ANNABLOG 2011

ANNABLOG FOR 2011

 

Bare facts. I ended the year with 1455 miles ( 2342 K ), compared with 1470 in 2010,and 1433.5 in 2009. Not bad considering the injuries I sustained. This brought my lifetime recorded distance to 155,916 miles ( 250,922 K ) I have just completed my 18th training log and begun my 19th. The first one was started in September 1953.

 

I raced 34 times in 2011.

 

Of  2012 ? I will probably race less. I would like to find some new countries to race in : Albania, Vietnam, India, Venezuela, Nicaragua........?

 

The format of the blog will change in order to keep it current and more interesting. 

 


December 2011

WEEK 49

Click to visit the South Manchester Park Run website
PARKRUN  WOODBANK PARK  STOCKPORT

 

I continued with my quest to sample all the Parkruns in my local area. This one was only about 5 miles from where I live. I drove there and warmed up 31 minutes in order to get a few extra miles in the bag. I found this course fairly difficult as after the flat of Woodbank Park there are two excursions in to Vernon Park, two steep downs followed by two steep climbs. On the second lap I was catching runner in black with “100"  ( Parkruns ) on the back of his vest. I headed him with about 500m to go and was still ahead as we turned towards the running track. Suddenly someone else shot past, Stockport Harrier, Michael Thirsk.  “100" who was Peter Samuelson, Spectrum Striders, overtook me as well. My heart was hammering and telling me to back off, which I did. My time 27:07, knock off 2 seconds to cross the start line equals 27:05. I was 67th out of 116, and first O/70. I ran back to my car and was home before 10:00. 

 

Tuesday I flew with Graham Richards and Jackie Turnbull to Austin, Texas to attend an exhibition: The Running Event 2011, staying at the Omni Downtown Hotel. I had run in the morning in Hyde so got straight to bed after a long and diverted flight. In the morning I ran down to the Town Lake, which is more like a river, and did an out and back, encountering dozens of runners for a 4.5 miler. I had trained hard for a 5 K associated with the show, early Friday morning. Wednesday evening we walked to the opening of the show and almost there I tripped on a curb and fell forward banging my knee. I seemed to be fine. The next morning I enjoyed a “wander run“ to the east of the city. No obvious problem with my knee.


 

Click to visit the Running Event, Texas webpage
 

THE INDIE 5K AUSTIN, TEXAS

 


Friday morning we competitors were bussed out to Zilker Park for the race. It was early and still dark. As dawn arrived I warmed up. What a wonderful park this would be for training with trails along both sides of a river. It was cold so I ran in tights. I did not feel that good on this hilly course but did my best and clocked 25:59 after a pretty disastrous first mile in 8:50. My left knee had not troubled me. The winner, Benson Cheruiyot, NV Century, ran 15:03. The first woman, Megan Nedio, Karhu NA, 17:23.


I was 279th out of 360.

 

I flew home that afternoon. The week ended with 31 miles.

 

WEEK 50 

 

On the first run of the week my left knee was very sore. Why? Perhaps sitting on two planes for such a long time. On the second and third runs the knee was sore all the way. On the fourth and fifth days the knee was only sore at first and on the sixth and seventh days the pain seemed to have gone. So 30 miles of gentle running had cured the injury.

 

 

 

WEEK 51

 

The previous week I had had to contend with ice and snow and Saturday 17th December I ran 3.5 miles on slush covered ice. I had promised Andy O'Sullivan I would race the next day but awoke to a further fall of snow. I rang Andy. The race was definitely going ahead at 11:30.

 

 



THE LYNNE EDMONDSEN MEMORIAL, COWM RESERVOIR

 

 

 

This was a multi-terrain race from near the Sportsman pub in Whitworth. From the word go I struggled and was almost last. There was snow, slush and ice. Up a steep hill then one full lap of Cowm reservoir, where I managed to pass three, then head out onto bridle paths, mainly uphill and mainly full of snow, mud and icy water. At the top of the climb I had almost caught Northern Vet, Tom Finch, a runner in my age group. We then had to descend on icy roads, only partly gritted. I was careful. Tom disappeared ahead, and I could hear someone behind me. As we reached the flat roads, pride forced me to give everything I had and I just managed to hold off a young woman, not in a club, K. Leech who I had overtaken much earlier in the race. 35 finished and I was 28th in 41:38. First home, L. Morley, Ilkley H., 25:22; 1st F, Sally Morley, Ilkley H, 29:16.

 

The race had not done my knee any good. Mid-week I wrote in my log, “Decided to see if less mileage would help my knee." But after a couple of 2.5 milers longer runs crept in. The week ended with 25.5 miles when it should have been more like 20 miles.

 

WEEK 52 

 

As far as running goes Christmas Day is just like any other except there is usually less traffic on the roads but a few more new kiddies’ bikes on my railway trail. Stupidly, I forgot my vow to reduce my mileage and ran 3 X 3.5 milers before my final race of the year and another favourite:

 


THE RIBBLE VALLEY 10 K CLITHEROE

 

I was invited and given No. 1. An honour indeed. I was not there to race but to run round, enjoy the event and try not to aggravate my poorly left knee. I stood at the back of a huge field of runners. No pressure. It was chip timing. My first 3 K went 5:51, 5:54 and 5:51. I did not feel comfortable but I could talk. About that point I got chatting to a big guy, No. 339, Nigel Hall of Leigh Harriers. We ran a couple of K's, 5:54 and 5:38, with 75 year old Brian Scully of Accrington Road Runners, before moving away. I kept telling him to cut the corners.  It was not dangerous as the roads were closed to traffic. He kept asking me at each K, “Are we going to beat the hour?” We began to speed up and I was able to tell him we were. Our 5 K split had been 29:09 and we only had to equal that to get close to 58 minutes. Our 6th and 7th K's were 5:42 and 5:49. “Cut the corners, cut the corners!" Next a 5:22, then a 5:18. The last K includes a steep down then a steep up. I turned to him and said we could beat 57 minutes. He speeded up on the home straight then thought better of it and let me go ahead. A last K of 5:20 gave me 56:39. 793rd out of 896 finishers. 89% of runners ahead!

 

The race winner was Jonny Howard, Liverpool H & AC, 29:10; first woman, Katrina Wooton, Bedford and County AC, 33:57.

 

As usual a fantastic race. Perfect conditions and great organisation. Well done to Blackburn Harriers.

 

Three - X - 3.5 miles, the first of these from the house of our friends, Harry and Sylvia Smith, in Barnoldswick, of which my log reports, “Could feel exhaustion and tired heart from yesterday, “completed the week with 28 miles.  2.5 miles the next day completed the year with the comment, “Cutting back the distance as left knee not responding / healing very well."

 



November 2011

WEEK 45
 

Click to visit the Sports Tours International website


       

The previous week we had travelled by train to New York with Paul Rimmer and his wife Jill who had been in Washington to look after the Sportstours International group of marathon runners. We stayed at the Marriott Marquis Hotel just off Times Square. At first I was worried about training in all the traffic but after studying a map headed off in the early morning down 45th street west until I reached the Hudson River. There I discovered a riverside pedestrian trail which gave me, out and back, some great 3.5 mile runs. Only once did I run up to Central Park and that was after Vince Regan and his team had arrived to take care of the huge Sports Tours group of marathon runners. It was a group run in a park alive with runners from all nations. The night before I had had the honour of carrying the Union Jack for the British group in the Parade of Nations. We were kept standing for about one and a half hours before we moved and it was very cold !

 

Click to visit the New York Road Runners Dash to the line 5k results

THE NYC DASH TO THE FINISH LINE 5K    

 

The snow that had hit us in Washington had devastated Central Park and work had continued for days clearing fallen trees and dangerous branches to prepare for the finish of the marathon and our 5 K the day before. The start was by the United Nations Building on 1ST Avenue at 8:30 am. I ran down from the hotel and complete 1.4 miles warm-up so that I could put 4.5 miles in my training log after the race. It was another cold day and I wore tights, long sleeve T and singlet plus cap and gloves. It was slightly uphill overall and the streets were packed; 5346 finishers. I struggled. Miles of 8:47, 8:17 and 8:23 plus 51 seconds got me to the finish in 26:18. I was 1253rd getting me ahead of 77% of runners this time and 2nd in the 70 - 74 age group to Rubin J. Coriat Snr, Houston, 25:18.

 

First was Chris Thompson, UK,  13:51. First woman, Sara Hall, 13:51.  2467 men and 2870 women finished.

 

The next we flew home. 5 runs there gave me 27.5 miles for the week.

 

October had passed with 118.5 miles ( 191K ) bringing my lifetime total to 155,609.5 miles ( 250,429K )

 


Ready for off again. Photo credit - Sports Tours International

 

 

WEEK 46 

GETTING GOING AGAIN

 
The results of the last two weeks have convinced me that I am over my pulled hamstring and it is time to start training again, especially as I have a 5 K race in Austin, Texas on December 9th which could be on a hilly course. My short term plan is :
1  Race every weekend, including local Parkruns where necessary.
2  Include "speedwork" twice a week.
3 Hit 30 miles each week.


Click to visit the South Manchester Park Run website

MANCHESTER PLATT FIELDS PARKRUN

 

I got there early and did a 2.4 mile warm up. The run was warm enough for shorts. At the off I seemed to be left behind by practically everyone. I struggled the whole way. My K's went : 5:25, which gave me no confidence; 4:45, that was better; 5:01, OK; 5:16, obviously tiring but showing a possible sub - 26 minute finish; and 4:54 with some effort. 25:22 . Best for a good while. Half a mile warm down to the car. My stomach had not felt right and maybe a banana followed by a jam toast was not ideal for me . Next week I will try porridge.

The results were on the net by afternoon. I was 94th out of 171 ( in front of 45% of the field,) and 2nd MV 70 to John Riley, N vets AC, 24:24. The first past the line was "unknown," maybe he was not registered.So, first, Rob Sloane, Trafford AC, 17:01; first lady, Ashley Pia Ryan, Chorlton Runners, 20:03.

 

Sunday, 5.5 mile recovery run. Monday, 3.5 miles with number stride fartlek up to 40 and down, Tuesday, 3.5 miles , mostly easy. Wednesday a scare - 4.5 miles including a long climb up to Windy Harbour. 2 + 2 + 2  X  70 secs. strides with  50 secs. jog, 4 m 50 s interval between each set. The first set began at the bottom of the hill. Midway through the second  70 secs. my right hamstring began hurting exactly in the same position that I had been injured in my left leg. I slackened off a bit and before the next set which was on the steepest part of the hill, Cock Brow, I stretched that hamstring. Thankfully that seemed to do the trick. No more pains. Thursday, 3.5 miles more or less easy. Friday, 3.5 miles very easy. 30 miles. Job done.

 

WEEK 47

 Click to visit the Heaton Park,  Park Run website

MANCHESTER PARKRUN HEATON PARK

 

 

I have it in mind to try all the Parkruns in the Manchester area at some time. Meanwhile I will stick with my plan of a race each weeekend until my Austin, TX. 5 K race December 9th.

 

I arrived at Heaton Park in good time on a sunny cold morning, began my warm up and immediately bumped into Rick Bennett a friend and manager of Sweatshop, Arndale Centre, Manchester, who was putting out signs for the run. Deciding it was cold enough for tights I ran back to my car struggled into the extra garment and continued with a 27 minute warmup. There was a good tunout and I stood back from the start line. It took me 5 seconds to cross the line and I just went with the flow. There was one short hill in the first 1 K which I managed quite easily and towards the end od that stretch I spotted FV 75 - 79, Louise Gilchrist. I was glad to pass her with a, " Come on young 'un ! " 5:21. I did not want to look at my watch during the run. This second K included a long climb up to Heaton Hall. I just kept my head down. Then we rounded the hall for more climb. I remember thinking, " Hills. That's life, full of hills. Hills that have to be conquered even at my stage of life ! " I saw a sign up aheadand realised I may have missed the 2nd K marker. It was the 3 K point, but I glance at my watch just to be sure and saw 10:.... something.

 

I was having quite a good run ignoring the time. The only problem I had was that I could not get a deep breath - essential to get full use of my lungs. The next stretch was downhill. I relaxed and passed one or two. Then the last K; around the lake on a stoney dirt trail. As we approached the finish I did glnce at my watch, the cumulative time, and saw I was not going to berak 26 mins but still strode out to do the best I could. 26:14 which minus the 5 seconds at the start would have given me 26:19 with a chip, only one second slower than the mainly flat New York race 2 weeks previously. I had to be happy with that. And 123rd out of 241, 49% of runners behind.

First man home, Roger Alsop, Herne Hill Harriers, 17:04, First lady, Bev Jenkins, Salford Harriers, 5th overall, 18:09.

 

At the start of my 10 minute warm down I passed Louise Glchrist and asked, "Did you enjoy that ?"  " No," she replied," I got too hot and had to take some of my stuff off."

I looked at her result later. 27:28. I had only taken just over a minute out of her in 4 K. A remarkable woman ! And she was best age graded runner of all Parkruns that morning with 93.29% ! !

 

Sunday I did a 5.5 mile recovery run and felt pretty good at the end. Monday, 3.5 miles with number stride fartlek up to 45 and down. Tuesday, 3.5 miles easy running but feeling really tired. Wednesday, a hilly 4.5 miles with 2 + 2 + 3 x 70 seconds strides 50s interval, 4m 50s between sets. Thursday, 3.5 miles easy in 38:21. Friday same 3.5 mile run easy, but feeling tired in 42:27 !  30 miles for the week.

 

 

WEEK 48

 

THE SILKSTONE SHUFFLE

 

Saturday 26th November saw me lining up for my 30th race of the year, the Silkstone Shuffle multi - terrain, my 30th race of the year and one of my favourites. Starting from the back I struggled to make much headway and with a long uphill, into a gale force wind, I resorted to sheltering behind a posse of orange shorted Barnsley Harriers. With the wind behind they left me behind and along the fields I had difficulty getting over the stiles. My knees were just not flexible enough. I was holding my own over the last mile and successfully negotiated a tricky stile, downhill, with a drop into thick tree roots at the bottom. I did not fall. Great! These were the driest conditions I had experienced on this 4.5 mile course but my time of 42:16 was still slower than my 41:44 of November 2009.

 

The race winner was Steve Worthington, Lancaster and Morecambe AC, 26:45 and the first female Annabel Mason, guest, 27:14. My position was 145th out of a record 171 finishers and I was second in my age group to Ray Brown, Penistone Footpath Runners, who ran 40:15. 

 

I had a good week of training after that running twice on Tuesday, 2.5 miles in the morning and 5 K in the evening from the Sweatshop, Arndale Centre, Manchester, where the Manager, Rick Bennett, led a large group of runners through the darkened streets and I gave a talk on running afterwards. This latter took my distance for the week to 33 miles (53 K) November showed 127.5 miles (205 K) bringing my lifetime total to 155,737 miles (250,634 K)

 

 




 

 


October 2011

WEEK 40

 

Saturday, October 1st, saw me running a solo 3.5 miles , in brilliant sunshine, from the Reigate Manor Hotel, down to the park again and back. My log reports, "41:01, OK - lovely morning. "The rest of the morning I spent in Reigate village at " Simply Sports." It was the 25th ANNIVERSARY of the store opening and they have an extensive running section. I chatted to runners and signed autographs before flying back from Gatwick in the afternoon.


  

L to R. Ron with Hilly Southern Sales Rep; Alex Wilson and Hilly Brand Director; Graham Richards. Celebratory cake and with the staff at Simply Sports and Howard the mannequin

For the rest of the week, the next three 3.5 mile runs seemed to indicate that the hamstring was improving but during my 4.5 mile run Wednesday, the muscle twinged then pulled once more. My log says, " A SET BACK ! " The next day, “DEFINITELY A STEP BACKWARDS."

 

The week concluded on 28.5 miles.

 

WEEK 41

 

Saturday October 8th I ran a slow 3.5 miles. My hamstring felt slightly sore all the way, so no change. In the afternoon I took the train to Peterborough. I was to be a guest at the Perkins Great Eastern Run, a half marathon, the following day. Sam Hale, the owner of Advanced Performance running store, had invited me to the event, and after checking at the Park Hotel I walked down to the store. As luck would it Howard Piccaver, a sports therapist, howard@sport-injuries.co.uk was in preparing a treatment room. He examined my pulled hamstring, identified a muscle right in the middle which was the problem and showed me a gentle stretch which I should do to help the healing plus an exercise to strengthen the muscle. I had been struggling to work out exactly what the function of the hamstring was Howard explained that these muscles pulled the leg up and forward when striding. His advice on rehabilitation of my injury proved invaluable.

 

In the evening I gave a short speech at a reception in the hotel and met up with Dick Hughes, who for many years commentated at The Tour Of Tameside, and his wife, Roz, and also Nigel Hards, whose company at the time, Thomas Cook, were overall sponsors of The Tour for three years, and his wife, Angela.  

 

Race day morning I walked over to the Elite Athlete area. I had forgotten to bring my ibuprofen tablets which I needed to reduce the pain and inflammation in my hamstring a I was going to run some of the way with the runners in the race. It seemed all the shops were closed. Back to the hotel to change then return to the Elite Athletes to await the start. Mikey, a staff member at Elite Performance, Had managed to buy me a packet of Neurofen. What a star! I walked over to the start area with Liz and Martin Yelling and their young child in a buggy. Liz was racing. 

 Ready to go

I stood on the raised dais, sent the huge field of runners on their way, waited one minute, then starting my watch joined in, running carefully. I was surprised when I reached one mile in 9:39 the covered the second mile in 9:28. It was time to turn back and head for the finish in a different spot than the start. I got many shouts of, " You're going the wrong way, " from both the runners and spectators but covered the three miles to the finish at a leisurely pace. I stayed around to greet some of the runners then made the presentation to the first male runner, Edwin Kipto, Run Fast, 62:28. Liz Yelling, Bedford and County AC, was the first woman home in 72:14. The race was a great success with 3278 finishers from an entry of 4106, a very low “no show" rate for the size of the event. A great course and atmosphere and the event will go from strength to strength. The fun run had 1170 finishers!

 

Back to the hotel, pack quickly and I had to run for the train dragging my roller bag, making it with less than two minutes to spare. But I was home in time to make it, along with wife, May, to the Centenary Dinner of Stockport Harriers. Congratulations to them! 

 

WEEK 42 

 

By the end of Week 41, which had produced 27 miles, the hamstring was settling down but the first 4 days of this week was mixed. The last 3 days were manic, with me protecting the injury against further setbacks. I was travelling by train to Scotland to meet Ronhill sales rep. Andy Norman for a Vizion Night run with Run-4 It on Wednesday night in Glasgow, a “Run With Ron " from Run And Become in Edinburgh, Thursday lunchtime and a Vizion Night  Run with Run-4-It on Thursday evening. Wednesday morning I did a 2.5 mile run at 7:08 am as a loosener and was in Glasgow by 2:00 pm.

 

Andy picked me up and we went to the store then The Pond hotel to unpack and change into running gear. We got to Kelvingrove Park early and I had a walk whilst a tent was erected to house the try-on night safety garments. As night fell it got very very cold. At 6:45 a crowd of us set off, immediately splitting into groups as we ran out of the park and into the busy streets. I was hanging on, not wanting to get lost. Eventually we got back to the park and entered on to unlit, narrow and, at the end, hilly paths. My

Vizion cap, with three LEDs, helped light my way. I reckon I had run 3.5 miles. The tent a dismantled, loaded into Andy's car and we returned to the hotel to wash, go across the road for a meal and I was in my bed for 11:30.

 

Next morning we headed for Edinburgh. At the Run and Become store manager, Adrian, had assembled an appreciative group of runners and around 20 of us ran through the streets to the banks of the Waters of Leith on a bright autumn mid-day. I ran most of the way with a Belgian physiotherapist named Guy who knew of my tussles years ago with the Belgian Champion Gaston Roelants. I was also delighted to meet an old Bolton United Harriers team-mate, Graham Bennison who had travelled down from Fife for the run. Adrian laid on food but I was talking so much I hardly got a mouthful! For more: http://www.runandbecome/Blog/local/News/Edinburgh/run-with-Ron-Hill

 

By evening the weather had turned. It rained. And continued through the tent assembly and the run around “The Meadows." Not many turned up at first but one of the staff got the University Tri Club group to join in. I ended up running with a woman and her dog, Tiber, two laps, with me teaching her the basics of Fartlek. I never saw the others but believe it turned into a burn-up. With my warm up it gave me 3 miles. I tried to help with dismantling the tent and stuffing it into the back of Andy's car which was almost full anyway. Luckily someone from head office, Ben, arrived and put it into his car. Back to The Meadows Hotel, wash, meal and sleep at 11:30. Up before 7:00 am and out running at 7:38 - down to Hollywood Park and back. “Out of breath - tired." A ' flu jab earlier in the week had not helped! Andy took me to Waverley station and I did not get home until 3:15 pm.

 

A busy 28.5 miles for that week




Dean Village Bridge. Credit: Run and Become

 

 

 

 

 

WEEK 43

 

 

Even with all the travels and recovery from injury I had been trying to make sure I was as fit as possible for a couple of races in the USA. May and I were travelling as ambassadors of Sports Tours International to the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC where there was also a 10 K then on to New York City for the Marathon and a 5 K for me. The week commencing October 22 started with three 3.5 mile runs. The first, on Saturday was 38:32 - “Best since pulled hamstring." Sunday, 37:25 - “Best since Jan. 2nd.” things were looking up. Tuesday I ran 2 miles at 4:56 am. We were flying that day and that was the run done. We flew direct from Manchester to Washington DC staying at the Holiday Inn Central / White House on 15th st. and Rhode Island NW. I ran 3 X 3.5 milers to take me to the end of the week. This was becoming a favourite distance with me. The first was a left turn on 15th, left on P Street, through Dupont Circle, then out and back. The second route I used for the rest of our stay: left on 15th them kept going with a lap of Meridian Hill Park on the way out and back.

 

May had always dreamed of visiting Washington and we did all the sights. For me the most impressive were the Capitol Building followed by the Washington Monument and the United States Supreme Court. A reduced week of 23 miles did not bother me.




The Washington Monument


May outside the Capitol Building

 

 

WEEK 44

 

 

 

We were rather unlucky with the weather. A couple of days we had rain and one day even snow. Totally unexpected. My pre-race day 3.5 mile run was in driving rain. My shoes got soaked. It did not rain the next day, Sunday 30th October, thankfully.


  THE MARINE CORPS MARATHON 10 K WASHINGTON DC

 

It was not wet but it was blooming cold. So cold that I raced in tights, a woolly hat and gloves. The start was at 8:00 am and we left the hotel in the dark for the walk to Independence Avenue. A nine minute warm up was sufficient. I did not feel good. Revellers returning to the Hotel at 3:00 am had disturbed my sleep. I lined up beyond the 50 -59 minutes banner and a cannon signalled the off. There was a sharp left turn after about 500 metres then a climb to a bridge over the Potomac River. I was not feeling good and was being passed as well as overtaking some. Reaching the crest of the bridge I heard someone shout, “Wow!” I thought they had seen an interesting view but soon realised that the cry was one of surprise. The top of the bridge was covered in ice. That meant very careful running. It happened again on a second bridge! My first mile was 8:51 and the second 8:48. Looked like I was heading or a bad one. Between 2 and 4 miles there were lots of twists and turns. The third mile was 8:40 so maybe I was warming up. The fourth mile was 8:33.

 

We were heading North West and with the sun in a clear sky I was hoping it would warm my body. The route now was more or less straight and I was still increasing my pace with an 8:17 to 5 miles. The road then began to rise a little and we had a slight head wind. Marines were now lining the road. I sat in on a woman in a turquoise vest but she was not making any progress so I tried to push ahead. There was no bounce to my running and the sixth mile had taken me 8:27. Now came a sting in the tail. A very steep hill to the finish the finish line at the Marine Corps Monument, the Iwo Jima Statue. I found that very hard; my legs were buckling; I was glad to get to the end! 

53:33 not a brilliant time but OK for the conditions. More pleasing, my position, 933rd out of 6926 finishers, meaning I was ahead of 87 % of the runners.

First, Reuben Mwei, 30:37. First female, Amanda Rice, 36:30.

 

Interesting statistic: of the 6926 finishers, 2729 were male and 4197 were female

 

!
10K Ready for the off

 

 

 

 

 


September 2011

WEEK 35                                A VERY SAD DAY - MEL BATTY PASSES AWAY

 

For some reason I was tired all week and a bit down as it looked like winter was arriving early. Saturday I ran 4.5 miles at 9:14. It was less than 12 deg.C and half way round it poured. Sunday 5.5 miles then 3.5, then 5 on Tuesday 30th August.

 

That day I learned that my old friend Mel Batty had died of a heart attack at the age of 71. We had a lot in common in terms of performances and first met at the 1962 National Cross-Country Championships, held in Blackpool. Gerry North was the winner, Mel 5th and me 7th. That put both of us in the England team for the International XC Championships held at Graves Park, Sheffield. Mel was a magnificent 3rd and I was 11th. England won the team race easily. The next year neither of us made the England as in the National at Cambridge Mel was 14th and I was 15th. I had gone down with a cold and suspect that Mel was not well that day either. Mel won the National in both 1964, where I was 3rd, and ' 65, with me 5th.  In the ' 64 International in Dublin I was 2nd with Mel scoring for the victorious England team. The '56 International was in Ostend. Mel led from start to finish. In a sprint for the line with Frenchman, Fayolle, everyone thought that Mel had won but the judges gave the verdict to Fayolle he was robbed! I was 7th and we were both in another victorious English team.

 

We both held the World record for 10 Miles on the track, Mel in 1963 and me in 1968. After 1965 Mel disappeared from the scene but we still kept in touch. He was in charge of Brooks running shoes in the UK when my Ron Hill Sports business was growing in the ' 80 'so. He would come up to our annual Christmas Party and be life and soul of the do with his energetic version of the "Twist" and his "Invisible Man" impression. He was a fixture at the London Marathon Exhibition and it was always a pleasure to meet him there. In 2010 I travelled to London for a 70th birthday celebration for Mel organised by Athletes Reunited. I am so glad that I did.

 

I finished the week with 4.5, 3.5, and 3.5 mile early morning runs, in full gear as temperatures were hovering just above 10 deg.C for a week of 30 miles.

