The Scottish Marathon Championship in the 2000’s has been dominated by two men  ; one is Simon Pride (2000, 2001, 2004 and 2006) and the other is Jamie Reid (2002, 2003 and 2007).    Jamie is the archetypical endurance runner, slightly built, quiet and undemonstrative, racing frequently winter and summer his manner and demeanour are those of most successful Scottish marathon men.    And like most successful marathon runners he runs on all surfaces – track, cross-country, ultra distance and hills as well as on the roads.   The growing trend these days of road runners shunning other endurance challenges is unfortunate when you look at how the greats of the event trained and competed.   His quiet manner manner. and possibly the reduced profile of marathon running in the country, have meant that Jamie is not as well known as he should be.   To put this right we have two contributions: the first article below is by an admirer of Jamie’s Colin Youngson, no mean marathon man himself, and the second is Jamie’s own account as told in replies to a questionnaire.   The second is particularly revealing and informative.

JAMIE REID

By Colin Youngson

Jamie Reid won the Scottish marathon title three times: in 2002, 2003 and 2007.   In addition he won silver medals in 2005 and 2006.   Overall he was the most successful Scottish marathon runner (along with his rival Simon Pride) in the ‘noughties’.  He first appears in the Scottish athletics results in 1998 when his time for the 3000 metres steeplechase was a respectable 9:49.62.   Next year he ran 10K in 31:01, a half-marathon in 67:09 and a full marathon in 2:25:39.   He also competed in the Edinburgh to Glasgow Relay three times for Law and District AAC, running Stage One in 1998 and Stage Six in 1999 and 2001.   In 2000 after finishing a fine ninth in the Scottish Cross Country Championship, his 10K Road time was reduced to 30:49 and his marathon time (at London) to a lasting personal best of 2:21:16.   Four weeks earlier he had taken the very last UK Inter Counties 20 Mile Championship at Spenborough in 1:47:59 running for the West of Scotland.

A very good year for Jamie Reid was 2002 when he ran 5000m in 14:35.43, 10000m in 30:16.66, 10 miles in 49:46 and a half marathon in 67:07.   A fine performance was on 28th April in the Lochaber Marathon, Fort William, when he ran right away from the rest of the field to win his first Scottish title in 2:21:46, just outside Simon Pride’s course record.   During the summer he took his one and only Scottish track title winning the 10000m gold at Grangemouth on a Wednesday evening in 31:14.31.   He then switched clubs from Law and District AAC to Ronhill Cambuslang Harriers.    This has resulted in many team medals for Jamie Reid:

• National Cross Country relay gold in 2003
• National Six Stage Relay titles in 2005 and 2007, plus
• Silver in 2003 and
• Bronze in 2008

In 2003 he reduced his ten mile time to 48:51 but in the Moray marathon in Elgin on the last day of August over a much slower course he retained his Scottish title in 2:34:08, still three minutes ahead of his closest rival.

A year later Jamie was still under 70 minutes for the half-marathon, yet he also ventured successfully into the world of ultra-marathon racing.   After a fairly close battle with the other medallists, he recorded the good time of 3 hours 10 minutes 53 seconds to win gold at the Scottish 50K road Race Championships at Glenrothes in May.    2005 featured battles between two Cambuslang Harriers team-mates.   At the end of May over the testing Dunfermline half marathon course, Jamie Reid won the Scottish title in 71:24, just 44 seconds in front of Robert Gilroy.   However in August Robert got his own back at the Edinburgh Marathon (incorporating the Scottish Championships) when he won gold in 2:26:42 leaving Jamie with silver in 2:30:51.   The Baxter’s Loch Ness Marathon in 2006 was a great race.   Kenyan Zachary Kihara only just won in 2:22:23 with Simon Pride second, 2:22:23 and Jamie third in 2:24:04.   In addition Simon won his fourth Scottish Marathon gold medal and Jamie his second silver one.   Jamie Reid gained revenge in the 2007 Moray Marathon at Elgin which was also the Scottish Marathon Championship.   On a difficult course he engaged in a tremendous struggle with Simon Pride eventually winning his third title by 35 seconds in 2:33:11.   Earlier that year he produced an excellent fifth place in the Scottish Cross Country Championships leading Cambuslang to silver in the team contest.

Then in 2008 Jamie continued his good cross-country form  with ninth in the National leading Cambuslang to team gold.

To sum up,  so far  Jamie Reid has had a very good distance running career.   To win a UK Inter Counties Championship, six individual Scottish Senior titles and another two silver medals is outstandingly consistent.   Add to these five team golds, two silvers and a bronze!   His resolve to concentrate on championship performances is extremely unusual for a Scottish performer in the twenty first century.   He should be a good role model for aspiring marathon runners in the next decade.

In 2010, Jamie recovered from a major injury and started running well once again.   In the Scottish Masters Cross-Country Championships in Forres he launched his veteran career in style.   Fourth place in the race placed him second M35 and second counter for the winning team.   Then his Cambuslang M35 team made a successful raid south to win the British Masters Athletic Federation Road Relay in Birmingham.

The successful BMAF team – Jamie on the left.

The Jamie Reid story has several chapters to go yet!

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JAMIE ANSWERS THE QUESTIONNAIRE

What Started You Running?   My first ever organised race was for 1st Cambusnethan Boys Brigade Company in the Wishaw Battalion Cross Country Championships in January 1985 at Cleland Estate.   It was in the Junior event (P7, S1 and S2 school tears) and I finished from memory in fourteenth place as a P7.   I played a lot of football and was always on the go so I had a decent general all round fitness.   Running races was just a once a year thing for me and the next year I managed to get sixth place I think, in the same event which was enough to get me selected to represent Wishaw in the Scottish Boys Brigade Cross Country Championships in Caird Park, Dundee in March 1986,   This was a big event and I managed to come home in around 50th place.   I enjoyed it and felt that if I began to do some training I could win the Wishaw Championships the following year, and it was this that kick-started my interest in running.   I did manage to win the Wishaw event in January ’87, qualifying me for the Scottish BB Championships again, this time at Falkirk.    I trained a bit for it, but was too inexperienced and was up into second place by halfway but faded to about twentieth.   However I remember reading the programme and and spotting that Allister Hutton had once won a Scottish BB Cross-Country title and this fired my ambition ot get my name on the winner’s list some day – unfortunately the best I ever managed was second.   The following year, 1988, I competed for my school in the Lanarkshire Schools Cross-Country Championships finishing fourth, and then in the Lanarkshire Schools 1500 metres on the track winning in 4:30.1 which was a championship record at the time.   It was after this that I joined Law & District AAC.

