Double Olympic medallist Beth Potter has started her 2025 season in style with a sensational 10k personal best on the road.
In what was her first road running race since that ‘world record’ 5k of 14:41 in 2021 towards the end of the global COVID pandemic, Potter headed to the Pulford 10k in Cheshire, England, last Sunday. She of course switched to triathlon after representing Team GB over 10,000 metres on the track at the Rio Olympics.
But until Saturday, Beth’s best 10k road time was 32:03 at the Trafford 10k in 2019, while on the track her fastest 10,000 metres saw her clock the exact same time in 2016’s Stanford Invitational in the USA.
So what unfolded in Cheshire suggests she’s in the running form of her life heading into the upcoming triathlon season, following her individual and Mixed Team Relay bronze medals in Paris last summer.
Top three in British 10k standings
For Potter powered to a brilliant 31:15 at the Pulford 10k, giving her a clear-cut win in the women’s race.
Racing for Victoria Park City of Glasgow Athletics Club, she crossed the line 17 seconds ahead of runner up Verity Ockenden and they were the only two of the 422 in the senior female category to go under the 32-minute mark.
Writing later on her Instagram page, Potter said: “It’s been 4 years since I raced on the road 🤯.
“31.15 for the win and a lovely Sunday with a 🔝 support crew. Stay tuned for what’s next 😬👀.”
And just to put that performance into perspective, it was the third fastest 10k time by a British woman this year – and the quickest on home roads. Only Amy-Eloise Neale (31:12) in Valencia and Eilish McColgan (31:14) in Dubai have bettered it – and it would also have been third best in the whole of 2024.
Triathlon rivalry resumes
And what’s up next is a mouthwatering showdown with reigning Olympic and world champion Cassandre Beaugrand at the Supertri E World Championship in London next weekend (April 5).
Potter is the reigning champion but Beaugrand got the better of their battles last season and also succeeded her as WTCS world champion.
And the two of them couldn’t go into the event in much better running form as Beaugrand recently set a new French road 5k record of 14:53 in Monaco.
Potter tempted by T100
After that, Potter is looking forward to a more relaxed triathlon season – and she is also hoping for a change of fortune at WTCS Yokohama in May.
Speaking recently on the ‘Chasing The Burn’ podcast, she first explained why she was taking in that 10k road race, saying: “I am getting excited for the 2025 season. I haven’t done a running race since I broke those 5k world records and I think it will be something that can challenge me and put me out of my comfort zone. It will be a nice introduction to racing again and see where I’m at.”
And going longer – both in running and triathlon terms – sounds like it could be on the agenda too at some point as she referenced men’s Olympic champion Alex Yee’s upcoming crack at the London Marathon.
“Alex is tackling the marathon which is something I’ve always wanted to do. It would be cool but I’d like to stick with tri. Whether that means I do a T100 or a longer course race at some point in the next year or two, I don’t know.
“But that’s definitely something I’m more interested in now. I’m looking at this year as a bit more relaxed. I don’t have the pressure of last year basically.
“And I’m just glad I’m back training and having fun with it. I turn up and I want to be there. I will be opening my short course triathlon season at the Supertri E before I go onto Yokohama.
“I’ve never done well at Yokohama so I’m hoping it’s third time lucky. I’ve been lapped out and I’ve had a stomach bug so hopefully this is a good one. The lapping out was a bad day!”
