CHARLOTTE Taylor-Green has dampened down hopes of her making a comeback to racing despite an encouraging performance in the Chilly 10k last weekend.
The race, in which Taylor-Green finished runner-up behind Victoria Kenny, was only her second of the year following a 1500m in the BMC Gold Standard meeting at Birmingham University on May 12th, in which she finished 13th in 4:39.2.
The only other race she started was the British Olympic marathon trials event in Kew gardens on March 26th but she failed to finish.
Taylor-Green recorded a solid time of 36mins 08secs on Sunday but it is worth noting that it was only a little over two years ago she clocked her lifetime best of 34:09 at the Stirling 10k in Scotland.
In addition to just three races last year – two parkruns in Clevedon and the Podium 5k in Barrowford – it has been a long time since Taylor-Green lined up for a race in top condition.
“It’s not been a good year for me,” admitted Taylor-Green.
“I shouldn’t have even raced in May or even start the marathon in March. I wasn’t right mentally and physically.”
Taylor-Green, who is a member of Clevedon AC, has certainly endured a torrid past twelve months. She has suffered an eye infection, low iron count in her blood due to illness, a shocking cold and to cap it off she nearly got knocked down by a car while out training but still suffered a nasty ankle injury.
So, the bottom line is no consistency in her training which has been very low-key.
“I’m running low mileage so still not sure if I plan to come back seriously yet,” said Taylor-Green. “(I have) found a new love of (weight) lifting so having a play around with a few different hobbies.”
Taylor-Green is certainly in the right place to develop her love of weight-lifting as she works at the @thegym in Nailsea and is using some of her pent-up energy to help others find fitness and good heath.
We wish her all the best.