Marathon Training.   Originally this was built on the Lydiard principal of three long days a week, and this was the basis for three of my four fastest marathons including my PB.   Monday and Friday were almost always easy days when I jogged for  five miles.   Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I ran five miles in the morning from my parents home in Cleland to my workplace in Motherwell, carrying my breakfast and some change to buy a newspaper to read at lunchtime.   On a Tuesday and Thursday evening I would run home usually for 95 minutes – called it 14 miles – with a steady 10 miles on a Wednesday night.   This was the pattern when not specifically preparing for a marathon.      During the last ten weeks or so before a marathon I would increase the Tuesday and Thursday runs to 18, 12 and 18 respectively.   In the last five to six weeks, I generally added some reps of five minutes fast with short recoveries, one to two minutes, on the Wednesday evening run.   Saturday morning was the long run day, up and around the farm roads around Cleland, reaching the exposed moorlands around the Blackhill TV transmitter, and down the ClydeValley in the other direction.   This was usually anything from 150 to 190 minutes, covering anything from 22 to 28 miles.   Sunday was usually a steady 10 miles.   I always preferred the Saturday long run as I could relax afterwards for the remainder of the weekend – I always had a sense of dread for the long Saturday runs and also for the midweek two hour runs as I didn’t enjoy them at all.

So much so that I decided to drastically revise my training in the autumn of 2001 in an attempt to gain an improved performance.   I had run a disappointing 2:29 at Berlin in September 2001 with a background similar to the above though with more speedwork and track sessions in the last eight weeks.   Therefore in an attempt to qualify for the Manchester Commonwealth Games (sub 2:18 was required) I aimed for London 2002.   Training was seven to eight miles number stride fartlek (from Ron Hill’s autobiography) on a Monday.   Tuesday and Thursday were both strong paced morning runs of  4.5 miles (to work) and another strong paced nine miles at night.   Wednesday was 4.5 miles light fartlek in the morning with nine miles at night including 3 x (5 minutes fast with 2 minutes slow).   Friday was an easy five miles.   Saturday was mostly and easy four miles in the morning with a race in the afternoon, or just a session with a faster paced long run on the Sunday of about 18 – 22 miles.   This resulted in a disjointed season due to various injuries (missing the National Cross-Country), but the performances  were decent when I managed to get consistent training behind me in the spring.   I decided to miss London as I felt I was not ready, due to the time missed through injury, and entered Lochaber instead as it was two weeks later giving me a further two weeks of training.

These were essentially my two different training approaches with results of 2:21:16 and 2:21:46 respectively for my fastest marathons.   The former approach was consistently around a hundred miles a week with the latter 89-90 (though with injury this averaged around 50 – 60 in the three months beforehand.

Favourite Race Memories.   The first was my debut marathon at Inverclyde in 1998, the second was winning the UK Inter-Counties 20 Mile Championship at Spenborough in 2000 and my most recent marathon win – Elgin 2007.

1. My first marathon was the Scottish Championships at Inverclyde in September, 1998 in which I struggled badly.   During the early part of that summer I had managed some pb’s on the track including an 8:30 3000m and a 15:16 5000m.  I had been using a heart rate monitor for all of my runs and had begun to focus on three long runs a week which brought my fitness on well.   I managed to get regular midweek runs of 90 minutes with a week-end run of 2.5 hours or so.   I planned to do my first marathon with this schedule in mind and pencilled in a few races.    Beforehand I caught a cold, around four weeks prior to the race, then began easy jogging.   I had to miss some of the planned races, but nine days before did a two mile race at Dunfermline which was disappointing.   On the day of the race, I was pretty nervous.   I had driven around the course a few weeks earlier, so I knew there were a few loops round Greenock early on, followed by a run out to Port Glasgow, then turn back, passing the finish area at about 15/16 miles and heading out on the road to Largs before turning back at about 21 miles.   I set myself the target of 6-minute miling and was on this pace for the early miles without any significant problems, other than some blisters.   These would soon become the least of my worries!   I took the pace fairly steady as I had read many stories of the final miles turning into a disaster, but I was respectful of the distance.   The leaders were a few minutes in front but I wasn’t concerned with them.   I had not taken on many drinks as I struggled to get any water from the plastic cups.

All seemed to be going fairly well as I hit the turn at around 20 –  21 miles when I remained on course for my target of 2:37.   Soon after this however I hit the dreaded wall with a large thud.   The next few miles were becoming increasingly difficult and at 23 miles I had to walk.   I was raising money for the St Andrew’s Hospice in Airdrie and had a lot of sponsorship so I was determined to finish.   After a minute or two of walking, I just envisaged going for a three mile route from home and thought to myself whatever pace it takes get to the finish.   People whom I hadn’t seen since the start line were now passing me and I was absolutely spent.   My final position in the race I could now do nothing about.- it was all I could do just to finish.   I eventually crossed the line in a very painful 2:49.   the satisfaction afterwards was tinged with disappointment by failing so badly during the last few miles.   When I got home, I gathered several running books together and made notes of all the areas where I believed that I had gone wrong.

My diet at that time was based firmly on the notion that carbohydrates were everything and with hindsight this caused several problems.   Any time I caught the cold, this turned into a nasty bug which lingered for several weeks with a deterioration in performance resulting.   Despite trying everything from resting completely for a week at the first sign of a cold, to jogging for three miles a day, nothing helped.   It was only after this marathon that I became aware that I was very much lacking in protein.  As soon as I corrected this imbalance,  I suffered fewer colds and, encouragingly, no loss of performance afterwards.   I had planned for three weeks of complete rest afterwards so I was itching to get back into competition again.   In my second marathon a year later after taking on board the lessons learned, I managed to take twenty four minutes from that first attempt.