 

August had passed with 122 miles (196 k) bringing my lifetime total to 155,366 miles (250,037 k)

  

 

WEEK 36                                CLUB LA SANTA IO K AT SALFORD QUAYS

 

After four weeks without competition I was ready for this race on September 4th. I did not get the chance of a proper warm up as I was involved with meeting the Mayor and Mayoress of Salford, Cllr Eric Burgoyne and his wife Val, and having pictures with them at the start. Then there was a delay as a bridge, part of the course was raised to let a ferry through. So 10:15 turned into 10:30 before we were off. The beauty of chip timing you don't have to worry about fighting your way to the front to get a good position and I stood with the Mayor until 60 seconds had elapsed then joined the field. To me this as an advantage as I can then get the psychological boost of passing people. We crossed the new bridge, went through Media City and on to Manchester United's Old Trafford ground, exiting at the 5 K point.

 

My time here was 25:56. Slightly disappointing, but even though I was getting pretty exhausted I succeed in passing a few more and pushed on in the final stretch to produce something of a sprint finish, passing a couple of runners, to record a final K of 4:49 and a finish of 51:25. Slightly disappointing, but not too bad for me when I compared it with my times of 52:19 in 2009 and 53:05 in 2010. I put the improvement down to the later start. I was 308th out of 628; 51% of the field behind me, which was good for me, plus I was first in my 70 + age group. I wish I had waited for the presentation now!

 

The winner for the third year in succession was Tom Charles, Trafford AC, 31:43, and first woman, Jessica Oliver-Bell, Trafford AC, 39:25.

 

The race is set to become even more exciting next year as Media City develops and the organisers try to avoid some of the long straights in the route.

 

On the second day after the race I felt very very tired and my left calf and below got very sore, perhaps a consequence of the bad fall I had in February. Nevertheless I continued running and by Friday I had put in 30 miles for the week.

 




Ready for off. With Mayor and Mayoress Cllr Eric Burgoyne and his wife Val.  Photo credit. Brendan Fox STI.

 


In the last kilometre  Photo credit Karl Kramer Photography

 


Sprint for the line. Photo credit, May Hill


 

MEL BATTY'S FUNERAL

 

On that Friday five of us from Ronhill/ Hilly, myself. Mike Deegan, Graham Richards, and Steve Brooks travelled by car with Dean Loxam driving. To Basildon and the Bowers Gifford Crematorium for the funeral of Mel Batty. I have never seen so many people. It was estimated that over 500 mourners were there including most of the important people in British athletics. There were speeches from his brother Ron, commentator Alan Parry, and London Marathon Race Director, Dave Bedford all recounting humorous stories which is exactly what Mel would have wanted. Despite the jocular anecdotes for me it was a deeply sad occasion knowing I would never see Mel again and I felt sorrowful for his family and their untimely loss. We had been exchanging Christmas cards with Mel and his wife Pat since the mid sixties.

 Afterwards we retired to the Bell at Horned on the Hill where we were able to chat to many friends and drink some pints in further celebration of Mel's life. I got to meet Pat and Mel's son Sean, who now lives in Seattle, I think. 


With Mel's son Sean. Photo Credit. Sam Lambourne

 

At 6:20 we departed for the drive home. On the way down I had had a front seat and could stretch my legs. On the return I let Steve Brooks have that seat as he had recently had a knee operation. I ended up on the back seat between Graham and Mike with nowhere to stretch my legs. By the time I got home my knees had seized up!

 

 

WEEK 37                                   PULLED HAMSTRING   &    LAPPED TWICE IN A 2 LAP 5 K!

 

Saturday September 10th I did a careful 5.5 miles on the road. The sore left calf seemed to have recovered.

 

Sunday I raced the WORSLEY WOODS 4.5 MILE TRAIL RACE.  I had done this one before in 2009 and remembered the superb organisation and the varied terrains. I warmed up 2 miles and at 10:00 am we were off. I got rather left behind and soon got passed by Bruce Green of Sale Harriers. He caught a female clubmate and although I could see this pair for about a mile, with all the twists and turns they disappeared. One thing missing from this years race were the mile markers. I really needed them as time on the watch running off-road did not give me a good guide to distance covered. I battled with 2 or 3 other runners but I had no idea where I  was and how far we had to go. With I guess about 1 mile to go my knees began to hurt at the bottom of my kneecaps. Whether I altered my cadence because of this I am not sure but my left hamstring, right in the middle, really began to tighten. At last I reached a point, with about half a mile to go, that I could hear the finish.  I should have slowed right down. There was a short but steep climb to a field with about 300 M to go. I could hear someone behind me and had to speed up near the end in order to hold the guy off. 4 minutes warm down.



Worsley Woods. Pulling my hamstring to the finish, Photo Dave Leese  

My official time was 40:15 compared with 39:55 in 2009, so not too bad. 56th out of 94 finishers. First and only MV 70 - 74.

 

Winner: Andy Jones, Salford HE & AC, 23:53; winning lady, Donna Jones, Sale HE. Manchester, 28:03.

 

Monday it took me 49:35 of careful running to cover 3.5 miles. My hamstring was very sore. My knees were not good, especially the left with pains in my lower knee-cap. THAT BLASTED CAR JOURNEY!

Tuesday, same run, careful again, 47:00. Hamstring less sore but the pain had spread down the leg to the outside above the knee. Running uphill more comfortable.

Wednesday, AM, 2.5 miles in 32:52. Slightly better. A loosener for an evening RACE!

 

One of Andy O'Sullivan's races to help Helen with her training for 2012 as she had lost her lottery funding. THE HELEN CLITHEROE GOLD 5 K. I guess people would call me stupid for racing with a recent injury, but I had promised to be there. I did 14 minutes warm-up, running awkwardly with the hamstring hurting. On the 2 lap Cowm Reservoir, Whitworth, course I was dead last for almost one lap in 16:59, and sixteen runners had lapped me. I had passed Ian Stansfield, Todmorden Harriers, just before the dam head but I kept pushing because at first I did not seem to be leaving him by much. Eventually I did pull away and could relax a little, but blow me if Dave Norman, did not lap me again on the dam head having won the race and then run another lap! My time was better than I predicted, 34:00. How about that for even pace? I was 91st out of 92 with Ian Stansfield 45 seconds behind me. 

 

1st, Dave Norman, Altrincham AC, 15:56; 1st F, Helen Glover, Keighley and Craven AC, 17:46.

 

Next morning the painful area was in the belly of the hamstring. Careful running brought me 45:53 for 3.5 miles. The morning after that 44:59 for the same run. I wrote in my log, “Getting there!”  Despite all the problems I ran 33 miles that week.

 

 

WEEK 38.                                                            ROUND NORFOLK RELAY

 

Fortunately I had not committed myself to a race this weekend, but travelled instead to King's Lynn on Saturday, 17th of September, in order to be present at the finish of the Round Norfolk Relay on Sunday and present the trophies afterwards. Saturday, early morning, I ran 3.5 miles. My hamstring was OK when I got up but at the first step of running I could feel it tugging. At the railway station I was greeted by Dave Martin and his wife Christine. He was wearing a badge which declared “RON HILL

CO-COORDINATOR “I felt important!

 

The Round Norfolk Relay is a seriously tough race; 195 miles, 17 stages, some of them very strenuous. The first stage is 16.81 miles, the 10th 20.6 miles, and the 12th 19.67 miles. This was the Jubilee year, the 25th edition, and the Race Director, Ian Vaughan-Arbuckle, was bowing out after 25 years involvement with the race, 24 years as Race Director. There was a record entry of 57 teams! Each team has to give an estimate of the time they will take to reach the finish then the organisers calculate what time Saturday morning, starting from 5:30 AM, the teams set off so that theoretically all teams arrive at around 8:30 AM Sunday. After dinner and a night at a local hotel I agreed with Dave and Christine to meet at to meet at 6:00 AM the next morning to drive to Lynnsport, have a short run, some breakfast and be out there for me to present a finishers' to the final leg runner of each team after they crossed the line. Dave, who was also injured, accepted that 2 miles would be enough to get the blood flowing. Dave liked to run on grass; I preferred tarmac so we did half and half around the fields and paths of Lynnsport. It was a clear cold morning with frost on the grass. I was out of puff at the end but had not harmed my hamstring.

 

Then panic. It was only about 7:00 but a runner had arrived at the finish. His team must have over estimated their time disastrously and had a very lonely 24 hours plus negotiating the boundaries of Norfolk. Anyway, bang went breakfast as we hurriedly changed and I took up my position to greet the rest of the finishers. Coffee and ham butties sustained me for the rest of the morning. The weather made the occasion with bright sunshine buoying final leg runners on their 11.73 mile journey. 

 

The presentation was jam packed with many awards to be given out. I was honoured once more when a perpetual trophy in my name was awarded Best Family. I made a formal presentation to Ian, who in turn made presentations to a number of people who had been involved with the race over the years. It was all very emotional with Peter Duhig speaking about his experiences with the race and his admiration for Ian and his stewardship of the event for so many years. Finally Ian presented me with an engraved glass pint tankard which was duly christened at the bar. I was also able to renew my friendship with Diane and Harry Collins, quality runners and organiser’s runners themselves for many years. In a whirl I just made my train back to Stockport not long after 1:00 PM.

 

RESULTS: Premier club class, Norwich RR, 20:41:29, Open class, Ely R, 20:45:18, Masters, Norwich RR, 21:56:17.

 

THERE WERE FEW CLUBS, IF ANY, FROM NORTH OF EAST ANGLIA. WHICH LED TO A QUESTION, “IS THE EVENT TOO TOUGH FOR YOU FOLK UP NORTH?" AND HOW ABOUT SOME TEAMS FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES?

 

Monday 3.5 miles; Tuesday 4.5 miles; Wednesday 5 miles - “UNFITNESS CREEPING IN NOW;" Thursday AM  2.5 miles " left leg uncomfortable - knees and hips sore - back sore in kidney area - muscles and health poor generally ?"

  

  

 

MY 73RD BIRTHDAY 5 K RACE

 

A few people had travelled some distance to race and I was honoured by their presence. Paul Smith of Crook & District AC had travelled from Durham and brought a friend, Lisa "Roo" Hetey from New York. Dennis Williams, Hercules Wimbledon, a regular supporter, made the journey from London and back in the day. Plus I welcomed an MV80 from my own club, Clayton-le-Moors H., Francis Heaton. Not for the first time I "started" the race then joined in. I did not make a lot of progress. I was protecting my hamstring. As we reached the top of a long hill from Smithy Bridge to run alongside Hollingworth Lake. I was not far from a woman in black, FV50, Myra Wells, Todmorden AC. I put in some effort to catch her and felt my hamstring ping. Into the last mile and downhill, foolishly I put in a lot of effort, running with an awkward style, I passed M W. The hamstring twinged again. Stupid! At the end finished one place behind FV 75, Louise Gilchrist. I was in 170th position out of 191 finishers.

 

The race winner was Ian Grime, Newham & Essex Beagles, 15:48, and first woman home was Laura Hesketh, Clayton-le-Moors, 18:46. I was only third of the three MV70's behind Sid Sacks, Salford Harriers and Tom Finch, Northern Vets. AC.

 

My popularity is definitely on the wane.In 2008 we had 467 finishers for my 70th birthday race; 2009, 329 finishers; 2010, 291; and this year 191. At this rate I will be running on my own in two years time!

 

The next day I ran a careful 3.5 miles. I had aggravated the hamstring. My left knee was now hurting. It took me 45:34 but I wrote in my log, "HAPPY TO BE OUT." There followed 5 weeks of no racing. The week ended with 28 miles. 

 


WIth race director; Andy O'Sulivan and Diane Modahl

 


Heading for the finish with Christine Navan and Myra Wells in pursuit.  Photo credit : Graham Hill.

 

 

WEEK 39

 

I reduced my mileage and ran slowly to rehabilitate my left hamstring. Thursday morning I had a great early morning run in the dawn sunshine down La Rambla in Barcelona. My 3 miles took me down to the port and back. Unfortunately I tweaked my hamstring again. I was attending a textile exhibition with Hilly and flew back to UK that morning.

 

Friday morning I was in Reigate having a 2.5 mile run in Reigate Manor Park with a group of mainly Reigate Harriers. They were gentle with me and I gave a talk and answered questions afterwards.

 

That week gave me 27 miles making a total of 125 miles (201 K) for September and a lifetime total of 155,491 miles (250,238 K)

 


August 2011

 

WEEK 32.  

 

ANOTHER TIRED RACE

 

Sunday 7th August, THE IDLE TRAIL RACE 10 K.  This is one of my favourite races though you could be forgiven for wondering why. My first time there was in 2006. I returned in 2007 and as I was warming up I slipped on some steps leading to Leeds - Liverpool canal, bashed my left knee, hit my left wrist, and fell into a bed of nettles. I could still feel the stings hours later. I was pretty sure the wrist was broken as I had to have it strapped and splinted it once I got home after a very careful drive. My time that year was 53:59, better than my 55:09 of the previous year. I did not run in 2008 but came back in 2009 a week after cracking a rib in a fall during the Rombalds Romp Trail race. I ran cautiously as my breathing was affected but just after 5 miles, running down rough surfaced Craggwood Drive, which is darkly shaded by large trees, stupidly I decided to try to overtake two runners.I tripped and the next thing I knew I was flying through the air. I did a four point landing on both knees, my left hand which was gashed on the palm and my right elbow which was split to the bone. Spilling blood I jogged to the finish recording 59:03. That was another "uncomfortable" drive home. My 2010 race was completed without incident in 56:28. Why do I go back ? I think it is because my first participation was on a glorious summer's day and I had gone along with wife, May, and our friends Harry and Sylvia Smith from Barnoldswick at the start of an idyllic weekend, and I keep hoping for another one like that !

 

It was not to be this year. Warming up for 23 minutes I did not feel good. It was raining at times. Starting near the back of the runners I made little headway around the large grassy field.nor on the run up the pavement to the canal where there was a large queue waiting to descend the steps. I was delayed 53 seconds but did not worry ; I would make up a lot of ground along the canal bank. At 1 mile my watch read 11:13 which meant 10:20 taking off the time in the queue. Not good. I passed no-one ! Two men overtook, then, approaching the turn off the canal at around 2 1/2 miles, four women running together passed me led by a lady in white an pink, Kirsten Lishman, U/A. I was not happy. On the downhill run from there I got half a dozen runners, but not Ms Lishman. I would get close then she would run away. My left knee started to hurt. I was wearing some heavy Far-Infra Red knee supports which were very tight but would have given me protection in case of a heavy fall. At around 4 miles I had to stop momentarily to roll the support down.



Entering the finish field in front of 347, Jane Glover, U/A,; 192, Christine Glover, U/A; and 201, Sharon Roberts, Swinton Running Club Photo credit; www.idleAC.co.uk

 

On a long private road I gradually clawed her back then with an effort overtook her and two others at the 5 mile point. This was because I wanted a clear run down Craggwood Drive. It was practically all downhill from 5 miles and I strode out as much as I could. Off tarmac, over a stone and wooden stile, then down a steep grassy field to the banks of the River Aire I gained three more positions. The five barred gate was closed but another stile was open and we were at 6 miles and the run to the finish over a an exposed grassy field. There was a head wind and it began to lash down with rain. A woman in a turquoise top went past.I could not go with her. Desperate to get some shelter I slowed to let yellow vested runner, Jane Glover, UP/A, overtake then tucked in behind her. I urged her on to the finish with no intention of sprinting. She stayed ahead and we were given the same time, 58:47. She had helped me at the very end to finish 169th out of 236 runners. Kirsten Lishman was three places behind in 59:00 My placing still meant 28% of the field were behind me but I was only 16 seconds quicker than 2009 when I ran with a cracked rib and had the nasty fall. I wrote in my training log " WHAT A DREADFUL RUN BY ME." I was 3rd M70 out of 6, the winner in my category being David Barber, Bingley H & AC, 50:24 - Wow ! 

 

Overall winner was Quentin Lewis, Baildon Runners, 35:36. First woman, Margaret Beever, Stainland Lions RC, 42:02.

 

The next day my left leg was very very sore from the hip all the way down to the outside of the knee and my right knee was sore too. I limped badly throughout my 3.5 mile run and was very slow. My diary reports, " That puts a stop to ambitions of a big mileage week."

 

The reason I was looking for a bigger week was that we were going on holiday to the Greek island of Kos on Wednesday and I knew the next couple of weeks would be under my target of 30 miles. My left leg and hip were still sore on Friday. This week : 27 miles.

 

WEEK 33

 


RUNNING IN THE SUN   1

 

This was our fifth visit to Kos but we felt there was still a lot to see. One year ago we stayed at the Sunshine apartments in Tingaki; this year we were in the same village but at the Tingaki Oasis apartments but 500m further out into the country. This meant that I knew where all my runs were going to take me. The sun shone for two weeks. This week I ran 3 X 3's and 4 X 3.5's. Most were commenced between 8:30 and 9:00 am. Even at that time in the morning the heat was pretty tough to handle. The only earlier morning was on Thursday when we had booked an excursion to the thermal springs in the south. So that morning I ran at 7:33 am.

 

The springs next to the sea were super hot and, although most of my aches and pains had disappeared by then, I hoped the therapeutic properties would give my body a lift. I did not stay in long!   

 

We did a lot of walking which was a lot easier to handle than running even in the mid-day sun.

 

23 miles for that week.

 

WEEK  34

RUNNING IN THE SUN   2       PLUS REACHING 250,000 K

 

Saturday 20th August I set off a bit later, a lie in, and covered 4 miles " really hot again." Sunday we were on another excursion so I ran at 7:03 am. 22 deg C, “felt cool." I had seen a few runners about throughout the fortnight, but none spoke as they came past running the other way. This morning I actually overtook a runner as I was returning along the sea front. That made me feel good. It was a bloke by the way. The excursion was to Kefalos in the north west of the island. We were the only ones to alight here. Most had got off at Paradise Beach the rest went ahead to the harbour for a fishing trip. We walked west along the beach to some attractive ruins, opposite a small island with a white church, then back, stopping to sunbathe on a pebbly section. May had a swim. We then walked further to a local taverna to share a Greek salad, drink some beer and listen to and watch the locals eat fish. Then another walk inland to find the place we had stayed a few years ago. We were picked up after a long day. Thank god we had not been on Paradise Beach all day!

 

Monday's run was only a 2 miler as I was up late and we had a 1.5 mile walk up to”The Main Road to catch a local bus. We had to hurry but made it in time. Four buses leave Kos Town at 10:00 am. We wanted the Pili bus. The first bus that came was for Kefalos and as three potential passengers were asking whether the bus stopped in Mastichari, our bus roared past. Change of plan. We were heading for Paleo (ancient) Pili where there was an abandoned village and old castle. We would walk up to Lagoudi, make a right turn, and then look for signposts. It was steep and hot and not long before we had consumed our half litre of water apiece. We found a signpost and made a left turn. At a tiny white church the road ran out. This was obviously the pedestrian access to the site but we had no idea how far. Climbing again we soon left a gravel path to encounter a paved way of white polished marble very slippery and May almost gave up. I went ahead to where there was more shade and saw where vehicles, including quad bikes, had arrived by road.  

 

It was an interesting spot but we missed the signs for the castle. In fact from our viewpoints we thought it would be impossible to get up there until we heard voices and spied tiny figures atop the walls. It was along way down to modern Pili and we certainly enjoyed a Mythos beer apiece in a taverna before catching the 3:20 bus to the main road and hiking back to the apartment. We had been walking for over 5 hours. Another 3.5 miles on Tuesday and on Wednesday, the day we came back, I was out at 6:36 am to attempt the hill, Profitis Ilias once more. I only got as far as last year, the foot of the final climb, but by the time I got back I had covered 6 miles.

 

At home, two 3.5 milers in full gear - tights, gloves etc completed a 26 mile week. More significantly a landmark was reached in my training diaries 2500,000 Kilometres.

It was a lonely way to reach what had been one of my targets in running (155,343 miles in old money.) I had been so busy I did not have time to organise anything more dramatic. Quite a contrast to getting to 200,000 K which happened on the very last day of 1991 when a group of runners ran with me from Barnoldswick to the top of the Weets hill. 19 1/2 years to do 50,000 K!

 

 


July 2011

WEEK 27

Saturday 2nd July. 7:35 AM, 2.5 miles, very easy running. Still feeling tired and heart a bit tight.

 

I did not know what to expect the next day when I ran THE K SWISS CITY OF MANCHESTER 10 K from the Regional Athletics Track at Eastlands. A early start, 9:30 am, but a lovely warm day with full sun. I warmed up on the track, 1.3 miles so I could add the 6.2 miles ( 10 K ) of the race and put 7.5 miles in my training log. In view of my disaster at the Round The Resers race I decided that I was going to take it easy. I " started " the race with the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Harry Lyons and Olympic 400 M star, Iwan Thomas. Iwan did not run the race. He would have hammered me anyway. With the run underway I joined the field behind the timing mats noticing that 39/40 seconds had elapsed before I started my watch as I crossed the start line, running the half lap of the track on the inside of the first lane to keep out of the way of passing runners.


 K Swiss City of Manchester 10 K, start. Photo Credit: Mark Power

 

I had a good run. My kilometres went : 5:24 ( in the crowd ), 5:14, 5:05, 5:04, 5:22, to half way, then a 4:52 to 6 K. May be the 5 K marker was too far along. I was pretty comfortable but a bit unhappy with all the corner cutting. Whenever the course turned most of the runners jumped on to the pavement and took the shortest line. I guess that these runners did not realise that the course had been measured on the road ! Nor did they care. But they had not run 10 K by the end. Between 6 and 7 K there was a left hand turn where the road swung in quite a big arc but on the inside was an area of cobbles. Runners merrily took to these cobbles cutting a considerable distance. I stuck to the road and the marshal there said, " You're the only one running the official course." I heard a spectator shout, " Cheats ! "  No-one seemed to care,and no-one followed me. 

 

It reminded me of a race I had run in the African country of Benin. It was an 8 K race, I think, organised by Thomas Cook. The last couple of K's involved a loop round by the airport, one road out and a parallel road back to the finish. I was astounded to see a snaking line of athletes crossing the fields to join in close to the finish. The had seen the runners further ahead, approaching the finish and their logic said, " What is the point of going round the airport when we can cut across?"     

 

I wanted a time for a full 10 K. It was just slightly annoying when having just caught someone or a group I lost it all on a short cut. My 7th K was 5:14, and followed this with 5:01, 4:55. In the last K I actually found it funny when athletes in front jumped on to a bay of chippings instead of sticking to the roadway into the track saving perhaps one metre, then once on the track cutting across the steeplechase water jump zone to save a couple of metres more. I raised my pace over the last 200 M but did not sprint and stopped my watch at 51:08.  My official times were 51:48, GUN and 51:28 chip ? I was happy with that time as I never got into oxygen debt and was never distressed despite the heat. And I never needed a drink throughout. My position on gun times was 565th and on chip times, 605th out of 1425 finishers. More than halfway up the field. I was second MV70 behind Malcolm Parry ( again ), 48:25.

 

Race winner was Tewodros Shiferaw, 28:53 CR; First female, Tessa Walker, Salford H., 35:53.

 

This is certainly a fast course Nd I will be back next yrar to hopefully improve my time to sub 50 minutes.

 

The next 3 days I ran 2.5 miles and on the third day, Wednesday, July 6th, I hit the 17,00th DAY OF MY STREAK. I thought that anniversary was on 17th July but I have a follower, Dave Rose from Bournemouth who calculates these anniversaries and I trust his workings rather than mine. He wanted the mileage of the streak on that date and it was 129,529.5 miles ( 208,457 K ) That day we flew to Spain with Rod Berry, race director of the Great Langdale Half and Full Marathons, and his wife, Dorothy. Their daughter, Dawn met us and took us to her house where she lives with her husband, Colin. The lovely house is situated near the village of Barxeta in Valencia province. A couple of 3 milers around the quiet lanes, in considerable heat took me to the end of the week with a total of  25.5 miles. 


WEEK 28

The Spanish house in Barxeta is in a lovely part of Spain. Wooded hills, quiet roads and trails with wild flowers at their edges. The nearest big town is Xativa which has an extensive castle dominating the surrounding area. On Friday, 8th of July, Rod and Dorothy, May and I took the " Tren Touristco " through the town and on up to the castle entrance. We spent a good while exploring this fortress with fantastic views from the highest ramparts, walked down into town, having lunch at a streetside restaurant on the outskirts.

Saturday, 9th of July was race day. THE 3RD VOLTA A PEU A LLOC NOU 8 K. The language was Valencianian rather than Spanish. The entry procedure was somewhat different. Rod's daughter, Dawn, had entered us online. Many others had done the same and the idea was to turn up and pay 1 Euro and collect your number. It was also possible to turn up on the day and enter for 1 Euro. Rod and I picked up numbers 607 and 608. But we saw people with hand written numbers way over 1000 ! It was looking like a big field.

 

 

I remembered last Fridays 3 mile early morning runs and how hot it had been even running vestless. It was even hotter this evening, probably around 35 deg C. I did a 14 minute warm up, in the shade as much as possible,and the sweat was pouring off me. The course was marked by a blue line all the way round. An orderly start saw me going over the line in 8 seconds  to begin a lap of the village of Lloc Nou of just over 1 K ( missed the marker here in the crowd ) before passing the start again and heading out into the country. Forgetting the 8 seconds to get to the start line, I was 10:08 at 2 K and was now holding my own. That was promising. There was now some significant downhill to 4K and my splits were 5:04 and 5:01.But that downhill had to be paid for. My next K was 5:42. We were climbing in open country and the sun was beating down.

 

 

What I needed was a white vest. Everyone knows that white reflects the heat. White shorts too; you cannot find them anywhere now. AND WHAT HAPPENED TO MESH ? Airflow over the skin helps with cooling. 5:27 up to 6 K and I was suffering. I was telling myself, " 1 1/4 miles to go." But I was also praying, " Don't let us have to go up that really steep hill we went down as we left the village." I could se the village at eye level ahead. Luckily there was no hill. 5:25 to 7 K. Even the slight inclines in the last K were hard work. I broke away from four runners as we approached the turn to the finish. On the straight I glanced back. No danger. I jogged home with a 4:51 last Kilometre. But no reception. I waited for Rod to finish, he was next to last, and heard the announcer saying, " Ron hill......Boston Marathon winner....European Champion...." Rod had picked up my race number and I had his ! 

