DETERMINED Worcestershire runner Emma Gooderham conquered the heat to be crowned English women’s 50-kilometre champion.

The Wyre Piddle mother-of-two won the race in a personal best time of three hours and 32 minutes at the championships in Boddington, Gloucestershire.

Gooderham, a teacher at Peopleton’s Bowbrook House School, was competing at the distance for the first time in more than two years having struggled with injury.

The win means she has now qualified for the 50km World Championships in Assen, Holland, in August, as well as the Commonwealth ultra-distance championships later in the year.

Starting at 11.15am in blistering heat, the 40-year-old maintained a steady pace by averaging six minutes and 50 seconds per mile.

Other competitors did not fare so well, however, dropping out or slowing considerably due to the intense midday heat.

Gooderham ran the last 10 miles of the race quicker than anyone in the field, including the men. She said: “The conditions were particularly hard.

“I have never raced in such warm conditions but I had in the back of my mind that, if I could cope with the heat, it would be no problem in the world 50K in August when it could potentially be warmer.

“Thankfully, a kind man was hosing us down as we went past his house on each lap but, apart from that, there was no rest from the sun on the entire course.”

Since her comeback from injury, Gooderham has gone from strength to strength, setting personal bests with wins at the Crowle 10K with a course record of 36 minutes and four seconds.

She also starred at the Tewkesbury half-marathon with a time of 1.20.38.

It has been a hard couple of years for Gooderham who added: “I couldn’t have done this without the support of my family and friends and the people who have got me back running.”