2. In 1999 after running 2:25:39 in my second marathon (Dunfermline to Edinburgh), and taking nearly 25 minutes from my pb, I targeted London in April 2000.   I decided to repeat the build-up of my earlier run and do a hard 20 miles four weeks beforehand.   Checking the fixture lists, I could see that the *UK Inter Counties 20 Mile Road Race Championships in Spenborough, Yorkshire, was exactly four weeks beforehand.   I therefore contacted Scottish Athletics indicating my wish to be entered as part of the West of Scotland team, which I was.   Unfortunately, however, I was the only member of the team, with no other Scots being entered.   As the race was on a Sunday, I decided to go down the evening before with my parents and stay in a hotel reasonably close to the race.   Late Saturday afternoon, I checked the oil and water in the car before setting off.   Just before crossing into England, I notices smoke coming from my exhaust and shortly afterwards the temperature of the engine rose dramatically before a loud bang came from under the bonnet – promptly followed by the car shuddering to a halt.   As we inspected the engine it quickly became apparent that I had forgotten to put the oil cap back on!   So sitting about five miles south of Carlisle, in a car with a blown engine, and a 20 mile race the next day, some quick thinking was necessary.   A call to the breakdown company was first.   They arrived promptly, towed the car to their local garage, advising of the damage and consequences, before dropping my parents and myself at Southwaite Services.   The hotel room was cancelled and fortunately my brother Fraser was able to drive down from Hamilton and pick us up, eventually dropping us off at home around 1:00 am on Sunday.   With the race at 12 noon and wanting to be there for 11:00 am, a decision had to be made on whether to go to the race.  Getting there meant leaving home around 6:30 am, giving little time for sleep, breakfast, etc, but with my Dad sharing the driving I was able to sleep some of the journey down, getting there shortly after 11 am.

Despite having run 2:25 for the Dunfermline to Edinburgh marathon around five months earlier, and having got in a good level of training during that time, I was pretty nervous at the start.   I noticed a profile of the course on a wall and noted that the first half of the course was tougher than the second.   The race was over some very  undulating short and long laps with some of the biggest hills I’ve encountered in a road race.   Decision was made – a steady start was essential.   If the rest of the guys were to beat me, then good luck to them.   The race started and finished on the track and after hitting the roads, the early pace was strong.   The sun was out and there was a strong breeze in the exposed areas of the course.    Between miles four and eight I went through a bad patch mentally and physically where the leaders got away from me leaving me trailing by a minute.   I had only managed to get half a cup of water – I hadn’t practised taking drinks from plastic cups before (my own fault) and didn’t want to contravene any laws by taking a drink from my parents who were driving around the course.   My time at 10 miles was exactly 55 minutes and I was lying back in about eighth place.   Slowly over the next few miles I began to pick up, passing some of the guys from Yorkshire and  gaining on the leaders.   As I got up to around fourth or fifth a car kept coming up alongside me asking which county I was from – they were obviously part of a county who had a chance of winning a team title.   I took umbrage at this – why should I interrupt my concentration and my breathing just to satisfy their curiosity – and just gave them a look.   They continued to drive alongside for a bit asking again and again, but I didn’t respond.   Now I was really gaining in confidence as I moved into a medal position and I was catching second place.    By 17 miles I was in second place and catching the leader – slowly but surely.   At a steep downhill I knew I would catch Ian Fisher of Otley Harriers and did so at 19 miles – I think he got a shock.   I managed to get past and pull clear for a 14 second win crossing the line in 1:47:59.    I had a sense of deep satisfaction from coming through the field and getting the win.   An old friend of my Dad’s, a former teaching colleague at Larkhall Academy, Ajid Singh, had managed to finish the race in between three and a half and four hours – not bad for someone in his 70’s – and sent up a nice letter afterwards with some local press cuttings with details of the race describing the winner as ‘the diminutive Scot’.   Ian Fisher was to gain revenge four weeks later, as he pipped me at London clocking 2:20:27 to my 2:21:16.

3. My most recent  Scottish title was at Elgin in 2007 where I had my first marathon victory over Simon Pride.   The previous day, my girlfriend Roisin and I had driven north as she was competing in a a six-a-side shinty tournament near Inverness for her club, Tir Connail Harps from Glasgow.   I spent the afternoon watching the tournament, drinking diluting juice and eating large amounts of cake!   Afterwards we drove to a B&B in Elgin where we checked in and went out for a meal.   We settled for some pizza and relaxed talking about the shinty that afternoon and the race the next day.   I wasn’t really nervous as I wasn’t expecting much as recent races hadn’t gone particularly well.   I had hit the over-training button again as I had logged a tremendous mileage (maximum of 144 miles per week), switching to this after my best ever fifth place at the National Cross-Country Championships in February.   It hadn’t improved me, only made me worse.   Never mind, I entered the marathon, hoped for a solid run and then I could look forward to the autumn relays – my favourite part of the season.   The morning of the race we had coffee in the hall after picking my number up.   I saw that Simon Pride was entered, along with Adam Reid from Peterhead and David Gardner from Kirkintilloch whom I knew fairly well.   Early pace was slow as the four of us settled down and let the countryside pass by.   The day was warming up and there was little wind.   I managed to get some drinks from Roisin as the race progressed, with the pace beginning to pick up as we passed Burghead    (c14 miles).   Simon and David pulled away and I knew it was too fast for me.   In the distance I could see Simon moving ahead of David, but as we neared Lossiemouth, I could see I was gaining some ground.   The sun by now was shining fiercely and I could sense a silver medal.   I managed to pass David in Lossiemouth offering words of encouragement to each other, and I now looked to see how far ahead Simon was.   He was out of sight.   Still, always believe – funny things can happen in the marathon.   I finally caught sight of him as we entered the woods around 20 miles and I checked his lead in seconds.   I can’t remember exactly but it must have been at least a minute.    After a mile or so, I checked again – it was now around six or seven seconds less.   A quick calculation in my head told me it would be close if we maintained the same pace, so I pushed on.   Three miles to go, I could see Simon more clearly now and I calculated I could catch him by the end if we both maintained the same pace.   Roisin was at this point in the car and she drove quickly back to the finish.   Every step was taking me closer to Simon now and the Scottish title was back in my head.   What will happen when I catch him?   How much has he left?   Is he tiring or just unaware that I’m coming through?   I caught Simon just as we entered the outskirts of Elgin, around a mile to go, and I decided to give it a push on to try to discourage any attempt to try to stay with me.   Thankfully for me it worked and I went on to win in 2:33:11 with Simon not far behind and David taking bronze – marathon title Number Three!   A slow time for all three of us, and perhaps highlighting the dropping standard, but it was one of the few marathon races I’ve run which had been tactical and a real ‘race’.     I knew that Simon had been past his best, and neither David nor I had been at our best, but it remains a very happy day for me.   The rest of the day was spent celebrating with ice-creams in Lossiemouth before driving south to Aniemore where we spent the night and I stuffed myself with burger and chips, washed down with chocolate fudge cake and ice cream!

