Just before the main events get underway on Sunday morning, the London Mini Marathon will see youngsters from across the UK looking to follow in Mo Farah’s footsteps by winning the hotly-contested junior event.

After finishing sixth in the trial race at Loughborough University last month to secure her spot on the East Midlands team, Lily Winfield will be hoping to put nerves to one side so she can enjoy the experience and do herself justice in the capital.

“I was most worried about qualifying. I knew it would be hard and didn’t know if I would get through but I’m looking forward to Sunday now,” said Lily.

The series of three mile races start at Old Billingsgate near Cannon Street Station in central London before following the same route to the Mall set to be trodden by the likes of Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba and marathon world record-holder Wilson Kipsang (along with thousands of others including HRC’s Lee, Rose, Marie, Dale and Carl) just over an hour or so later.

Joe Rainsford and Milly Newton have been Heanor RC’s only other representatives in the twenty-eight year history of this event, with Joe finishing 63rd in the U17 boys race in 2010 and Milly 153rd in the U15 girls race last year.

Lily has shown good form all winter over cross country, finishing third overall in the North Midlands XC season and securing top-100 finishes at both the English National XC Championships and Inter-Counties XC Championships earlier this year.

Despite this success, Lily admits she’s “probably strongest running on the road” and will be able to relax once she’s made the journey down to London from Loughborough tomorrow afternoon.

“I am nervous, especially as I will be going on my own to a big event. I’ve been to HRC sessions twice a week and have also competed most weekends, so I have got plenty of running in. But I’m just going to enjoy it and do the best I can.”