Neither London nor Boston but internet solecisms.
I know that I’m on record as thinking that athletics is a pretty stupid sport: most coaching is bogus, and so forth, and there isn’t a whole lot to say about racing — a three-year old can tell who’s in front. All the same, I’ve always found Brendan Foster partisan, blinkered, uninformative, unamusing, and generally useless. I’m pleased to have my prejudices confirmed by an expert.
And yes, the David Bedford story runs and runs, as it were. The Torygraph reports that his patience finally ran out, the Register quotes Ofcom’s verdict that "the 118 118 Runners featured in The Number’s TV advertisements do caricature David Bedford by way of a comically exaggerated representation of him looking like he did in the 1970s, sporting a hairstyle and facial hair like his at the time, and wearing running kit almost identical to the running kit that was distinctively worn by him at the time, including red socks, sky-blue shorts with gold braiding and a vest with 2 hoops" and the Grauniad writes that he offered mediation.
The most interesting aspect is that I thought the Number’s defence was that their runners resembled Bedford only coincidentally, but the Guardian says:
But Ofcom ruled that The Number’s defence - that the runner had appeared in the Sun alongside his doppelgangers six months before making the complaint - did not hold water because he had not seen the ads at that point.
So, they were based on him, after all.
But what is all this about the Number being a Cardiff-based company? That’s right, blame the Welsh.
Posted by Dave at 10:16 AM
Our Triathlon arm is getting into full swing, with a range of upcoming sessions and suggestions for starting your race career. These sessions include;
1. Transition training
Minimising the time between disciplines. This can be very important in a triathlon. I’m sure that Geran won’t mind me sharing with you the sordid details of the Llanberis half-ironman. When Geran and I competed in this event, we both trained exceptionally hard and entered at around the same level of fitness. After more than 5 hours of racing we were separated by only 3 minutes. The difference was almost all to be found in transition.
2. Group cycle rides
These cycle rides will take place once a month on the Saturday immediately prior to the group social runs. They will be of 2 hours duration (approx.) and will be led by the very experienced John Plain and myself. All abilities (and bikes) welcome.
3. Cardiff Triathletes Try-a-tri, 2nd May.
We have application forms for the ideal 1st triathlon event. Run by our good friends at Cardiff Tri, the event kicks of with a 400m swim, followed by a 10 mile bike ride and a 3 mile run. This race is aimed at those who have completed less than 3 triathlons.
For information on dates, times, attendance etc, please discuss with myself, Phil, Geran or Angie Davidson, or post your questions here.
Posted by Simon at 01:33 PM
I’ve described Ace as being “Births, marriages, and deaths, that sort of thing.” but I don’t make many of that sort of announcements. So here, by way of welcome relief from dull stuff about running, I’ happy to announce the birth of Joseph Evan Tailby on 12 December (weight, as it seems right to announce this sort of thing): 6 lbs 6 oz to Cath Gardner and husband Richard Tailby.
If I get a pic, I’ll add it.
Posted by Dave at 07:17 PM
First, the good(ish) news: I’ve bought a digital camera, and a decent personal computer — which together mean that this site will in future offer such delights as .pdf versions of results and I shall be able to receive and generate Excel files (working copies of, of course, not the Gates of Hell real thing), and — occasionally — photos in focus.
Now the bad news — as someone whose Amazon wish list looks like Unix for Saddoes, More Unix for Saddoes, Even More Unix for Saddoes, and so on for 20 more volumes — I need time to get to grips with BSD on OS X, which will mean fewer updates for a while — and at some point over the next few months we’re going to change hosts, which means we may disappear for a day or so.
I think the bulletin board is dead. I’m sorry that our server died and took what was on it. Partly my fault for not making backups, partly our hosts — see above. If I don’t hear plaintive cries of protest; it’s gone.
Posted by Dave at 11:02 PM
The hill sessions are starting to enter their final phase as we creep ever closer to Spring (yes, Spring. It’ll be here before you know it). Our intention is to keep the hill sessions going until we enter March, at which time we will turn our attentions to longer road and offroad repetitions. So, taking into account club races, the hill sessions for the next 5 weeks taking us up to St David’s Day are as follows;
Tuesday 27th January - Hill session at Cefn Coed Road. 6pm on bridge at Highfields Road or 6.15pm at bottom of hill (Roath Park Lake).
Monday 2nd February - Hill session at Llandennis Avenue, near Cardiff High School. 6pm on bridge at Highfields Road or 6.15pm outside Cardiff High.
Monday 9th February - Hill session at Lady Mary Road, bottom of Roath Park Lake. 6pm on bridge at Highfields Road or 6.15pm outside shops on Lady Mary Road.
Monday 16th February - Hill session at Cefn Coed Road. 6pm on bridge at Highfields Road or 6.15pm at bottom of hill (Roath Park Lake).
Tuesday 24th February - Hill session at Llandennis Avenue, near Cardiff High School. 6pm on bridge at Highfields Road or 6.15pm outside Cardiff High.
Monday 1st March - Hill session at Lady Mary Road, bottom of Roath Park Lake. 6pm on bridge at Highfields Road or 6.15pm outside shops on Lady Mary Road.
Please note: All runners must wear a leak or carry a gigantic fluffy daffodil for this session only.*
This list represents the remaining hill sessions, I’ll then post the rota for the road reps (by which time you’ll all be ready for a change!).
*Just kidding, there will be no requirement to wear root vegetables on your helly or cart around a fluffy plant.
Posted by Simon at 03:04 PM
It must be nice to love your job. Paula Radcliffe made it into Who’s Who this year.
Radcliffe, who will lead Britain’s gold medal hopes in this summer’s Olympics, lists athletics as one of her favourite recreational activities in the book, along with travel and reading.
According to the Scotsman. (Also in the Guardian.)
Posted by Dave at 02:12 PM
Les Croupiers very own Aragorn returns to his former post of Club Captain for the next Gwent. I am away for a few days, so in my absence Geran will kindly be looking after the team for the Blaise Castle fixture.
Instantly recognisable, he will be striding purposefully through the club on Thursday armed with clipboard and pen to put the finishing touches to the men’s teams. So if you haven’t declared an interest yet, or are forced to withdraw from the team please inform Geran at the club, post a message here or phone him on 029 20198355.
Good luck to everybody and I look forward to hearing all about it next Thursday.
Posted by Simon at 11:38 AM
Sic transit gloria mundi department. Paula Radcliffe created a surge of interest with her World Best in April. (From the 2003 Google Zeitgeist.)
Posted by Dave at 01:54 PM
Last updated 22 September 2006
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