Flash quotes

On today's race:

“Today I wanted to go out hard, it was good conditions and I wanted that course record. You never know, I might not be here next year. That is what’s in my head, every race I treat as maybe could be my last one. I am not saying it is, but that is the way I train and race. I am just taking every opportunity I can at the moment, doing all the races that I can.

“I knew what average [speed] I needed to keep up to break the course record. It was a bit windy coming back but I knew if I kept on the average I’d break the record.

“This was the first time I’d been on the road since Sydney, so I felt a bit rusty at the beginning. I only did one session since being back and that was on the rollers in the garage on Friday and I had yesterday off, because of jet lag.

“Mentally it is hard getting older, but you’ve just got to adapt to it.”

On adapting his training:

"I have to take a lot more supplements to get me through, so a lot more caffeine and carb gels than I’ve ever taken before, but it seems to work. That’s my strategy at the moment because if I didn’t take them I’d be shot to pieces. 

“Training-wise I’ve changed it slightly. I am still doing the mileage, but I did the bulk of my big mileage in the winter. In May I had a couple of weeks off because my body was telling me to rest. I do listen to myself now. It’s taken me a couple of years to get that in my head. Before, I was this athlete that every time I trained I felt like I was racing."

On the race:

“It was brilliant out there – perfect conditions, it wasn’t too warm and very little wind. As ever, it was a great course and atmosphere.

“I had three targets before the race: finish second, break 50 minutes – a course PB for me – and I’ve been working on my climbing at the moment so I wanted to feel strong on the climbs, and I did. So three out of three for me.

“Dave [Weir] speaks for himself; he’s got the power and speed and he’s just broken his own course record the second year in a row. He is always a favourite and it’s always a case of how do you beat him? You take off from the start and stick with him and hope for the best."

On what comes next:

“It’s the Great North Run next and then marathon season starts for me, with [Bank of America] Chicago Marathon and [TCS] New York City Marathon.”

On the race:

“Today was pretty good. It was the first time I did this race. I did the [TCS] London Marathon for the first time last year. I need to try and branch out into the road a bit more, so it was about trying to get some practise on how to race the roads.

“It was really helpful pushing with Simon [Lawson], he’s been racing the roads for years so just being able to follow his line and learn from him and the other athletes.

“The first couple of miles I felt like I was flying really well and then Dave [Weir] and JohnBoy [Smith] shot down a hill a lot quicker than me and that’s because they knew what they were doing."

On his podium finish:

“Athletes always want to be on the top of the podium but today I was here to learn and have fun. My track season has finished now so it was more about getting ready for winter and next year. So to come away with third place was unexpected.”

On the elusive course record and race conditions:

“I really want to get the course record here at some point and today is the closest I’ve been. It is always fun to get a course PB – it gets closer and closer each year so I’ve just got to keep on going until I can hopefully get it.

“Winning is always great but it is important to me to get the best out of myself. For me today, it was a race against myself and I always want to do better.

“It was a little bit windy but a fast day still, perfect weather for wheelchair racing. It’s warm but not too hot, and the crowds are always great out there."

On preparations for the rest of the season:

“This is the fastest I have ever been here, I think by over a minute, so it shows training is going well and I am in a good condition. We’ve got a few more weeks until the next marathon, so it is just keep on going and staying healthy. I am happy with where I am at.”

“Not a great day out there for me today, not the time I was hoping for but it is what it is. I did 58 [minutes] last year and was hoping for around the same but it just didn’t happen. 

“I just felt off. Training has been going well. Looking back I think it was just an off day so forget about it and move on to the next one.”

“This is my fastest time in four years. Since Cardiff Half Marathon four years ago, I’ve had back pain and life was up and down. 

“As an athlete, you don’t only dream about PBs, just being healthy this year is something I am very grateful for. I was able to run every day. 

“When I was on that Start Line, I just reminded myself of how grateful I am this year. I didn’t have any niggles. My own story is what has inspired me to here.

