Because running isn’t a spectator sport.
Andy Cleves in Welsh Vest after the Celtic Plate 100k.
Good luck to all runners heading for the Scottish Borders this weekend: Andy Cleves, Dave Benion, Bill Fear, Cled Jones, Ian Law, Carol Miller, and Matt Townsend. Best wishes especially to Carol who celebrates her 40th birthday on the Saturday.
Jeff Aston reports
We have just heard that John Walsh (Dave's elder brother and former member of Les Croupiers) died yesterday (29 September) after collapsing following a training run. He was 60. We have no further details at the moment.
Mick McGeoch adds
John was always a very loyal runner, and when Croups formed in 1980 he maintained his membership with Cardiff. It was only several years later that he joined the Croups, and competed for us in the middle/late 1980s, before joining Carmarthen where he lived. The road was John's forte, and he was a very tough competitor — he ran 58 marathons in his career and completed every one in under 3 hours.
He also worked tirelessly as a statistician, producing annual ranking lists for the marathon for both Wales and the UK for 30+ years. He was a highly respected member of the National Union of Track Statisticians, and for many years was the official scrutineer for entries to the Championship Section of London; John always knew who had run what time and when. Whenever I got home from marathon trips away, John would always be #1 on my list of where to send results. A real gentleman was John, or Wal as he was often affectionately known. He'll be sorely missed.
John's funeral will be on Tuesday, 8 October at Narberth Crematorium, at 3pm. Family flowers only, please, but donations, if desired, to be made payable to the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund. Please send to: Dave Walsh, 129 Queensway, Coney Hall, West Wickham, Kent BR4 9DT. Our thoughts are with John's widow Chris, brother Dave, and sister Josie.
Mick McGeoch ran 2:39:11 in the Berlin Marathon. He reports:
Last year went so well (negative splits for only the second time of my career) that almost anything was likely to feel like a disappointment. And it did. Current form from the Cardiff and Swansea races suggested 2:36. Conditions were obviously ideal: it was much cooler in Berlin than here — 15 degrees on race day, with little wind. However, I did find I was sweating more than usual early on, so maybe the humidity was a factor; I certainly did feel more dehydrated than usual.
Elite Standard was significantly better than London (34 sub 2:20 as opposed to London's 18) and last year's Berlin: in 2001, I placed 80th with 2:34:12, which would only have been good enough for 125th here. My defending the M45–49 section was never likely to happen, and I placed only 12th.
Results up front: Men: 1. Raymond Kipkoech (Kenya) 2:06:47; 2. Simon Biwott (Kenya) 2:06:49; 3. Vincent Kipsos (Kenya) 2:06:52. Ladies: 1. Naoko Takahashi (Japan) 2:21:49; 2. Adriana Fernandez (Mexico) 2:24:11; 3. Hellen Kimutai (Kenya) 2:26:10. 25223 finishers.
If anyone who wishes to race but has not yet told their club captain, please email Directions and start times are on the Gwent League site.
Now that the deadline of 18 October for London Marathon entries is hurrying near, some of you may be looking for a backup plan for admission should you fail through the ballot. The usual way is to run for a charity. Action for Blind People have some guaranteed places for anyone willing and able to raise £1000 for them, as well as a fundaising pack, and an after race reception where masseurs will be ready to massage your aching feet (although in my experience, it's not your feet which hurt). If you get in anyway, but are willing to raise money, they still offer the goodies.
I've had an email from Fiona Dod, a fourth year chiropractic student at the Welsh Institute of Chiropractic whose final year dissertation is on the difference in foot-type between short and long distance runners and how this relates to running injuries.
She is looking for as many male and female runners who would be willing to participate in her study. The study will involve a brief examination of each subjects posture and gait with a separate foot examination and some measurements of the feet. The subjects will then have a photo taken of their feet and be asked to fill out a short questionnaire.
Any runners interested and willing to help please do not hesitate to contact
Last updated 13 April 2006
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