Still Running (weakly). Issue 83

PAST – inspiration – On Sunday 21st June 1987, I ran an easy 16 miles from my flat in South London to Battersea Park, where I performed 10 chins (why?), ran 5km in 18:30 on the track (36-second last 200), and did another 10 chins. I then ran 4 miles to Tooting Bec track, where I ran a mile in 5:23 (35 last 200) – “what, no pull-up bar there, Steve?” – before running 6 miles home. In all, I clocked 3:44:07 for just over 30 miles (not including chins!)

It was the first training run that made me think I might have a future at ultras, and it led to a 2nd-place, 134-mile 24-hour performance that year (Solihull, 11th-12th July – the GB team selection standard at the time was 140 miles), and ultimately to my gaining Great Britain representation in the mid-90s.

PRESENT – perspiration – All of which is to put May 2024 into some perspective, as I was then beginning to recover some very modest speed after my total knee replacement of November 2022. Don’t get too excited, we’re talking a 33-minute hilly parkrun here. But nevertheless, I felt that, with a few more weeks’ speedwork, a flatter course and some very expensive shoes, a sub-30 (my first 2024 target) might just be possible.

However, after experiencing a very aggressive itch and rash and undergoing extensive tests, on 29th May, I was diagnosed with stage 3B angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma, and two (yes, just two) days later (thank you, wonderful NHS) had my first session of chemotherapy. Six rounds of this from May to September put me into remission, and a stem cell autograft in December was designed to keep me there. So far, so good.

My heart goes out to all those in similar situations to my own.

FUTURE – suggestion – All of which means that, for 2025, my friends, I have the perfect excuse not to worry about how far I run, how fast I run, how many times I go to the gym, or what my weight is, until at least – ooooh – the middle of February?!

What it DOES mean is that the onus is squarely on you lot to pick, to progress towards and finally to plunder some goals of your own, and for me to vicariously, voraciously, even voyeuristically, enjoy them alongside you.

Seriously, if you’d like to share any 2025 goals, targets, plans, wishes with me, I will gladly publish a selection (let me know if you don’t want me to do this, or to do it anonymously), because, believe me, your ideas, your challenges and your motivation will inspire and energise other members of the running community. As well as me!

And perhaps the only other thing I would say is that, when you are in “1987” shape, rather than “2024” shape, not to go for it is to betray the gift.

Thank you!