 

My chip time was 41:44 and I was 385th out of 469. Only 18% of the field behind me. What happened to the rest ? An awful lot of " no shows." And to be fair there were a lot of club vests around, so serious runners. Men's winner was Fouad Benzeroual, La Rabosa, 25:29, and 1st woman, Maria-Carmen Millet Vila, 32:00.

 

Sunday, 3.5, Monday 2.5 and Tuesday 2 miles. Tuesday we were leaving early for Alicante Airport so I was out in the misty dawn at 6:22 am. I ran out to a white farm with two towers, smelling the occasional pine tree, which brought back memories of " Runs to the Cross " in Benidorm. On the way back I could see Barxeta in the distance with its illuminated church tower and the outlines of the mountains in the distance beyond. At home 3.5, 4.5 and 3 mile runs completed the week for a total of 24.5 miles.

 

WEEK 29

 

What a contrast to the heat of Spain. Saturday, " 3.5 mile railway run - POURING ALL THE WAY - gloves."

 

Sunday, 17th July, THE GRAVY " 6 " Hadfield, 11:00 am. Warmed up for 14 minutes in the rain. I stood near the start line and joined on after 9 seconds. I moved through a little bit at the start of the Longdendale Trail then could see only 4 runners just ahead. The trail was wet with puddles and although I was not killing myself and my breathing was steady, I did not feel good. I passed one woman and two men and just at the turn off the trail, at about 2 1/4 miles, I caught Maggie Jones, Altrincham AC.  My time there was 24:31, 12 seconds down on 2010. We had had a following wind up until then. Maggie got away going down to the head of the dam, but I put in an effort to catch her before a left turn into the wind. There were a couple of other women not far ahead and I thought I would catch them too. I managed to shelter for a while until we left the tarmac and hit a rough stony trail. 

 

I lost my ride her as she pulled away. I was being ultra careful for fear of falling. By the end of the stony trail I could see that Maggie had taken 150 metres out of me. A male runner passed me towards the end of rough. I could not stay with him. Left on to the second dam and I tried all I could to get back to the bloke and a woman in the yellow of Stockport Harriers, but to little avail. I was closing a little and as we hit the short very steep hill back on to the Longdendale Trail I passed the man. Then the Stockport woman started to walk. Just what I wanted. If I could get behind her I could draft her all the way back. Almost at the top she started running again, took about 8 metres out of me and despite me pushing I could not get back to her. So, it was into the wind alone for the last mile. In the last 600 metres, with the finish in sight, I pushed harder. I thought I could hear someone behind me, but with the wind in my ears and the crunch of my shoes on the gravel path, I was not sure. I was pipped at the post by Jason Button, Prestatyn Runners. We were given the same time, 51:20 ( 50 seconds down on last year ) and I had got within 1 second of Stockport's Andrea Minshull. I was 110th out of 124; beating only 11% of the field. I wrote in my log, " Not happy ! "

 

Race winner, Dan McGrath, Salford H., 32:17. First woman, Tessa Walker, Salford H., 35:45.

 

Monday morning, 3.5 miles railway run. Pouring down, Sprayway Goretex jacket with the hood up. MY RUNS ARE MY HEALTH BAROMETER AND I WAS VERY LOW THIS MORNING. Tuesday, same run, " felt a lot better without the wind and rain." Runs of 4.5, 2.5, and 2.5 miles finished off the week for a total of  27 miles.

 

This week I had a letter from John Walshe in Ireland. John is Race Director of the Ballycotton "10." He was asking me to send one of my signed autograph cards to a runner, my age, John O'Leary, who was about to celebrate his 100th category win in the Ballycotton Summer 5-Mile Series. Wins in various categories from M40 to M70, a hundred times, over the four races per year since 1979. That is some performance and dedication ! The previous week's evening 5 K race had attracted 522 finishers. Road running is alive and well in Ireland.

 

John reported that back in June he had recorded the 3000th race of his career, October 1971 to June 2011. I thought I was doing well with a lifetime total of 2339 races. 3000 plus. That's amazing ! 


WEEK 30
                                            

 

A BAD DAY AT THE OFFICE

 

 

This is what I wrote in my log for the first day of the week, Saturday 23rd July. "A BAD DAY AT THE OFFICE"  "Oh, he's not moaning again," I hear you say. But I was back to wearing full gear again. That includes tights. And I felt awful on my 3.5 mile run writing, " I MUST BE ILL - YOU DON'T GO FROM A 49:01 10 K IN LATE NOVEMBER, TO HOW I FEEL NOW, JUST THROUGH GETTING OLDER." 4.5, 3.5, and 3.5 miles followed, all in full gear, and this is the end of July, supposed to be our summer! The sun shone on Wednesday for a 5 miler and I felt " better than of late " for a 4 miler on Thursday. Friday's cold 3.5 miles gave me 28 miles for the week. 

 

 

 

WEEK 31 

 

A RAY OF SUNSHINE

 

Saturday, 30th July, I ran my second PARKRUN in BRAMHALL I did about 2 miles warm on a beautiful summer morning. The sun was shining, there was little wind the ground was dry and there was a huge crowd of runners. I lined up about half way in the field and was passed by a few up a hill just after the start. This was an interesting course of two laps with some testing inclines and runs through some woods. I was surprised to see a young woman drinking, on the run, from a hand held bottle, before 2K; on a 5K run?

 

I was wearing my super lightweight black ASICS Piranha road racers and was moving fairly well by the last kilometre. I passed two or three on a steep downhill, we crossed a short bridge near a duck pond and were faced by a final short uphill not far from the finish. On the hill I caught a very young girl expecting to pass but she moved ahead. I thought, " Light body, young legs, that's why." I caught her at the start of the final downhill and strode out. She stayed with me and on the flat road to the finish line, with arms pumping, she outsprinted me. I couldn't believe it. I asked her, “How old are you?" “Eight, “she replied. Well done Daisy Tomlinson. Keep it up!

 

 

Outsprinted by 8 year old Daisy Tomlinson.  Photo credit :Dave Marshall.

First man home was Russell Bennet, Manchester Tri Club, 17:54; and first woman, Grace Eleanor Dalby, U/A, 21: 28.

 

I was 145th out of 355 (!) finishers. I ran back to the car, on my toes. Someone called, “Did you enjoy that? " To which I replied, "I'm enjoying it now.”

 

The rest of the week I ran in shorts. Monday I was a lot more tired than Sunday. Bramhall had been quite an effort! Friday, my last day of the week, 3.5 miles got the comment in my log, “- felt quite tired, but was not bothered - " Quite a big week for me : 32 miles.

 

JULY passed with 118.5 miles in the log. 

 

 


June 2011

WEEK 23 

 

Saturday 4th June. After a 4 mile run in the morning we did our longest walk. We took the bus to Pothia, and went in search of the " Italian Path." This was supposedly a " paved " way built during the Italian occupation of the island 1912 - 1943, leading from Pothia to the Vathi Valley and well used by the locals before the coastal road was constructed. The distance of around 4 K sounded ideal. It was described in one publication as " a well-built cobbled road." We found the start with some difficulty and with some help from local people and the first section zig-zagging up a steep hillside was not too bad, with exceptional views of the port below. I had not studied the map properly and thought that once we got to the top of this first section we would descend immediately into the valley. Not so. 

 

There was another climb ahead and the footing got more difficult with the limestone paving becoming more uneven. After the second climb we emerged on to a huge plain with no sign of the descent into Vathi. The path needed total concentration and May got dizzy by having to look at the path and calculate where her next step was going to land. Added to that it was not long past mid-day and the sun was belting down. Plus we had taken no water with us. It was easier for me to walk at a quicker pace but May was not able to do that on the uneven setts. After 2 1/2 hours we arrived at the top, an area littered with telegraph poles, obviously helicoptered up there. The valley floor looked a long way off. A light breeze cooled us a little

 

The walk down proved as difficult as the ascent, a switchback of overgrown and pebble strewn paths with prickly vegetation and thick spiders' webs. We were down in around 45 minutes and confused as to what road to take to get us to the sea. No signposts and really no village. We had not seen a soul since we left Pothia and there was no-one around now. After a total 4 hours of walking we arrived in the tiny port of Rina, around 3:30. The cold beers went down well. But our troubles had not finished. The next bus to Pothia was at 5:30. After an endless wait we enjoyed the ride back to the capital. 6:00 pm. The next bus to Panormas was 7:00 We set off walking once more hoping to hitch a lift back. No luck. But I guessed by the time we reached Chora we could catch that 7:00 bus. I dashed into a minimarket got two tickets as May walked quickly to the bus stop. She was within 40 metres of the stop as the bus was leaving. We waved to the driver. He signalled with his hand, " No! " and drove past. We could not believe it. We walked on, getting back to Norma's Village at 8:15.

 

Sunday 4 miles, Monday 3 miles, Tuesday 5 miles, and our last walk the day before we came back. This was to the monastery of Aghios Panteleimoras. We could see the building faintly in the distance and after one false start finally made it there. It was well worth the walk.

 

Then back to reality. Thursday in Hyde, 4.5 miles in rain and 9 deg C. Friday, 3.5 miles, full gear including tights, chest still affected and nose blocked up.

 

27 miles for that week. 


WEEK 24
 

 

We had enjoyed our Greek holiday with great running. The sun had made all the difference and we had come back with possibly the best tans we had ever had.

 

Returning to the British weather was a shock and frankly depressing ! Saturday 11th June I ran 5.5 miles in the morning and felt very tired. I was wearing full gear but did take my gloves off after 4 miles. Sunday I was running  WARRINGTON " LEGACY "  5 K RACE in Victoria Park. It was a windy morning. I warmed up on the synthetic  track, running in the outside of the first lane and was amazed to see 10 minute miling. I was invited to start on the front line but quickly moved to the outside to let athletes pass. Many of these were charity runners. Much of the surface was grass. At about 2 K I got isolated and had to run a good way into a head wind. I was in no-man's land, neither passing nor being passed. Heading back to the finish there was just one runner catchable wearing a purple and green quartered vest. I caught him as we hit the track once more but he began to pull away, sprinting up the home straight, leaving me to finish into the teeth of the fierce wind. I clocked 24:23. There was some talk of the course being slightly short so perhaps my time was equivalent to 25 minutes. Not bad as the cold and infected chest were still with me.

 

My position was 52nd out of 218 finishers. I was surprised at the standard of some of the charity runners. There are potentially some good athletes amongst them.

 

The winner was Nick Harmin, u/a, 16:47 and first woman was Julia Eccleston, Sutton St Helens AC, 21:08.

 

Next morning I ran 3.5 miles and wrote in my diary, " SO, SO TIRED." There was no way I was going to train my way out of this one. I had to cut back the miles. I dropped back to 2.5 miles easy runs. That left me with 26 miles for the week.


WEEK 25
 

 

No race this weekend but a mid-week race to look forward to.With 4 miles on Saturday June 18th followed by three 2.5 milers, I felt I was up for a good run in

the ROUND THE RESERS RACE in Tintwistle on Wednesday June 22nd, a favourite of mine. After only 1.5 miles warm up, an effort to keep myself fresh, I started near the back, trying to relax down the hill. There were not many behind me and at one mile I was 8:29 compared with 8:25 last year. It is 2 laps and the first part of the lap is flat, followed by a steep, rough downhill. On this section a Stockport Harriers lady, Marie Kay, passed me. I wasn't happy. Then came a steep uphill. I struggled. A guy being pulled by two dogs overtook followed by East Cheshire's Colin Timpson. I followed him down the hill and along the top of the dam and could not catch him. The gates at the end of he dam, at a left turn, were not fully open and there was a 9 inch plank of wood to negotiate. Colin skipped over; I stopped to step over fearing a mishap in my exhausted state. Running alongside the water I gradually overhauled Colin to enter the second lap a little ahead of him.

 

On the flat I passed two women but at the big hill I was desperate and out on my feet. I just held off Colin but he caught me at the end of the dam. The plank was at the 4 mile marker. I stepped on top, apologising. Colin hopped over and strode away down the hill. I was close behind and he said to me," We can pass a few of those ahead."

I replied, " I'm not bothered." And I wasn't.  I stayed with him thinking that we would finish together. He kept surging, and we passed Marie Kay, but she repassed us. With 100m to go Colin sprinted and took 5 seconds out of by the finish. I could not catch Marie Kay and to my dismay FV50 Cecelia Boodhoo, Belle Vue Striders, passed me just before the finish line. My time of 44:30 was 1:51 down on 2010 and I was SHATTERED ! 138th out of 159 meant I was in front of only 13% of the field. 28% last year. I wrote in my training diary, " Must be poorly."

 

Race winner was Dan McGrath, Salford H, 27:51; women's winner, Sarah Tunstall, Kendal AC, 30:03.

 

Thursday, 2.5 miles, " felt rubbish " Friday, 2.5 miles, " felt absolutely DREADFUL - quads were SORE - knees were SORE - absolutely nothing in my legs, no STRENGTH - HEART protesting - FELT REALLY ILL ! "  I decided to take some Amoxicillin antibiotics.

 

I know I am a long long way off the form I had at the height of my career and I can accept being beaten younger runners and, indeed, runners in my own age group whom I perceive as having superior talent today, but runs such as this makes me question my decisions to compete when it is such as struggle and success, in my perception, is not forthcoming. Meanwhile, next week has to be low mileage, but daily runs to keep my mental state in good condition.

 

23 miles that week.


WEEK 26
 

 

Starting Saturday 25th June, my longest run of the was a measly 4.5 miles on Sunday. At least the weather picked up at the beginning of the week, but from Wednesday onwards it got cold and I was back into full gear including tights.

 

On Wednesday I wrote in my training log, " Really not recovering that freshness / fitness I was hoping for."

 

Thursday, JUNE ended and I had clocked up a scant 104 miles (167 K) bringing my lifetime total to 155,124.5 miles ( 249,648 K )

 

This week's daily runs showed a total of only 20 miles

 


May 2011

 

WEEK 19


The week started with an excellent breakfast run from Sweatshop, Chorley. There is lovely countryside and the run finished on a canal bank. It was led by Malcolm East, a 2:11 marathon runner who I had met a couple of times when he lived in Pittsburgh, USA, and at the Rio de Janeiro Marathon once, as he reminded me.

Sunday was rather a long run for me as I ran to Altrincham to pick up my car which I had left overnight after the Altrincham AC 50th Anniversary Dinner.

Tuesday I raced in the evening; The Geoff Doggett Memorial 5 K, held in Littleborough, one of Andy O'Sullivan's races. A slow 1.9 mile warmup. Starting on the pavement I was quickly across the line, but struggling. I passed a few going up the road towards Rochdale until I caught Mandy Goth, a Todmorden AC lady,and sheltered behind her for a good way as it was windy and there was a rain shower. Just after the turn down Smithy Bridge Road I Passed Jim Taylor, Darwen Dashers, “Bandana Man," not wearing his bandana, and Mandy G. Further down, I overtook Jane Hughes and a man in a Northern Vet's vest, who I did not know, but looked like he could be in my age group. Just after the level crossing, on the climb towards Hollingworth Lake, I heard the bells ringing as the crossing barrier was coming down. Glad I missed that as it would have meant the subway and the steps beyond.

There were big gaps in font now. I turned left at the Lake and made some headway on the level and with the wind. Just before the last left turn I passed a woman in a blue "Stroke” T-shirt. Angie Hart, U/A. Heading down to the finish, the blue T-shirt passed me and there was nothing I could do to catch her.

My 25:55 got me 84th out of 125: 23% of runners behind. I was second MV70 to Sid Sacks, Salford H, 22:22. The N. Vets guy just one behind me was an MV70, Tom Finch, 26:28. The race winner, Mike Flatley, Middleton H ran 16:34. The first woman was Sarah Louise Cumber, Halifax H, 19:33.

This was my 13th race of the year and I can't say I enjoyed it. I wanted to beat my 2010 total of 26 races but things were not going right. My next three runs were all recovery runs to give me a total of 31 miles for the week.

Things were not right. My weight was down to just over 8st 8 lbs. Dangerously low!



WEEK 20


My first run of the week, Saturday 14th May, was a 5.5 miler. I was still in full gear as the weather was cold and rainy at times. Depressing. With about 2 miles to go I was running up a field towards a gate and spotted a few sheep with lambs. Approaching  the gate the path narrowed and I ran to my left alongside a fence to give the animals plenty of room to run off to my right, which most of them did. Getting nearer, one sheep remained with its lamb and it decided to charge the broad mesh fence at full tilt. It had no chance of getting through, instead tangling its horns in the wire. I spent ten minutes trying to calm the animal down and unhook the horns. The lamb stayed with it.I finally got it free and off it ran. Off I ran too.

My next three runs were 4.5, 3.5, and 3.5. Wednesday I did 4.5, risking shorts that morning. Commencing the steepest climb on that run it came on pouring and I got very cold knees for the rest of the run. No fun. This brought me to my 14th race of the year, The IAN CASEY MEMORIAL 5 K organised by the irrepressible Andy O'Sullivan MBE from the Cock and Magpie pub near Cowm Reservoir, Whitworth. This is not my favourite course because of the uphill start. After one lap of the two lap course warm up I started off very slowly up the slope to the banks of the reservoir. This meant most of the field had left me  and I was still in oxygen debt. Half way round the first lap I was sitting behind two women , one of them Kate Hall, unattached, wearing a grey t-shirt and black tights. A tall Middleton AC man passed and I got into his slipstream. Running across the dam head he died. I slowed. First lap 13:27. Suddenly the grey t-shirt went past at speed and it was all I could do to hang on. But I did. All the way to the final gate before the dam when she let me go ahead. On the dam Lorraine Leary, Rochdale H. & AC passed me. I tucked in against a head wind, but she too let me go ahead at the last gate, after which I legged it down to the finish. Second lap 12:31. Official time 26:04. Taking off the 6 seconds it took me to cross the line, 25:58 for my actual 5 K. Not much different than last Tuesday's race. 88th out of 105. I'd beaten only 16% of the runners. 3rd MV70 ( 1st Richard Lawson, Clayton, 23:21: 2nd Tom Finch, N. Vets., 25:39.

Race winner, Shaun Dimelow, MV40,  Barnsley H., 16:09; 1st woman, Jaclyn Davison, ( J ), Rochdale H., 19:54.

 

 

I didn't hang around and drove straight home. I should not have raced as it was May's birthday. I felt I had been racing too much and something was not quite right. My weight was still low, just over 8 1/2 stone, 120 pounds. 3.5 miles rounded off the week to give me 30 miles. 



WEEK 21


Into week commencing 21st May, Sat. 5.5 miles. Sun. "7.5 miles plod." I was really tired and after that my weight had decreased to 119 pounds, 8 stone        7 pounds. This was not healthy. I had not been that low since December 1992, around 18 months after I lost the Ron Hill Sports business and I was very unhappy with my role in the new regime. Then I had sought doctor's advice and after blood tests was told there was nothing physically wrong with me. " It must be stress. " Up until then I had never believed in stress. Anyway, in early 1993, after a bunion operation and 6 weeks of 1 mile per day in a plaster cast I had put on 14/15 pounds and it stayed on.

 

So, I don't know what is going on with me now. Maybe the weather has been getting me down. Maybe running too much when I am tired. But this week I am still at it. The two days at the start of the week were followed by 5 and 4.5 mile days. We were going away for a 2 week holiday on Wednesday and I was stacking the miles at the beginning of the week to achieve 30 miles by the end of the week. Wednesday, before our flight, 2.5 miles at 5:15 am. All five runs this week in full gear and this nearing the end of May. A lot of it not much faster than 12 minute miling. Now that is depressing!

 

 

We flew to the Island of Kos, took a ferry to the port of Pothia on the island of Kalymnos and thence to our accommodation at “Norma’s Village" in the area of Panormos. We had a great studio on an upper floor with a huge balcony which took the uninterrupted morning sun. We had chosen a great location. My morning run, now in vest and shorts started with a 900 metre slightly downhiil run to Kantouni Beach. Every morning bar one May ran with me as far as the sea. I would turn right and run along the hard sand to a headland and May would follow at her own pace. Beyond the headland was short out and back alongside Linaria Beach. Early morning it was virtually traffic free.

 

I would continue on roads, often to a third beach, Plati Gialos, which involved some good climbs, to and from, and occasionally higher still to a dirt road which led to the resort of Myrties. The sun on my back and the wonderful vistas made the work worthwhile. And I love a good sweat.

 

During my first run on the island I passed through 155,000 Lifetime Recorded Miles  ( 249,448 K ) The next landmark and my target after I completed 100 Countries of Competition is 250,000 K.

 

Week 21 finished with 31 miles.



WEEK 22.
 

 

Saturday 28th June I woke up with a sore throat. Had I caught this on the plane ? 4 miles in the morning. Following breakfast we walked into the port of Pothia, the capital of the island. We did a lot of walking but this particular day it was unintentional. We had walked up to the roundabout which a on the main road and bought 4 bus tickets. You could not buy tickets on the bus ! This was at about 10:30. We enquired at a kiosk what time the next bus was only to be told it would probably be at about 11:20. We decided to set off walking. It was difficult at first to work out what time a bus would be at your bus stop as the time table only told you what time it left Pothia and what time it left its destination to return to Pothia. And sometimes the journeys were not joined up. Anyway, that morning we set off, continuously looking over our shoulders, and never saw a bus nor after a certain while a bus stop. The bus we wanted must have gone round a small village called Chora whilst we were on the main road. It took us 90 minutes to get there. We tried unsuccessfully to buy a decent map of the island; even the tourist office was closed, so we got the next bus back. 

 

Sunday the sore throat had spread to my chest and May had caught it too.But we just got on with it, ran together to Linaria beach and I continued to run the 4 miles of Saturday with a run over to Plati Gialos beach and back. Monday I extended that run to include an out and back from the highest point of the Plati Gialos road, climbing higher to check that the road did indeed lead to Myrties, the next resort. Late that morning we set off to walk that way to Myrties, but taking a short cut we had discovered previously, on a walk back from Plati Gialos beach. This involved climbing a lot of steps, not signposted but saved a lot of time. A great walk, no traffic for most of the way, and the bees busy collecting honey from the wild oregano. If we were still there was a background hum of the bees busy going about their work. It was a pleasant walk down to Myrties, passing on the left, Aghios Ioannis, a small church with interesting mosaics outside and lines of pillars from some much older structure. We took a boat from the small jetty near the scruffy harbour. Two euros per person each way to the small island of Telendos, a sail of just seven minutes. The place is very quiet, no cars or motorbikes but after some time walking we found little there except peace and relaxation. A shared Greek salad and ice cold Mythos beer in the sun at Rita's on the quay rounded off the visit nicely.

 

Tuesday, the last day of May, I restricted my run to a 3 miler as we were hurrying to catch the 10:30 bus towards Pothia. We alighted well before the port to climb up to Chrysoheria Castle situated high above the road with three ruined windmills below. From there we walked on a high road before descending to the southern end of the port.

 

May had produced 132 miles ( 212 K ) bringing my lifetime total to 155,020 miles ( 249,479 K )

 

By Wednesday our chest infections had spread to head colds with sinuses blocked with sticky phlegm. We did not let that stop us and Thursday we walked, partly on the main road up to the village of Chora and thence to the castle high above. This was not easy with reputedly 350 steps and dizzying drops at the edge. There was a large village with many churches at the top, within the walls of the castle, and there was not a soul about. Luckily the descent of the steps was not as scary as the climb up.

That week produced 26 miles. 

 


April 2011

WEEK 13


Saturday 26th March I did my first Park Run. I got the train to Milton Keynes the afternoon before and Peter Ford, the manager of Sweatshop MK, picked me up at the station and took me to a hotel at Willen Lake, the venue for the start of the run the next morning. When I peeped through the curtains the next day it was misty and cold looking. The previous day it had been warm and sunny.

 

I had forgotten to pack my tights and for the first time this year raced in shorts. OK, I know it is not classed as a race but I and a lot of runners were in a competition ! A 2 mile warm up and I was ready to go. Standing near the back I hit a lot of runner traffic from the start. Parks do not have wide roads. Patience was necessary. In my ignorance I thought it would be flat; it was round a lake, but the first K climbed to a canal. 5:47. That was disappointing but should have been expected. I had been moving through nicely but on some good downhill had to reign in my stride because of runners in front. The 2 K marker had been stolen but at 3 K my watch showed 10:10 for that split, average 5:05 per K. That was better. Still moving forward a zig- zag step uphill then down to the banks of the lake. Now it was flat. Looking ahead I could see 69 year old  Len Voralia, I think of Indian origin, who I had chatted to before the start. I believe he holds the course record for his age group 65 - 69.

 

I caught him and sped past. But only as far as a woman ahead of me then slowed to run behind her. Hearing Len trying to get on terms with me I waited until around 500 metres to go then strode out. I caught one guy in blue, who upped his pace when he saw me, but could not handle his final sprint. My last 2 K's had averaged 5:06 so I was happy with that and my final time of 26:18 plus my final position of 97th out of  193 finishers. This will not be my last Park Run. Ist man home Tom Best 16:37, 1st woman  M Jesson 19:22.

 

I spent a pleasant 2 1/2 hours in the Sweatshop store chatting to runners and answering questions before my rail journey home.

 

I ran easily Sunday, 5.5 miles and Monday 4 miles. Tuesday, 5 miles with speedwork : 2 + 4 + 4 X 70s. strides with 50s interval. Wednesday, an easy 3.5 miles. Thursday, hilly 4.5 miles including number stride fartlek up to 60 and down. Friday, easy 3.5 miles for a 31 mile week.

 

 

WEEK 14

Saturday April 2nd, a breakfast run from Bourne Sports, Stoke-on-Trent. My run was 4 miles, at first running along a canal with John Bourne and 70 + John Nutt, sitting in behind groups of runners where we could ( head wind ), then leaving JB to loop back for a 3 miler whilst JN took me on a loop of the Brittania Stadium where a young woman caught and joined us. It turned out that she was born on Joel Lane where I now live !

