Charlotte Purdue on making her marathon comeback in London

The PUMA athlete will compete at her fifth London Marathon after damage pressured her out of the Paris Olympics

Charlotte Purdue is ready to make her marathon comeback this Sunday (April 27) on the London Marathon, marking her return to racing after an ankle damage dashed her hopes of competing on the Paris Olympics.

The previous 12 months has been a rollercoaster for the 33-year-old, coming off a career-defining 2023. It was in Berlin the place she ran a blistering quick marathon time of two:22:17 — a mark that not solely secured her Olympic qualification but in addition carved her identify into British marathon historical past.

That efficiency propelled the PUMA athlete to joint-second on the UK all-time record, sharing the mark with Calli Hauger-Thackery.

Nevertheless, Hauger-Thackery has since gone sooner with 2:21:24, putting Purdue third on the rankings record total.

Now totally recovered, Purdue returned to the roads in March, profitable the Nagoya Metropolis Half Marathon in 71:71 and is now able to deal with her fifth London Marathon. Her greatest exhibiting on the occasion got here in 2021 when she positioned tenth. Though she featured in final 12 months’s version, it was as a pacer. She had hoped to race however British Athletics suggested her to sit down it out to give attention to Olympic preparations — a plan finally derailed by her damage.

Past her personal working profession, Purdue can be shaping the following era of athletes. Alongside her associate and fellow runner Adam Clarke, she co-founded Purdue Efficiency, the place she now balances her elite racing with teaching and mentoring.

Charlotte Purdue (PUMA Operating)

How are you feeling forward of the London Marathon?

I really feel good. I’ve had a great coaching block, I’ve been out in Australia and I acquired again two weeks in the past, so it went effectively. I’m simply wanting ahead to racing now. I haven’t raced a marathon for some time, so it’s going to be a great one.

Do you’re feeling totally different going into this marathon in comparison with others?

Yeah, I do. Normally I’m going into it with the time in thoughts and a particular time aim, as a result of I’ve tried to run a qualifier or one thing like that, whereas this 12 months, I simply wish to race. Clearly I wish to run a good time, however my important precedence is to complete as excessive up as I can and simply do effectively within the race.

I’m not chasing a particular time, whereas earlier than I’ve gone in there and needed to run 2:23 and been actually time pushed, this 12 months I’m not time pushed in any respect. Clearly you wish to run quick, however for me, I simply wish to race who’s there and attempt to end as excessive up as I can.

What has the final 12 months been like for you?

Final 12 months I needed to run London however I wasn’t allowed to run as a result of British Athletics needed me to save lots of myself for the Olympics, after which I broke my ankle earlier than the Olympics, in order that was fairly horrendous. It was a little bit of a horrible 12 months as a result of I wasn’t allowed to race at the beginning of the 12 months after which getting back from the damage took me a bit of little bit of time. It was a protracted course of getting back from that damage.

It took longer than I believed and it was actually annoying. So to truly be again working wholesome and to have had a great block, I’m simply glad to be making the beginning line and to be again on the market. It’s virtually a full circle second to be again on the market once more.

Did you take pleasure in pacing the London Marathon in 2024?

I didn’t actually take pleasure in pacing final 12 months. I didn’t like it. This time final 12 months, I simply ran a half-marathon PB in Japan and was in one of the best form and I used to be able to race. I did wish to do the total marathon however British Athletics mentioned that I may solely tempo. No less than I acquired to try this.

How does it really feel to be again racing and win the half-marathon in Nagoya?

That race was a low-key race. I normally go over to Nagoya to tempo the marathon, however I requested my coach Nick if I may do the half-marathon, simply because I needed to do a race earlier than London. There wasn’t actually another races that I may do, as a result of I used to be in Australia and it’s exhausting to seek out races over there.

I didn’t wish to journey forwards and backwards so I discovered this race in Japan and it was enjoyable simply to simply get within the race atmosphere, put the race footwear on, and undergo the method. To win was a bonus, it wasn’t a very quick time or something nevertheless it was a solo run, so I used to be pleased with the way it went.

How did coping with the damage have an effect on you mentally?

Truthfully, it was fairly unhealthy. To have that damage a few weeks earlier than the Olympics was most likely the worst timing in historical past however every part occurs for a cause, so I do know there was a cause that I wasn’t meant to run there.

I’m simply comfortable to be again working now, and totally wholesome with no accidents. I really feel like this race this weekend would be the begin of me coming again once more, and clearly construct some optimistic momentum. I simply wish to race extra this 12 months so I believe this will probably be hopefully the beginning of a great 12 months.

What does the longer term appear like for Purdue Efficiency?

We’re truly engaged on a very thrilling new undertaking, we’re constructing working coach app. That’s going to be popping out quickly so preserve your eyes peeled for that.

I really like teaching athletes in addition to focusing alone working, I’ve acquired a few runners working this weekend that I coach myself, so it’s cool, as a result of I’m speaking to them about the race. The daily runner goes by way of precisely the identical course of that we go by way of.

Clearly we’re working a sooner tempo, nevertheless it’s nonetheless the identical coaching, and nonetheless the identical issues that they face. It takes my thoughts off my very own working as effectively.

How do you discover the steadiness with teaching and being knowledgeable athlete?

I truthfully don’t thoughts it as a result of I really feel like I’d simply get bored if I used to be solely serious about my very own working, so it’s one thing else to do within the day. It’s a job, nevertheless it doesn’t really feel like a job as a result of it’s simple for me to speak about working it identical to comes naturally.

How have issues been because you signed with PUMA?

It’s been actually cool. I really like the brand new footwear, the FAST-R Nitro Elite 3, I’ve been coaching in them since January and truthfully assume they’re one of the best footwear that I’ve ever worn so I hope they’re quick on Sunday as I’ll be sporting them for the marathon. I’m excited to put on them in a race lastly, after coaching in them.

What do you make of the huge distinction in trainers through the years?

I used to be saying this to my associate Adam the opposite day, the primary London marathon I did in 2016 I didn’t put on carbon footwear. That’s loopy to me that some folks won’t ever expertise working a marathon with out carbon footwear. The sensation the following day was ten instances worse than it’s now, as a result of they do assist your legs a lot. Each single 12 months the footwear get higher and higher.