Abdinasir Mohamoud Elmi in the FNUL Xmas 5 Miler

Abdi had got the better of everyone he’d faced so far but in the FNUL Xmas 5 Miler it would likely he would face his toughest opposition yet

Unbeaten since he arrived on English shores, Abdinasir Mohamoud Elmi had proved to be a cut above everyone he’s faced in the Dorset region thus far, as well as all competition that had crossed his path in the Hampshire Leagues as well. Winning three of the Dorset Road League races, two Hampshire Road League races and all three Hampshire Cross Country League races, it has become very apparent that Abdi possesses a special talent and there are very few men out there who can match is speed.

Not just being satisfied with winning those races though, Abdi wanted to take on the challenge of beating the course records. He wanted to be the fastest man ever to have ran them. He managed that at the New Forest 10, when he ran the second fastest 10 mile time in the UK at 49:01. Then at the Wimborne 10 he scooped the £250 on offer for breaking the course record. He then went on to beat Billy Nixon’s old Boscombe 10k record when he blasted round in 30:31.

After winning the Victory 5 in 24:21 despite being taken the wrong way by the lead bike at mile three, Abdi wanted to test himself in another five miler. The detour had cost him quite a big of time time at the Victory 5 as it added an additional fifth of the mile to the distance. He’d actually gone through five miles in about 23:30.

Another opportunity came up for him though in the form of the Friday Night Under the Lights Xmas 5 Mile event. That was staged on the superfast Battersea Park circuit where so many elite athletes go to realise their full potential. There was £200 on offer for breaching the course record there, with the current holder Mahamed Mahamed of Southampton getting round in 23:20. That was the target for Abdi and he believed he could do it.

Joining Abdi in the five mile race was fellow Bournemouth AC member Barry Dolman. He’d just nailed his first sub 30 minute five time at the Victory 5, recording a 29:39. That was therefore the time to beat for him. He’s also usually right up there in the M55 division as well so a category win is an additional aim for him.

It had been a very good year for Barry on reflection. He’d netted two marathon PBs, one at London in the Spring, which was 2:23:58. He then went on to better that at Sydney in September, registering a 2:53:16. Then he ran the Berlin Marathon two weeks later. In November he recorded his fastest ever parkrun time as well, getting round in 17:35 at Poole.

The Friday Night Under the Lights races in Battersea Park are notorious for having many elite level runners in the field so this would be a situation where Abdi was coming up against some of the best runners in the south of England. Quite a few of those had 29 minute 10k times to their name or faster and were 14 minute 5k athletes. Abdi wasn’t thinking about the competition though. He was totally focused on the task in hand, which was to beat that course record and he knew what pace he would have to run at do it.

Abdinasir Mohamoud Elmi opens up a lead in the FNUL Xmas 5 Miler

Abdi quickly established an early lead

The race was being filmed so it could be uploaded to YouTube afterwards and there was a guy on a bike who was commentating on the race as he went round with the lead runners. As soon as the race began, Abdi did what he always does and shot off into an early lead. He was going at 4:30 pace and none of the other athletes in the field were prepared to try and keep up with that.

By about 30 seconds, Abdi had already established a significant lead over the rest of the field. The commentator was quite shocked at that. He was used to seeing the top runners in the country battling it out on the Battersea Park circuit but he’d never seen anything quite like this. As he progressed along, Abdi just kept moving further and further away from rest of the field. It was really quite staggering.

Abdi leading the FNUL Xmas 5 Miler

Abdi was going for the Battersea Park 5 Mile course record

When Mahamed Mahamed broke the course record he was running at 4:40 per mile pace. Abdi went through the first mile in 4:38, so he was bang on the money at that stage. Already he’d built a massive lead over the chasing pack and you could barely see them. He was racing the clock though and his focus was on maintaining his rhythm and keeping the tempo high.

Abdinasir Mohamoud Elmi in action in the FNUL Xmas 5 Miler

Abdi was going at around 4:40 mile pace

He continued into the second mile at the virtually the same pace, going through it in 4:42. He then followed that up with a 4:45 for his third mile, extending his lead even further. It really was an astonishing display from Abdi. He’d gone though 5k in about 14:29, which was up there with the faster 5k times often seen at in the Podium races.

Abdi motoring along in the FNUL Xmas 5 Miles

Even though he was going very fast, it was a controlled run from Abdi

For Abdi now it was all about staying strong for the last couple of miles and not allowing the intensity to drop at all. Remaining calm and collected throughout, Abdi kept pushing on, moving past runners from the first wave who had started their race earlier. Going through his fourth mile in 4:46, he then had just one mile left to go.

There was even a chance that Abdi could challenge the fastest UK time of the year which was 23:04. Keeping the tempo high all the way to the line, Abdi finished with a superfast 4:39 paced final mile and that saw him go over the chip matt in an incredible time of 23:10. He’d taken 10 seconds off the course record and no one could really quite believe what they were seeing. It was history being made before their eyes.

Abdinasir Mohamoud Elmi racing the FNUL Xmas 5 Miler

Abdi had blasted round quickly enough to smash the course record

On his first time of racing in London, Abdi had shown no fear. He’d walked into the lion’s den and had shown no signs of intimidation. He’d taken on a field filled with top class, elite level talents, and he’d absolutely blown them all away.

Abdinasir Mohamoud Elmi on his way to winning the FNUL Xmas 5 Miler

It was just outside the fastest time in the UK for 2024 for Abdi

Second place went to Cameron Allan of Houghton Harriers in 23:31 and Andrew Penney of Hercules Wimbledon completed the top three in 23:32. Samuel Gabreselassie of Belgrave Harriers was fourth in 23:35, with Ben Alcock of Bedford & County taking fifth in 23:38.

It might have been a fair way down the field but Barry Dolman was having a brilliant run himself. He went through the first mile in 5:59 before posting a 5:50 for his second mile. For his next two miles he was a second or so over six minute mile pace before raising it to 5:50 for his final split.

Barry Dolman in the FNUL Xmas 5 Miler

Barry Dolman was going to see if he could get a five mile PB for the second time in a month

It was a strong run from Barry and he’d gone over the line in a magnificent time of 28:55. He’d only broken 30 minutes for the first time a few weeks ago and now he’d suddenly gone under 29 as well. It was a truly fantastic result for Barry. That put him in 133rd place overall and he’d taken second place in the M55 category. Terry Booth of Guildford & Goldalming had finished first in that category, getting round in 28:22.

Abdi being interviewed after the race

Abdi getting interviewed after the race

It was a fine way to end his year of racing for Barry. It wasn’t quite the end of the year in racing terms for Abdi though. He had one more race to go and that would see him return to Battersea Park for the Podium 5k race. There were likely to be a handful of athletes capable of getting under 14 minutes in that one so it was very possible they could give Abdi a run for his money. The question was, would he end a terrific year on a high, or would he finally meet his match?

Abdi after winning the FNUL Xmas 5 Miler

It was very much mission accomplished for Abdi and his trip to London had been a success