CROSS COUNTRY
My secret goal was to finish in the top 30 . Because of my injury and the surgery , I only shared that with my mother . My secondary goal was to be in the top half of the finishers , without giving myself a specific position . I just didn ’ t want to come last ,” she adds , with a chuckle .
this is cross country , on a very tough course , so times are of no real consequence here , but it was still a gutsy run , and Cian says she felt good about her run . And that decision not to walk the route may have paid off in spades ...
“ I was really happy afterwards . It was rough , but I achieved all I was hoping for . This was my first World Cross Country Championships and I now know what to expect , so I can prepare better for the future . My secret goal was to finish in the top 30 . Because of my injury and the surgery , I only shared that with my mother . My secondary goal was to be in the top half of the finishers , without giving myself a specific position . I just didn ’ t want to come last ,” she adds , with a chuckle .
Busy Year Ahead
The next edition of the World Cross Country Championships will be in Croatia in February 2024 , and conditions should be vastly different . Instead of heat , athletes can expect cold weather , lots of mud , and possibly even snow , as the Championships are in the European winter . But that is a concern for another day . For now , Cian has her sights set on a busy 2023 . After setting so many PBs the previous two years , and enjoying an unexpectedly cracking start to 2023 , she says she is looking to run more fast times and represent South Africa again this year , with her new goal being the World Half Marathon Championships in Riga , Latvia at the end of September .
“ It will be a busy year for me . I want to get faster in the 5km and 5000m , so I am eyeing a block in Europe in the middle of the year . I will be looking to double in the 5000m and 10,000m at the SA Championships , and will compete in the Cape Milers Club races in Cape Town in April . From there , I ’ m looking at the some of the Spar races , the RUN YOUR CITY Races and the SA Half Marathon Championships in June ,” she says .
Cian is aiming to wear the green and gold of Team SA again in 2023 .
Cian is also eyeing the SA Cross Country Championships in September , and a few more 10km races , including the SA Championships , towards the end of the year . It will be a busy year , but she says she is optimistic . “ The time off due to surgery last year was good for me . It forced me to rest a bit and build a really good base , so I am excited about 2023 .” And that means we can expect more spectacular performances from the athlete commonly referred to as Miss PB .
Coming home as best-placed South African senior woman at the World Champs .
Cian ’ s plans for 2024 include the next World Cross Country Champs .
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