 

This was a good warm up for the PENNINGTON FLASH 10K the next day, an off-road race starting and finishing at Leigh Sports Village. I started off in last position for one lap of the track, before the field headed out on to reclaimed railway tracks, trails and canal banks. It was sunny and warm for a while and I was steadily moving through the runners with K's of 5:05, 5:05 and 5:12. The field was spread out by now and I was not passing many. The 4th K took me 5:43 ( ? ) which was somewhat deflating. What would the next K be ? I would never know. It was a windy day and it seems the 5 K marker had blown across the canal and was irretrievable. 6 K and 7 K had gone too . there was nothing for it but to get my head down and run as hard as I could.

 

There was a cold rain shower at about 7 K as we headed into he wind. Suddenly a fluorescent sign announced 8 K. My watch had 21:25 for that long split But my brain was too tired to do any calculations. Odd runners were still coming back to me. Now it was flat. 5:36 between 8 and 9 K. Disappointing. Two more to be overtaken then a dash to the line, recording 6:07 for the final K, which I could not quite believe, and a final " chip " time of 54:14 for 70th place. 

Well, with 232 finishers I had beaten 70% of them. The time was almost irrelevant as it was off-road, slower than tarmac.

The winner was James Scott-Buccleuch in 35:00 and the first woman, in 6th place overall was Laura Riches, Leigh H&AC, 42:16.


A dash to the line - Photo Credit - Brendan Fox, STI 

 

Training for the rest of the week was identical to Week 13 except that Tuesday's speedwork included 2 + 4 + 6 x 70 seconds strides, the maximum for this training period. 

All this added up to 32 miles for the week.

 



WEEK 15 

 

Saturday April 10th I ran 3.5 miles. It was a breakfast run from the Sweatshop, Hyde, when a group of us ran out along the banks of the River Tame then back along the towpath of the Peak Forest Canal. A refreshing change. Good preparation for the " Gin Pit 5 " miles the next day.

The morning was unseasonally warm which did not bother me as I was used to training in full gear and sweating accordingly. The course was a lap of 1 mile followed by two laps of 2 miles. I warmed up alone at a gentle pace allowing 24 minutes for 2 miles. At the start I stood near the back not the very back as the track was narrow here and uphiil. I had noticed several rivals all of whom had had the better of me in races, some recent; MV65 Kevin O'Brien of my own club, Clayton le-Moors Harriers; MV75 Peter Edwards, N Vets AC, and new MV70 Keith Robson, a handy triathlete.

Halfway through the first lap I tucked in behind a young woman in a sage green top and wearing earphones. She was an unattached runner, Rachael Simpson. A gentle uphill and a slight head breeze. On the steep uphill back to the start line she went away. 1 mile passed in 8:29. Slow. I caught her on the downhill and followed again into the breeze. We passed Kevin O'Brien with little response. 2nd mile 8:02. I was striding to keep up with Rachael and away she went up the steep hill. With her again down to enter the final lap. The 3rd mile, 8:33. She helped me up the long hill and just after 4 miles ( 8:21 ) we passed Keith Robson. He gave me a shout but was having an awful day and dropped out of the race. The last time up the hill Rachael raced away to beat me by 2 seconds. I'd had no answer despite a last mile of 4:11.

A good run for me, 41:36 for 112th out of 173 beating 35% of the field. But I was only 2nd MV70 to John Riley, N Vets AC 37: 46 !  Kevin O' B ran 42:43 and Pete E. 43:20. Worthy of mention, Derek Haworth MV80, 43:30.

 

Winner, Tony Battersby, Leigh H & AC, 24:52. First female, Laura Riches, Leigh H & AC, 29:48.

 

The rest of the week was similar to previous with speedwork, which seemed to be paying off, on Tuesday and Thursday for a total of 30 miles.

 

WEEK 16

The reason for including speedwork in previous weeks' training was to be in top condition for the B.A.A 5 K Race on Sunday, April 17th, the day before the Boston Marathon. I had been invited back with May in 2010 on the 40th Anniversary of my victory and record run ( 2:10:30 ) there back in 1970. We were unable to fly last year because of the Icelandic ash cloud but the invitation was accepted.


From landing on Friday the 15th we were treated like Royalty, being met at the airport and whisked to the Fairmont Plaza Hotel right near to the Boston finish line. There was only time for one run before my race and that was Saturday morning. May and I jogged down Dartmouth Street to the Charles River where I did an out and back to make a 3 mile loosener. From then on it was hectic. Saturday, 9:15 a one on one media chat with Rob de Castella, then the BAA Champions' Breakfast with Rob, Champion 1986, Alvaro Mejia ( Colombia ), Champion the year after me, 1971, myself, and Jean Driscoll an 8 time women's champion in the wheelchair race. Things were so rushed that we never got breakfast ! We were interviewed on stage. The audience contained many other famous past champions, Geoff Smith, the only other Briton ever to win Boston and did so twice, Amby Burfoot, Bill Rogers, Greg Mayer, Utta Pippig,Joan Benoit and Lorraine Moller. After the formal interviews I was inundated with questions and barely had time to greet Jeff Johnson who I had stayed with in 1975, when I ran 5th in 2:13:28. and who had taken wonderful photographs of my two Bostons which appear in Part 2 of my autobiography, " The Long Hard Road." 

 



Champions breakfast. L to R Jean Driscoll, Rob de Castella, Alvaro Mejia, and RH


Serving at the Pasta Party, Mayor Meneino on the left in green, Rob de Castella on the right, Rh on Rob's right

A delightful lady, Gloria Ratti, a Vice President of the B.A.A, was looking after the invited past champions and she did a great job.

Saturday evening there was first a Cocktail Reception for Sponsors and B.A.A Board of Governors. Plenty of beer and excellent nibbles, followed by the Mayor's Reception hosted by Thomas M. Menino, Mayor of Boston, with more beer and food. I think I may have overdone the liquid hospitality in view of my race the next day.


 

This was the third Annual B.A.A. 5 K starting at 8:00 AM. Our friends Graham and Oona Richards came to our room at the hotel to collect their race numbers. I had been given number 1970 in recognition of my victory in 1970. The minutes seemed to run away and I had only time for a 0.9 mile warm up in the back streets near the start. Far too short. It was cold raining and windy. Then we were corralled in the start area for some time. It was a huge field and as we set off up Boylston Street I ran to the right hand side to allow faster runners to pass. I did not feel good. People were passing for about 2 miles ! Around Boston Common the course climbed culminating in a steep climb up Park Street. The 1 mile point was around here but I missed it. Downhill into the wind , back on to Boylston Street then the 2 mile marker which I missed again but I saw someone press their watch. 16:32. I was very tired and when I saw what looked like a guy who could have been in my age group, white hair; in a green outfit I resigned myself to running behind him. This I did until we reached Boylston once more and the finish in sight. I pushed on once more to cross the famous Finish line in 25:17. Disappointed. I was 1024th out of 4197 beating 76% of the field. In my MV70 category I was 2nd to Gary Muhrke, 22:05. I had known Gary for many years on account of his famous running store. Race winner was Benjamin True, Hanover NH, 14:06 C R. First woman, Lineth Cepkurui, Kenya, 15:51.



Approaching 1 Mile, BAA 5 K. Credit: May Hill

 

The final duty of the day for the Past Champions was to help serve pasta and salad, alongside Mayor Menino, at the pre-race Past Party at City Hall.

Next day, Monday, we watched the fabulous Boston Marathon Races on big screen TV's in the Westin, Copley Plaza Hotel, after an early morning 3 mile run.

Tuesday another 3 miler by the Charles River, followed by a walk in the rain on part of the Freedom Trail. In the evening we were privileged to be at an annual private ceremony at the Bill Rogers Running Centre after the store had closed. Bill's brother, Charlie, who manages the store, along with a few selected friends and staff toasts various people with nips of rare single malt scotch whiskies. The first toast was to the life of Greta Waitz who had died recently from cancer at the age of only 46. Then Jock Semple, Boston Race Director when I ran in 1970 , Will Cloney, Johnny Kelly......and on.....A really moving evening with Bill himself present. 

 

Next morning after a final visit to the Charles River for 3 miles we were on the road. Chris Nelson, from Rhode Island, who is the US distributor for Ronhill and Hilly picked us up at the hotel and drove us to visit a couple of running stores in his home state. After lunch I gave a talk to the track team, about 40 or 50 athletes both male and female, mainly about keeping going and not giving up.The men's track coach, Tim Springfield, told me he had competed with me in a Maryland Marathon in Baltimore. Chris then took us to the Hampton Inn, Seekonk, RI. where May and I stayed the night. The next morning, Thursday, I discovered it was not an ideal place to train. No quiet country roads. I ended up doing a 3 mile run through store car parks. At least I got a run without he dangers of traffic as it was early morning.Chris drove us to New York state and a running shop in Westchester. Four more running stores later we arrived back at the Hampton Inn, a lovely clean place, at 7:10. Friday, another car park

 3 miler and I'm not grumbling here ; I can always find something interesting to see. We checked out, Chris took us to another hotel, a Holiday Inn, near to where I would start a 10 K race the next day and after leaving our luggage we went sight seeing in Providence, RI, looking at lots if impressive mansions and touring " Breakers," home of the Vanderbilt family. We had dinner in the evening in The White Horse Tavern, Providence, Est. 1673, with Chris and his wife Mary. I had a " flat iron " steak and chips plus an excellent pint. We were packed and in bed by 10:00. That week was only 22 miles.

 

 WEEK 17 

 

The day before had been spring like and sunny. Saturday 23rd, after getting up at just after 6:00, I looked out of the bedroom window and it was pouring!

I brewed coffee and had this with honey and 2 date biscuits. Chris Nelson was waiting for us in the lobby when we emerged at 8:00 and took us to the race start area.


Ron and May with Chris Nelson's wife, Mary, in front of The White Horse Tavern, the oldest tavern in the USA.   Credit, Chris Nelson.

 

The race was the JAMESTOWN BRIDGE 10 K. A new race, and what a bridge! It was a massive climb to the apex which allowed big ships to sail in to Providence. It was a cold, windy, rainy and wet underfoot morning but the number of runners there was close to the race limit of 1000. I was one of the few people wearing shorts with a long sleeve T, regular T and singlet. I warmed up for 16 minutes in pants and a thick Jacket borrowed from Chris. The times would be recorded electronically at the finish, but these would be gun times. I stood near the front but it still took me 11 seconds to cross the start line. There was a long downhill at the beginning. One lane of two on each side of the bridge had been closed for runners. On the way down my left arm banged into a tall bollard and I got a split of 1:52 on my tap screen Timex IronMan watch.

I passed a few and a good few passed me. At the bottom the fist big climb loomed. There was ahead to right side wind blowing. I found the uphill hard work. I did not see 1 or 2 mile markers. In fact they were sprayed on the road in blue which I discovered when I reached 4 miles. As the climb steepened I sheltered, first behind a guy and girlfriend running abreast, then a young lady wearing a purple T-shirt and loose black long pants. My left calf kept tugging in the cold. Due to a falling down injury in January. At the top there was a fierce wind with rain. I noticed most people were running in jackets and tights. I had on my Hilly compression socks and ASICS Piranha racing shoes.


Entering the last mile and hill of the race.   credit Chris Nelson 

After a stretch of downhill we turned right into a neighbourhood then right again almost down to the water's edge. I was passing and being passed. On a level stretch I passed the 3 mile sign. I hit my watch. The split showed 23:16. “Not bad I thought." Shortly after I remembered the bollard split needed to be added, so not so good after all. More runners mainly women were passing. Eventually the road climbed on to the bridge again. The lass in purple was still there but I soon left her. Now the wind was behind us and the climb up this time was not so steep. I saw the 4 mile marker on the road. An 8:32 mile. Not so bad. Holding my place now. Over the top and down. Now I was moving better. After the downhill there was a slight uphill before the final climb up to the finish. At 5 miles I had a split of 8:16. Encouraging. I looked ahead to where the last hill started and thought, “It should take me around 10 minutes from there." I climbed well, passing and still being passed and reached 6 miles with a split of 8:38.

The road went under a bridge and swept right. Finished runners were shouting, "Just round the corner.”. I put in an effort and covered the last 0.2 miles in 1:43.

My official (gun) time was 52:29 making my actual time 52:18. I could not grumble at that in those conditions. I was 224th out of 930 finishers: only 24% of the field in front of me. I was 1st MV70 to finish. Interestingly, there were 533 female finishers and 397 only male.

The race winner was Adrian Rishworh, 37:07; and the first woman, Tara Allen, 43:07.

 

Chris took us back to the hotel for me to change, then immediately to Boston's Logan Airport for the flight home.

I felt tired all week and did not enjoy the cold weather. Wednesday I ran 9 miles, down to Hyde Town Hall, then from there with a friend, Chris Bird, who was running 10 miles in all 10 boroughs of Manchester, on consecutive days, to raise money for the Lord Mayors Charity. That helped boost my total for the week to 36 miles.

 

WEEK 18

 

Saturday was the last day in APRIL. I had run 129 miles that month. This brought my lifetime total to 154,852.5 miles (249, 210K) Both 155,000 miles and 250,000 K are beckoning!

 

No races this week, and not very pleasant running. Only twice did I run in shorts. The rest of the time I was in full gear as the temperature was below 50 deg F/ 10 C and I was conscious of protecting my knees. And to add to my misery the first 4 days featured a fierce headwind. Nevertheless I still managed 30 miles.

 

 


 


March 2011

WEEK 9

 

Saturday I ran 5 miles to get a good start with the week's mileage. My chest infection had still not cleared so I took it easy with a race the next day. My fifth race of the year was the LYNN HINDLE, BRIAN HARGEAVES AND JOHN McDONAGH MEMORIAL, 5 MILE MULTI-TERRAINS RACE from Littleborough, organised by Andy O'Sullivan MBE. I didn't know Lynn but both Todmorden Harriers Brian and John were old friends from way back.

 

I like this course with its 2.5 mile climb to a bridge across the M62 then under the motorway to drop down to the edge of Hollingworth Lake and then descend a further mile to the finish back in Littleborough. I started at the back as usual, struggled for a while up the hill then passed a few as we left tarmac to continue the climb on a gritty trail. I trod carefully on the steep downhill and spotted a small figure in a red jacket ahead. Pushing on into a headwind and soon realised it was Brenda Robinson. When I finally caught her I tucked in behind her to shelter from the breeze. As we ran along the water's edge a woman in a blue jacket went past, Rossendale Harrier, Christine Navan. That meant one MV 70 and two FV 65's together with a mile to go.


Approaching the summit. Photo credit  www.runningpix.co.uk

I followed Christine down the hill. There were two other runners not far ahead but after last week's trauma at the National I had no inclination to chase them. With about 400m to go I "sprinted " but could not catch the two.


One mile to go L to R, Christine Navan, Brenda Robinson and Dr Ron - Photo Credit - May Hill

 

I was happy with my time of 48:36, faster than 10 minute miling, and my position of 65th out of 84. I'd beaten 23% of the field. An improvement, though  was only 2nd MV 70 to T Finch, N Vets AC, who recorded  45:43.

 

Overall winner was Rob Jackson, Horwich RMI Harries, in 29:27. First woman was Jessica Cope, East Cheshire H., 37:05.

 

I followed this with 2 X 3.5, and 2 X 4.5 milers, with a bit of speedwork on the last two.

 

My last run of the week was in Oxford, 3 miles out and back along the Oxford Canal. On the way to the water I saw a jay; the previous evening I had spotted a kingfisher as I reccied my way from the hotel. I had been in Oxford for a postponed Hall of Fame Dinner and this latest event combined the University Athletic and Cross Country Clubs' Annual Dinners. Hence a great turnout including Julian Goater and Richard Nurerkar. It was also the 150th Anniversary of the Athletic Club the oldest athletic club in the world. Inductees to the Hall of Fame are only admitted every decade and it was my honour to present the award to Fraser Thomson, BUSA Champion over 5K

and 10K and three times winner of Varsity Cross Country. He joins such greats as Roger Bannister, Chris Chataway and Julian Goater.

 

On the train home I finished “The Sun Also Rises (Fiesta )" by Ernest Hemmingway. I had read this over 50 years ago. Set in Northern Spain; Pamplona and San Sebastian, it reminded me of a holiday in 1967 when I had driven my family in A 35 van down through France to camp in San Sebastian then across Spain, via Pamplona, to the Mediterranean coast, camping again before returning to the French coast, sailing overnight to Southampton and after an early morning 2 mile run in a park racing the Chigwell 10 Miles, winning in a course record of 49:57. 

Another week of 30 miles.      February had added a mere 99 miles

 
WEEK 10


Saturday was an easy 3.5 miler in preparation for my 6th race of the year, March 6th, THE TROTTERS 5 MILES MT RACE, organised by Burnden Road Runners at Smithills Country Park, Bolton. It was a cold day for this two lapper but eventually the sun shone and for the first time in 2011 I ran without a woven jacket. But, as the temperature was below 10 deg C I wore tights and two long sleeve vests plus gloves. Starting at the back as usual I managed to pass a few on the first lap. I had spotted Brian Pinder, Stadium Runners, ahead at the beginning and he steadily moved away. He had hammered me at Chernobyl and Meltham and it looked like I was in for the same fate. The last part of the lap was quite a long climb, mainly on tracks, followed by a long run down on road before entering the park again and back through the start. My Timex tap screen watch showed 23:31. I was happy with that. On the second lap I was gaining slowly on a couple of runners when I glanced up at the start of the long climb and saw that Brian was walking!

Catching him at the top, I passed but he began running again and overtook me. I tucked in behind. Down the long road back to the park we ran side by side, he on the pavement, me on the road. There was one runner ahead but he was not catchable. I followed Brian into the park. I could see the finish. It was up a short sharp hill. Our pace increased. At the bottom of the hill I sprinted. He responded. I almost fell forward but managed to stay on my feet and triumphed by one second. My second lap had taken 23:06 for a total of 46:54 (officially 46:52) 94 seconds better than last week. I was pleased. I walked back to the school and car park with the runner who had finished just in front of me, 15 seconds ahead, Phil Martin, Bowland Fell Runners. He told me he had turned 70 in December last year. He won the MV 70 category! with me 2nd, obviously. I was 148th out of 176 finishers; 84% of the field in front of me.

  
Approaching the summit & About to outsprint Brain Pinder -  Photo credit  www.runningpix.co.uk

 

Race winner was Marc Tillotson Bolton UH, 27:14; first lady, Marie Lowe, Astley and Tyldesley RR, 32:33.

 

Two easy runs to recover, two runs with speedwork, and an easy 3.5 miles on Friday Gave me 30 miles for the week. I was getting quicker on my runs and my breathing seemed to be improving.

 

WEEK 11

Saturday I ran my hilly 4.5 miler. " Did not feel good at all at the start." Sunday I raced the TRAFFORD 10 K from Partington leisure Centre, Manchester. I was off early for the 9:30 am start. It was pouring with rain. Luckily it had stopped by the time I had finished my 18-minute warm up and pinned in my race number " 1."

Starting not right at the back as I usually do, I was passed by other runners in the first kilometre then settled down to run in a pack. Strangely or maybe not so strangely, I did not see one person that I knew throughout the whole race. My first 4 K went by in 5:20, 5:16, 5:28, 5:18. We turned left after about 4.5 K, into a slight headwind, and I began sitting in. My 5th K was 5:25 then a man and a woman, running together went past, with me following. The next K was 5:12 but then the couple slowed and so did I for a short while. A slim young woman with a scarf on her head, Elaine Platt, passed and I slotted in behind her for a 5:12 K. I was really hanging on now but she took me past a few runners and I was about to let her go when she caught a friend form Chorlton Runners and slowed to talk to her. A 5:17K. Then I heard her friend say, " You go on now."  Which she did with me in tow. I stayed right behind her and the last 3 kilometres were 5:13, 5:12, and 5:08. I strode out with 150 metres to go to record a chip time of 52:49. This was 11 seconds faster than 2010 and 10 minutes better than 6 weeks previously at the Meltham 10 K. This was progress and vindicated my methods of recovery from injury - continuing to run daily but slowly and not so far, gradually building up, until any pain subsided. I was very happy.

 
Around 2k & ...Finishing straight, i strode out. Photo Credit - www.flamingphotography.co.uk

I was only 2nd in the M 70 category, well beaten by Sid Sacks, Salford Harriers, with 44:31, a time I will never approach again. And well done to Joe Park who led the 
M 75 category in 52:22, 27 seconds ahead of me ! I had not seen the red and white hoops of the Cheshire Tally Ho club vest ahead and even if I had could have done nothing about catching him.

 

This course is surely one for fast times !

First home, Edwin Kipkorir, Birchfield H, 29:12, one second ahead of Jonny Taylor, Morpeth H. First female, Ava Hutchkinson, Cardiff, 33:20.

The race left me exhausted for my 4 mile run next day, but by Wednesday and Thursday I was able to put in some gentle speedwork and achieve a week of 32 miles.

WEEK 12

With no race this weekend I ran 5.5 miles Saturday and 6.5 miles ( a long run for me ) on Sunday. Tuesday I ran twice, 2.5 miles AM and 3 miles PM from the Sweatshop Arndale Centre, in the dark, with about 30 others. Something different and reminding me of 11.5 years training to work and back in winter and not running in daylight until the weekends. Wednesday,Thursday speedwork, a bit more than last week.

Thursday I passed through a lifetime's total of 154,762 miles = 249,000 kilometres.

The week's total had been 34 miles. 

 


February 2011

WEEK 5

 

Perhaps the Chernobyl 10K at the beginning of last week had made me too optimistic about my recovery from injury. I had beaten the hour and 14% of the field. Plus the 3.5 runs every day for the rest of the week had been getting quicker and quicker.

 

Saturday morning I recorded 40:54. Quicker still. What I was ignoring was the pain in my right knee. Saturday's log reported, " Left leg OK but right knee hurting."

 

Saturday after noon I attended a meeting of Group Leaders within "Run In England " at Sportscity in Manchester. They are doing great work in introducing all manner of people into running. I outlined my own beginnings and long career. There was a lively Question and Answer session afterwards. I ended my contribution by saying that amongst all the runners they were developing I hoped there would be a few who would reach for the top as I did. 

 

Despite the knee pains, I was expecting to show an improvement over Chernobyl in the MELTHAM 10K on Sunday. Having run it years ago, I knew it was a hilly course. And it was, despite the entry form declaring a faster course " with one huge uphill and one huge downhill removed,"  0.8 of a mile warm up; full gear, including fleecy tights and I was ready to go.



I scuttled along at the start, 19 seconds to cross the line, and after a bit of flat a right turn led to a serious hill. I lost a bit of ground here and must have been almost last. The course levelled a little then came a long, long hill. I began to move forward and was delighted when 1 mile came up at 9:54. Still more climb, 3 or 4 more passed and second mile in 9:52. Very surprised and hoping for a good time. At about 2.5 miles the route took a left turn. Three runners were not far ahead and slowly I overtook them. A good downhill brought me to the 3 mile marker. My right knee was beginning to hurt. That 3rd mile had taken me 10:18 which did not seem right.From 3 miles was a big hill stretching into the distance.My pace was dropping and 2 runners passed. On the descent to 4 miles my action became more awkward. Right knee was becoming more painful and my left leg with the pulled calf muscle was acting purely as a pivot. the 4th mile was 10:48. All hope was gone. 3 more passed on a protracted ascent. I was getting worse. Some descending to the 5 mile marker where I could not believe 11:10. From then on it was steeply down; even more difficult for me. An FV65, Sheila Ely, Longwood Harriers, overtook me. I remembered passing her towards the end of the 2nd mile. What was going on ? I tried to stay with her but it was impossible. Another woman went past. The road was now busy and occasionally I had to hop on to the pavement. I was scared to death of falling.


Meltham 10k - Steep hill to finish - Photo Credit - www.flamingphotography.co.uk

 
Meltham 10K  - steep hill to finish."    Photo credit -  flamingphotography.co.uk

The 6th mile took 8:04 ? A left turn and the steep hill we ran at the start. I was catching Sheila Ely but had no finish left in me and was still 4 seconds behind at the finish. My official time was 63:05 and the last 315 yards had taken me 2:42. What a disaster ! For my own personal information my actual 10 K was 62:48. 333rd from 363 finishers meant I had beaten only 8% of the field. My worst ever performance ! First in my age group was Jack Cowlishaw, U/A, 52:08. Was this fate slapping me in the face ? My last fall, which did my knee in, was down a hill near me called Cowlishaw Brow ! " 1st MV 75, Gordon Booth, Longwood Harriers, 51:56.

 

Race winner, Michael Hunt, Trafford AC, 35:21. First female, Karen Pickles, Pudsey Racers, 39:24.

 

For the rest of the week I retreated to 2 mile slow runs on my railway track.

Monday I ran at lunchtime. 24:29.

Tuesday morning May and I attended the launch of the RUN LIVERPOOL MARATHON. Of course Liverpool was the venue in 1961 for my debut marathon. A win in 2:24:22. This years race will be on John Lennon's birthday  9/10/11 and looks to become a classic with a spectacular new course.I ran in he late afternoon. Knee pretty sore. 25:36.

 

Wednesday, another mid-day run. Knee comfortable for 1/2 mile, then sore. 24:20.

Thursday, morning run. Right knee still a problem, but no real pain. 25:30.

Friday. Morning. Hardly any pain in knee. 23:47.

 

That last run has made me optimistic about achieving a good recovery. I hope so. I am entered in the English Cross-Country Championships at Alton Towers. 45 years ago  I won my first English C-C Title, over 9 miles, at Graves Park, Sheffield, by the length of my nose from Mike Turner, Liverpool Harriers. 

 

 

WEEK 6

 

The first two days of the week I ran 2 miles on an out and back course from home. My legs and knees were recovering well but now unfitness was setting in. My breathing was shot, though I was still carrying a bad chest and cold which seems to have been afflicting me since November last year. The 3rd and 4th day's runs were also 2 miles but took place early morning in the dark in Munich. I was attending a sporting goods exhibition there.

The last 3 days were from home; morning runs of 3.5 miles on my railway course, with my torn left calf still suspect. All in all I am optimistic about a full recovery, but it will be a long road back. 

 

Week 6 totalled 19.5 miles.
 

