Still Running (weakly). Issue 22

PAST – inspiration – Around this time of year, at Bristol University in the late 70s, we used to run the Mike Sully Cross Country Race, a classic that always attracted a very high-class field – and us!

After one of these races, when Tony Simmons (2nd in 1974 European and 4th in 1976 Olympic 10,000m) had outkicked Bernie Ford (8th 1976 Olympic 10,000) to win, I got the chance to shake Tony’s hand and congratulate him.

I was pleasantly surprised to bump into him again in a Swansea pub in 2018. We had a longer conversation this time, and the most memorable things he said to me were, “I retired from running when I could no longer break 32 minutes for 10km”! and, “Thanks for remembering me!”

PRESENT – perspiration – Marshalling at the Southern Cross-Country League race on Sunday, I was again struck by the diversity and humanity of runners.

I was the marshal who forbade all of the field from running across the bridge, but instead insisted on their wading through the stream.

As you can imagine, this elicited a range of reactions – almost all of them good-natured – and saw many runners helping each other down, through and up the natural obstacle.

A race like that is a force for good. Here were nearly five hundred folk pitting themselves against mud, rain and hills over 5 miles of challenging terrain – and doing so with good humour. The stream in particular and the race in general demonstrated some of the best of humanity.

FUTURE – suggestion – Marshalling at the cross-country race, and at other times last weekend, I got very wet. I don’t like being wet! A friend noticed my annoyance and said, “But Steve, you’ve run round a track for 24 hours, and run in the rain up and down mountains, why are you so peed off with this?”

It’s a good question.

I suppose we all have a “I can only take so much” dial, and I think I want to reserve my reservoir of endurance for things that matter, so whilst I am very happy suffering like hell through a hill session or a gym monster, I resent sitting in a restaurant in wet jeans!

Seb Coe used to say something along the lines of, don’t run up the stairs, stand on the escalator – save your fitness for the track session later that afternoon, and at all other times, be lazy.

Have a think about your days – especially the ones where you are expecting a big effort from yourself – are there ways in which you could save more of your fitness and your freshness for what really matters?