Commonwealth Games gold medallist Michael Shelley will not race Gold Coast half-marathon

Michael Shelley is focused on a 10km Sydney race, rather than the Gold Coast half-marathon. Picture: Adam Head Source: CourierMail

Shelley, 31, planned to race the half-marathon on the Gold Coast next weekend but said gruelling training before the Sydney Harbour 10km race had interrupted preparations for his home event.

“It will be great racing over the weekend and unfortunately it just doesn’t fit with my program this year,” he said.

“It would have been great to compete … it usually enjoys great conditions.”

Shelley said he was happy with his progress toward the 10km event on July 12.

“The last couple of weeks have been in the 190s (km) so it’s been pretty hard in terms of training at the moment,” he said.

“I’ve been running every day and having a session basically every second day.

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“I have an afternoon off after I do a long one and that’s about the only time I get off at the moment.

“It’s pretty full on training at the moment.”

Marathon officials rate the man most likely to fill Shelley’s place as the favourite in the half-marathon as Japanese runner Takehiro Deki.

Deki, 25, recorded the ninth fastest Japanese marathon debut in history and has the pedigree to win the ASICS Half Marathon on the Gold Coast.

He will no doubt be pushed by the event’s 2012 winner, Liam Adams.

American Sara Hall and Australian Jessica Trengove will be standouts in the women’s half-marathon field.

Trengove, 27, took bronze at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and managed to defeat cross country and steeplechase champion Hall in the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon this year.

Shelley said Trengove had shown form recently and he predicted the race to be a close one.

“Jess is running pretty well at the moment so I’m sure she’ll give it a good shake come race day … I think she just set a PB (personal best) recently,” he said.

“It will be a good race to see how they go.”

The Gold Coast Marathon will be run next weekend.