WEEK 7

 

The previous week my doctor had prescribed a course of antibiotics, Amoxicillin, to try to shift my persistent cold and chest infection. But I still wanted to ease up my mileage without setting back my recovery from injuries. the fist day of he week, Saturday February 12th I did a hilly 4.5 miles. That was pain free but from my breathing I could tell I was unfit. That feeling continued for the rest of the week.

 

Sunday I ran 4 miles on the road. Monday was a 3.5 miler, my railway run. Tuesday back to my hilly 4.5 miles. No problems.

 

Wednesday I dropped back to 3.5 miles for the last 3 days. After Wednesday's morning run I attended the launch of the Pennington Flash 10 K and Half Marathon races at Leigh Sports Village. These two trail races will be Held on April 3rd - see Sports Tours International web site for details. Whist at the launch I met two old friends, Arthur Walsham and Derek Howarth, both over 80, doing a track session there.



Launch of the Pennington Flash 10K and Half Marathon



On Friday I finished my course of antibiotics. I was confident I would get round the course of the English Cross Country Championships at Alton Towers, without embarrassing myself and keeping the time keepers waiting too long. In week 7 I recorded 27 miles.

 

WEEK 8

 

The English Cross-Country Championships at Alton Towers. Well I did embarrass myself and I did keep the time keepers waiting , though they seemed very cheerful about that.

Driving to the venue was ominous. On the tops above Buxton and then Leek there was snow on the road and mist on the tops. After parking I sought one of my club mates, Mark Whiteman, to collect my number, 6153. The whole area in front of the start line was churned mud. I did no believe that the course itself would be anything like this. Then came the news, " The distance has been reduced from 12 K to 10 K. " One short lap of 2 K and two big laps of 4 K. There was a delay of around 15 minutes before we were off.

 

From the back of pen 54 I started up the slight incline and was out of breath immediately. Lack of fitness due to my falls and low mileage. Very soon the field had gone leaving around half a dozen of us at the back, strung out. Martin McGann, East Cheshire Harriers, running his 42nd consecutive National ! dropped back to run with me. Suddenly it was mud, mud and more mud. I had thought I would be able to find grass at the edges of the course. Wrong. I had no strength to lift my legs. At the end of the short lap I could feel both my calves pulling. Into the first big lap I was desperately trying to find grass to run on but instead I was wallowing. Now I had to get out of the way of the rest of the field as the leaders, Steve Vernon, Michael Skinner and Tom Lancashire seemed to fly over the mud. My fellow runners in the rear guard were all struggling and Martin kept me going. Up the long hill I had to walk but got going again at the top. Slowly we passed four of our sorry group.

 

With Martin McGann helping me through. Photo Credit - Dean Loxam

The end of the first long lap we had to run alongside the never ending  finishing straight. Finishers were streaming past on our left churning up the mud to well above ankle level. By now I was exhausted and was absolutely dreading the last 4 K. My watch showed 45:03 for 6 K. I did not work it out at the time but that was 7:30 per K  equivalent to 75 minutes for 10 K. I had already had one fall and now had difficulty dragging my feet out of the mud. at every little uphill I had to walk, or rather stagger. I kept telling Martin to go on but he said I was doing him a favour by stopping him racing as he had recently been injured with plantar fasciaitis. He felt the " soft " going was protecting his heel ! Four of the back gang staggered past again. I did not care. I just wanted to get to the end. But I looked at them and wondered how they did it. The only thing I could think was that they were big guys and had the strength to drag their legs out of the quagmire.

 

Where has everyone gone? Photo credit - Dean Loxam

I walked up the steep long hill again Now my back was aching. I felt helpless. At the top of the hill I tried to start running and fell down. I runner from the South Cheshire Running Club, Chris Walsh, who was catching us called, " Are you OK ? " "Yes," I replied, " It was a soft landing." He ran away taking 72 seconds out of us before the finish. Martin was urging me on but kept falling forward, such was my lack of energy. Eventually that dreaded finishing plod. About 250 metres out it became a river. It was not runnable for me. I had to wade. I tried to raise a trot, more of a stagger. 150 metres to go I fell down. Martin waited and as we got to the finish line he held my left hand high. I fell on to the finishing mat and my timing chip kept the electronics ringing signalling my ordeal was over. My last 4 K took 36:26 an average of 9:07 per K.

 

Thank you Martin for your help and congratulations on 42 consecutive National finishes. A record that will never be broken.

 

1st, Steve Vernon, Stockport H & AC, 35:11; 2nd, Michael Skinner, Blackheath and Bromley H, 35:32; 3rd, Tom Lancashire, Bolton United H, 35:59. 

 

Watching our local northern TV news that evening I was surprised when Steve Vernon's victory in such a big event was not mentioned. I was more amazed when Monday's Daily Telegraph sports section DID NOT EVEN PRINT THE RESULTS ! When I won the event in 1966 it was the biggest achievement I had had up to that date and still ranks as one of the 4 greatest successes of my life.

 

Sunday I wrote in my log "The route to full fitness must be 30 miles per week plus speedwork." That day and Monday I ran recovery runs of 3.5 miles. I was in a sorry state. When I opened my emails there was one which cheered me up from Debbie Hope of Staffordshire Moorlands AC:

 

"Hi, I was marshalling on Saturday at the National Cross Country Championships at Alton Towers and just wanted to say that you made my day when I saw you run up the hill for the last time on the course. You are a real inspiration to many of our members (thank you for having your picture taken with Rebecca, one of our junior athletes!) and to see you running such a gruelling race when you could sit back having proved your worth many times over is amazing. I hope you enjoyed (if that is the right word) the event.

You will be more than welcome to come to any of our club events and I am sure Roy Fowler was smiling down on you. Kind regards."

 

Tuesday and Wednesday I ran my hilly 4.5 miler.

The last two days were both 3.5 milers, but in the City of Belfast. Thursday going north along the River Lagan to docklands with some number stride fartlek on the way back, and Friday heading south on the other side of the river as far as Ormeau Park with some 70 seconds strides on the return. I had been invited to give a talk after the AGM of Up And Runners Athletic Club. A thriving and growing club whose members gave me a very warm reception. Distance for the week on target, 30 miles. 

 

 

 


January 2011

WEEK 1

2011 got off to a bad start. Whilst it was still holidays I added a few extra miles. 5, 3.5 and 5.5 miles brought me to Tuesday. A fresh fall of snow covered the roads and pavements. I set off in the dark to run a familiar 3.5 miler. Not 1/2 a mile into the run I tripped on a raised flagstone going downhill and fell full length on to a gritty tarmac road taking the full force on my hands, especially the left, my left elbow and both knees. My gloves were shredded. The greatest pain was in my left hand. I got to my feet and continued slowly. I was in shock. After about 1.5 miles my left knee got very sore but eased on the climbs towards the end of the run. My Timex, Ironman tap screen watch showed that hitting the ground had created a split at 5 mins 17 secs and that the run had taken me 42:35.

I had cuts to my hand, elbow and both knees. The accident was not going to stop me. Wednesday morning I set off in the rain, downhill, for the same run. Both my knees were very, very painful. It was as if there was no cushioning and I was trying to run on my toes. On the flat it was slightly less painful and even less going uphill, but still very sore. Those 3.5 miles took me 47:48. 

 

I had planned a 4.5 miler on Thursday and stuck to my plan. I wore some tight knee supports made from Far Infra Red material. These absorb energy from the body, change its wavelength to Far Infra Red, and fire it back into the tissues to increase blood circulation and hopefully healing. This is another reason that I did not seek medical help. I would have only been to told to stop and rest. By continuing to run I was increasing blood circulation in the wounded areas. My left knee was feeling it most going downhill whilst my right knee was hurting all the time, even climbing.

 

Thursday night I slept without knee supports in an attempt to let the wounds dry up but when I got up Friday morning my knees were sorer than ever. On went the IR supports. Both knees sore going downhill on my 3.5 miler but right one worse. Left knee easier once on the flat and uphill. Right knee sore all the way. I was worried.

I had contained wear and tear. Had a fall finally done my knees in? A glimmer of hope. The time for that run was 43:00. 4:58 faster than Wednesday. Total for the week was a mostly painful 29 miles.

 

WEEK 2


The fall was not going to deter me in my plan to race on Sunday. The “Hit the Trail 5”, organised by Belle Vue Racers, and run in Reddish Vale, Stockport. I did not care if I finished last. I would do my best. Saturday morning I ran 42:07, 53 seconds quicker than the day before. Each slight improvement brought a sigh of relief and a belief that I was not permanently injured. Sunday, I wore my Far I R knee supports and ran in tights and with padded gloves in case of possible falls. After warming up for 18 minutes I was ready to go. There were only two runners in my MV 70 category, myself and Northern Vets' 74 year old Peter Edwards. As I was not " racing " it did not matter, but I did keep my eyes open for him and could see him for a couple of miles after which I just concentrated on watching where my feet were landing.

 

There is a flattish start and I feared I was just about last. A steep climb led to an old railway track. Up this a few people passed me but on the long gentle ascent I pulled most of them back, then one or two more on a steep descent and round a big field. There was then a tough climb with steps, up which I had to walk, to the railway. The bunch repassed me once more. We then ran down the railway track for about a mile. What had seemed quite a climb on the way out suddenly seemed almost flat on the way back. I got 2 or 3 on this section and a couple more, who were slipping and sliding in flat shoes, down a steep muddy hill. Thank heaven for my studs. Across a narrow river bridge then around another big field. I had a couple of pursuers here but gradually left them behind. Out of the field, right up a steep short climb, then down to the river bank. There was only one runner in sight. A woman in black and pink. Quite a long way ahead. I was tired. Probably pretty unfit. 

 

The gap had close a lot by the time we reached a sign " 400 m To Go." A left turn and a massive climb ahead. Slowly I edged past the lady. There was no response and the gap became 8 seconds at the finish line. I was exhausted. The girl had been Janet Shirling of Holmfirth Harriers. She turned to me after and said, "You passed me after 1 mile in the Woodland Challenge. I must have had a good run today." Well done, Janet. Peter Edwards had taken the MV 70 prize, 25 positions and 2 mins and 18 secs ahead of me. 

I clocked 45:19, 5 minutes faster than I expected, in 103rd position out of 130. Only 21% were behind me, I was happy with that.

 

Race winner was Domonic Mahon, Warrington A C, 29:02. First woman, Cara Kavanagh, Sale Harriers, 32:40.

 

No further damage was done to my knees which were still not perfect and on Friday I ran 40:40 for my 3.5 mile course the best I had done since my fall 11 days previously.

WEEK 3


Saturday I was happy calculating a 30 mile week. At 8:15 I left the house deciding on a 5.5 mile route which I knew might be muddy. It was raining. The peaked
hood of my waterproof jacket was up and I had heavy padded cycling gloves on plus my thick Far I R knee supports. My knees were nowhere near healed from the fall 10 days previously. My pace was slow. After just over half an hour I emerged from a track along the top of Romiley golf course and turned left and a steep tarmac hill called Cowlishaw Brow. There is usually not much traffic at that time on a Saturday morning but as luck would have it a car appeared behind me. Moving well over to the left and probably glanced to my right as the vehicle came alongside. Suddenly, my foot hit a pothole and I went sprawling headlong on to the road. Before I hit the ground I shouted, “NOT AGAIN." The car drove on.

 

I picked myself up and examined the damage. There were road burns on my right elbow and my left knee. The recovery on that knee was set back but could have been much worse without the knee supports. The gloves had saved my hands. I was in slight shock and decided I needed to walk a bit before trying to run on. I took one step forward and screamed. I had not experienced pain like this before. The top of my calf muscle, right at the top had been torn. Maybe I had put my right foot in pothole and jabbed my left leg out to try to save myself. Trying to continue was murder. Fifty metres of tarmac and my route tuned left on to farm tracks. If I put my left foot down awkwardly I screamed again with pain. It happened time and time again on the muddy tracks. “Running " uphill was worst. I stopped to roll down my knee support to give compression in the torn area. As I progressed the pain crept slowly up the back of my leg and all the way up my hamstring. I DID NOT NEED OR DESERVE THIS! It took me 47 minutes and 25 seconds to “run” home. About 2.5 miles. I compressed the muscle, iced it and applied ultra sound.

 

 

Sunday. A lot of pain. How was I going to manage this ? Instead of a 3.5 mile run which would have been downhill for about a mile I drove to the start of the railway I use a lot and wearing knee supports I ran out for a mile in 16:01 and came back in 12:04. Left calf and knee sore but eased into it. 28:05.

 

Monday. Foolishly I ran my 3.5 mile course. Very difficult at the start as it was downhill. The mile on the railway which I did yesterday was timed at 14:08. Steep uphills wee really painful. Time 51:12.

 

Tuesday. Drove to the railway track. Run as Sunday. 15:25 out and 11:43 back. 27:08.

 

Wednesday. As Tuesday. 14:27 out, 10:59 back. I was doing some fartlek on the way back. 25:26.

 

Thursday. Drove to the railway to run 3 miles. 13:54 to my 1 mile point. 13:20 for the mile in the middle. 11:02 back. First plus last mile 24:56. A further improvement but had felt more awkward and my right knee was now hurting. 38:15. 

 

Friday. 2 mile run as Wednesday. 13:53 out, did not push and no fartlek on the way back 11:45. 20 miles and a big improvement over 6 days.

 

WEEK 4

Saturday morning I drove to the railway and ran 2 miles out and back. 12:02 out and 10:16 back for a 22:18. Better by 2:18 than anything I had done since my dreadful fall a week previously. I was ready to test myself the next day at CHERNOBYL 10 K. the next day. But a heavy cold and chest infection was not going to help me.

Photo Credit - Steve Bateson www.runningpix.co.uk

It was a bone chilling day and I ran in fleece tights, long sleeve top plus woven jacket with my Clayton vest on top. Gloves with padded cycling gloves on top in case of a fall. 11:00 am and the announcer reported that present. I was right at the back ! A careful start, mindful of the torn calf, with heavy knee supports to stabilise my legs. 14 seconds to cross the start line and I felt comfortable with my scuttling stride. I was passing runners which felt good. Approaching 1 mile I caught an old MV 70 rival, Blackpool's Howard Henshaw. He had told me that he had a hip problem and that the week before had run only 68 minutes for a 10 K. He said, " Your'e not doing bad; 10 minute miling." As we passed the marker I glanced at my watch. 9:57. I was amazed and encouraged as I wanted to get under the hour. The next mile was contained a lot of uphill and 10:29 knocked my hopes back somewhat. I was still passing runners but did not know any of them.  9:01 and 8:51 downhill third and fourth miles got me back on schedule. There was a short sharp hill after 4 miles up which I limped causing a 9:50 split , but the 1 hour was still doable. Now I had more or less stopped passing and was with a small. One guy said, " I never thought I would ever be running alongside Ron Hill." and a girl retorted, " That's one advantage of running at the back of the pack." I wondered whether trying some fartlek would gain me some time but running on a slightly muddy trail in the last mile took all my concentration. Plus I was tired. One woman, Tina Carr, U/A, kept surging and I tried to stay with her. A tall runner in the red and white colours of Red Rose Road Runners, took off in the last half mile perhaps sensing that he could beat me. He did by 10 seconds. I kept trying and slowly crept up on FV70, Evelyn Elkington, Lancaster and Morecambe AC. At 6 miles my watch told me I had 3 minutes to get to the finish to beat that hour. I passed Evelyn to take 7 seconds out of her by the finish but did not catch Tina Carr who was 2 seconds ahead. There were two people at the finish line to congratulate me; Louise Gilchrist, Valley Striders, 1st FV75, 56:28, and Conrad Slater, Kendal AC, 1st MV75, 57:09. My official time was 58:50. Subtracting the 14 seconds it took me to cross the start line, 58:36. A massive PW (Personal Worst) Winner in my age group was Mr ! Robson, Manchester Tri, 53:29. Howard Henshaw did 68:45. Get better soon, mate. I walked straight back to the car. I had enjoyed the run. A great new course.

Race winner, Jon Fletcher, Border H, 33:24. First woman, Philippa Maddams, Keswick AC, 38:30.

The next two days I ran my 3.5 mile railway course, carefully. 44:16 then 45:47. Wednesday I did the same course but diverted for a doctor's appointment. I was getting severe pains in the area of my kidneys.That 3.5 took 43:24, The pains gradually disappeared. They must have damage to some muscles near the kidneys when I had my last fall and tensed before actually hitting the tarmac.Thursday I was better still with 42:07 but this time my right knee was hurting all the way. Friday, faster again - 41:02, but right knee painful especially down a steep hill. 28 miles for the week.


2010 ANNABLOG

This year I ran every day for a total of 1470 miles ( 2366 K ) slightly up on 2009 - 1433.5 miles ( 2307 K ) I did 23 races, 9 down on 2009. I competed in two new states of the USA, Texas and Arizona, taking my current total to 22 states. Towards the end of the year two 10 K races stood out; October 31st, Athens, 49:27, and November 25th, Mesa, Arizona, 49:01. These were my best times in 2 1/2 years ! The Arizona race was the 2320th of my career.

 


December 2010

 

Fresh snow is fine for running on. Difficulties start when it partially thaws then freezes again. At the end of the week I ran one of my favourite courses which peaks out at Windy Harbour at the end of Werneth Low. I wrote in my training log, "One of the most challenging ( HORRIBLE ) runs of my life." For a couple of miles the pavements were covered in rutted ice where people had walked and their footprints had frozen. My feet were all over the place and I darenot run in the road because of heavy speeding traffic. When I got to the quiet lane, Apple Street, my hands had got so cold even though I was wearing fleece gloves, that I had to run with my hands under my armpits to try to warm them. I believe it could have been minus 15 deg C that morning.

25.5 miles was enough that week.

 

WEEK 49

 

Tuesday I was due to do "An Evening With Ron " at the Sweatshop, Milton Keynes, which included a group run. In view of the weather I decided to train 2.5 miles in the morning. My fears were almost fulfilled when I got to Stockport station to find that my 16:23 had been cancelled. Station staff informed me that the 16:42 train to London Euston would make an unscheduled stop at M K. I got a seat, store manager Peter Ford met me at the station and whisked to Sweatshop for a quick change then a 3 mile run in he dark on snow free paths with around 40 athletes, many with their LED's flashing. A quick change back and I spoke about running for around forty minutes. There weren't many questions so I must have covered most major topics. A swift meal and a pint and I caught the 10:22 last train to Stockport. It was well after midnight when I got home and next day I was knackered. I should have stayed the night !

That week was 26.5 miles. Close to my target 30 but the " rest " would not harm me.


WEEK 50

 

I ran a 4 then a hilly 5.5 miles at the beginning of the week. The next five days were all 3.5 miles on a favourite course which is about one mile downhill to a tarmac surfaced disused railway line, just over one mile slightly uphill before leaving the railway, just under a mile climb on a road, then streets back almost to home, before a steep climb of around 500 metres.There were still some slippery bits on freezing mornings, but manageable with care. 27 miles this week. Friday night it snowed heavily.


WEEK 51

 

That Friday night I had a very lucky escape. I had been at the OSC Christmas Dinner, enjoyed some pre-meal lagers and excellent food washed down with red wine. I was getting a lift back by car at midnight. The driver and three others had gone so I hastened to catch them from our third floor function room in Sport City, Manchester. Instead of getting the lift I took the stairs. I reached the second floor with no problem but starting down the next flight I slipped or tripped and tumbled down, like you see on the films. I just picked myself, walked down the rest of the stairs and go in the car. When I got up in the morning I noticed that I had skinned my right shin a little and my right hip was sore. Saturday I ran 3.5 miles. Sunday I ran 5.5 miles. The fresh snow looked nice. My left hip and both knees were all a bit sore. The Saturday after the fall I should have attended the 150th Anniversary Dinner of Oxford University Athletic Club but it was postponed due to the atrocious weather. five days and five more 3.5 mile sessions my right hip was slightly sore to the touch but I could not feel any problem when I was running. It could have been much worse.

December 20th marked the 46th Anniverssary of my streak!

 

26.5 miles for that week. 

WEEK 52

The snow played havoc with this final week's plans. Monday morning there was a bit of white on the ground at home but set off at 8:30 to get to the Ribble Valley 10 K, Clitheroe in good time. Approaching Haslingden the dual carriage ways were down to one lane then just before the Accrington bypass Radio Lancashire announced that the race had been cancelled. I returned home, a 56 mile round trip wasted, and ran 3,5 miles. Later that day we retraced my journey on the way to Barnoldswick to have dinner and stay the night with our friends Harry and Sylvia Smith. The next morning's run was a nightmare - sheet glassy ice on the roads and the banks of the Leeds - Liverpool canal. The last 3 runs of the year were better as in Hyde all the snow and ice had disappeared.

That week was 26 miles.

 

December added 117.5 miles (189K) to my lifetime total giving 154,435 miles (248,538 K)
 

DECEMBER 1970

WEEK 49

Sat Dec 5th, AM 4 miles, PM 2 miles. Feeling a bit stiff ? Sun AM 2 miles, " Didn't feel brilliant at all." 12:30 PM Start of the Fukuoka Marathon. I stayed with the leading bunch for 10 miles, sitting in as there was a head wind. There was no aggression there. Then, strangely my legs began to stiffen. I lost contact before the turn and watched helplessly as the runners streamed away from me. I tried to hold my form hoping for an energy boost would pull me through at the end. It did not happen. I moved through from 14th to 9th and finished undistressed in 2:15:27. I had not believed that I would ever run so slowly again.

1st Usami, Japan, 2:10:37.8; 2nd Ken Moore, USA, 2:11:35.8; 3rd Unetani, Japan, 2:12:12; 4th Jack Foster, NZ, 2:12:17.8: 5th, John Farrington, Australia, 2:12:58.4; and 6th Bill Adcocks, 2:13:32.

Had I blotted my copy book ? When I requested preselection for the European Games the next year I was told by telephone that percentage wise there was little difference between my 2:09:28 in Edinburgh and Jim Alder's 2:12:04 for second place in the same race ! I ran disconsolate 2 mile runs for the rest of the week for a total of 56 miles.

It was obvious that the super high mileage had not worked for me. I did not have the physical and emotional strength to cope with running three times a day whilst working full time.

 

WEEK 50

Thirteen runs this week was a mere 30 miles.

 

WEEK 51

On Sunday I ran the INTERNATIONAL CROSS DE EREMBODEGEM in Belgium. I finished 9th but found it very enjoyable. Another resting week gave me 32 miles.

 

WEEK 52

Saturday Dec 26th I took part in the BOLTON UNITED HARRIERS BOXING DAY RACE at Leverhulme Park, Bolton. Moving through the field I finished 4th one in front of Steve Kenyon, but was feeling unfit and over weight. The last full week 52 I ran 36 miles

 

1970 had given me 2 of my greatest victories but ended with a disappointing marathon. My total mileage for the year was 5059 miles.

 


November 2010

Week 44 ended with only 24 miles due to resting and travelling.


WEEK 45 

 

This week included two runs in Peterborough. I was invited by Sam Hale to open the Advance Performance new store. This involved travelling down on the 9th for a " Run With Ron " in the evening, followed by the official opening the next morning. It was horrible weather - dark, wet and cold. I was convinced no-one would show up for the run and had planned to do a 3 miler out and back, alone, from the store. In fact almost 40 runners showed up and we splashed through the puddles on darkened streets. 4 miles ! I then gave a talk about the beginnings of my career and fielded questions on such diverse topics as drinking in races and mileage for beginners. The next morning I enjoyed a lonely run by the River Neane, the river on one side and the Neane Valley Steam Railway track on the other, before doing the honours in front of a crowd, including many local dignitaries all of whom had the opportunity to sample the many facilities in this huge new store. This is there third move to bigger premises. The plaque which I unveiled revealed that Sally Gunnell OBE had opened the first store in 1999 and Steve Cram MBE had opened the second in 2005. I was in good company !

 
In good company                                                                                       Cutting the tape with Sam and Matt Hale 

By the end of the week I had run another restful 23.5 miles.


WEEK 46

 

Three runs from home before travelling with May and Graham Richards, Brand Director - Sales and Marketing, Ronhill and Hilly Ltd. to Austin, Texas for a show  - " The Running Event 2010." OSC had recently appointed a US distributor for the Ronhill and Hilly brands and I was there to help promote these brands to US retailers.

 

 


At the trade show with Chris Nelson and Graham Richards


On the second day there was an early morning race, " The Indie 5 K," with many of the show attendees taking part. Over the previous three weeks May had had a bad cold and chest infection and I had wondered why I had not caught it. It looks like it had only been a matter of time as I was going down with the same things. A 1 mile warm up and I was on the start line at 7:00. This was a serious bunch of runners. Most were wearing compression socks, and strangely, a good few male runners were sporting skirts!

 

It was a hilly course and I did not run well. At one stage I was running behind three women who were gossiping continuously but an a hill the ran away from me, still chattering. I was happy to scrape under 25 minutes with 24:59.2. 207th out of 272, 76 % of the field ahead. The show went well. I met a lot of old friends from my marathon days, and the distributor, Chris Nelson and his wife Mary seemed satisfied with the number of meetings they had. It was a fun time and the running was good on a trail by a river right by the hotel. May, herself had a couple of runs until one morning she slipped getting out of a low sided bath and cracked her ribs. It was walking only after that.

A slightly better week - 26 miles.


Chip time just under 25 minutes

WEEK 47

 

At the end of last week we flew from Austin to Phoenix, Arizona. It was an early morning flight and I thought I would run when I got there. But I changed my mind and did a 2.5 miler at 4:21 am. Dark and quiet on a well lit highway, I actually enjoyed it. When we arrived my chest and throat infection was so bad I could hardly speak. After one night in Phoenix we picked up a rental car and drove down to Tuscon, not by the highway but on a quieter road. It was a fair old journey and as we got into Tuscon the traffic got heavier and hotels scarce. After encountering the "Tour of Tuscon " -  thousands of cyclists we ended up south of the city, drove north, and after asking at a supermarket ended up at a Holiday Inn Express, a lovely property but the "walk-in" rates were not cheap. The next morning I found a trail by the Rollito river, more of a wide river bed, followed it east, crossed a wide bridge and came back on the other bank.


