriona Fraser-Lennox finished in fourth in 81:27.