Olivia Tsim Runs Second Cross Country Race In 10 Years . . . And Becomes Welsh Champion

By Owen Morgan

Former sprinter Olivia Tsim claimed her first Welsh Cross Country title in Brecon on Saturday.

The Pontypridd Roadents AC runner, whose athletics career has been dogged by injuries, was competing at her first
cross country race in more than 10 years.

However, she dominated the 6.89km race from the start and eventually crossed the line in 23:55 to take the senior
women’s title ahead of Lucy Marland, of Les Croupiers Running Club and Martha Owen, of Deeside AAC.

The twisty, undulating course at the foot of the Brecon Beacons was a far cry from 100 and 200m sprints, of Tsim’s
early athletics days.

But in recent years Tsim, who is a parkrun regular, has developed into an accomplished distance runner, particularly on
the roads.

Now she has successfully turned her attention to cross country – an experience she thoroughly enjoyed.

“It felt really good,” said Tsim. “It was tough – the wind was hard and the hills killed – but I was really, really happy. It’s
only my second cross country in 10-and-a-half years, so, yeah, glad to be back to it.

“I hadn’t done cross country since high school, I was 16 I think when I ran my last one.”

Tsim’s Development with Online Training Sessions

Olivia Tsim, of Pontypridd Roadents, enjoying herself at the front of the field in Brecon. Pic: Owen Morgan

Since then things haven’t always run smoothly for Tsim, who competed as a sprinter until 2016 before converting to the
longer distances away from the track.

But her development has come on in leaps and bounds over the past couple of seasons having managed her injury
problems.

This has been thanks in part to following the online endurance circuit sessions which were originally set up during
lockdown by Cardiff Met lecturer and successful coach James Thie.

“I’ve suffered with my ankles in the past,” says Tsim. “But I’ve been doing a lot more strength work with James Thie’s
ankle exercise on his online workouts. They’ve done wonders to strengthen my ligaments around there.

“Touch wood, at the moment, I’m managing to run on off-road surfaces a lot more easily.”

It’s on the road where Tsim has been making her name over the past couple of years in particular – during which time
she has lowered her 5k, 10k and half marathon personal bests to 16:20, 33:48 and 73:38 respectively.

Last year she gained victories at the Cardiff Bay, Barry Island, Richard Burton and Caerphilly 10ks. She also set a new
personal best finishing 24th at the Copenhagen Half Marathon.

Asked what’s been behind her recent progression, Tsim said: “Consistency is a huge thing, which comes with not being
injured. I’ve been fuelling myself a lot better too.

“I’ve been doing the strength and conditioning side of things. I am seeing a lot of benefit from that. And just being a bit
more sensible with how much I’m running as well.

“I try and cross train a lot more these days. So I’m not hitting the roads – the tarmac surfaces – often. So that’s helped.”

Challenges Faced by Tsim on the Road to the Lisbon Half Marathon