That’s as honest and informative a series of answers as any that has appeared in any questionnaire, either here or in any of the running magazines: I also find it interesting that  one of his most memorable races is one where he did not run at all well and the details of training are always fascinating for other runners and coaches to see.    As a triple Scottish Champion Jamie Reid is well worth his place in any list of national marathon stars.

Robert Heron, (Rab north of the border; Rob south), showed early promise in 1966 at seventeen years of age. Running for the winning team, Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, this stocky red-haired athlete won the East District Youths Cross Country Championship. In addition that year, he was in the top eight in the Scottish Schools CC in Perth ; and in the summer, when the Scottish Schools held their track championships at Westerlands, Glasgow, he finished the mile third in 4.29, three seconds behind Robert Linaker but well in front of the fourth-placer, Colin Youngson, from Aberdeen Grammar School.   Rab became a student at St Andrews University and was chosen in November 1966 to run for Dundee Hawkhill Harriers on Stage 4 of the Edinburgh to Glasgow Relay. He also ran this race for them from 1968-1971; before switching to Aberdeen AAC, winning silver in 1972 and bronze in 1973.

Rab and Colin maintained an occasional rivalry (and were always evenly matched, ending up only seventeen seconds apart in the Scottish all-time marathon rankings, although Rab was the superior ultra-runner). At this early stage in their careers, Youngson finished ahead of Heron in the 1968 Scottish Universities 3 miles track championship, but Rab outsprinted Colin in a 1969 inter-university cross-country fixture. That year, Rab represented Scottish Universities against a Scottish Cross Country Union select.

By 1972, Rab Heron, by now a keen writer and also a rock-climber, was studying Librarianship at Robert Gordon’s Institute of Technology in Aberdeen. From Sunday the 9^th to Thursday the 13th of April that year, he took part in Aberdeen AAC’s first attempt at the John o’Groats to Land’s End ten-man relay. Unfortunately the team finished half an hour outside the record. However Rab, who was paired with Colin Youngson, revealed a masochistic sense of humour and seemed almost to enjoy the exhausting, frustrating experience, which might explain his later successes in ultra-distance running! Rab later made his marathon debut with fourth in the SAAA event (2.35.19).

In early April 1973, a much fitter Rab was paired with the inimitable Alastair J. Wood in AAAC’s successful second Jogle, which this time broke Reading AC’s record by half an hour. Here are extracts from the Journal of Robert Heron.

“Our Van (Number One) takes over about the Lybster area from 2.50 to 4.50 p.m. and goes to not far short of Brora. Alastair and I both go well, high exposed roads hail-swung and wind-blown, warm, black showers. Berriedale Braes we demolish in 200 metre sections – blithe as bastards. Wood gets most of the other hills, but doesn’t mind. Watching him bowl along, you are conscious of greatness. 24 miles in the two hours, a hard session, but we are buoyed up and absorb it well.”“We take over once more. The next few runs are fast. Through black, snow-deep Inverness-shire – Kingussie, Newtonmore, Dalwhinnie (the link-car hovering silent and menacing and white as the proverbial albatross) – our van’s headlights throwing black running-men shapes all over the trees and bushes and hills. Quietly crunching we advance to Drumochter Pass, a green dawn breaking behind us over the hills on the left. Knife-cold. A panorama of snow-hills rolls beside and in front of the woolly-hatted Wood. At or near the summit we change-over. Eat, drink, wash and try to sleep. A good session again.”

(Much later, in Devon) “In a lay-by, at this early hour, trying half-heartedly to warm up, only one hour for this last run before preparations for the final ‘sprint’. Behind us a big red sun rises sluggishly out of cloud, a sponge soaking up blood, misty with distance and cold; in short, a beautiful morning. We run to 8 a.m. through Taunton and into Tiverton, winding country road and light work-going traffic. A rustic roadman calls “only ninety-seven mile” and I grin.”

“Through Penzance. The link-car takes me through a one-way system to take over lest the van is held up, while Gordon Casely on his bike leads the runner through. It works, Joe Clare heaves into sight and I run for the last series of hills. Joe and I alternate at around 100 metre intervals till Wood and Innis Mitchell arrive – when they do, we demolish the last of the hills and it’s all over bar the running of it. We are so close now, we know we’re going to do it, it’s all been worth the effort and the constant friction with the co-ordinators, the tired legs are gone, replaced by fine prancing limbs, we can turn round and do it all again going north. For fifteen minutes we go out and try to show the other five how to sprint. Wood does the last of these hilarious orgies of speed. John stops the already stinking van (brake rubber) a last time, we file out and run together, hold hands, the others join in. Casely is blowing up his bagpipes, there is a little cheering, we run en masse right to the main door of the Lan’s End Hotel, elated. I am tired, Steve Taylor is emotional, I shake hands with Colin, embrace Steve, pat Martin Walsh’s leg, there’s a photographer, an alderman and his wife. Wood is elsewhere, we don’t speak, it doesn’t matter. Bill Donald arrives chanting “seven o nine fifty-eight” or something, which doesn’t matter either, we did it the hard way, now it’s past, finished.”

That toughest of training sessions quickly led to the fastest time Rab ever achieved for a marathon. He gives full credit to the Jogle as being the main factor behind this new level of fitness. In winning the Edinburgh to North Berwick race on the 12^th of May, simply running away after the five-mile point, he took an amazing eighteen minutes off his PB in recording 2.17.07, which topped the 1973 Scottish rankings. Second and third in that race were another two Aberdeen AAC Jogle runners: Steve Taylor (2.23.17) and Graham Milne (2.24.18).

Later, on the 23^rd of June, in the SAAA Marathon over the 1970 Commonwealth Games course, starting and finishing at Meadowbank Stadium, Rab finished third in 2.21.15, behind Donald Macgregor (2.17.50) and Jim Wight (2.18.24) both of whom were selected for the Christchurch Commonwealth Marathon in early 1974. Rab had averaged 80 miles per week in training for six months. After the leading pair moved away at 20 miles, he was left to run in alone, his nylon Reebok marathon shoes bruising a foot and producing a big blood blister on a little toe. Liberal smearings of nappy rash cream were effective in preventing painful friction in other sensitive areas – such as his wide-mesh, heavy-duty cotton string vest from Millets!

