Debbie Walters Wins British Masters 10K Road Title

Debbie Walters produced not one but two encouraging performances on consecutive days in an action packed weekend.

On Saturday the 37-year old played a significant role in Birchfield Harriers finishing runners up in the Midland Road Relay at Sutton Park.

The mother of two children did not have the luxury of a long lie in bed the following morning as she was up with the lark to drive for three and half hours to represent the Midlands in the Swansea Bay Ten Kilometres Road Race in South Wales which incorporated the British Masters Championship.

Debbie explained her less than perfect preparation for such an important race,

“I only received a late invitation to represent the Midlands about ten o’clock on Wednesday night. By the time I had discussed the matter with my coach, Dave Newnham, I was unable to find any hotel accommodation. I left home at 06:30 and arrived about two hours before the start which was sufficient time to prepare for the race.”

She continued, “ The competitors in the Inter Area match were lined up on the front row at the start which meant that I did n’t have to make my way through the mass start of three thousand runners. I set my target to break 36 minutes and was on schedule to run thirty seconds quicker than that at the half way stage of the race. However it was extremely windy on the sea front and I tired in the closing stages. Nevertheless I won the British Masters title at my first attempt in a time of 35:59 which was sixteen faster than my previous best time and I led the Midlands to victory in the Inter Area match. I finished third in the Women’s Open Race which was won by Caroline Cheptanui from Kenya. I could see Mary Wilkinson, the runner up in the race but I was unable to close the gap possibly because of all my exertions over the previous 24 hours. Although I felt very tired, I felt pleased at what I had accomplished in the two races but I know that there is still a lot more that I achieve as an athlete.” 

Tom McCook