“Running is what saved me and got me integrated in society. I have lived in this country for ten years and without running I wouldn’t be who I am today. 

“It is a great achievement; I always had the dream of getting myself in this type of field and testing myself.”

“I am a British citizen now and that makes me very proud. I have lived in the UK for 10 years now and never thought I would be able to say I was a British citizen. What a moment.”

“It’s a shame to lose my streak – I was on three in a row but got done today by Kadar. But it was good. Normally the Big Half has been a final piece of the season whereas this year it is the start of the winter season for me.

“I’ve got the World Championship half marathon in two weeks and then the New York Marathon six weeks after that. 

“I landed from Park City on Friday morning, overnight flight, a bit tired and jetlagged but it was a really honest effort. I went out hard as I felt class early on but put myself in the bin a bit for the last three miles. The wind seemed to be in our face in every single direction today.

“Shame to lose, I never like losing. We raced each other at the Battersea 5K a few weeks ago and I managed to pull him back in whereas this time he pulled away – strong running.

“The plan was still to win. When you’re playing around with different pieces like travel and hard training, we didn’t really taper for this one, you can normally do it, it just hurts more. But in a field this good I just got caught at the end.”

“It was a good race and with a decent field. I am happy with that as I wanted to podium. I knew Jack would be tough to beat so I am just happy to be able to stay with him and Kadar for most of the race. The last few miles my legs gave up. I just came back from training at altitude, and I don’t think I recovered too well from it. 

“I have run this once before and I enjoyed it then. There are a lot of twists and turns in the middle, but it allows for a good start and finish. 

“I am doing the [TCS] Amsterdam Marathon in October and am looking forward to that.”

“I came into this race in a different place from previous years (following a broken toe). Coming back into training for the last four weeks so fitness was always going to be my biggest concern, but I had the fear over the broken toe as well. I haven't even run 13 miles in training! I have mentally ticked that box and can push on from here which is great. I eased into it because of nerves and could really attack in the second half.

“As an athlete you constantly prepare yourself against your former best. I am only recently back and two weeks ago I wasn't going to be here but there are glimmers that have kept me going in the last two weeks.

“I know I have the speed in me and I am focusing on. Coming back from injury you forget how to push yourself and hurt yourself in training let alone racing. Hopefully this is a step towards running in another marathon.”

“I feel happy enough. At nine miles I felt good, but the last bit was quite tough, and I think the amount of training came back to bite me. I have three really hard weeks coming up so I needed to back off a bit, but I have a lot to build on for those last five miles.

“I am running the Chicago Marathon in five weeks, but it felt good to race. First race since London. I was disappointed with it and found it hard and perhaps I wasn’t as confident as I could have been. I have a few hundred mile weeks coming up and it’s a hard place to be in, but I wish I could have run a bit better.

“Leading into London everyone was talking about the epilepsy and it really brought it back in and may have affected my mental preparation. I was worried it would impact my race. Raising awareness is important, of course, but I wish I could have just run my race. I am not just the runner with epilepsy anymore.”

“I have been training in South Africa; I did a half marathon earlier in the year and I had my son a year ago and they have just turned one. 

“It has taken me a lot to get back; I’ve had a lot of injuries I’ve just been pushing too hard too soon. This was my first bigger race back that I was looking to target and it was tough, I wanted to run a fast time and maybe I didn’t run as fast as I wanted to but I think we went through 10K in 33 minutes and then I suffered a little bit after that but I’m happy to dig in deep and hold on.

“Its been quite rewarding having a really big purpose in life, having my son come to these races and to grow up seeing that if you work hard and you are passionate about something it can bring a lot to your life. It has been tough but I feel like I’ve laid the base down for a bit of a comeback.”

“My son, Locky, is actually here today with my mum, unfortunately my husband couldn't get the time off but it has been a good time getting to see the family. It's tough [having a child] but it changes your life for the better.”