 

After breakfast we weighed our options. The drive down had been rather featureless. A leaflet in the lobby advertising " Sabino Canyon " looked interesting and not far away,  so we headed there. With May's ribs a 2 mile hike up the canyon and back was enough, but interesting, especially the tall cacti. From there I got lost. We ended up at I 10 and turned north. After seeing a cluster of hotels we turned off at a place called Mirana and checked into a La Quinta Inn. Very clean and reasonably priced. It was gorgeous and sunny the next day. I ran a 3 mile on the banks of the Santa Cruz river with dramatic hills to the west. We stayed there two more nights. I extended my runs slightly to 3.5 miles. We tried to get to those dramatic hills but came up against private properties. Interesting, though.

 
 
Sabino Canyon & Santa Cruz river bed and hills beyond- Photo Credit - Ron Hill

We headed back to the Phoenix area on Wednesday morning as I had a 10 K race there the next day. There was a place I wanted to visit along the way; the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, near Coolidge. It was worth the diversion to see. The Hohokam Indians had lived there in huge complex from 300 to 1300 AD before mysteriously abandoning the place. The Casa Grande was the only building left standing and was visited by a Spanish priest who took measurements of it in 1695. It was eerie to imagine the busy life that existed there all those years ago.


Casa Grande - Photo Credit - Ron Hill

 

The race I had entered was the Mesa Mi Amigo 10 K Turkey Trot and it was Thanksgiving Day. Mesa is a township next to Phoenix and Mi Amigo is an Italian Restaurant and principal sponsor of the race. We parked at a school next-door to Red Mountain Park. The Race Director gave me race Number 1970 in recognition of my Boston victory in 1970. The race announcer kept repeating, "We have running royalty here today," both before the race and at the presentation. Very flattering ! I had no high expectations for this competition in view of recent health problems but was out to do the best I could in a field of over 2500 runners. I did not see many compression socks but I was wearing mine, and sunglasses too.

 

It was a bright, cool, windy day and I tried to use all my racing craft to get the best out of myself. The start was into the breeze and slightly uphill. I was near the front as there were kids and joggers on the start line. I sheltered in the crowd wherever I could. The course made a right hand loop and even in the crosswind I was sitting in. A young woman in black served the purpose here. My first mile was 8:15 followed by a 7:39, slightly down and with the wind before heading back up to the start at 2.4 miles. The third and fourth miles were 7:50 and 7:52, courtesy of whoever would allow me to run behind them into the wind. I was having a good run; 31:36 was an average of sub 8 minute miling. The fifth mile was tough, up a long drag, and I was suffering here. Had my recent illness finally got to me ? When we got to the marker I was disappointed to see 8:24 for that mile but a cumulative 40:01 suggested I could beat 50 minutes. That uphill mile gifted us back a downhill mile; 7:31 for me as we turned off the road and on to park paths. My time was very promising and I was passing people but a combination of uphills, headwind and finally grass did for me. I was all in, could not raise a sprint and crossed the line very tired. However my chip time revealed 49:01, 26 seconds faster than my Athens run. 2 seconds quicker would have been tons better!


   
Mesa Mi Amigo 10k Turkey trot & At 2.4 miles - Photo credit - May Hill


Finish. Could not raise a sprint - Photo Credit - May Hill


I won my age group and the prize,as for all age group winners, was a turkey ! ! I gave it to the second MV 70.

The race winner was Andrew Lemoncello, Flagstaff. Yes, our Lemoncello ! 29:50. First woman, Camilyn Jackson, Mesa, 37:03.

 

A 2.5 recovery run the next day rounded off the week with 27.5 miles. We headed home.


WEEK 48

 

We were greeted by freezing weather and to make matters worse on the last day of November it snowed.

 

November brought 105.5 miles (170 K) making a lifetime total of 154,343.5 miles (248,391  K)

 

NOVEMBER 1970
WEEK 45

Sat November 7. AM 5 miles. PM the WATERLOO 8 MILES ROAD RACE near Crosby, Liverpool. Start 3:15. A talented field as usual. I finished 5th recoding 37:32, only 10 seconds slower than my best on this course. Winner, Trevor Wright, Hallamshire, 36:54.This was my last race before Fukuoka on December 6. Ran 3 times on Monday and Wednesday. 132 miles.

 

WEEK 46

Sat AM 7 miles, PM 13.5 miles.Sunday 28 miles. Trained 3 times Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. At this time all the runs to and from work were in the dark ! 

152 miles.

 

WEEK 47

Sat. same as week 46. Sun AM 20.5 miles, PM 5 miles. Trained 3 times a day Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur and Fri which meant a 6.5 mile run at lunchtime from work each day. Speedwork on the way home Mon, Wed and Thur. My biggest week ever :164 miles. I was hoping that all the hard work would bring me a time in Japan much faster than my 2:09:28 earlier in the year.

 

WEEK 48

Sun 29th Nov travelled to Tokyo. Ran once. Mon ran twice with speedwork in the evening. Tue flew on to Fukuoka. Speedwork on second run in the evening. I did the glycogen loading diet. Felt weary. Got a sore throat. Over trained?

 

 


October 2010

WEEK 40 


For the rest of the stay she headed off in the opposite direction, towards the beach, to do her own thing at her own pace. In addition, every day we did a good walk along the coast or up into the hills through tiny villages. I did a couple of 3.5 milers. Then one day I ran twice. We had got up rather late and were short of time as we wanted to catch a bus to the village of Antimachia which involved a walk up the main road just over a mile away. I ran 2 miles and after a swift breakfast we made the bus by by about 60 seconds. From Antimachia village we walked down to the military base then along to the fortress of Antimachia. We had done the walk on the previous holiday but had not found the " Yellow Brick Road, " a recently built smooth pathway down to the resort of Kardemena. My son Graham had told us to head to the right of the castle, and low and behold, there it was. The path next to the castle wall was littered with shards of pottery mainly greens but some in yellow. They must have been hundreds of years old. Once on to the YBR ( a sign would have been useful ) it was smooth walking. Quite a feat of construction ! A free book of walks, picked up at the airport on arrival, guided us to Kardamena centre. I wanted to get as close to 30 miles for the week and decided on a second run of 2 miles. This day was warm and I headed out from the Louis supermarket, vestless, on he roads we had arrived on. There was a head wind out and I passed many people in black who were coming from a funeral. Near the end of my outward mile I passed the tiny church and cemetery where the ceremony had recently taken place. One of the ladders of flowers at the entrance to the graveyard had blown over. My legs had been tired from the long walk but I was pleased.

 
May on the Yellow Brick Road                                                                 Profitis Illias


The next day was our last and I felt disappointed with myself that I had not run anything more adventurous. To the south of Tijaki were the Dikeos mountains in the distance, but over the main road was a big hill with a communications tower and a white church on top. Profitas Ilias. I would try for the summit. We had seen a sign pointing right on one of our previous walks and I headed for that. It was further than I thought. It took me almost 22 minutes to reach that sign and turn. 3 minutes later I was on a dirt trail. After 34 minutes I had almost circumnavigated the hill and came to the final climb which was barred to vehicle traffic.Uphill to my right were two sentry boxes and two soldiers carrying rifles appeared. I waved to them and they waved back signing for me to continue to the peak. But I had run out of time, pointed to my watch and waved goodbye. I had 5.5 miles in my log. But I will be back !

A couple of runs at home and I had 29 miles for the week.

 

WEEK 41


Saturday 5.5 miles. Sunday Stadium Runners Woodland Challenge 6, at Storthes Hall near Huddersfield. As last year I was Race Starter, Runner, and Prize Presenter at this very popular event. I arrived in good time for a decent 2 miles warm up. The weather was fine and warm enough for vest and shorts plus my precautionary padded cycling gloves in case of a fall. After firing the horn I joined in with about 10 runners behind me and didn't kill myself up the long gradual climb. Then it was downhill on a private road, woods, grass, and woods again. A horrible slippery wall had been flattened, thankfully, and a steep wooded downhill followed. I had been gradually passing people. Turning at the bottom we were faced with a heart wrenching climb, in fact, the last mile of the lap was more or less uphill. On the steepest bit I did - walk 10 ( double strides ), run 10, four times in all, then forced myself into a continuous run.


Dr Starter - Photo credit - www.photographybyelspeth.co.uk

Emerging on to tarmac a left turn put the end of the first lap in sight. Climb and climb. I was still passing but getting more and more tired. Carefully through the woods and grassy parts, carefully eyeing the tree roots, some sprayed orange, I came once more to the steep muddy descent. A Stainland runner came hurtling past me whist I passed a female Stainland runner, Genevieve Thompson, who was picking her way down. Turning to the climb both positions were reversed and two more passed me. My legs were buckling. Walk 10, run 10, five times this time. Those in front gradually moved away. On the final tarmac climb I got good support but I felt like my eyeballs were about to pop out. Time, 57:30, each lap timed at 28:45. How about that for even pacing ? But 53 seconds slower than last year.

Middle of the field - www.flamingphotography.co.uk

Race winner, Rob Downs, MV45, Wilmslow RC, 37:47. First woman, Julie Buckley, FV50, Penistone Footpath Runners, 43:18. 
 

 

I was only 3rd MV 70. !st was Jeffrey Taylor, Meltham AC, 51:15; 2nd Raymond Brown, Penistone Footpath Runners, 54:43. I do not know what to think about that. How can Jeffrey Taylor finish over 6 minutes ahead of me? And he ran all the way up the big hill each time. After one race he asked me what training I was doing and when I told him, "About 30 miles a week" he replied,” That's about what I do." And there is nothing I can do about it!


David Mcguire, Hyde Park Harriers, 3rd Overall and 1st V40 Pays Homage!!!
Photo credit -
www.photographybyelspeth.co.uk


The day after, Monday 11th, the pains around my left knee had returned but eased by Wednesday. Thursday morning on 2.5 easy run my heart felt sore, especially at the start. Had I pushed myself too hard at the Woodland Challenge ? I finished the week on 30 miles.


WEEK 42

 

The first day of my week I had a Saturday race on October 16th. THE CLAIRE RYDER MEMORIAL RACE held from the Globe in Wardle incorporating a circuit of Watergrove reservoir. The event was organised by Andy O'Sullivan who had measured the route at 4835 metres. I don't think he realised that this was 3 miles + 7 yards.

It was a good clear day and the scenery up there was inspiring. Although a cold wind was blowing into the faces of the runners in the first part it was warm enough for shorts, long sleeve T with sleeves rolled up, and club vest. I warmed up on the course with a runner form Pembroke and Sefton AC who had travelled from Liverpool. The name Pembroke triggered memories of one of the finest runs of my career, THE PEMBROKE 20 of 1968 where I won in a time of 1:36:28. I am not the best of uphill starters and set of steadily, up the cobbles, at the pace of FV 65 Rochdale Harrier , Brenda Robinson. Running along the bottom of the dam and into the wind I unashamedly got behind FV 50 Todmorden Harrier, Mandy Goth, to shelter. I followed her along the level by the water then , when the wind seemed to have slackened, I passed and also overtook red vested Tricia North. I was amazed to discover that there were hills as we headed on to trails away from the reservoir; and steps and gates. There was only one person I could aim for in front and that was Rossendale Harrier, Jane Hughes. It took me a long time to catch and overtake her, by which time Tricia North had almost caught me. Every time we came to a wicket gate the red vest was there. Gradually, over the last mile I pulled away but I was tiring. At a gate on top of the dam I almost fell through.I took great care coming down the cobbles and managed to squeeze past one more for 49th place out of 122.


Starting with Brenda Robinson - Photo credit - Bill & Carole Noble


Drafting Mandy goth - Photo Credit - May Hill

 

Winner - M Flatley, Middleton H, 16:42. First lady, Jen Lewis, u/a, 20:11. In 20th place was 11 year old Emma Pilling, Rochdale H., 20:43.

 

I had a pint of Timothy Taylors Landlord ale during the presentation. On my 3.5 mile run the next morning I did not feel exhausted. Have I found my perfect recovery drink ?

 

With some speedwork on the last three days of the week I recorded 31 miles.

 

 

WEEK 43

 

This week started with a 5.5 mile run. My log comments, " FELT VERY TIRED - PERHAPS TIME TO HOLD BACK ON MILEAGE TO REST." Despite this I ran slighty longer than normal until Wednesday when I was out at 3:12 am for a 2 miler prior to flying to Athens via Amsterdam. May and I were attending the Classic Marathon on the 2,500th Anniversary of Pheidippides running from Marathon to Athens to announce the victory of the Athenians over the Persians. We were also guests of the 18th World Congress of AIMS. The Divani Caravel Hotel was just an 8 minute jog from the Panathenaikon Stadium, built for the first Olympic Games of the new era, and where I finished to take the Marathon Gold Medal in the European Games of 1969; probably the highlight of my marathon career. We were with some pretty special other VIP guests for this occasion. Rosa Mota from Portugal had won European Gold on the classic course in her first ever marathon in 1982. She went on to take 2 Olympic marathon medals, Bronze in 1984, and Gold in 1988. She was a three time Boston Marathon winner. Katherine Switzer, pioneer of women's marathon running. Joan Benoit Samuelson Olympic marathon champion, 1984. Constantina Dita, current Olympic marathon champion. Abel Anton, World Champion in 1997 on the Classic Athens course. Finally, Stefano Baldini, winner of the Olympic marathon gold, Athens 2004.  

 

 


Lighting the Flame Ceremony

 



The start line of the 1896 Marathon

Thursday we were present at the official opening of the Marathon Expo. Friday, we received a special trophy each and attended a dinner in the New Acropolis Museum. Saturday, we were present at opening ceremony of the marathon and the Flame Lighting at the warriors' tomb near the village of Marathon. We did get some time for sightseeing, one afternoon walking to the centre and climbing the Acropolis to see the Parthenon, and the day after the race hiking up to Saint Georges church, the highest point in Athens to enjoy the panorama. Sunday I ran the 10 K.


Another Athens Medal - Photo - Chris Broadbent


In the Stadium Photo - Chris Broadbent

 


Finishing the 10K 


WEEK 44

 

We were busy the night before the race. I was due to give a 30 minute talk at the Sports Tours International Pasta Party to a big group of runners at the Hilton Hotel. After that we were going to a private Pasta Party at the house of Makis Asimakopoulos the Athens Classic Marathon Coordinating Consultant. Makis had come with the design for the wonderful souvenir medal for the races. I dashed across to the Hilton, arriving in good time only to be thwarted by crowds attempting to use the lifts to ascend. It took twenty minutes to get to the roof restaurant and gave me only ten minutes to relate my experiences of the course. As well as winning my European Title there in 1969, I had run my 100th marathon there in 1985. My advice seemed to go down well.


L to R: Stefano Baldini, Joan Benoit-Samuelson, Rosa Mota, Costantina Dita, Abel Anton, Dr Ron and a race official - At the tomb of the fallen warriors

 

Makis' pasta party went down well with some interesting people there. I was relaxed about the race the next day and drank beer and red wine. We walked down to the Panathenaikon Stadium with Abel Anton and Angela Baillie, one of the delegates at the AIMS Congress, and the three of us warmed up together. Just one mile. I normally try to do two. We were on the front line and I stood to the right so that faster runners could get past without me in the way. The course was uphill on the way out with the first K the steepest, except for a killer short climb just before 5 K. I tried to relax and not push too hard, using the road and keeping close to the bends so as not to run extra distance. My K's went: 5:15, 5:16, 5:15, 5:02, 5:23 (that last hill had my heart complaining and I did not feel good.) On the downhill to the 5 K marker I recovered but 26:11 did not look clever.

 

I tried to relax and take inspiration from the blue line of the marathon course. I imagined back 41 years when I was second and only Gaston Roelants was in front of me. 4:45 for the 6th K, 4:45 for the 7th. The course levelled for the 8 and 9th K's: 2 x 4:46's. I was doing mental calculations all the time and knew I was getting close to 50 minutes, especially with a steep downhill last K. I relaxed and strode out. The stadium was not visible from the long descending street and as I hit the bottom there was nothing left in my legs. Left turn, right turn and there was the finish line at the far end of the packed arena. No sprint, but as fast as my legs would carry me. Stop the watch. 49:27, my best time for 2 1/2 years and a last K of 4:23.

 

I must thank Georgia - Maria Sagiadinou who helped with all of our arrangements and young Lea, a French girl studying in Athens, who was a volunteer and our personal chaperone. 

 

At the brief visit to the opening of the Marathon Expo I met an old friend Kerk Lazaridis. We had been team-mates in Bolton United Harriers in the '70s whilst Kerk was studying in the UK. We were both invited to the Bermuda Marathon in January 1978. It was very windy all the way back from half way and I sat on Kerk until he got cramp at 24 miles. I watched him for another 1/2 mile then strode away to win in 2:26:13. Later I advised him on his running. We met again at the airport before our departure. He gave me a large hardback book of photographs of the Athens Classic Marathon taken by one man during the previous 8 years. He had inscribed, "To my coach Ron Hill for his help to improve my PB from 2:20 to 2:18. All the best; Kerk Lazirirdis."


With Kerk Lazaridis

 

The Athens 10 K had been on the last day of October. That month had totalled 132 miles (212 K) My lifetime total was now 154,238 miles (248,221 K)

 

OCTOBER 1970

WEEK 40

Back to UK and work by the end of the week. All easy running, 13 sessions. 31 miles.

 

WEEK 41

After a 5 mile run AM I ran for Bolton in the NATIONAL ROAD RELAYS in Southport. I set off 6th on the 5th leg of 6 and feeling tired passed only one team to hand over 5th which was our final placing. This week was the beginning of my build up to the Fukuoka Marathon,  Japan, in December. 13 runs, largely to work and back brought 94.5 miles.

 

WEEK 42

Saturday October 17. AM 5 mile run. PM A return to Southport for the LANCASHIRE ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS. I took over from Vince Regan and passed 2 teams. I handed over to Mike Chapman who brought Bolton home winners. I had second fastest time of the day, 14:13, to Mike Freary's 14:04. 20 miles Sunday. To work and back with extra on the way home. 112.5 miles.

 

WEEK. 43

No race this weekend. Sat. AM 7.5 miles. PM 13.5 mils. Sun. 21.5 miles. to work and back in the week. 125.5 miles.

 

WEEK 44

Again no race this weekend. Ran 3 times on Tuesday. Felt very tired running to work the next morning. 131 miles.

 


September 2010

WEEK 36

 

 


With the right worshipful Mayor of the City of Salford,George William Wilson - Photo Credit - Brendan Fox


Another race followed Saturday's 5.5 mile training run. The JD SPORTS CITY OF SALFORD 10 K, September 5th., held from Salford Quays on a flat course. It was a windy day and an early 9:30 start. After a 2 mile warmup I didn't much feel like racing. I was assisting at the start as the Mayor of Salford got the runners under way and waited behind the line before joining in at the rear of the field. We were wearing disposable  "chips" on our shoes so accurate finish times for the distance would be available later. I took my time weaving through the field and it took me 10:58 to get to 2 K. We began to hit a head wind and I sheltered behind anyone available. I was not having a good run. My 4th kilometre was 5:41 ! Things got better as we ran along United Road at Manchester United F.C. and I speeded up with the wind to clock 5:05, 5:00, and 4:43 for K's 5, 6, and 7. As we turned back into the wind I was lucky enough to get behind a guy with " SANDS " on the back of his shirt who was overtaking runners. The 8th  was the slowest of my race, 5:49. The final 2 K I dodged and sheltered where I could finishing with a heart thumping sprint to record 53:05. Not good but it was all I had. Last year I had recorded 52:19 for 194th out of 351 finishers. This time I was 354th out of 693, almost double last year and not surprising at such a wonderful venue and a flat fast course. During the course of the event I passed through 154,00 recorded miles.

Men's winner was Tom Charles, Trafford AC for the second year running( ! ) in 33:32: women's winner, Kerrie Wood Doyle, 42:44. 



Salford 10k "Blimey that was hard" -  Photo credit - Brendan Fox

The next day my left hip felt very sore again on a 3.5 mile run but soon felt better and by the end of the week of 31 miles I was including some speedwork.

 


WEEK 37

Saturday morning I did a gentle 3 mile breakfast run from Ironbridge Runner shop in Exeter. The group was kind and did not run away so that we could chat as we took in the sights of the Quays by the River Exe. Next morning was the FORCE 10 K held in the grounds of Powderham Castle, seat of the Earl of Devon. " Force " is a cancer charity and the race was directed by Pete Firlie owner of Ironbridge Runner. It was a glorious day with the sun shining and almost 400 runners started most of them unattached i.e. not members of a running club. We were driven to the venue by Sid Wilcocks, Teignmouth AC, one of the breakfast run group, and an experienced runner in my age group, MV 65. MV 70s were not recognized. The route was multi-terrain with around 70 % on grass and dirt roads and with some pretty lung bursting hills between 5 and 9 K. At 11:00 we were off and I was near the front for a change. A few people passed on the longish grass then tarmac, all slightly uphill to 1 K. Through the castle grounds then steeply down. Around 2 K a runner passed me who had a paralysed right arm. I thought he was doing really well in spite of his disability and we stayed close after leaving the dirt trail and heading left on a tarmac. When we hit a stiff head wind I tucked in behind him, sheltering. He did not complain and I felt a bit of a coward taking advantage of him but I wasn't running that fluently and needed all the help I could get. A 5:29 first K, uphill , some on grass was disappointing, but 5:01, 4:38, and 5:10 for the next 3 K's raised my hopes of a decent time. 5:42 into the wind dented that hope but 26:00 at 5 K was still reasonable for me.  More head wind and then a left turn, now with the wind but also with hills on stony dirt trails gave a 6th K of 5:38. I left my companion behind. The 7th K showed 5:58, still hills and unbelievably the 8th K took 6:34. " Get me home, " I thought. The 9th K was slightly downhill and flat. A few young guys were passing me. There was a vicious climb into a head wind to the castle courtyard again and the 9 K marker. Luckily I was passed just before this and managed to sit in before we turned to run down the grass to the finish. K 10 was the same as K 1. I overtook my helper just so that I could see the flattened grass of a vehicle track to run on but stayed ahead to the finish. 54:09 chip time. Someone asked, " Did you enjoy that ?"  My answer was an emphatic " NO !" I do not enjoy pushing and hurting myself when the outcome is a slower than usual time and a 105th position. But I get pleasure in reviewing the race and satisfaction in knowing that I had run to the best of my ability on the day. The result lets me know where I stand on the day and in my life. I will not be taking my ball home !  

 



Approaching 9K - Photo Credit - May Hill

The race director admitted that the course was over-distance by 100 m. Some thought it was more than that.

The winner was James Bellward, SWRR, 36:54. First woman, Karen Cook, 8th., 44:10. Our friend, Sid Wilcocks, clocked 51:31 for 1st O 65. I think I was 2nd O 65.
As usual I was rather tired for a couple of days following the race but over the last three days of the week put in a little speedwork and totalled 30 miles. 



 

 

WEEK 38


I had just five runs, three of them with a bit of speedwork, a couple of them in shorts, possibly the last in the UK until next summer, before my 72nd BIRTHDAY RACE from the Falcon Inn in Littleborough on the 23rd. We had a big delay coming off the M 62 but I had allowed good time to get in a 2 mile warm up. Completing this, I popped into the loo at the Falcon and was surprised how quiet it was with still 10 minute to go before the off. As I crossed the road towards the start I was suddenly aware of the field racing past before me. The start had been changed from the traditional 7:00 pm to 6:45 and I was the only one unaware of the switch. there was just time to join in at the rear of the field and pursue the crowd. But it put a real damper on my performance as I had intended to start about halfway up line instead of right at the back as in the past.


Start.What happened? Photo Credit - May Hill

I pushed hard up Rochdale Road but after the left turn, on the downhill to SmithyBridge I was not flowing. Climbing towards HollingworthLake I made little headway. I was aware of a grey haired East Cheshire Harrier ahead of me but to not surprise I was not catching him. Near the top I realised it was MV 70 Wade Cooper. Reaching the flat alongside the lake I put in a good effort and passed him. Another left turn and it was almost a mile downhill to the finish. I was exhausted on this stretch. Why ? Too much effort at the beginning ? Disappointment at missing the start ?  I passed about 5 runners and finished behind a big group I would normally have challenged. I was given 221st of 291 finishers. 76% of runners in front of me. My time on the result sheet was 25:58 - about right I thought, if I had started on time.



Struggling Downhill - Photo credit - Steve Bateson - www.runningpix.com.uk

 


The Falcon was packed and a few friends had travelled a long way to race. Paul Smith, aka The Lord Smythe, Crook and District AC, from Durham; Dennis Williams, Hercules Wimbledon AC, from London. There was even a George Walker, North Belfast, but I am not sure if he had travelled specially for the event.

The race was won by Andy Norman, Altrincham and District AC, 15:34. Female winner, Megan Davies, L 15, Rossendale H & AC, 19:24. I was only 5th of 8x MV 70.The winner of that age group Richard Lawson, Clayton- L-M H. in 22:06. A special mention for 8 year old Isaac Wilkinson, who ran with his dad Gary, Clayton - le - Moors H. who finished in 23:50. 45 runners from East Cheshire H & Tameside AC completed the course.


With Race Winner, Andy Norman - Photo credit - Steve Bateson - www.runningpix.co.uk


Well done to Andy O'Sullivan and his team for making the race a success. 


A rather tired 3.5 mile run the next morning completed a week of 31 miles.
 

 

WEEK 39 

 

Tiredness lingered for 4 days.On the 5th day I ran 2.5 miles in light drizzle at 4:47 a m prior to flying to the Greek Island of Kos and the resort of Tijaki. We had stayed there for 2 weeks in early summer but this time we stayed nearer to the centre. The next morning May and I set off and ran together for a mile with me running on

alone to complete 3 miles. In that session I passed through 248,000 Kilometres of Recorded Running. The conditions were excellent for training. Cloudless skies and moderate temperatures. Vest and shorts.The next day we did the same run but May was pushing too hard, trying not to hold me up. A 30 mile week.

September had totalled 128.5 miles (207 K ) Lifetime mileage 154,106 ( 248,009 K )




SEPTEMBER 1970

 

 

WEEK 36

 

The short week had been deliberate I was attempting a World Record on the track over 30 Kilometres at Crystal Palace on Saturday September 5th. I had done the glycogen loading diet and stayed Friday night at Crystal Palace. On race day I ran an easy 1.5 miles in the morning then in the afternoon went on to the track to do a short warm up when suddenly we were called to the start. The organisers had moved the event forward by 8 minutes and no-one had bothered to tell me. I had just eaten 2 glucose tablets which are known to cause nausea if not digested properly.