In late June1974, Rab Heron’s wife Marjory gave birth to their second son, in the early hours the day before the SAAA Marathon in Edinburgh. Rab remembers the headwind on the way out, with the leaders sheltering behind Sandy Keith. After the turn, Rab and Don Macgregor eased away. “We ran together, trying tactical bursts every now and then, until 23 miles or so, when the wily Don finally got away to win.Afterwards, in the pub opposite Meadowbank, I saw Scotland being eliminated from the World Cup.” Donald Macgregor won in 2.18.08, with Rab Heron running  2.19.18 for his silver medal, well in front of his AAAC team-mates, Colin Youngson and Sandy Keith. Rab had been averaging 90 miles in training, including fartlek and repetition running three or four times a week.

In August 1974 he made his debut in the Two Bridges 36 mile race (from Dunfermline, over the Kincardine and Forth Road Bridges, and finishing in Rosyth).    Rab came in a valiant second (3.32.04), to Jim Wight of EAC (3.26.31), who back in January, had run in the Christchurch Commonwealth Games marathon. In his first ultra, Rab had maintained a steady pace with his experienced friend Alastair Wood.   Athough unable to catch Jim Wight, they had beaten other stars like Don Ritchie, Don Macgregor and Mick Orton. Then Rab moved away to defeat Alastair by 39 seconds! Aberdeen AAC naturally won the team award.

Rab had a great record in the Two Bridges classic, with four second places. He recorded very good times: 3.24.22 in 1978, behind top ultra-distance athlete, Cavin Woodward; 3.25.34 in 1979, behind Andy Holden, a British international at cross-country, steeplechase and marathon; and 3.26.54 in 1980, behind Holden’s 3.21.46, which was the fastest time ever recorded in the 28 editions of this excellent event. Rab was undoubtedly one of Britain’s very best ultra-runners.

Not long afterwards, Rab and his family moved south to Bognor Regis. In 1975 he ran 2.20.40 in the AAA Marathon in Stoke. Unfortunately, in 1976 his running was impeded by constant injury.

Battling back to fitness in 1977, and now representing Brighton and Hove AC, he decided to give a local event a real go, to check whether it was worth continuing with the sport. Well, he certainly went on to prove that it was! On the 25^th of September, he stood on the start-line, next to Big Ben, for the famous London to Brighton 52 and a half mile race. His rivals included another ex-Aberdeen AAC athlete, Donald Ritchie (now Forres Harriers) and his main challenger, former winner Cavin Woodward (Leamington).

The Road Runners Club magazine report of this race is fascinating. Woodward, as usual, set off fast, but could not draw away from five others, including Rab Heron. By ten miles, Rab had moved into the lead in “an incredible 56.04”, more than 40 seconds clear. He held this gap to 20 miles and was well ahead of Alastair Wood’s 1972 record schedule (marathon time 2.29.52). By thirty miles, Rab had a lead of one minute but by 40 he was beginning to flag a little, and on the notorious rise of Dale Hill he was eventually overtaken by Don Ritchie. The Forres athlete finished strongly in 5.16.05, the fourth fastest of all time, with Rab Heron “who had led for so long” coming in “a very gallant second in 5.19.47, the 7^th fastest of all time, having had a wonderful debut run in this classic race”. Cavin Woodward was third in 5.23.36.

Nowadays, still keen on rock-climbing and also caving, Rab has retired with his wife to live in West Yorkshire and to enjoy work part-time in the mobile library service.

*

What follows is Rab’s own account – humorous and inspiring it is a first-class account of how an athletics career developed.

1964  –  1970        Building          40-50 miles per week

Born in Dundee in December 1947, I went to Morgan Academy in 1960 and ran my first race at the school sports in June 1961 – the one mile open handicap.  Six years’ worth of boys lined up, with the first year receiving a lap start on the sixth formers.  This handicapping was over-generous and from the gun I found myself alone and in front and stayed there – dead easy.  However, my sporting career began as a swimmer with Dundee’s Arnhall SC  –  dabbling with cross-country at school because I couldn’t get into any football team (I REALLY wanted to be Willie Henderson or Charlie Cooke).  Things became more serious after my first road race in April 1964 when the school entered a team for the second Dundee-Newtyle race for youth groups and I was included.  This was my fifth race but I had already developed the tactic of starting slowly and gradually coming through.  Dead last up the long steady hill at the start of the nineish mile journey, running with team-mate Allan McClue (previous winner in 1963) we began to eat through the field.  Leaving Allan, with one bold guy still ahead, I caught the fading leader at the top of the long fast descent to the finish and found myself alone again.  Running freely, enjoying the feeling, I finished in 48:40 taking 70 seconds off the record.  I also sustained my first injury (to my right hip) and a bad case of jockstrap rub which necessitated my wearing a pair of my mum’s silk drawers to the evening dance and presentation.  With more regular training, basically group fartlek, and steady running, often solo, I further reduced the record to 45:25 in 1965, leading from the start  –  the last year the race was held.

A report on the 1964 race appearing in one of the local papers prompted Ronnie Coleman, a stalwart of Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, to write to me offering fame and stardom as a club member.  I succumbed, joined the Hawks, and condemned myself to a life of pain, misery and disappointment.  This was enlivened by my association with a fine bunch of young laddies who, in different combinations, formed a successful youth team.  Norrie McGowan, Vic Cammack, Iain Graves, Roy Robertson and myself won every relay we entered in 1965, Eastern district team champions, but failed to win the National, finishing third.  We were all to some extent under Coleman’s wing, and he took a personal interest in what I was doing so that I never felt I was groping in the dark when it came to training.  He would always leaven his advice with a qualifying “but please yourself”.  And he instilled in me an appetite for repetitions up hills, long and short, which stayed with me all the way.  As did the pure enjoyment of running laps in parkland or woodland settings like my beloved Camperdown Park, (one of the first places I went training with Ronnie Coleman), Balgay Cemetery and Victoria Park in Dundee  –  plenty hills to toil up and long downhills to stretch out on.  The bigger world of junior, then senior athletics, revealed me as an undistinguished club runner for the Hawks and St Andrews University.  Running for Scottish Universities vs Scottish Cross Country Union in December 1966 in Edinburgh I finished second last  –  a feat replicated in 1969 in the same city, but representing the Union.  I did, however, win St Andrews cross country championship four years in a row, and gained a double blue in athletics and cross country.  During the St Andrews sojourn I trained regularly with a bloke called Donald Macgregor, who was always helpful with advice, and good company when he decided to stay with you rather than disappearing up the road if he was feeling good.  And Fergus Murray was another to bounce ideas off and provide regular encouragement.

