Newark AC’s Ed Buck runs personal-best time on England debut at the Copenhagen Half-Marathon

Newark AC’s Ed Buck recorded a personal-best time as he represented England for the first time at the Copenhagen Half-Marathon last weekend.

Buck posted a time of 1hr5min23sec and wasn’t far behind Norwegian double Olympic gold medallist Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

“I really enjoyed it,” the 23-year-old said of the experience. “The atmosphere was great and rubbing shoulders with world-class athletes from all round the world has given me an appetite for more.

“It was tough, especially the last 5k into a headwind, but I think I got the best out of myself.

“I’ve had good support from the Newark Area Endurance training group, leading into the race, so I knew that I was in good shape.

“I received a full wardrobe of England kit and some top shoes from The Lincolnshire Runner (store), which all contributed to the experience.”

Buck only seriously got into running seven years ago.

He said: “I’d always enjoyed running as a youngster but it was only when I finished 11th in the county schools’ cross-country championships when I was 16 that I thought I could possibly get into the county team the next year.

“I had been playing football, which had given me background fitness, so I then joined Newark Athletic Club and started regular training.”

Going to university in England - before undertaking a masters degree in the United States - has provided Buck with a variety of athletics experiences.

On his early sporting successes, he said: “It was just steady progress, really, as I started to follow structured plans, month-by-month, from my coach (Bill Taylor).

“I managed to get into the county team in my last year at school and finished in the top 100 in the English Schools Cross-Country Championships.

“I went to university in York and then did a masters degree at San Francisco University. This provided opportunities to train with a range of athletes.

“Highlights would be finishing 21st in the British Universities Cross-Country Championships and improving my track times while I was in America.”

Recalling his top performances to date, Buck replied: “Probably my best race performances include this weekend’s half-marathon and my race last year at the UK 10,000m B race at Parliament Hill when I beat some quality runners that I’d not beaten before.

“It was under lights with a large crowd and a brilliant atmosphere.”

He also gave an insight into his training regime.

Buck said: “It varies through the racing seasons and it has progressively increased year-by-year since I was 18.

“I now do a mixture of fast and easy-paced running with the total weekly volume being between 90 and 110 miles a week.

“I’m also lifting weights a couple of times a week to keep my muscles in balance.”

While Buck is set to start the next stage of his academic journey, he still intends to balance that with his athletics.

“I’m shortly to start a job as a PhD research assistant in physical chemistry,” he noted.

“Running-wise, I’m training with a strong posse of runners in the Newark Area Endurance Group. We’re looking to do well as a team at Midlands and National level cross-country and road race fixtures through the winter.

“Both the ladies and men’s squads are growing and continually improving.

“At a personal level, I’m looking at a low-key foray into the marathon this autumn and, if that goes okay, I’ll move up to the distance by 2026.

“Long-term, I’d love to go to a major Games, representing my country in the marathon.”

So, what advice would Buck give to any young runners?

“Have fun with your running and just keep at it,” he said. “Join in with others and meet new people. Don’t exhaust yourself but do try and run most days - consistency is key!

“My ambition at 18-years-old was to break 17-and-half minutes for parkrun. Five years later, I now have a 5k personal-best of 14.08!

“Try to get some advice from a proper coach, who has experience of supporting and developing young athletes for the long term.”