Women's Running READERS ' CHOICE AWARDS 2023
A huge thanks to all of you who took part in this year’s Women’s Running Readers’ Choice Awards. Hundreds of you voted in 18 categories, including your favourite races, products, charities and people. And here are your worthy winners…
Words: Rachel Ifans
At Women’s Running, you are very important to us. Not just because you buy the magazine and keep us gainfully employed, but because we are all part of the same community and we all have skills and experience to share with others.
Some of our favourite pages in the magazine are the ones which feature you guys; from the questions and answers and the stories from your run clubs to the warrior interviews, the confessions and the race memories, these are the parts of the magazine where we see our community thriving.
We’re also aware that, in many cases, you guys are just as expert as us. And that’s why we run a reader awards process each year. You are the ones testing kit, training, fuelling, taking part in races and raising money on a daily and weekly basis. You know which leggings scooch down by the time you’ve got to the end of the road, which gel fuel you can’t rip open on the go, which headphones bounce and rub, and which tech is fiddly.
So, we’re handing the next few pages over to you. Here’s a list of what you love, who you admire, races you’ll never forget and kit you can’t live without – it’s over to you!
FAVOURITE HEALTH & FITNESS INFLUENCERWinner Eilish McColgan
She needs no introduction… Yes, she’s a solid gold hero thanks to the stellar couple of years she’s had on and off the track, but it’s not just that. You also love that she’s so down to earth despite her awesome athletic pedigree and has such a fab work ethic. And you applaud the non-profit organisation (Giving Back to Track) she launched with partner Michael Rimmer, which aims to encourage young people into athletics and fund the next generation of female athletes.
You’re also inspired by the fact Eilish was over 30 in 2022 when she had the season of her life. She broke all sorts of records, starting with the Dubai 5K in February when she smashed Paula Radcliffe’s 2013 record by three seconds and continuing through the year with medals in the Commonwealth Champs, the Europeans, the Great Manchester Run and the London Big Half. In March 2023, she broke Radcliffe’s 10,000m British record and a few weeks later demolished her own half marathon record at the Berlin Marathon, becoming the second British wom