I married Marjory Radcliffe in 1970 and entered a period of more focused effort.  Another Hawk, Harry Bennett, no longer with us, was qualifying as a coach at the time and without being formally coached myself, simply having discussions and exchanging ideas I began to think more about training.  Also, I would go for regular long slow runs, mostly off-road, with Phil Kearns , during which we would natter about training and racing.  Incidentally, Phil, a PE teacher in Dundee, taught a wee lassie called Liz Lynch, coached her for a while before giving the role to a now fully-qualified Harry Bennett  –  and the rest is history.

 

1971  –  1986        Consolidating        70-80 miles per week

 

Moving to Aberdeen for a year in 1971 to attend RGIT School of Librarianship brought me into closer contact with the late Alastair Wood.  I became a second claim member of Aberdeen AAC at this point, becoming first claim by 1972.  Hitherto the bulk of my training was simply steady running, enough to win Spean Bridge-Fort William in June 1971, and finish second to Wood at Alves-Forres in October.  Many previous conversations with Phil Kearns had concerned preparing for and running a marathon.  Talking to Wood and others like Steve Taylor and Donald Ritchie began to sow the seed of racing marathons.  In Aberdeen in October 1971 I introduced a pre-breakfast run of five miles to my routine  –  “to train the brain, not the body” quoth Wood  –  raising the weekly mileage from about forty to about eighty.  In December at the Hawks’ road championship I missed Kenny Grant’s record for the five miles by one second over a toughish course.  Meanwhile, something, somewhere, had put the idea into Steve Taylor’s head of having a crack at a north-south relay record for a ten man Aberdeen team, and I volunteered for JOGLE in April 1972.  I did not enjoy myself initially, having to run through a cold and finding it hard (as we all did) on non-recovering muscles.  However, buoyed up by cellmate (rather van-mate) Colin Youngson’s ebullience and humour I rediscovered a rhythm and stuck it out, and we managed to set a north-south record, narrowly missing the absolute best time.

Just over a month later I won an open 5000m on the new Balgownie track (15:12.8) apparently setting a stadium record because Andy McKean’s winning Scottish Universities time had been slow because of tempestuous conditions.  I hope that my mark has been comprehensively slaughtered, and rightly so.  My reputation has never been based on middle distance running.  Third at Spean Bridge-Fort William behind Sam Downie and Willie Day was my preparation for the SAAA marathon, my debut in June 1972.  This was won by Wood, myself fourth behind a distant Colin Youngson in 2:35:19.  I put my listless performance down to it being a week after final exams at RGIT.  Heavy legs, reluctant brain, long stretches of boring soreness  –  was it always going to be like this?  I finished the year as part of the disqualified AAAC team finishing second in Edinburgh-Glasgow (Ian Stewart being ruled ineligible).  And 22^nd for SCCU vs SUSB at St Andrews.  “A bit nippy for you” quoth Doug Gunstone, referring to the fast flat course.By now living in Arbroath, I joined the JOGLERs again in April 1973.  Partnering Wood and feeling altogether more energetic, I was much happier than the first foray.  We set an absolute record of 79 hours 8 mins.  More significantly for me, five weeks later I won Edinburgh-North Berwick in 2:17:07, my wife and nine month old son Robert cheering me on. This was the start of regularly using the bleed-out/carbohydrate loading diet until I got fed up with it in the mid 1980s.  The only ill-effect was a monstrous blister on the sole of my right foot which Jimmy Mitchell hacked away at post-race with the bluntest surgical scissors he could find.  I never realised that Steve Taylor in second place had been so badly affected.  I was healed and ready for the SAAA marathon in June and put in a workmanlike if uninspired performance, finishing third behind Macgregor and Jim Wight.  This was also the trial for the Christchurch Commonwealth Games and I missed out with the wild card selection of Lachie Stewart to fill the third marathon slot  –  he failed to finish; I’m not bitter.  By the way, our second son, Stuart, was born in the early hours of the morning of the day before the race.  Four days before the race I had been playing on a boulder in Glen Clova, warming up to go climbing with my old mate Jim Braid  –  the thought suddenly hit me that a fall could affect my chances in Saturday’s race.  From then on, running became the priority, and I would not tie a rope on for another twenty years.  A third with a legal AAAC team in Edinburgh-Glasgow closed that year, where the bulk of the racing had been undistinguished track meetings in the NE and Scottish leagues.

In February 1974 I had my best National finishing 28^th at Coatbridge, with AAAC third team.  I lined up for the SAAA marathon honed and bronzed  –  honed anyway  –  and despite high confidence could not overcome The Don, finishing second in a pleasing 2:19:18.  People who didn’t know me  knew my name.  I did overcome him in August in the Two Bridges  –  sounding almost apologetic when I caught him on the Forth Bridge and he told me he’d blown up.  I caught Wood too and stayed with him until just before the finish where he let me in ahead of him to finish second behind Jim Wight in 3:32:04.  Third at Walton-on-Thames in a Road Runners Club 30 mile track race behind Mick McGeoch and Ritchie brought the curtain down on distance running.  I had a bad first leg in Edinburgh-Glasgow, AAAC seventh team  –  this being my final race as a Scottish domicile.  Bognor Regis here we came.

At Bognor Regis College of Education I was almost adopted by Goff Hine, lecturer in PE and interested in exercise physiology, who from the beginning took an avuncular interest in my running and used me oft-times as a lab rat in physiological testing.  He introduced me immediately to a young first-year PE student, Mike Gratton, of future London and Commonwealth marathon fame  –  I taught him all he knows.  We trained together, mainly long steady runs on Sundays, for the next three years of his course, and became Brighton & Hove AC team mates.  In February 1975 we were members of a four man road relay squad who took the Round Butlins race record from a team that had included David Bedford and Brendan Foster, and two others.  We must have had greater depth with Dennis Dorling and Bob Pateman of whom you will not have heard..

My introduction to big English road races was the Finchley 20 in April.  A four-lap hilly course, Trevor Wright winning easily, myself seventh in 1:44:55.  Then the AAA marathon at Stoke in June, where I ran with the Don for the last five miles, and failed to get under 2:20 just ahead of him in fourteenth place.  I also picked up a niggly groin injury which persisted throughout 1976, though I helped Brighton to a team win in the Southern Counties cross country championship in January at Parliament Hill, finishing fourth scorer in 32^nd.  Getting over the injury, I then fractured my ankle jumping a stile on a Boxing Day run.  By February 1977 I had recuperated enough to help Bognor College win a third Butlins relay in a row  –  which turned out to be the finale for this fine wee event.

