Still Running (weakly). Issue 11

PAST – inspiration – the Athletics World Championships start this week in Budapest. There have been many memorable performances at these games since the first edition in Helsinki in 1983, but perhaps my outstanding moment comes from that first event through Eamonn Coghlan of Ireland. He had been “unlucky” in previous Olympics – fourth in the 1976 1,500 metres AND in the 1980 5,000 – but he came onto the shoulder of the Soviet leader at the start of the finishing straight in the 5,000, and, knowing that he could outkick anybody, celebrated by clenching his fists and looking skyward before speeding away. Youtube it! Coghlan wears a green vest and white shorts.

PRESENT – perspiration – with elite athletes tapering for those World Championships, it was left to 85-year-old Rodney Freeburn to provide our present perspiration for this week, when he completed his 500th parkrun at Eaton Park, Norwich. He is believed to be the oldest person ever to reach that milestone.

He started his parkrun journey there at Eaton Park in 2010, but has since completed the Saturday morning 5km test in 69 different locations, including in Canada, France and Denmark. Rodney says that Eaton Park remains his favourite and that his weekend ritual keeps him fit for his main sport – orienteering!

Never give up!

FUTURE – suggestion – if you’re building up for an autumn marathon, you are no doubt getting well stuck into your long runs. The only advice I would give is to try and make them honest efforts, with no slackening of the pace in the last half hour or so. That last section of your essential long run is comprised of what I call "golden minutes." It takes you a long time to get there – to the zone where you are directly preparing yourself for those last crucial miles of the marathon – so try and make them count. Even increase your pace slightly if you can – to enhance the value. If you can finish your allotted distance running strongly and feeling good, that will do wonders for both your physical endurance and your mental confidence.