Logan Smith has been selected to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the World 50km Championships, a major milestone in the Cromer runner’s career.
Smith, who works at Sportlink in Taverham, Norwich, is a member of City of Norwich AC and trains under coach James Senior with the Norwich Distance Squad.
The championships, originally scheduled for December 2025, were postponed and have now been rearranged for March 14 in New Delhi, India.
The race will be contested over a flat 5km loop, run 10 times, with athletes starting in the early hours of the morning to manage the heat and humidity.
For Smith, it will be his first appearance in a Great Britain and Northern Ireland vest – and his first attempt at the 50km distance.
“It’s been a pretty surreal last seven days,” Smith said on the Snail & Pace podcast. “I wasn’t expecting it at the start of the year, but when it came along I wasn’t really going to turn it down. It’s not a distance I’ve raced before, but it’s a chance to wear a British vest, visit a new country and see what happens.”
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Smith, a regular on the Sportlink Grand Prix circuit, set his marathon personal best of 2:15:23 at the London Marathon last year, and believes the step up to 50km is a natural extension of his endurance profile.
“It’s only eight kilometres more than a marathon,” he explained. “After races like Frankfurt and London, I’ve always felt I could keep going. I’m not saying it’s easy – it’s a completely different race – but I feel confident I can give it a good go.”
The selection has prompted a rethink of Smith’s spring marathon plans, with the Seville Marathon later this month now playing a supporting role rather than being the main target.
“Seville was always the big goal – flat, fast, somewhere to run quick,” Smith said. “But this opportunity might never come around again. Flat, fast marathons are always there. A world championship vest isn’t.”
As a result, Smith will now use Seville as a controlled long run, focusing on running conservatively in the first half and finishing strongly, before turning his full attention to the 50km championships.
“I see this as a stepping stone,” he added. “It’s not the be-all and end-all, but it’s a chance to experience championship racing, the environment, the pressure – and hopefully use that going forward. Once you’ve had a taste of it, you want it again.”
Smith will travel to India earlier in race week to acclimatise before lining up against a strong international field, marking a proud moment for both City of Norwich AC and Sportlink.
Got a race in the diary? Why not sign up for the Mike Groves 10K on Sunday, March 8 – places available here.