At some point I decided it would be a great idea to test my recovery from all the troubles by doing London-Brighton, so after second in the Sussex 10000m championship in Bognor in May I set to work knowing I had the best part of five months to get myself ready.  Alternating weeks of 100 miles fairly easy and 80 miles fairly hard, alternating hard and easy days building up to two hard days and an easy day, and a regular Sunday run of 25 miles over a hilly course  –  I got my body, and my mind, into good fettle.  Come the day I went off too fast, of course, but by the time I was dead only Ritchie could catch me and it was downhill all the way to the finish  –  not that that makes any difference.  I nearly burst into tears when I miss a drinks station  –  just as well Marjory is in the car feeding me drinks every mile and a half.  You don’t see the sea until you actually turn on to Brighton seafront, then the sweet relief.  5:19:47.  I didn’t have a qualifying time in order to enter and was allowed entry on past form and my assurance that I was fit  –  I think I did OK.  You used to get a bath that would have served as a sarcophagus for any self-respecting pharaoh, where you could lie and drink tea with six sugars (not stirred because you didn’t like it too sweet) and watch the tendrils of blood coil upwards from mangled toenails.  And electrical activity in the muscles that would still have them gently twitching two to three days post-race.  I know what to do next time I’ve got a bad injury  –  I’ll get ready to do London-Brighton and lose to the best ultra-distance runner on the planet.  The really satisfying part was being able to carry the strength forward into the Portsmouth 5 in December to finish fifth in 25:05, “like a bounding stag” quoth an unknown Navy runner.

In May 1978 I won the Chichester-Portsmouth in 1:25:28 with a tactical move involving very narrow single lane roadworks and getting in front of a bus to keep a buffer between myself and the chasers.  By the time they could start to work together to nail me I had a cushion that would not yield.  At the Poly marathon in June I ran OK for third in 2:22:31.  And in the Two Bridges in August I tried to run away from the field, but was caught by the irrepressible Cavin Woodward.  My time of 3:26:22 was nothing if not workmanlike.  And London-Brighton in September was a disaster.  While leading having opened a considerable gap I was crippled with stomach cramps and diarrhoea, the pain of which, I was told later by a physiologist, would have diverted blood away from the working muscles to the area affected by pain.  The strain of regularly shitting streams of cocoa behind the shelter of my support car’s open door became too much and my legs stopped working anyway.  I got to about 38 miles and then called it a black day.

The 1979 Sussex 20 championship at Worthing saw a very small field set out to run the four very flat laps in misty rain and wind.  At the end of the first lap I moved gently to the front to do some of the work only to see a brash Iain Beauchamp, newly elected to the British Marathon Squad, go bounding past as if to punish and belittle my temerity.  His cocky gait got my goat and, acting on impulse, I took the lead again with destructive intent, hit him hard, and opening a gap quickly , kept it that way to the end in 1:48:21  –  the first of my three wins in this championship.  I have only hazy memories of the Isle of Wight marathon in May.  My diary says that Martin Knapp won it, and that I was third in 2:25:50, the course hilly but not impossibly so.  Another date with the Two Bridges saw Andy Holden win ahead of me in August, my time being 3:28:05.  Then, suffering the after-effects of a heavy cold and coughing my way down the road, with piles as well, and having had a big toenail removed four days before, London-Brighton developed into a really slow drag.  Despite having developed a certain callousness to fatigue, and an ability to suffer that made my mother wince, after leading for a lengthy period and trying to hold myself together calmly, my legs were not up to it and I gave in to the attacks of Allen Kirik (USA) and Martin Daykin.  My 5:47 was still a disappointment  –  and serious intentions notwithstanding, I never returned to the Brighton road again.

In 1980 I left Brighton & Hove AC for Bognor Regis & Chichester AC and began an involvement in the Southern athletics league lasting eleven years, doubling in 1500 and 5000m.  My personal highlight was being nominated Captain for the day at Ealing in 1982, and feeling morally obliged to support the team by filling spots in the 200m and steeplechase  –  cometh the pressure, cometh the man.  I returned to the Two Bridges to record my fourth runner-up spot behind Andy Holden again  –  I hadn’t planned this race until we took a last-minute family holiday in Scotland and I thought I’m going to be there anyway …  And 3:26:54 wasn’t bad going, I suppose.  Again, despite serious intentions, that was the finale for me.  To round off the year, feeling fragile, I ran SLH 30, mainly because it was there.  Don Faircloth, record holder, made light work of the four laps of leafy suburb around Old Coulsdon.  I got myself into a stupefied state to finish second and had to be helped back to the changing rooms  –  my wife on one arm, a guy called Andy (over the moon because he was helping Rab Heron to walk after a race) on the other.  You needed to get out more, Andy, and I needed more mileage.

Subsequent injuries and a meniscectomy in January 1982 brought a fallow period for road running, but I did manage to win the Sussex 10000m championship barefoot on the grass track at Bishop Otter College Chichester, where I worked in the library, in 1981 and 1982.  I came back to the road properly in March 1983 in the Sussex 20, now having become an open race attracting a field of four hundred plus (26 had lined up in 1979).  A fevered three miles in 15:02 set the pattern for a torrid four laps.  As the field gradually melted away from the front and Martin McCarthy (later to run 2:11 in London) eased away in the third lap, I put myself into the gap and prepared to die stoically.  The bold leader stayed away, I stayed clear with desperate men behind me for second in 1:45:02.  So to the first Dundee marathon  in April 1983  –  my first race in my home town since the Kingsway relays in 1974.  Macgregor was rampant, I was off the pace languishing in about sixth place in the drizzle.  Around twenty miles a lone wee auld wifie says “Come on Rab  –  Lochee’s waiting for you!”  Galvanized, the surge I produced brought me up to third in 2:21:26.  I would never race in Scotland again.  At this point, after having trained almost exclusively alone since Mike Gratton graduated and left Bognor in 1977, I ran into, first, Trevor Swann, then later Dave Parsons, both of whom became regular training mates on thirteen to seventeen mile Sunday runs.  Also, the pair of them helped immeasurably when I was really struggling to stay motivated during and after injury.  Lads  –  you are not forgotten.

