RUNNING machine Bob Atkinson is preparing to take on the best on the planet at the World Masters Athletics Championships in France.

The veteran Barrow and Furness Striders AC ace will compete in the 55-59 age group 8km cross-country event in Lyon on Tuesday as he looks to make his mark at international level once again.

Atkinson is no stranger to taking on global competition.

He has represented England in the British and Irish International Masters Cross Country Home Nations on a regular basis, and is the current Veterans 55-59 category champion.

The 57-year-old flier has also represented Great Britain in triathlon’s World Masters series, while this is the second time he will have worn the GB colours in the World Masters cross-country series, having finished ninth at Gateshead, when he was in his early 40s.

Atkinson has been clocking up the miles in preparation, including sessions at the new Furness Academy track under the guidance of Striders coach Pat Miller.

“I have been training hard and have done a few sessions on the track with the club,” he said. “Pat Miller is a great coach and puts a lot of work in.”

One thing Atkinson will not be fully prepared for is the searing summer heat of Lyon.

He travelled to France with wife Christine yesterday, so at least he will have a couple of days to escape the patchy British summer weather and try and acclimatize.

“The temperature is forecast to be 30 and it’s 15 here!,” said the two-times Keswick to Barrow winner.

“The race is on the first day of competition and my race is embedded in the M35-M55 age groups at 11.30am.

“It’s just my luck as the M60s and above are running at 8am, but I will give it a go though.”

Atkinson has had to put his other sporting passion of triathlon to one side for a few weeks to concentrate on his World Masters bid.

His Lyon quest means he had to sacrifice a shot at the British Tri championships, which took place in Liverpool last weekend – a race he was keen to do well after unluckily getting knocked off his bike last year

But if Atkinson succeeds in Lyon that decision will have been well and truly justified.