Reid fires up for Burnie

SOUTH Bendigo Athletics Club’s distance running star Archie Reid will use the upcoming Burnie 10 road race as part of the build-up to this year’s Zatopek ten-thousand-metre track classic.

Reid, 22, will be bound for Tasmania on 28 October to contest the 39th edition of Burnie’s road classic on the north-west coast.

It’s a first start at Burnie, but he has great memories of his three previous starts at Launceston’s Running Festival.

“Road racing is something I have always liked doing and have had some wins or high placings in,” said Echuca-based Reid.

“A big goal for this summer is the Zatopek 10 classic in December.”

One of Australia’s biggest track races, outside of nationals, the Zatopek will be run on 3 December at Melbourne’s Lakeside Stadium.

It will be Reid’s third start in the event.

On the track, cross-country or road, Reid’s running feats earned a scholarship and Cyril Michelsen Trust Fund award in Bendigo’s Sports Star of the Year awards.

The past two winters he has played a key role in Bendigo Region, aka Bats, being the top team in men’s premier division of Athletics Victoria’s XCR series.

Being able to complete more than 100 kilometres a week in training across the past six months has played a big part in Reid being fitter and stronger.

“A long-term goal is a marathon, but in the new year I will look at a half-marathon to race in Australia or possibly overseas,” he said of the 42.2-kilometre and 21.1- kilometre contests.