Inverness Harrier Sean Chalmers bids to retain River Ness 10k title in Highland capital despite battling pain barrier
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Sean Chalmers is prepared to push through the pain barrier in his bid to retain the Baxters River Ness men’s 10k title.
The Aberdeen-based PE teacher, who represents Inverness Harriers, won last year’s race in 30:15, having previously finished second in 2019.
He is keen to put in another top performance on Sunday but a troublesome stomach and groin problem has hampered his progress.
Chalmers, who won the Scottish 10k road running title earlier in the season, said: “I had problems in my stomach area when running in the Seville marathon in February and I’ve had pains ever since.
“I’m running sub-30mins for 10k but I want to be pushing on for the low 29s and getting sub-14mins for 5k.
“There’s little doubt it’s going to hurt at Inverness, as it has done in every race for quite some time, but I’m getting treatment and a rehab plan.
“I’ll try to get things sorted after this one. I’ve taken a few days off training and then some easy runs in the countdown to it, so I feel I’m still in sub-30min shape and I hope to run well enough. We’ll see.”
Fraserburgh’s Max Abernethy, runner-up last year, is not competing so the main challenge could come from Kent’s Owen Hind who set an excellent time of 29:11 in 2020.
Scotland international and Shettleston Harrier Lachlan Oates will be a contender if he improves his PB of 30:11. James Wilson (Moray Road Runners) and Scottish junior international Lucas Cairns (Inverness Harriers) are likely others in contention along with track international Stephen Mackay (Inverness Harriers).