A good field had been invited : Gaston Roelants, Tim Johnston who had broken this World Record in 1964 with 1:32:34.6, Jim Alder another previous record holder with 1:34:01.8 also in 1964, Mike Turner,Gerry North, Barry Watson, Ron Grove and Bob Richardson. We were attacking Jim Hogan's World mark of 1:32:25.4. As I went to the line I didn't feel like running at all.

The early pace was brisk as the lesser runners did the work over the first 5 K for the "contenders".After that Roelants, Alder, johnston, Turner, and myself did 2 laps stints apiece.At 10 K I was hanging on and opted out of the pace making; my legs were going great but I had a nauseous sickness in my stomach, which I could only put down to the glucose tablets and it was making running difficult. Jim Alder sensed I was in trouble and at about 8 miles stuck in 5 laps averaging just under 71 seconds which disposed of myself and Roelants who eventually dropped out. I plodded on, pulling both Alder and Johnston back in the later stages, but all I could get was an unhappy 3rd. Jim smashed the World Record again with 1:31:30.4, Tim got 1:31:56.4, whilst I too broke the old mark with 1:32:17.0.I was annoyed and humiliated at only being able to virtually jog round in front of a big crowd, including my parents, whom I could hear shouting for me ,in a race that had been put on for my benefit.

It was time for a mini rest.

Three days later I raced the LINOTYPE  5 in Altrincham finishing 2nd in 23:17 to Alan Blinstone's 23:10 with Alan Dean 3rd, 23:21. Some 2 mile runs twice a day brought 47.5 miles for that week.

 

WEEK 37 

 

Although resting I did not neglect my racing. Saturday afternoon was the HOLLINGWORTH LAKE ROAD RELAY and I was representing my club Bolton United Harriers. Each leg was 2 laps of the lake. I ran the 3rd leg taking over a lead from Eric Haslam and handing over a greater lead to Mike Freary who went further away to score the win for Bolton and record the fastest leg with 20:32. Ricky Wilde was 2nd fastest with 20:41, Stan Clegg 3rd fastest, 20:51, and me 4th, 20:53. the usual twice a day runs ( once Sunday ) gave 70.5 miles


WEEK 38

Sep. 9. AM 5 miles.  PM HARTINGTON WAKES SPORTS. 1500 m  1st. Later PM Longdendale Road Relay. Last leg for Bolton U H . Took over with a big lead. About 6th fastest. BUH broke the course record. Team :Haslam, Freary, Kenyon, Hill. 77.5 miles.

 

WEEK 39

SPRINGBANK ROAD RACES 12, London, Ontario, Canada. 4 laps. Main opposition Jerome Drayton, Canada. Stayed together until 150 yds. to go. I sprinted away to win by 15 seconds in 55:34.6. Holiday by Lake Huron then, provided by local sponsors. Dropped to 2 miles twice a day. Part of a rest. 42.5 miles.



 


August 2010

WEEK 31

A short Saturday run of 2.5 miles took me to the Idle Trail Race on August 1st. This is another of my favourites, approximately 10 K of Leeds - Liverpool canal bank, with hills beginning just after the 3 mile marker, trails, paths, steps and stiles. I was not on form and back in the crowd I had a 47 seconds wait in a queue to get down the steps to the canal. I don't panic in these situations regarding the delay as a rest.Once on the move again I was passing people all the way to the 5 mile point. Here the route enters Craggwood Drive with its tree darkened downhill stony surface. Just ahead I could see a clubmate, Kevin O'Brien, but I did not hasten to catch him. It was in this stretch last year that I tripped and fell cutting my left hand, splitting my right elbow ans grazing both knees. This year I was wearing padded cycling gloves, in case of a repeat, and ran down carefully concentrating like hell. On the road I got close to Kevin again and but ran out of steam. A stile and a steep downhill run on long grass to the River Aire. All flat from there. On to the field and the 6 mile placard. There was no sprint in me and four people passed. 56:28 was my time compared with 59:03 last year including the fall and running with a cracked rib. I was 183rd out of 278 runners. 66% in front of me. 3rd M70, 1st was Jeffrey Taylor, Meltham AC, 51:31.

Men's winner, Colin Walker, Pudsey and Bramley, 36:04; women's winner, Karen Pickles, Pudsey Pacers, 39:34.

 

 Overtaken by No. 140, M55 Colin Toole, Unattached
 

WEEK 32.


I was racing the Saddleworth 6 on the Wednesday and Saturday ran 3.5 miles followed by 5.5, 2.5 and 2.5. Warming up for the 7:30 start I ran on the dirt 400m track in the second lane. My first 1/4 mile was 2m 50s - painfully slow - equivalent to more than 11 minutes per mile ! By the time I had done 1 3/4 miles I had loosened up a little.It rained at the start then cleared a little. I did not feel comfortable. I missed the 1 and 2 mile markers. Just after about a mile I caught two guys one in a red vest who I guess was Oldham AC runner, Paul Taylor, who turned to his companion and said, " There's an International just behind us." Saddleworth Runner, Dave Sinnot was just ahead. Just after the top of a steep hill after a right turn I caught Dave and stayed right behind him. I was not comfortable but hoped to shelter from the wind when we turned right again after about 2 1/2 miles. We made the turn and for some reason I let him go staying behind a small group. Paul Taylor passed again,

I ran behind him for a bit and stuck out on my own. The 3 mile marker signals he start of the second lap and I was buckling up the sharp incline.My watch had shown 25:16 at 3 miles and I was deflated. Had I been mentally alert I would have realised that this was 8:25 a mile; not bad in my condition. At the top I'd had enough and on catching I slotted in behind an Oldham AC woman, Grace Atherton. I was glad of a rest. Not long after Paul Taylor overtook me again. I followed him. Down the hill a rain shower combined with a shaft of sunlight to produce a wonderful rainbow to our left. Up the other side I passed before turning right and on the long flattish section to 5 miles began to pull a few more back. My 4th mile was 8:33 having taken that sitting in rest. Trying to stride and relax my 5th mile took 8:38. I was tired Following the turn at 5 miles I took shelter again but when everyone moved over to the right hand side of the road I stayed left.Pushing on I passed about seven runners before turning into Wellington Road and the long run in to the finish. I was fast catching two more women along here but had no strength to muster a sprint and had to be accept.50:30 for 210th position out of 274, 77% in front of me. I was 2nd MV70 to Jeffrey Taylor, Meltham AC, again, who ran 46:16. Last year I ran 49:22. The only slight consolation was my last mile of 8:02.

Men's winner, Ben Fish, Blackburn H., 29:26. Women's winner, Tess Walker, Salford H., 34:48.  

I struggled the next couple of days notching up 27.5 miles for the week.


WEEK 33.


A week of easy running. Niggles in left hip / gluteal may be easing. Usually come on during climbs. 27.5 miles for the week.


WEEK 34.

 

Another week of easy running for 26 miles. The discomfort in my left hip area ( I hate to use the word "pain" ) seems to be easing. I look forward to getting back to 30 miles a week.


WEEK 35


Photo Credit - Whiteflyer Photography

 

After an easy 5.5 miler on Saturday morning, Sunday, 29 August, I headed for the YMCA 5 MILE MULTI-TERRAIN RACE at Blackleach Country Park, Walkden. A new race on a filthy day which kept the entries down and there were just 48 finishers. I got lost, twice on the way there and had no time for my normal 2 mile warm up. After about 1 mile I could see my Clayton team-mate, Kevin O'Brien, not far ahead but he ran away from me for the rest of the distance. I was with a small group which I left followed right behind by an unattached runner, M 60 Andy Clarke, who seemed to be known by all the race marshals. He stayed there as the route twisted and turned and at 4 miles overtook me. Just before 3 miles my right knee had started to hurt and I took this as a signal to relax. I was feeling really rough and struggled to hang on but did so as we were heading into a strong wind. I could sense someone else behind as Andy started to get away. A tall woman in red, Kath Passmore, unattached, went past and I tucked in to catch Andy once more as Kath moved ahead. I stayed with Andy right to the end and crossed the finish fractionally behind but in the same time. Luckily it had not rained whilst the race was in progress and my knee pains had disappeared A nice race and a welcome change from the roads.

Overall winner, Mark Russell, M 40, 27:24; first woman, Isaline Hughes, F 35, 32:43. My time was 40:48, for 37th out of 48 ( 77% ahead of me ) and 5th O/60. 1st O/60, Frank Reilly, Stockport H. 31:03.

I stuck to my resolution and totalled 30 miles for that week.


With Andy Clarke - Photo Credit - Whiteflyer Photography

 

August had totalled 126 miles ( 203 K ) bringing my lifetime mileage to 153,977.5 ( 247,802 K )
 

AUGUST 1970

 

I did not have my customary and recommended ( by me ) 4 weeks recovery after Edinburgh.

Within a week I was back in full training. I seemed to recover quickly and the only thing that troubled me was a sore and swollen right knee. But that didn't stop me and after three weeks the pains had gone away. I had three objectives left for the year. Firstly a 30 K World Record attempt on the track at CrystalPalace on September 5th. which gave me five weeks of training. Three weeks later a race in Canada, a 12 miler at the Springbank Road Races in London, Ontario, where I was scheduled to meet Jerome Drayton once more. Nine weeks after that, December 6th, I was running the Fukuoka Marathon in Japan for the second time. After Edinburgh I felt I could tackle anything.

 

WEEK 31.  120.5 miles. 

WEEK 32.  128 miles.

  

 

WEEK 33. 

 

WEEK 33. 

Saturday morning 5 miles. In the afternoon a 5 K track race on a rough grass track at the Ashbourne Sports. John Simmons led the field to about half way then began to slow. I had worked through from 8th to 2nd. Dave Lem and Ron Grove were hanging on and Trevor Wright was sitting in. I wasa running a very negative race. Dave Lem took over, set a fast pace then slowed. With 4 laps to go Trevor said, " Come on," and took off . I could only hang on for half a lap and had to let him go..I made up a little ground on the last lap to finish 3 or 4 seconds behind in 14:15.6. I wrote in my log : "A defeat like that does me good. Makes me want to have a go again and wipe it out. I was out of race practise." 20.5 miles the next day in wind and rain. 117.5 miles for the week.

 

WEEK 34. 113 miles.

WEEK 34.
113 miles.


WEEK 35
 
I spent the weekend in Belgium running the INTERNATIONAL HALF MARATHON, GERAARDSBERGEN. It was a 6:30 pm start. It was a 5 lap course with some hills. Fellow Brit. Barry Watson was in the field plus a Belgian runner unknown to us, Karel Lismont. ( Lismont went on to take European Marathon  Gold in Helsinki, 1971, and a Silver Medal in the Munich Olympic Marathon in 1972. ) After 1 lap we dropped Lismont and after 2 laps I went away from Watson. At 3 laps I was 45 seconds up and 80 secs at 4 laps. It was a hot day and I tired at the end recording 67:55 for the win. My log records " ......so it was well over 1/2 marathon. " I was back at work  Monday but that week only ran 87.5 miles.
 
August had totalled 425 miles.


July 2010

WEEK 27
Sunday 4th of July I raced the K- Swiss City of Manchester 10 K. The day before I had done a very easy 5.5 miles to boost my mileage for the following week.
After a 2 mile warm up I waited behind the start line until one minute had passed from the off then joined in the pack. For the first time I was wearing a disposable chip on my shoe. Luckily someone had told me I had not looped the device correctly and put it right otherwise my time would not have been recorded. It was a windy cool day and I sheltered in the crowd until we reached 1 K and ran along Alan Turing Way with a strong following wind. I was not finding it easy. Hitting the wind again at around 4.5 K, I sheltered again until 7 K then overtook a few before the final short loop of 3 K when I drafted all the way home. I was disappointed not to break 50 minutes ending up with a chip time of 50:22, 24 seconds down on the previous year. I should have expected that with the niggle in my left knee and hip.
My chip position, 723rd out of 1792 finishers meant 40% of runners in front of me. 2009 showed 32 % so a higher standard of competitors this year. I was 2nd MV70 to Malcolm Parry, Unattached, who ran 46:48. 

Overall winner was Jean Ndayisenga, Birchfield H., 29:22, 10 seconds ahead of Andi Jones, Salford H. First female, Tessa Walker, Salford H., 35:03.

The rest of the week I ran slowly. The pains or niggles in my left leg were not getting better. It was worse when I got out of bed and starting my morning runs I could feel my knee was not moving freely and there was soreness in my hip area. My big fear was that my hip joint had deteriorated with all my miles. But I persevered with my usual self help treatment: run slowly. 34.5 miles that week. I needed to cut back the miles.

 


Leaving the stadium - Photo Credit: Brendan Fox


 

WEEK 28
As I drove to my next race, the Jane Tomlinson Pennine 10 K in Blackburn, the temperature plummeted and strong wind blew in from the Irish sea at Preston about 10 miles away. Jane's husband had asked me if I would run and I could not refuse to support such a worthy cause. The start was in Witton Park and I put some long pants to warm up on the track there. A lot of memories came back of competitions there in the early part of my career. Races such as the “Mr Whippy”3 miles. I stood on a rostrum with local dignitaries for the start then joined in after about a minute. The chip would get my time as well as my own watch. It was rather crowded on the road in the park but eased as we hit the main road and went right towards Blackburn centre. 
Then, horror of horrors, just before 1 K my left shoe lace came undone. I was wearing some new ASICS Piranha lightweight racers, only 137g, but the laces were a silky material and though I had tied a double knot they had untied themselves. I stopped, moved to the pavement, tried to retie them, but after getting the single bow each time I went for the double bow the wind blew the laces ahead of me and undid them. Eventually they were secured. 1 K passed in 6:13. I was disheartened but ploughed ahead. I was passing and eventually ahead I could see a blue and white Blackburn Harriers vest. The white haired guy was wearing black tracksters. I guessed it was Chris Fay a rival from way back who I knew had not raced for years. I would soon catch him. Wrong. For a long time he stayed the same distance ahead. The route was very complex with lots of corners and I was frustrated to se all the runners cutting these corners whilst I ran the road as I was sure the course had been measured losing several places each time. Most of the runners ran 9.5 K maximum! After a short steep hill to Wainwright Bridge suddenly I was much nearer to Chris and not long after, in the city centre, I caught him. We exchanged a few words, ran together for a short while, when he said, “See you at the finish."  I moved away but a little later, after a few corners which I did not short cut, he was with me again. On the next uphill I was away for good. He was the only person in the race that I knew! The way west had been with the now we were heading back into it. Many of the K markers had been blown down and it was difficult to assess how far to go but at 7K I was able to press my watch. Much of the last 4 K was into the gale. I sheltered behind big runners but near the end could not keep up and at the finish could not raise my usual sprint, finishing in a disappointing 52:48. Chris got home in 53:57. I was 310th (4th O/60 yrs.) out of 1146 finishers. Only 27% in front of me. A lot of fun/charity runners. Nothing wrong with that.

 

First man Lee Cook, 35:46. Women's winner Gwen Kinloch, W 50-59, 42:42.

The rest of the week slow running. I was tired and in a " DOWN " period. Left knee, hip, hamstring origin still sore. 30.5 miles.

I should have had a boost to my morale on the last day of the week, Friday July 16th. May and I went to Bolton University, firstly to witness the installation of the first Chancellor of the University, Baroness Morris of Bolton, then to receive from her an Honorary Doctorate " in recognition of outstanding contribution to sport and textile technology." A proud moment; can I now call myself Dr Dr Ron?


 

 

WEEK 29
Sunday, 18th, I had entered the Gravy 6 Trail Race, one of my favourites, which starts at Hadfild station. Saturday I ran a slow 5.5 miles. My legs felt weak. There was a good following wind up the Longdendale Trail and from the back I made fair progress in passing runners. After dropping down to the Torside reservoir head, I was very careful on the stony trail at the other side of the valley. On the Rhodeswood dam head I put in a fast push to slot in behind a red vested Prestatyn Running Club woman, to shelter from the strong wind. Her club was out in force that day. On the steep climb back to the trail I followed to Prestatyn ladies but got ahead when they walked the last bit. I was on my own running into the wind and relaxed until someone went past so that I could get in behind. It was a different  Prestatyn lass who went by, Sharon Hullett. I had overtaken her on the first section of the trail on the way out. We passed a handful of runners taking one man, MV55 Reg Czupek, unattached, with us. The pace wound up over the final 800m but I had no sprint left in me and the pair got me by one second.

50:30 for 155th out of 200 finishers; 75.5% of runners ahead. 1:51 down on last year but an enjoyable race.

Winner, Ben Riddell, Salford H. 30:16, first woman, Donna Jones, Sale H. Manchester, 34:16.

An easy next 5 days to record 30 miles for the week.

 

 

On the last day of week 29, Friday, July 23rd, at a delightful ceremony at the offices of OSC and in front of all the staff, CEO Mike Deegan presented me with a bottle of champagne and a handsome cake. It was exactly 40 years since I won the Commonwealth Games Marathon title in Edinburgh with a world record time of 2:09:28. A short video of my major races was shown to start off with. The footage of my failure to win marathon gold at the 1972 Olympics almost brought me to tears.


 

 

WEEK 30
On the first day of this week, Saturday, July 24th, Sweatshop Hyde organised a breakfast run from their store. Again it was a celebration of the Edinburgh Marathon Gold, but the venue was significant as this shop was the first premises that Ron Hill Sports Ltd ever had. Runners of all abilities enjoyed a 6 K run along the Tame Valley Trail and back on the banks of the Peak Forest Canal.



 

A deliberate easy week of 26 miles with left leg not a lot better

July ended with a total of 131 miles (211 K ) Lifetime total now 153,851.5 miles ( 247,599 K )

 


JULY 1970

 

WEEK 27.
No race this weekend. % miles + 13.5 miles Saturday, 20.5 miles alone Sunday. Monday ran home from work, 7.5 miles with speedwork. Tuesday, an extra session lunchtime, 4 x 220yards, 26.8, 26.8, 27.4 and 26.4. Iran home 7.5miles. I was almost sick as I began the run and felt terrible all the way home. 88 deg F. Heat exhaustion ? Felt a bit better running to work the next morning. Friday night I was running a 10,000 m for Great Britain against East Germany on the cinder track at White City in London. My partner was Trevor Wright , Hallamshire Harriers and we were up against Krebs and Eisenerg. After going through 5 K in 14:18, Trevor took off with Eisenberg in pursuit. I was dropped and ran with Krebs until the home straight when I sprinted away for 3rd place. Eisenberg, 28:27.0; Wright, 28:31.6; Hill, 28:40.0; Krebs, 28:40.8. I had been close to my personal best

That week was a mere 108 miles.

 

WEEK 28.
No race. Saturday, 7.5 and 13.5 miles. Sunday, 20.5 miles in my " World 10 " racing shoes.Monday, 10 miles home from work with speedwork. Tuesday 6.5 miles with speedwork. Wednesday drove up to Edinburgh.Thursday I ran the first half of the marathon course - " meant to go very easily but found myself running faster and faster - in fact moving very well indeed. "Friday morning I set off to do 7.5 miles but got lost and ended up doing 12 miles. I found the 7.5 mile course in the evening did some speed work and finished with a sore right knee. That gave me 117.5 miles for the week. 

 

WEEK 29
Saturday morning I ran 4 miles and in the afternoon the last 10 miles of the marathon course with speedwork.I was on the third day of low carbohydrate. Finished the 10 " absolutely shattered at the end. " Plus my right knee was hurting a lot.Sunday I did 2 x 7.5 mile runs, easy, but felt tired all the way.Monday, 2 x 7.5's again. AM - " felt good " PM " felt tremendous - having to hold myself back " Was now on the high carbohydrate phase.Tuesday, 5 miles AM, 4 miles PM. Wednesday, 4 miles AM, 2 miles PM.


At the Start line
 

Thursday, JULY 23, RACE DAY. AM 2 miles easy running in racing shoes.PM 1 mile warm up. As threatened, the pace was really fast start with some downhill from Meadowbank Stadium to the coast. I tucked in behind Jerome Drayton, Canada, with a group of runners around me. By 5 miles, reached in 23:31, the leaders were down to three, Drayton, myself and Philip Ndoo, Kenya, with Derek Clayton, Australia, the world record holder, a little way behind. We must have passed 10 K in 29:21. After the rapid early pace I was now settled into a rhythm and at 8 miles began to pull away reaching 10 miles in 47:45. Here Drayton was 5 seconds and Ndoo 10 seconds behind.I continued to leave them and reached the turn round point in 62:35, now 30 seconds ahead of Drayton. I smiled and waved to the oncoming runners as I headed back to the stadium. !5 miles went by in 72:18. The afternoon was becoming hot and humid after morning rain. I did not take a drink throughout the run.. Pressing on to 20 miles, The time called was 1:37:32. I did not panic, remembering that I had run 1:36:28 for this distance in May 1968.Then the race got hard. I was going for victory not a time.I managed to cover the last 10 K , including the climb from the coast, in 31:58 and my final 400m on the track was 75 seconds. I had won gold and broken the World Record with 2:09:28.

Second man home was the Commonwealth Marathon Champion from 1966, Jim Alder, Scotland, 2:!2:04. Third was Don Faircloth, England, 2:12:19. Both Jerome Drayton and Derek Clayton dropped out.
Derek Clayton was reputed to have run 2:08:33.6 for a marathon in Antwerp, 30th May, 1969. This time has never been recognized in Europe or the USA. The course had been measured using cars and was not remeasured at the time using a more reliable method.

 


Posing for pictures with GOLD medal


WEEK 30. I had ended up with a sore right knee and had an easy week of 13 runs totalling  62.5 miles.

 

My mileage for JUNE 1970 totalled 436.

 

 

 

 


June 2010

JUNE 2010

 

WEEKS 22, 23 & 24
On Wednesday of week 22 we flew to the Greek Island of Kos for a two week holiday in the sun. We were not disappointed. Most mornings, with temperatures approaching 30 deg. C, I would run the first mile with May then carry on to do a 4 miler. The smells were amazing; wild mint, fennel and unmistakable fig trees. We did some long walks and visited other islands, most notably Nissyros with its sulphurous volcanic crater. We ate well and slept well. The only thing to go wrong was a swim in the accommodations pool, once the water had warmed up sufficiently. I only did four lengths but to my annoyance found that my left ear had become blocked. On the second run from home, Friday, I set out to run 4 miles but with deafness in my ear not fully alerting me of traffic and a definite unsteadiness on my feet I cut it to 2.5 miles. I was no better by evening and reluctantly cancelled plans to race the Silkstone Shuffle the next day.

Week 22, 30 miles; Week 23, 25 miles; Week 24, 24.5 miles


 

Volcanic Crater at Nissyros                                                                          Anti Machia Castle

 

WEEK 25
I finally got to race on Wednesday June 23rd; The Round The Resers 5 Miles in Tintwistle. I had not competed for over 4 weeks. I got there early for the 7:30 pm start and did a good 2.5 miles warm up. The race is a run down from the Woodhead road then two laps of Valehouse reservoir. There is some rough stony trail with one sharp hill to be climbed twice, with the rest on tarmac. Weather conditions were perfect. Cool and little wind. After a steady start I pulled back a good few runners, especially in the last mile to finish 116th in 42:39. I was pleased with that. With 162 finishers I had beaten 28% of the field plus my time was better than 44:37 in 2007 and 43:23 in 2009. However a long way short of 35:06 in 1998!

Gareth Raven, of Sale Harriers Manchester set a course record of 25:51. The women's winner was FV45 Alison Sedman, Belle Vue Racers in 33:44.
The next two day's easy runs of 3.5 and 4.5 miles gave me a total 35.5 for the week and brought to me next race.

 

WEEK 26
This week commenced with a Saturday race. THE ANGELA DEEGAN MEMORIAL 5 K RACE an Andy O'Sullivan production organised on behalf of Mike Deegan who was Angela's husband. Angela had battled cancer for several years but had finally succumbed a year ago. She had been a serious athlete and a member of Sale Harriers Manchester. For me her greatest achievement was winning women's 1984 The Tour Of Tame, a double marathon over six races in the space of seven days. Mike had won the men's race the year before. I have fond memories of racing with Angela, especially when the Ron Hill Sports race team went over to contest the Paris 20K. My wife May ran that a few times before volunteering to look after her two children Rachel and Thomas.

The 5K race marked the end of a year for Mike celebrating the life the life of Angela and raising £30,000 shared between The Christie hospital and Cancer Research UK.

The race was held at Cowm reservoir, Whitworth near Rochdale, two laps of the flat trail around water after short shattering uphill start. Mike, who is CEO of the OSC group which owns both Ronhill and Hilly, had managed to get four ex-employees of Ron Hill Sports to turn out, notably Diane Modahl, Nick Peach, Steve Kenyon and Tony Leonard. Several other local celebrities attended including Stephen Cann, CEO of the Bollin Group which owns OSC.

 

It was a fabulous day; hot and sunny. I never recovered from the uphill start and ran in oxygen debt all the way. For much of it I was trailed by a guy called Andrew Denton, who was running with his dog, and John Wild. Towards the end of the second lap I was catching Sue Exon, Trafford A C. As I ran across head of the reservoir Andrew Denton's dog almost tripped me. On the final run down to the finish I passed Sue and John kindly allowed me to cross the line in front of him. 25:30. Not very impressive, but 69th out of 115 finishers was about right.
The first woman home was Rachel Deegan, Angela's daughter, Sale Harriers Manchester, 18:46. Overall winner was Gareth Raven of the same club, 15:18. First MV50 was Mike Deegan, Salford H., 17:10. Mike has run every day since Angela passed away and hopes to become MV 55 World 10,000m Champion next year.

 



Angela Deegan, 1984 Tour of Tameside, Champion


This week showed 31 miles. I had developed a sore left leg in the knee area and in the buttock probably as a result of a day in inappropriate on a 3 island trip on holiday. It was affecting my running.

June ended on the Wednesday and showed 123 Miles (198 K). Lifetime total stands at 153,720 miles (247,388 K) 

 

 

 

 

JUNE 1970

 

WEEK 22
No race this weekend but Saturday 7.5 miles am 13.5 miles fartlek " felt good and strong " pm. Sunday 20.5 miles. Tuesday's mid-day flying 440's were 59.7 and 56.2.A week of hot weather running to work and back for 128 miles.


