It’s not every day you accidentally qualify to represent your country… but then again, not everyone is Caroline Monaghan.

Known across Europe’s marathon circuits (and pub gardens) for clocking up finish lines like most of us clock up excuses, Caroline and her equally marathon-mad husband Paul (both proud members of the 100 Marathon Club) were recently spotted not running 26.2 miles. Yes, you read that right.

A couple of weeks ago, while enjoying a weekend in the picturesque town of Bideford, the duo decided to “just do a little 10K” — as you do on a casual getaway. Caroline, being the organised and quietly ambitious runner she is, figured she’d register the race with the England Masters Programme. You know, just in case.

Well, turns out it wasn’t just a jog by the sea. Caroline only went and finished 2nd lady in the V45 category… out of over a thousand runners! Then she went off to enjoy the rest of her Devon weekend with Paul, Pete, and Giggsy — probably with some well-earned chips and maybe even a cider.

That was that. Or so she thought.

A week later, an email landed in her inbox with the words:

“Huge congratulations on qualifying to represent your country as a master’s athlete…”

Cue shocked silence, confused frown, brief suspicion of fraud, and then sudden realisation:
“I was gobsmacked,” Caroline said. “At first I thought it was a hoax… then I remembered I actually did apply.”

And just like that — Caroline Monaghan is officially an England athlete!

She adds, “I told Paul immediately, and he was over the moon. Looks like I need to put the marathons on pause and start getting serious about 10Ks. My new training regime has (accidentally) paid off!”

Congratulations Caroline

Go smash it in the England vest!