Atheltics Weekly

FEATURE
CHARLOTTE PURDUE
IT’S GOOD TO TALK
Charlotte Purdue tells EUAN CRUMLEY why it was so
important to quiz the elite company she kept in France
PICTURES: MARK SHEARMAN
FOR Charlotte Purdue, the British
Athletics endurance training
camp at altitude in Font Romeu
hasn’t just provided an ideal
environment in which to prepare for
her first IAAF World Championships
– it has also presented the perfect
chance to talk.
The 26-year-old has revelled in
being surrounded by her fellow British
team-mates, making sure to take full
advantage of the experience by tapping
into the knowledge of support staff and
athletes who have been only too happy to
compare notes.
Normally when Purdue is in the
final stages of marathon training, she
finds herself largely on her own, with
the occasional accompaniment of her
boyfriend on a bicycle for long runs.
This summer, things have been very
different and being in southern France
for just over five weeks has proved to be
time well spent.
“I’ve had a lot of extra help this time
from British Athletics,” says Purdue, who
is coached by the Melbourne-based Nic
Bideau and splits her time between the
UK and Australia. “Being on this camp
has been great because we’ve had
physios, doctors and a physiologist –
everyone has been really helpful so it’s
been a lot easier, I’d say.
“I’ve been questioning a lot of people.
It’s been really good being out here so I’m
really glad I came out here for the whole
time.”
And it hasn’t just been to the likes of
experienced fellow marathoner Aly Dixon
that Purdue has been turning.
“I’ve been speaking with Aly and also
everyone really,” she says. “Even people
who don’t do the same event – Laura
Muir and Eilish McColgan – everyone
has been so helpful. If you ever have any
questions about anything they’ve
been there so I’ve been asking them
about things.
“The staff have been so good, too. I’ve
had physio, massage or spoken to the
doctor regularly. They are really on top of
everything, which is definitely key I think
when you are training really hard so it’s
helped a lot.”
Purdue admits the feeling of being
part of a team this time has been
unmistakeable and is one of the many
dimensions that will set this assault on
26.2 miles apart from the other three
marathons she has run (London twice and
Frankfurt) to date.
For one, the set-up for this race in the
Purdue and Aly Dixon celebrate
their performances in April
UK capital will be a big departure from
the route which the world witnesses every
April.
This time, athletes will start and finish
on Tower Bridge, covering four 10km laps
in the process.
“I’m expecting it to have a feel similar
to the world cross country,” says Purdue.
“Now, obviously this race isn’t cross
country – and it’s a marathon rather than
8km – but I’ve run a few times at the
world cross and in my head I think it’s
going to feel like that.
“I’ve run at the world half marathon
championships as well but I’ve never run
in a world championship marathon before
so it will be exciting.”
1 0 R U N N I N G M O N T H L Y | A U G U S T 2 0 1 7