WEEK 23
Saturday 5 miles am. The PLESSEY NOTTS 15 MILES ROAD RACE pm. 1.5 miles warm up. Ran to 13 miles on a scorching afternoon with Pete Calladine of Derby and County AC. At that point R Calvert of Smallheath Harriers caught us. I had never heard of him. I took off and quickly dropped him, going on to win in 78:19 to Calvert's 79:08 and Calladine's 80:06. !.5 miles warm down. Sunday 20.5 miles " managed it very easily." Running to work and back. &.5 miles to; 10, 9, 12, 8 miles back. Speedwork of 2 + 4 + 6 X 70 seconds strides, 50s interval, Monday. Number stride fartlek up to 55 and down X 2 ,Wednesday. By  Wednesday My left leg and foot were sore and Friday my right leg very stiff in the calf. 130 miles that week.

 

WEEK 25
Five weeks to go before the Commonwealth Games Marathon in Edinburgh. Saturday morning I ran 7 miles. In the evening was the FRECKLETON HALF MARATHON It was hot with a stiff breeze blowing. After a 1.5 miles warm up I set off " nice and slowly "with the pack. Blackpool's Frank McGuire shot off into the lead. I hung back and at 4.5 miles we were around 45 seconds down. I picked up the pace and at Wrea Green Sale's Steve Edmonds picked it up further. I followed with clubmate Eric Haslam  and Liverpool Pembroke's John Balmer for company. First Edmonds dropped and then Balmer. I nursed Eric through to 9 miles. We were still 30 yards down on McGuire.  Eric was letting him slip away so I went up and caught him. I ran with him for about 1/4 mile, he seemed to be moving well, so I dropped him and pulled away. I was moving very well, despite a sore right calf and went on to win in 66:03 to Eric's 67:00 and Balmer's 67:06. The next morning I ran 21.5 miles from my parent's home in Blackpool with Tony Byrne and Frank McGuire; " managed it pretty well."

It was back to running to work then home again in the evening. Except Tuesday. That day after work I drove to Leverhulme Park, Bolton, to race in the RIVINGTON CUP INVITATION 5000 M on the cinder track. I had a battle first with Peter Morris then John Jackson with 5 laps to go. The pace wound up but I was in control and took john on the home straight to win in 14:10.0 to 14:10.8. I then drove back to work and ran home.

That brought a solid week of 132 miles.

 

WEEK 26
No race this weekend. Saturday morning 7.5 miles, afternoon 13.5 miles with fartlek on all the uphills. Sunday I ran 28 miles with Arthur Walsham. To work and back the rest of the week with an extra session Tuesday lunchtime - 4 x 220 yards on the Ashton track, and Thursday lunchtime 6 miles on the roads from work. Speedwork on the way home Monday and Wednesday. My last run, 7 miles lunchtime from work on Friday. " Felt pretty good - one or two enthusiastic bursts." A solid week of 140 miles.

 

During week 26 June ended with a total of 562.5 miles.

 

 

 

 


May 2010

WEEK 18

On Sunday May 2nd I raced the Great Edinburgh Run 10 K. I was classed as one of the elite runners and ran with " HILL " as my front number. The course did not suit me as from shortly after the off there was a hill which seemed to go on for about 2 K. I stood on the start line, behind the chip mat, for 28 seconds before joining the throng. The hill put me into oxygen debt and I was struggling. It did not seem to bother many people as runners were passing in their hundreds for around 3 K. Also I was not thinking straight. At the 1 K marker I looked at my watch, which I had started at the gun, and saw 5:57. " Hell, this is one hour pace," I thought. I had not figured in the 28 seconds before I actually started. The second K was 5:49 which appeared to confirm a slow pace. I struggled on and began to see some quicker splits but did not know, or care how these would affect my final time. K 8 took me 5:05; and K 9 5:01. With 500m to go my left shoe lace came undone ! I dare not stop nor sprint flat out. The finish clock showed 52:06 which was a pleasant surprise and gave me a final chip time of 51:38. The positives I took from this race were : my fastest time of the year on a tough course, first MV 70 out of 8 runners, 2018th position overall out of 6846 finishers meaning that only 29% of the field were in front of me.

Winner of the race was Titus Mbishei, Kenya, 28:46. First woman was Florence Kiplagat, Kenya, 32:10. First Brit. male home was Dan Robinson, 30:25 and female, Freya Murray, 33:35.
Whilst in
Edinburgh I was invited to return to Meadowbank Stadium to re-enact the finish of my Commonwealth Gold Medal victory whose 40th Anniversary is this year ( July 23rd.) My time then was 2:09:28, a World Record and still the fastest time run on Scottish roads. A cold day with the stadium itself looking rather tired. Who would have thought I would be back after 40 years ?

The day after the race I did not feel the fatigue on my run I had felt after previous races this year plus I was looking forward to a week's visit to Club La Santa in Lanzarote. I clocked 30.5 miles in week 18.


  

Photo Credit: Phil Wilkinson / Scotland on Sunday




Photo Credit: Phil Wilkinson / Scotland on Sunday




WEEK 19

The week in La Santa was on behalf of Sports Tours International. It was our first time there and although things seemed a little strange at first we soon got the hang of things. There were morning group runs of various distances and I did a couple of these to familiarise myself. One morning I ran with a group of Navy tri-athletes which introduced me to some interesting trails. One morning I did a track session, alone - 5 X laps in the outside of lane 2 with a lap interval. I was slow but it brought back some interesting memories. May ran/walked the 3k loop each morning and after breakfast we walk out to the nearby small villages. The sun shone, we topped up our reserves of vitamin D and came back refreshed.

32 miles for that week.


WEEK 20

Saturday was the Veterans Road Relay Championships at Sutton Park, Birmingham. I was not looking forward to this as I dislike this course with its steep uphill start which puts me permanently into oxygen debt. My Clayton-le-Moors team had won bronze medals in 2009 and I felt obliged to support again this year. It was a long drive, alone, and I got hopelessly lost looking for the park. I was on first leg and after an inadequate warm up set off up the hill. There were only two runners behind me but I was determined not to chase and kill myself. One of the followers was Wade Cooper of East Cheshire Harriers who had been in that same position last year. At the top of the hill the route went right and into a head wind. Pushing to catch the runner in front of me, I immediately sat in behind sheltering from the wind. It was a V55 woman. I wasn't proud ! Wade caught us and ran alongside. We reached the end of the dog leg, did a u-turn and were now running with the wind. I moved away quickly but was not making much headway on a group ahead. Even on the long downhill back to the changeover I was not comfortable, but as we got closer to the end I closed in a little and up the final small hill caught a Blackpool Wyre and Fylde runner, in my age group and handed over just behind. My time was 23:42, on my watch, for the 5 K, 17 seconds slower than last year. Ted Orrell ran our second leg gaining several positions, handing over to Harry Manning who brought us home 6th. I got lost finding the M 6 and was shattered driving back. That is my last appearance at Sutton Park. I was exhausted for the rest of the week. Bingley Harriers won the M70 team in 62:09, 9 mins 44 secs ahead of Clayton with Fred Gibbs running an amazing 19:55, almost 4 minutes faster than me !

   

Just two runners behind                                                                            Moved away quickly


WEEK 21

Friday morning saw us heading by train once more to Edinburgh. I was running the last leg of the Hairy Haggis Marathon Relay as I wanted to cross the Marathon finish line on that 40th anniversary of my 2:09:28 triumph in the 1970 Commonwealth Games. To this end the organisers had found me a relay team, the " Kilgour Killers," and I was on the last leg, the " Glory " leg, of 4.7 miles. The finish line was at Musselburgh race course, not Meadowbank, but what the hell, it was Edinburgh.

The total journey from home was around 4 1/2 hours with two changes and what, with the walk from Waverly train station to the Apex City Hotel on Grassmarket carrying a heavy rucsac, pretty tiring. That night we had dinner with my Team Captain, her partner, Robert, and daughter Jennifer who was running the full marathon.

 

Saturday was a scorcher. We spent the day visiting the " Marathon Hub " in Princes Gardens trying toget information for my travel to relay changeover 3. The only option was to travel on the official bus at 10:30 am, not so convenient as I was probably going to start my leg at around 1:50 pm based on a predicted finish time for our team of 4 1/2 hours. We visited Calton Hill and its monuments and enjoyed the fantastic views from this high point.

All week it had been predicting rain for Sunday. It was hot. I pitied the full marathon runners. The relay runners bus got to the changeover point at around 11:00 am. I had no idea what runners 2 and 3 looked like but luckily the handovers were close together. I looked in vain for my third leg runner in the crowded pen and in the end spent almost an hour standing at a point where I could see leg 3's number as he departed and leg 2's number as she finished. at last I spotted our race number - 30587 - a green vest with " GARRY " on the front. He was on an 8 mile leg so I could begin to calculate what time I should warm up. Peigi, our second leg runner had taken over from Ann who had run the first stage of around 8 miles. Ann had had a nasty fall in the week before the race and hurt her knee pretty badly. Despite this she ran well. Peigi had only raced one 10 K before this event and with the heat was exhausted at the end. I had to wait a good while at the end before she recovered and I could hand her my bag to take to the finish.


Wearing the actual string vest worn in the 1970 Commenwealth Games

Garry too ran well and passed the timing chip over for me to strap to my ankle. My leg was 4.7 miles and I had warmed up 2.3 miles so I could get 7 miles into my training log. Despite all the hanging around I had a good run. I hardly noticed the heat.I was wearing my string vest from 1970 with my race number from then - 108 - above my relay number. I did a fair bit of weaving around the exhausted marathon runners and a lot Race Relay contestants, many of whom were walking. I only saw one of the mile markers, No. 23, and contented myself with counting the number of relay runners I could pass. This worked well and I could not believe it when the crowds were shouting, " Nearly there now. " But I saw the white rails of the Musselburgh Race course and suddenly I was on the rubber mats with the finish line in sight. I had passed 103 Team Relay runners and raised my right arm in an anniversary salute then stopped my watch at 40 minutes.The Kilgour Killers team recorded just under 4 hours 25 minutes.

With so many runners it was chaotic at the end. I made the reunion area but we had great difficulty getting out. Eventually, Robert drove Ann, Garry and myself back to the hotel to pick up an anxious May and our bags which we had had to leave at reception as we had no late checkout, then on to Waverley station. We had missed our 16:10 train and after grabbing some food and drink caught the crowded 18:10 to Manchester Piccadilly. There was an unscheduled change at Oxenholme and we were delayed after Preston. Showerless, and still in my racing shorts and shoes, we arrived home by taxi from Stockport station at 10:30 pm, exhausted. It had been a stressful weekend and although my running seemed to have recovered well the next day, I had a lot to do to catch up with time I had spent in Edinburgh. By Thursday my weight had gone down from my normal 9 stone to 8 stone 10 pounds. Stress. Not healthy.

Despite this loss in weight I seemed to have recovered well but my mood was not helped by the weather and I never expected to be running at the end of the week, close to the end of May in " full gear " including gloves. My log records " going through a bad patch." Week 21 showed 33 miles.


WEEK 22
The weather and the way I was feeling did not improve much and on the last day of May my log reports of a 5 mile run, " felt pretty awful."  

 

May added up to 144 miles ( 232 K ) - lifetime : 153,597.5 miles ( 247,191 K )

 


MAY 1970

WEEK 18
This was my third week of active rest after my
Boston win. 2 miles twice a day easy running with a couple of fives thrown in gave me 32 miles. My log reports, " felt very good again " " moving very well indeed " " running quite fast, " 32 miles in total.

 

WEEK 19
My final week of rest. Mainly 5's and 2's with a "long" run of  7 miles on Sunday. Total 51 miles.

 

WEEK 20
Now I began my 10 week build up to the Commonwealth Games Marathon in
Edinburgh. Despite my Boston time being a British and European Record time the English selectors would not pick me for definite, writing to me saying, " If we were you we would be reasonably confident that three English runners will not beat your Boston time in the trial."
Saturday morning I ran 5 miles. In the afternoon " 7 miles - easy for 2 miles - then fartlek with bursts on the hills - my first steps on the way to attempting a Commonwealth Gold " Sunday I did 13 miles, then for the rest of the week my runs to work and back : 7.5 miles there and a bit further on the way back.. One day 6 X 70 seconds strides with 50 seconds interval in 3 sets of 2; another day fartlek. Thursday lunchtime I did my 2 flying 1/4 miles on the Ashton under Lyne cinder track in 60.3 and 60.6. This pushed my mileage to 100 miles for the week.

 

WEEK 21
This week we spent on holday in th
Yorkshire dales, at Ravonstonedale. Sunday, I had a long run, 20 miles, and the rest of the days two runs totalling betwen 16 and 20 miles. Friday I did 9miles in the morning and 5miles in the evening when we got back home to Roniley. A solid week of 120 miles.

 

WEEK 22
Saturday morning I ran 5 miles and in the afternoon raced the Pembroke " 20 " It was a very windy day . I ended up battling with Eric Haslam and John Balmer but managed a narrow victory in 1:45:25 just 7 seconds ahead of Eric. The next day my  Sunday run was only 13.5 miles.

 

May ended with a total of 347 miles.

 


April 2010

WEEK 14.

The third day after landing from Lanzarote was Easter Saturday, the day of the Rivington Pike Fell Race. This was the 36th time I had run in this 3 1/4 mile classic. I had two objectives for this race. The first was to get all the way to the top without walking and the second was not to fall down on the descent. On the part of the course which was grass it was quite wet with one section deep mud which cows had churned up. I got left behind at the start and ran steadily. At the quarry I took the long way round, a sweeping curve, but as we approached the gate leading to the rough cobbled road I thought, “I am not going to make it." The course levels a little here and I got my breath back. With much effort I managed the last bit and the tower at the summit. Descending carefully, I managed not to fall and crossed the line in 32:35, my slowest ever. The speedwork in Lanzarote had not done me much good!

I will never try to run all the way again. It is quicker to walk in parts! It would be nice to end my affair with Rivington Pike on 40 runs. Two of the four I would need would be in my 75th and 80th years. I am not so sure about my 85th year so I am looking for two more.

I was 189th out of 209 finishers. Only 8 % of runners behind me. Leading V70 was Ted Orrell, Clayton-le-Moors H., 27:51; 2nd V70, John Swift, Chorley AC, 29:49; I was 3rd V70. John Coope, Horwich RMI, V75, 32:52.

Overall winner: Thomas Cornthwaite, Blackburn H & AC, 17:31. First woman: Laura Richards, Leigh H & AC, 21:46.

 

The man in the duffle coat is not a competitior! - Photo Credit STEVE BATESON (www.runningpix.co.uk)

I was hoping the slower run down would protect my quads and indeed the next day they were not too bad, but the next three days they were murder!

Total for the week 25.5 miles.

WEEK 15.

The first day of my week I ran my 4 mile "country" course. The first warm day of the year and I was in shorts I felt great. The rest of the week was cold and it was back to full gear, pants, cap and gloves. Friday was just a 2 miler as we were flying to Boston that day. I have been invited back there as it is the 40th Anniversary of my record breaking victory of 1970.

Total for the week 28 miles.
Correction. Because of the eruption of the volcano in Iceland and the consequent cloud of ash we never made it to Boston! All flights were grounded. We were devastated. As a result Friday's run was a 4 miler making the week 30 miles.


Below is a link to an interview with Ron in the April edition of Runners World USA:

http://racingnews.runnersworld.com/2010/04/a-brief-chat-with-ron-hill-2.html

 

Later this year I am looking forward to returning to Athens for the 2,500th anniversary of Pheidippides famous run from Marathon to Athens, October 31st. I won my European Marathon Gold Medal on that course in 1969.You can read about my qualification for that race in my book MANCHESTER MARATHONS (Click here). It was also the course on which I ran my 100th Marathon. Why not join me there? I will be doing the 10K. (www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk)

 

WEEK 16.

I was really disappointed not to be in Boston and struggled through another cold week of 30 miles. The last run of the week was from the London City Airport Travel Lodge. I was in London for the London Marathon Expo and a special dinner to honour my friend Mel Batty's 70th birthday once more. The 3 1/2 miler took me round by the Thames Barrier Park which I enjoyed very much.


WEEK 17. This week I enjoyed 2 runs in shorts but by the end of the week also the end of the month it was back to full gear. I also enjoyed getting used to my new Timex Ironman, Tap screen chronograph. I ran 30 miles that week.

 

April added up to 122 miles ( 196 K ) bringing my lifetime total to 153,453 miles ( 246,952 K ) 

 

 

APRIL 1970

 

WEEK 13 contd. 

The rest of the week I eased down as I had an important race coming up. I ran just 107 miles that week.

 

WEEK 14 

Saturday morning I ran 4 easy miles. In the afternoon I lined up for the AAA track 10 Miles Championship. I had won this five time since 1965 breaking the World record in 1968 with 47:02. This was the last of Ron Clarke's world records to fall. Later that year I lowered my own world record to 46:44. On this occasion I was looking for a good run and possibly a new record, before crossing the Atlantic to run the famous Boston Marathon. The wind put paid to a record as no-one wanted to lead. At 5 miles Trevor Wright, Hallamshire H. put in a fast burst. I hung on for 2 laps then had to let him go. He won in 47:20.2 and I was second with 47:35.2.

The next day I ran 20.5 miles with my friend Arthur Walsham. I did an extra run on Wednesday; Speed sessions Monday, Wednesday and Friday! 5 runs, including the race, gave me 130 miles for the week.


WEEK 15

This was something of a taper down week prior to my Boston Marathon. The RRC of Britain had had a whip round to raise the airfare to send me to America. I had no race on the Saturday. Sunday's long run was 13.5 mile in cold pouring rain. Tuesday morning I ran 2 miles before flying to the USA. Tuesday evening I ran 6 miles from the Williams family home in Winchester, Mass. Wednesday, a 4 and a 10 with speedwork. Thursday 2 easy runs of 7 miles and the same on Friday for a week of 91 miles. Two days to go before Boston.


WEEK 16

This week included the Boston Marathon on Monday, Patriots Day. On my 2 mile morning run I felt " indifferent." I jogged 1 mile warm up in rain. I had been given race number " 1 " .Jerome Drayton, who had beaten me on December in Fukuoka had " 2 ". Drayton started quickly and by 2 miles it was just the two of us. At 4 miles I pulled away, then relaxed and let him come back. We ran together until 6 or 7 miles. It was hurling down with rain, I was in my string vest and my hands went numb with cold. We were really going at it. I nearly said,   " This is suicide." But I didn't. He dropped again after 10 miles. I waited for him and asked, " Are you OK ? " " Yeah, I'm OK," he replied. Then he faltered and I was away. He dropped out shortly afterwards. I strode out to 17 miles. On the Newton Hills I put my head down, relaxed and did not push it.At the top of Heartbreak Hill Jock Semple shouted from the press bus that my lead was only 200 yards from someone called Eamonn O'Reilly. I'd never heard of him. Prior to that spectators had been shouting that my lead was 1/2 a mile. I pushed on harder and with 2 1/2 miles to go really put the pressure on.I was safe and finished " with something in hand."

I had won the most famous marathon in the world and was the first Briton to do so. What was even more amazing to me was that I had run 2:10:30, a personal best, and had broken the course record by over 3 minutes. My reward was a medal and a bowl of beef stew but most of all an amazed feeling of pride.

I could now relax. The next day I flew down to Rome, Georgia and on Thursday to Mobile, Alabama. These were visits on behalf of my employers, Courtaulds Limited. That week totalled 61 miles, including the marathon. I was resting now.

 


WEEK 17
I ended up in
New York before flying back to England on Tuesday night. A week of 2 mile runs, twice a day, with a long one, 5 miles, on Sunday gave me 29 miles.

 

April totalled 348 miles.

 

 


March 2010

WEEK 9 contd.

I felt pretty good the day after the Lostock 6. It was the first day of spring and the sun was shining. My spirits were lifted but took it easily for the rest of the week to record 29 miles. The only mild upset was on Wednesday when half a mile into my run I turned my body to the left to look at the traffic before crossing a road and must have twisted my left knee. But I jogged on and soon the pain subsided.

 

WEEK 10.

3 1/2 miles easy on Saturday morning in preparation for the TRAFFORD 10K starting at the Partington Leisure Centre. It was a freezing morning. A 9:30 start beneath a cloudless sky. I could not get warm and as the previous week decided to run in two long sleeve tops plus a fluo jacket with my Clayton vest on top. The race director, Dave Norman had honoured me with race No. 1. I wanted a repeat of Lostock 6 with a run at training pace and to this end set off at the back. It was chip timing so I did not have to worry about an accurate time. I crossed the start line after 22 seconds. However, almost all the runners were of a decent standard and as we wended our way along country lanes I realised I was operating at faster than my easy training pace. The kilometres were all marked and there was a time keeper at 1 mile. Dave Attwell shouted,

“9 minutes 12, Ronnie," as I passed. I did not have the mental agility to subtract 22 seconds. 9:12 was way faster than my training pace, never mind the actual 8:50 it really was.


9.5 Km - Followed by Ruth Brown

The country lanes made for interesting, traffic free running. In the 4th kilometre there were two hills, hump back bridges, the first over a stream the second crossing the Bridgewater Canal. We reached a church and a right turn. A bell rang out, startling me. 5K was passed and my pace picked up a little. The country- side atmosphere was emphasized by the smell of muck spreading. I hoped it would fertilize my lungs a little. I was picking off only a few runners. Dave Attwell was there again at 5 miles. “43 minutes 42, Ronnie." I did not work it out at the time but the previous 4 miles had averaged 8:38. Far more than a jog. I was joined at 8K by a woman in black, No.485, Ruth Black, Unattached. I had run the fist 3 K with her and thought she was long gone. The pace increased considerably over the last 2 K and with a sprint at the end I managed to beat her by two places only. Her chip time was just 1 second slower than my 53:00. For me a pleasing time for an "easy" run. I was the first MV70 and 328th out of 434 finishers. 24% of runners behind me. That was more like it. 

The winner in a fantastic time was Chris Thompson, Aldershot, Farnham & Dist., 28:01. Female winner was Gemma Connolly, St. Helens, Sutton, 37:04.

For the rest of the week the weather continued very cold. I felt really tired most of the time and on Friday, the last day of my week, I wrote in my log of a 3 1/2 mile run,

“Can’t say I really enjoyed it."

 

 

Slow recovery runs gave me a total of 30 miles for the freezing week.


WEEK 11.

I felt tired on all of my daily runs which still required full running gear including, hat and gloves, because of the cold weather.

I was out earlier than usual on Thursday morning, the 18th as I was travelling by train to London. The occasion was a meeting of "Athletes Reunited,” a group of runners, mainly from the 1960's and before, living in the London area who meet regularly for a meal and a pint (or two). The organiser, Tony Maxwell (leading the field in the picture on p. 149 of Part 1 of " The Long Hard Road ") was dedicating this lunch as a surprise 70th birthday celebration for Mel Batty, who had won the English Cross-Country Championships twice in the 60's, ' 64 and ' 65 and was trying to get other X-C Champions from that decade to attend. In the end Gerry North, 1962, myself 1966 and 1968, and Dick Taylor, 1967. Mel was really surprised and there was lot of putting the current dire situation of British distance running to right. From the media Neil Allen and Mel Watman were present as was Mel's old coach, the walker Colin Young who has walked more miles than I have run. I had my copy of Long Hard Road, part 1 with me and got the autographs of Tony Maxwell and Mike Tribe (pic. p.59). I got the evening train back to Stockport; glad I had made the journey to honour my friend and a great champion.


Left to Right: Gerry North, Dick Taylor, Mel Batty and Dr Ron

That week was 29 miles with some more enjoyable running as the trails I sometimes use were dry.

 

WEEK 12.

I spoke too soon. Saturday, the beginning of my week it rained. The planned 8 mile run was miserable. It rained all the way. Part of it was on the Peak Forest canal and what should have been a pleasant jog along the dry towpath was a twisting run trying to avoid the continuous puddles. It was the same story on the rest of the trails. I did not enjoy it. But I had 8 miles in the bank and could afford to relax a bit more on our holiday in Lanzarote to where we flew the next day.

We stayed, all inclusive, for 11nights, at the Sol Morro Mar in Mattagorda. It was a downhill run of about 800 metres to the promenade; a nice warm up after which I normally left May to go either east towards the airport or west towards Puerto Del Carmen. I got a couple of runs out on to a trail by taking the west option and turning right at Calle Pluton; no street sign but marked on maps; and following this street until I hit the country then heading out on trails to an underpass visible in the far distance.

It was great to be running in shorts and enjoying the sun and temperatures in the mid twenties. I actually did some speedwork, 70 second strides with 50 second intervals and number stride fartlek. Preparation for the Rivington Pike fell race on Easter Saturday. A good week of 29 miles.

  

Promendade-at-Matagorda                                                                       The Only trail i could find
 

WEEK 13.

As well as running we walked every day. May caught a cold out of nowhere, but I appeared to resist it. We flew back on April 1st with just 23 miles for that week.

 

MARCH added 123.5 miles (199 K) to my training log bringing my lifetime total 153,331.5 miles (246,762.5 K.)

 

 

197O MARCH

WEEK 9 Contd
The day after Saturday's National Cross-Country Championships I ran 21.5 miles with Tony Byrne (see Sep '09 blog) from my parent's house in
Blackpool. The rest of the week was running to work and back, but with 3 runs on Monday ( an extra run at lunchtime )and my 2 " flying quarters" ( 440 yards on a 5 laps to the mile cinder track in Ashton-under-Lyne ) on Tuesday lunchtime. The second one was 60.2 seconds. The 15 sessions gave me 130 miles.  I was getting some pains in my right achilles tendon.

 

WEEK 10
Saturday morning I ran 7.5 miles in snow. It was ManchesterUniversity's Annual Cross-Country Championships in WythenshawePark. I had won my first Championship as a “Fresher "in 1958 and this was to prove my 13th victory. There was still snow on the ground. The course was 3 laps amounting to 10 K. I ran to the park, did 2 laps warm up, won the race in 31:25, did 1 lap warm down and ran back to the pavilion to total 13 miles. The next da