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- Caryl Granville Moore’S Latest Fightback As Welsh Star Breaks Record She Set Years Ago
Caryl Granville Moore’s career has been punctuated by serious injuries as well as two potentially life-threatening illness set-backs in the past five years.
But true to form the sprinter has once again fought back to somewhere approaching the shape of her life after all but retiring from athletics.
And she attributing part of her success to Zwift – the online training and racing phenomenon which has helped restore her fitness and confidence.
Last weekend, the Swansea Harrier broke the Welsh Senior Track and Field 400m hurdles championship best record she set at the same event in 2013.
Still breathless after her win, a tearful Granville Moore said: “As a 35-year-old now I’m a bit emotional, because I’ve always known I've been able to still run fast, even while I'm getting older.
“So it's nice to actually prove it. And it wasn't a technically good run. It gives me lots of confidence. The plan is to go to European Masters in October and try and do my best there.”
In the dozen years between her championship best performances, Granville Moore’s career has seen soaring highs and life-threatening lows.
In 2018, the hurdler represented Wales at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia over both the 100m and 400m hurdles after missing the 2014 Glasgow games due to a serious foot injury, which kept her out of action for two years.
But since that highlight in Australia, Granville Moore has suffered medical issues that potentially endangered her life, let alone her athletics career.
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Factor V Leiden, a mutation of one of the clotting factors in human blood, means that Granville Moore is susceptible to clots.
Deep vein thrombosis in 2020 followed by a pulmonary embolism in 2021 ultimately ended her hopes of competing in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham when a place on the Welsh team was within her grasp.
Granville Moore explained: “I had a DVT in 2020, came back then in 2021, and had a really good year. I was running 57 seconds every single race but I needed. 56.9 so I was almost there.
“And then I got a pulmonary embolism, and it was nasty. I've got Factor V Leiden, which means I'm just at a higher risk of blood clots.
“But for me to have two back to back within two years was quite rare. And yeah, the pulmonary embolism was not nice. I wasn’t allowed to exercise at all for three months. I wasn’t event allowed to go for walks.
“It knocked me out, knocked my confidence. Since then, I've just struggled with confidence.”
However, having virtually retired from top level competition, the multiple Welsh champion has discovered a new enthusiasm for athletics via an unusual route.
“This year, I've just cross trained, I've started doing Zwift racing, I went from 600 followers in the first month to 10,600 just doing bike races online," she said.
“But it's made me so fit!"
On Sunday, Granville Moore regained the national 400m hurdle title she last won in 2021 as she clocked 58.42, to hold off the challenge of rising under-20 athlete Sophie Lisk (Cardiff Athletics), who registered a personal best of 59.90
Granville Moore’s time improved her own championship best of 58.49, which she set claiming the title in 2013.
“That's my fastest time, I think, since 2021, so pre pulmonary embolism,” said Granville Moore, who claims her new fitness regime has helped restore her confidence and her love for athletics.
“I've always loved athletics, but I wasn't enjoying it when it was just so serious, trying to chase times and then constantly getting knocked back or not selected for things. I was just feeling a bit s*** about myself . . . if that's the right word?!
“So on the start line today I was like, ‘you bloody go for it, you don't give in’. I was in lane seven, so I was like, ‘just make them all work’.
“And I'm really glad I dragged Sophie to sub-60 for the first time too. So, yeah, I'm ecstatic, it's nice to be back!
“I’ve been competing this season in the national leagues and stuff. In the first National League fixture I had lots of comments, some people saying ‘why don't you let the youngsters have a chance?’ and stuff.
“So I knew I was in shape. I'm going to have to consider whether I do the British Champs or not, that would be quite overwhelming for me, just having all the big names there and stuff.
“But after today, I might give it a go! It would be nice to be in the final with all these 20-year-olds!”
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Asked whether she would like one last crack at a Commonwealth Games next year – especially as it’s back in Glasgow - Granville Moore said: “If the standard was the same as previous years, I probably would be thinking of it.
“But I would have to run a Welsh record. I think the standard this time is 56.1. My PB is 56.5. I think it's too much.”
For now, the important thing is that Granville Moore is fit, healthy and enjoying athletics again.
“I’m enjoying it a lot more now,” she said. “With the Zwift racing, I'm doing a race every week, and so if I get beaten, it doesn't matter.
“Whereas with athletics because I’d been ill, I was coming back and then all the youngsters had moved up and were beating me. I’d think ‘you used to beat them, why are you letting them beat you’? There were just too many negative thoughts on start online.
“But now I'm trying to be more positive on the start line. And seems to be working! So I'll just keep doing that and see what happens.”
