{"id":2220,"date":"2024-05-28T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-28T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ninetoalive.co.uk\/?p=2220"},"modified":"2024-05-28T17:39:49","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T16:39:49","slug":"eleanor-baker-fastest-woman-in-manchester","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/ninetoalive\/2024\/05\/28\/eleanor-baker-fastest-woman-in-manchester\/","title":{"rendered":"Eleanor Baker: Fastest Woman in Manchester"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Winner of the Great Manchester Run Elite Women’s half-marathon, Eleanor Baker talks her running origins, her Manchester win and how to find a run-work balance.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pre Great Manchester Run<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before winning the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run<\/a> on Sunday and competing in other events. Eleanor Baker, 19, from Barnsley was a keen runner, who started running in Year 10 at school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says: “I started to keep fit but then I started going on four runs a week and taking it more seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I remember doing the Sheffield 10K in Year 11, I think I did in 47 minutes. After, I started training for a specific goal like a race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I used to watch London Marathon and think wouldn’t it be great to do that one day.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eleanor did her first half-marathon in 2022 in Southampton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When I started chipping away at times of one hour and 20 minutes, I started to take it more seriously. Additionally, I’ve taken the half-marathons to help tune my times down.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Great Manchester Run Win<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Eleanor went into the half-marathon believing she could win it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Last year, I did the Sheffield 10K and got the course record. I wanted my progress to be linear and compete with the women and the men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“On the start line I wanted to be in the top 3 and I wanted to beat the best time from last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When I’m running I forget about the pace and I’m just happy in that moment.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eleanor was taken aback by reaching the finishing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It was insane really. It was one of the biggest events I’ve ever run! There was 30,000 people running it and the streets were packed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It was a bit of an outer body experience. I don’t think you appreciate that all those people are screaming for you in that moment and it was really overwhelming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When I finished I burst out crying because it’s something that doesn’t happen often. I’m from Barnsley, I’ve never been massively good at anything in my life except doing my studies at Uni. So, finding something I really love and I’m okay at. It’s surreal for me!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Sunday, her winning time of 1:14:50 was almost three and half minutes ahead of second place (1:18:17).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When you can put a gap between you and second. I remember doing my first marathon (Leeds) I hadn’t been coached and a man on one of the bikes said you’re twenty minutes in front. We’re giving you a designated person on a bike to help you with your run. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It’s a nice feeling I don’t want to sound big-headed but it’s nice to know you’re winning quite comfortably.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Socials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

YES! \ud83d\ude4c
Check out Eleanor Baker\u2019s amazing half marathon finish line moment at today\u2019s AJ Bell #GreatManchesterRun<\/a>! \ud83c\udfc3\ud83c\udffd\u200d\u2640\ufe0f\ud83c\udfc3\ud83c\udffd\u200d\u2640\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/7zTxhoClBo<\/a><\/p>— Great Run (@Great_Run) May 26, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>