Ealing Eagles Go International

Two local runners chosen to represent their home nations in the Great North Run

(Che Odlum-De Vivenot)

Two Ealing runners have been picked to represent their home nations in this year’s Great North Run on Sunday 11th September.  

 Following an alert from Ealing Eagles Running Club, Che Odlum-De Vivenot and Marija Riteska Jones became aware of the Great North Run’s campaign to recruit a runner from each of the 193 United Nations countries to take part in the popular half marathon in Newcastle.

Che will be representing St. Lucia and Marija will be representing Macedonia as part of this world record breaking attempt.

Marija found out that there was an opportunity for her to represent Macedonia via the Ealing Eagles, as her husband Paul is an active member. Marija only started running in 2015 and was planning to make the 2016 Ealing Half Marathon her first half marathon.

Marija said ‘despite it only being two weeks before the Ealing Half, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to represent my country!’

Che has been a member of Ealing Eagles since 2014.  Inspired by the London 2012 Olympic Games, Che along with her husband James and children Dominic and Mia made a pact to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle. James joined the Ealing Eagles and Che later followed his example and began to train with the popular Eagles Beginner’s Group and was soon able to run 5k. As a family, they regularly run and volunteer at Ealing Eagles events and Gunnersbury parkrun.

The Great North Run will be Che’s third half marathon, after the award-winning Ealing Half Marathon in September 2015 and the exotic Marrakech Half Marathon in January 2016.

She said: ''I am completely overwhelmed at the happy turn of events that led from my humble wish to get our family more active to being an international runner in the Great North Run and representing the country where I was born.''

‘This is the culmination of two challenging years of pushing myself to keep running and is proof of the enduring legacy of the London 2012 Olympians which continues to inspire ordinary families. It is also a testament to range of opportunities to get active in the local areas such as parkrun and the Ealing Half Marathon. I have only continued to run over the last two years because of the encouragement of the Ealing Eagles running club and the guidance of dedicated volunteers and coache.''

On the day, Che will be wearing custom made St. Lucia leggings along with her Ealing Eagles club vest. Che said ‘it means a great deal to me to have the opportunity to experience a moment of being an international runner in one of the best mass participation running events in the world, representing St. Lucia and the Ealing Eagles running club’.

6th September 2016