Stacey’s back from a break with a bang
Former England runner’s stunning return to action
IT’S been a whirlwind few weeks for former England 800 metres champion Stacey Smith.
The middle-distance ace opened 2018 with an outing in the BMC Open Meeting in Sheffield in early January, which was her first 1,500 metres contest indoors since 2012.
So it was quite a surprise that she came out on top after leading throughout to record 4min 13.68secs, a time which earned her an England call-up to run in Bratislava a few weeks later.
Again she led from the front to see off the international opposition to win in a relatively slow time of 4:17.71.
To some, Smith’s times weren’t exactly world-shattering but for the Gateshead Harrier they were enormous due to the fact that last year she only returned to competitive athletics after giving the sport a miss for five years.
However, her first two outings of 2018 tipped the scales in favour of her giving the British Championships a go in Birmingham where she comfortably sailed through the heats before finishing third (4:16.00) in a slow run final. That bronze medal performance led to an invite to last weekend’s Muller International Grand Prix at the Emirates Arena, Glasgow. And that race showed she can mix it with the best where she finished in sixth place in 4:10.05, her quickest time over the metric mile since 2011 when she posted 4:06.81. Smith puts her new-found success down to the fact that she is trying to get a formula that fits in training with a heavy workload. “I still find it difficult to get my sessions organised for I am so busy and I’m sure David (Lowes, her coach) understands that,’’ said Smith, after her Scottish outing.
“After being out for so long I was just happy to get back running again but I’m over the moon the way things have gone, it’s a real joy and I’m loving every moment being back racing competitively.
“Racing indoors certainly wasn’t on the agenda when I linked up with David and I only ran at Sheffield to see how fit I was and since that race I’ve been literally blown away.
“Racing against full-time athletes, and beating some who are funded, have sponsorship and have been altitude training, is so exiting and you can see why I’m over the moon with the way things are moving along.’’
Smith only linked up with Lowes last November but her results since then speak admirably for the work ethic the pair have done in such a short time.
With the indoor season coming to a close Smith has her sights firmly on the outdoor season though she knows competing at the highest level will not be easy.
“Most of my training has been basic winter work working up my endurance so competing indoors was a complete bonus and certainly not planned though I seemed to get fit quicker than expected,’’ added Smith, who celebrated her 28th birthday on the eve of her Glasgow outing.
“David and I will be working hard in the build-up to the summer and get some speed into my legs.
“I’m so excited I can’t wait to get back out there and mix it with the best in the country. I know you cannot turn back the clock but I want to carry on enjoying myself and having as much fun as possible while juggling my work, training and of course, racing!’’
Racing indoors certainly wasn’t on the agenda when I linked up with David, I only ran at Sheffield to see how fit I was