South Staffordshsire College athlete has best ever season

Phil Clamp, a lecturer in Public Services at the Tamworth campus of South Staffordshire College is looking forward to 2010, having completed his most successful ever season in 2009.

The middle and long distance runner represented England at cross country and Great Britain at the European Indoor Championships with a haul of medals for his club, internationally-renowned Tipton Harriers, including Team Gold in 12 stage road relays back in April.

Combining a training regime with a demanding job requires a high degree of commitment. Phil's description of his programme certainly inspires more than a little admiration from his students and from those of us struggling with our New Year resolutions.

"My plan now is to train hard by running 6 or 7 days a week, sometimes twice a day to reach my weekly target of at least 75 miles. This may seem a little excessive to most people but this is the norm for elite athletes. I also include core, flexibility and strength conditioning work. Obviously it's tough but well worth it when you put your National vest on".

In the early part of 2010 Phil Clamp will be competing in four major events including the National Masters cross country at Stormont, Belfast in March.

On the international front, there is the European Outdoors in the summer and Phil may also have the opportunity to go out to New Zealand for 12 months. Looking further ahead there are the World Masters in Sacramento, California in 2011.

It doesn't look as if South Staffordshire College's champion athlete is likely to be taking things easy this year.

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