Athlete's profile (19)

ATHLETE'S PROFILE

ALISON WHITELAW

 

CLUB:  Wrexham AAC 

ANY PREVIOUS CLUBS: None 

AGE AND DATE OF BIRTH:  I’m 56 and born 12/01/1958 

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN COMPETING:  30 years 

ANY OTHER SPORTS PLAYED:    Did netball, squash, badminton before taking up running 

OTHER HOBBIES OR INTERESTS:  Watching Moto GP Motorcycle racing, meeting people and socialising 

 FAVOURITE RACING DISTANCE:  5k/10k distances preferably cross country running but definitely NOT fell running! 

FAVOURITE RACE AND WHY: 

The cross country race held at the Masters International Cross Country in Santry Park, Dublin when running for Wales and being the 2^nd counter for the W50 group winning team gold.   We had a great time celebrating afterwards with the local brew (Guiness)  

FAVOURITE TRAINING SESSION:

My Sunday morning run  

 PROUDEST MOMENT:  There have been many but individually: winning the 3,000m Welsh Track Championships in 1990 at Swansea and getting under 60 minutes for 10 miles on a couple of occasions. Team wise: winning Wrexham gold in the Masters Cross Country Championships at Bangor, Northern Ireland in 2005 and also winning team gold for Wrexham at the Masters Road Relay Championships at Sutton Park for Wrexham in the 45-54 age group in 2005.  

 

WHOM DO YOU MOST ADMIRE (INSIDE ATHLETICS AND OUT) AND WHY:

 

Liz McColgan:  I met Liz at Edinburgh when I was competing for Wrexham in the GRE Cup running in the 3,000m (which I won).  Andy, my husband had got talking to her whilst I was warming up and arranged for me to meet her after the race.  I was relieved she wasn’t running as she was pregnant with her first daughter Eilish.   Liz was so encouraging and congratulated me on gaining maximum points for Wrexham.   Liz was so determined to win and that she knew she hadn’t got a sprint finish so she just wore her competitors down by running as fast as she could throughout the whole race.  It was so good to see her winning the World Champs 10,000m in 1991. 

 

ANY PERSONAL AMBITIONS: 

It used to be to get under 10 minutes for 3,000m but regrettably I am too old now.    My aim now is just to try to get back to full fitness and be the absolute best in my age group and even better like I used to be instead of trundling round at the back of the pack but unfortunately work and injuries are preventing me at present, one day I hope to get there…………

 

ANY REGRETS: 

Never winning the North Wales Cross Country Championships – finished second so many times (beat Lynn Madison one time but got beat by Liz Hughes, I beat Liz Hughes but then got beaten by Lynn and so it went on)  “Always the bridesmaid”.  

ANY EMBARRASSING EXPERIENCES: 

I can’t think of any running wise – plenty outside of running though!

 

WHAT CHANGES (IF ANY) WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THE SPORT:  

More support and encouragement for all the unpaid volunteers who turn up day after day to support athletes in training and racing and cut out the red tape that seems to be ever increasing that volunteers have to adhere to – it’s enough to put people off from doing anything.