Ace: Les Croupiers Running Club

Our continuing mission: to boldly drivel where no running publication has drivelled before.

Went The Day Well?

We joke about Phil Cook, how he's become more Michelin Man than racing greyhound, and how he's too lazy to train properly these days. However, his progress backwards through the field at the Reebok Cross-Country seems to have shaken him up and stirred him into working a little harder.

Phil came a creditable 7th in the Wokingham Half at the weekend in 72 minutes, while Mick retained a clean sheet of top 10 placings with 10th in 73. Barry came a little further down the field taking the 2nd vet 50 spot (no prize) in 78 (still 6-minute miling, so he doesn't have to borrow Peter Kellam's pearl-handled revolver yet). Normally a half of 72 isn't enough for a sub 2:30 marathon. Phil is getting himself back to form, and has a few weeks left, added to which there's the incentive of beating Mick, so there's every chance of a 2:29–2:32 clocking.

So far the best estimates of finishing times in London are: Phil 2:29; Mick 2:37; John Cox — too hard to say really, but 2:38; Barry Johnston 2:44; Dave Williams DNS (did not start).

Elsewhere, Tony Dorsett wrote to tell me that we packed in tight formation at the Ponty Reverse 10 with Tony Dorsett 96.01; Geoff Wright 89.48; and Steve Williams 88.15. (I don't have official results as yet.) Geoff's time certainly makes a five hour London look possible.

Back in Cardiff, on the indoor track at UWIC, James Thie broke the Welsh 1500m indoor record with 3m 42.28 at the Lansing Linde Severnside meeting (Wales v England v Ireland v an international team). For some reason, Wales hasn't had much of a tradition with middle distance runners, despite striking success in the 400m (Jamie Baulch, Matt Elias–and Daniel Caines went to university in Swansea). Perhaps the development of facilities at UWIC which are good enough for Jason Gardner and Jolanda Ceplak will change that.

Replies: 3 comments

IF all that phil said was true on the night before the race,he should have ran 82 minutes, mind you it is nice to see a fat bloke run that fast and as for the goat he had an advantage over the rest of the feild he used phil as a wind brake.WELL DONE to you both, and also to the more mature athlete Mr Barry Johnston who does deserve to have a prize for having to put up with the for mentioned two with out any support from anyone else from the club.

Posted by John -AT-REMOVE_THIS- 15/2/2003 4:48 pm GMT

I would have used Peter's revolver after my marathon attempt last year but I didn't have the strength left.

I should have slid gracefully into Lake Vyrnwy a la Death of Marat ;-)

Posted by Matt -AT-REMOVE_THIS- 13/2/2003 12:20 pm GMT

Great to see Phil improving all the time, but I'd hardly call it "The Rake's Progress" would you?

Posted by mick -AT-REMOVE_THIS- 11/2/2003 5:33 pm GMT