CARLSBAD — No one questions Sam Atkin’s ability to run fast. The 32-year-old from Great Britain is a two-time Olympian and at one time was the British record holder across 3,000 meters indoors and the 5K on the road. Getting to the starting line healthy, that’s Akin’s challenge. He has been sidelined by foot injuries and illness too many times to count. When it comes to training, Atkin said: “I’m one of those athletes that needs to be reined in.” But when healthy, watch out. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon for the 39th Carlsbad 5000, Atkin put his talent on display, winning the race nicknamed “The World’s Fastest 5K” in 13 minutes, 24 seconds. Atkin, who now lives outside Boulder, Colo., beat American Brian Barraza by eight seconds. In the women’s pro race, 23-year-old Ethiopian Lemlem Hailu sped to a win in 15:13, 17 seconds ahead of Mexico’s Laura Galvan, who was trying to become the first woman to win the race three years in a row. Atkin and Hailu each won $5,000. Atkin qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but failed to finish his 10,000 heat after being sidelined by food poisoning and COVID shortly before the race. He qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 5,000 but failed to get out of his heat after being nagged by an Achilles injury. The Carlsbad 5000 was his first race since the Paris Games. To help keep him healthy, Atkin moved his training base to Boulder and is being coached by Pete Julian. “He’s kept me more controlled,” said Atkin. “I’m one who wants to do some hard workouts when it’s not the time to do it. I think he’s trying to time it. It’s a long season. It’s easy to get in shape too early.” Atkin, Barraza and Arturs Medveds of Laos were running as a pack of three until they made the U-turn at the south end of Carlsbad Boulevard, about two kilometers into the race. Atkin made a move. Barraza and Medveds faded. “I kind of hesitated at the turn,” said Atkin. “Like, ‘Should I go?’ Then it was evident I should push it a little (when Barraza and Medveds struggled to keep pace). I saw that we were going fast and I was like, ‘I’m not sure what shape I’m in, but maybe I could get my record.’ ” Atkin was running only his second road race ever, the other a 5K that he finished in 13:16. He missed the PR by eight seconds, but given that the new Carlsbad course, first run last year, is challenging, with the second half uphill, his result was promising. “A good start for a long season,” he said. Hailu was even more dominant. Although just 23, Hailu has been a promising runner for some time. At 16, she won the World Youth 1,500 meter championship. She qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in the 1,500 and at 20 won the world indoor championship in the 3,000. “She’s world class,” said Galvan. Like Atkin, Hailu downshifted and pulled away at the turnaround. “She took off and it was a little bit hard for me to keep right behind her,” said Galvan. “Eventually, the gap got farther and farther.” Hailu does not speak English and no translator was made available. Galvan, though, knew winning the race for the third year in a row would be difficult. She’s focusing on the 10,000, not shorter races. “I’ve been doing a lot of longer and slower runs,” she said. “I haven’t done any speed training.” The day featured nine races for runners and walkers of varying skills, from youths to masters, one walker being 90 years old. The event attracted nearly 8,000 participants, according to race officials. As for Atkin, he said he prefers training in the United States as opposed to Great Britain. “There’s more opportunities,” he said. “Better facilities, altitude. It’s easy to train at good places. No one wants to live in the cold, wet UK.”