Still Running (weakly). Issue 84

PAST – inspiration – “It’s crazy. I have done everything known to man – weightlifting, running, hurdling – the ultimate in preparation but it is of no use against such talent,” said Ralph Mann (US), who died at the age of 75 last Thursday 2nd January, about John Akii-Bua (Uganda), who beat him to 1972 Olympic 400 hurdles gold. David Hemery of Great Britain won bronze, having claimed gold four years earlier.

The event came of age in those years. The world record was only 49.0 at the start of 1968, before Hemery took it down to 48.12 in Mexico City. Akii-Bua ran 47.82 in that 1972 final from a tight lane one. And then came Edwin Moses (1976 and 1984 Olympic golds, 122 consecutive wins!) But even his best time (47.02) was eclipsed when Kevin Young ran an astonishing 46.78 in the 1992 Olympic final. (“I can’t believe he slipped that in my butt,” said bronze medallist Kriss Akabusi!) And then came Karsten Warholm (Norway), who ran 45.94 to win 2020 (actually 2021) Olympic gold.

Despite seeming ‘just a natural talent’, Akii-Bua did some hard work of his own, performing sessions such as repetition 1500 metres – with six 39-inch hurdles per lap (the 400 hurdles regulation height was 36 inches) – with a 25-pound weighted vest – at altitude! He lived a very hard life, being one of 43 children, enduring Idi Amin’s reign, and finding himself destitute by the late 70s. Sadly, he died aged 47 in 1997.

RIP John. RIP Ralph.

PRESENT – perspiration – Great to see Jake Wightman back. After a frustrating couple of years of injury, the 2022 1500 World Champion showed great form to claim the Scottish Indoor 3000 title last weekend. And he is a lovely guy, as my son and daughter, who bumped into him in a London art gallery, can testify!

Good luck this season, Jake.

Also great to see Rosa Mota of Portugal break the F65 10km world record with 38:23. She is of course not completely unknown, having won marathon gold at the 1988 Olympics, 1987 World Championships, and the 1982, 1986 and 1990 Europeans!

At the other end of the talent spectrum, having come out of hospital on Boxing Day, I managed to walk a parkrun on New Year’s Day and on 4thJanuary. Having established that these efforts would be physically safe, I felt it was vital for my mental and emotional wellbeing to lay down a marker on the first day of 2025, that this year was going to be a good one.

FUTURE – suggestion – Thank you very much to those of you who have shared your goals for 2025.

Paul Coxall says, “My 2025 goal is to run 3:35.00 at the Boston Marathon. Present PB is 3:42 something. The training has just started and I’m looking to be consistent, keeping the easy runs ‘easy’ and doing the hard runs ‘hard’ along with the necessary gym work.”

Nicole Hare says, “I bought your 8-week plan with the intention of using it later this year as I’ve been injured since April 2024 and am now cautiously coming back to running. Your plan fits nicely with what I used to do before injury so I’m hoping that my body will remember. I’m hoping that the 10k I will do will be the Oxford Town and Gown on 11 May.”

And in some ways, most inspirationally, Gerry from North Berwick says, “I’m an old runner who’s plodding. I’d like to try to get 10k under an hour. Currently I do about 1:10. I’ll have a go at your program. I am 83 years old.”

All power to you, my friends.