Cromer runner Logan Smith will represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the first time this weekend when he competes at the World 50km Road Running Championships in New Delhi.

The Norfolk athlete, who works at specialist running retailer Sportlink in Taverham, has been selected for the GB squad after a series of impressive performances in recent years, including a marathon personal best of 2:15:23 at the London Marathon.

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Smith is a member of Norwich Distance Squad and trains under coach James Senior, with the pair preparing carefully for one of the biggest races of his career.

The championships were originally scheduled for December 2025 but were rearranged for this weekend in the Indian capital.

Athletes will tackle a flat 5km loop course, running the circuit ten times to complete the 50km distance. The race will begin in the early hours of the morning to help manage the heat and humidity in New Delhi.

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For Smith, the event presents a slightly different challenge compared with traditional major marathons.

“It feels different, you know, because it’s not a marathon that you can really look at the course, look at previous results, check everyone who’s running,” he said on the Sportlink Snail & Pace podcast.

“It has that air of not sure, really, 100% what to expect. But excitement as well. So it’s more excited and just ready to race.”

Rather than chasing a specific time, Smith believes patience and race awareness will be key in a championship environment.

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“We’re not going to go out expecting a time. We’re not going to go out chasing a time. It’s going to be a case of letting the race sort of dictate the pace,” he said.

“It’s a championships race so it will be championships tactics. So we’ll just stick it early doors within a pack.”

He added that managing emotions in the early stages will be important in such a long race.

“Don’t do too many things too early,” he said. “Don’t be stupid. Don’t get excited and don’t kind of let the nerves and adrenaline overtake.

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“I just need to try and make good decisions.”

Smith heads into the championships in strong shape, having recently completed the Seville Marathon in 2:21:47 as part of his training build-up for the 50km event.

Representing Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the first time remains a special moment for the Norfolk runner.

“I’m looking forward to it and just looking forward to meeting new people as well,” he said.

Article supplied by Sportlink and Mark Armstrong Media