Athletics News

‘There were times I wondered if I wanted to do this again’ – Lynsey Sharp

'There were times I wondered if I wanted to do this again' - Lynsey Sharp

Monday 9th January 2023

Crossing the finish line again . . . Lynsey wins 600m at the Emirates Arena (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Lynsey’s back on track with 600m win after three years out 

Andrew Butchart was left to babysit beside the track. Carol Sharp dug the original Edinburgh AC vest out from the back of a wardrobe. Training partner Ben Greenwood, on pacing duties, sought to help calm the pre-race nerves with words of encouragement.

Then, less than a minute and a half later, Lynsey Sharp had turned the clock back more than three years to return to racing once again.

The double Olympian is now 32 and a mum to wee Max but clearly the competitive instincts are still burning brightly inside.

Victory over 600m at the Glasgow Athletics Association Miler Meet in 1:28.91 was a very solid comeback given Lynsey’s last race was in the qualifying rounds of the World Champs in Doha in September 2019.

Covid, giving birth and a stress fracture early last summer which put paid to any outdoor season in 2022 have all had an impact.

Under the circumstances, thoughts of hanging up the spikes would only be natural.

BBC Sport website

‘My competitive instincts are there, yes, but there have been times over three years – or maybe even longer – when I have questioned whether I want to keep going on,’ said Lynsey.

‘We always said we would see how I felt after becoming a mum and how I responded after Max arrived.

‘I am in a really good place now with my fitness but I don’t know what will happen this year or beyond. I am just grateful to be out here running and racing again.’

The immediate goals are likely to be two 800m races back at the Emirates Arena in our 4J National Open and the 4J Scottish Senior Champs.

The Glasgow venue is now ‘home’ for indoor sessions but there were still plenty of nerves shortly before 6pm on Friday . . .

‘It’s so funny because I have been training at the Emirates a couple of times a week for a while now. I kept telling myself on the start-line ‘it is just the same as training’ but for some reason it feels different!

‘I think the first one after more than three years was always going to be the hardest.

‘It’s been very tough to get back to this level.

‘I was in good shape last April (having given birth to Max towards the end of 2021) and I think I could probably…

CLICK HERE to Read the Full Original Article at Scottish Athletics…