I won my third county road championship at Worthing in March 1984  –  1:44:47, a personal best behind Martin McCarthy again and again in similar circumstances.  Weathering the storm of the early pace, watching them drop away, watching McCarthy go then going into the gap, defending my territory, legs caving in trying to sprint for the line.  I had been experimenting with sessions on grass doing 6×5 minutes fast, 3 minutes slow, or 10×3 minutes fast, 1 minute slow as well as my usual hilly or undulating laps, which seemed to be working well.  From this point on, however, I began to be trammelled by niggling groin injuries, but had two busy years.  I was helped through this period by Ken Scutt, a physiotherapist who practised at the bottom of my road, keeping me going on and off for sixteen years.  I ran the Gosport marathon in March 1985 at Fareham, finishing a tired third in 2:31.  Winning at Worthing in September in 2:28:07  –  an attack on the only hill (a railway flyover) saw me enjoy running alone for the last twelve miles.  And second at Harlow in 2:22:14 in October.  Back to Gosport for second in 2:26:38 in April 1986.  Second on the Isle of Wight in May in 2:31:22.  And, injury becoming chronic, signing off with second at Worthing in September in a painful 2:32:11.  After which all engines stopped, and I began a period of trying to get well.

 

1988  –  1991         Restoring        50-60 miles per week

 

I don’t have a diary for 1987.  I was directed to what was considered to be the best NHS sports injury clinic in the south at Southampton General.  Other than establishing that I had many problems associated with the lower back, nothing positive was to be gleaned.  Fortunately I was then to meet a young PE student at college in Chichester, Sue Lanham, herself a promising middle distance runner, who directed me towards her osteopath brother-in-law in Woking.  Ron Johnston’s initial consultation pinpointed a tilted pelvis which responded well to manipulation and a lengthy period of rehabilitation.   Johnston was to bring me back from the dead (his words) more than once  –  a larger than life wee man.  By Easter 1988 I could resume jogging , gently, on grass.  To ensure gentleness and restraint my wife and daughter, Emma, insisted on accompanying me for several weeks, acting as an automated braking system.  By September I was able to win my first race on grass as a veteran at the Parklands races in Chichester.  And more tellingly, my first road race coming back , first vet in the Portsmouth 5 in December (39th overall).  At this point I began to experiment with back to back Saturday and Sunday runs of thirteen to fifteen miles, straight out of bed, running only on Maxim taken before leaving the house.  This was an idea adapted from conversations with Peter Keen (to become head of British cycling, and now performance director of UK Sport) at that time a lecturer in sports sciences at college.  Later, I had another idea pinched from Chris Boardman’s book on cycling involving sprinting uphill to exhaustion  –  the theory was rock-solid, the practice was definitely not enjoyable, and was subsequently abandoned.

I ran my only half marathon in June 1989 to further test the recovery.  My attitude previously was half a marathon was only half a challenge.  The Rother Valley half was run on the Graffham estate of Lord Young, who took on the starter’s role, letting off an elegant shotgun that was worth more than our family home.  Fourth overall and first vet indicated that things were on the right track.  The jigsaw was completed at Harlow in October, which was the only race I ever started with a clear plan.  On a day of howling cool wind the plan was to stay away from the early pace, then see what could be done later.  At the end of a short five mile lap the leaders were out of sight.  Starting the first of two ten mile laps I was joined by Noel Thatcher, a partially-sighted paralympian, who was going to stop at fifteen miles and was happy to share the work with me.  He was training to be a physiotherapist so we had a blether about injuries and I warned him about obstacles in our path  –  and, on a sudden, at the end of that first long lap, lo!  the leaders, and the weight of the wind.  Bidding Noel cheerio and thanks I crossed the gap and blended in.  Other than a muttered “Where did he come from?” there was no other reaction.  Sensing reluctance to change the pace on the part of the group I upped it myself into the wind, gradually reducing a group of eight to myself and two others.  Up an incline, into stronger gusts, alone, two miles to go, the cycle escort says “Nobody’s going to catch you.”  2:34:06, plan works, first vet and outright winner.  In the car on the way home I waited for the old familiar pains in the groin to come seeping back like they had always done three to four years earlier.  They didn’t.  What turned out to be my last marathon was at St Albans in December 1990.  I was fifth overall, first vet in 2:30:45.  I had good results from simple carbohydrate loading and using Maxim before and during the event.  This knowledge was never developed in competition , until adapted for the later north-south relays.  I also ran my last Southern league 5000m in June 1991 but continued with road relays with Chichester Runners (which had absorbed Bognor & Chichester AC).  For example at the Southern vets at Aldershot in September 1991 I ran the first leg for the A  team, followed by the fourth leg for the B team.  Similarly in March 1995 at the county championships in Horsham I ran the second leg for the vets, then the second leg for the seniors forty minutes later.

 1992  –  1998        Declining        30-40 miles per week

Early in 1992 word began to circulate around Bognor’s small band of mature runners that Len Jones, (now no longer with us) who had lost all three of his wives to cancer, was planning a fund-raising event for Cancer Research Campaign.  A north-south relay was proposed, and at the first meeting when my previous experience was revealed my brains were extensively picked.  When asked what actually running it was like I could do no better than quote the late A.J. Wood  –  “Good at the beginning and good at the end  –  a bit of a drag in the middle.”  As my father had driven a support van in the second Aberdeen effort, I asked my younger brother Tom if he would like to be involved.  He said yes, and was recruited as driver/reserve runner.  Thus our vehicle was to be crewed by the Fabulous Heron Boys and the Krazee Gang which came together on three occasions  –  north-south in May 1992 reaching Land’s End in 5 days 1 hour 11 minutes  –  south-north in May 1995 reaching John o’ Groats in 5 days 1 hour 9 minutes  –  south-north-south in October 1997 finishing in 10 days 5 hours 8 minutes.  Of the days in the mobile lunatic asylum I recall much pain from the recurring injuries in the pelvic area, much laughter, serious internecine warfare , and a wee brother who smiled all the time as he did half my stints as a good reserve should.  The liberal use of glucose polymer powder was a major factor in recovery, and in alleviating the muscular soreness that had bedevilled Aberdeen’s JOGLEs.  So liberal that we were sticking to the floor of the van as if velcroed to spilled solution.

I ran my last race at Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot, in May 1998  –  my favourite relay course for the National vets’ championships.  I did the fourth leg in 21:35 gaining 6 places on a day when the best anybody else could do was keep the status quo and Chichester finished thirtieth team.  I met Mike Gratton and we had a wee run together around a couple of laps.  We did not talk about old times.  The sun shone, there were hundreds of runners about, all over forty, most of them having a really good time.  I never dreamed that this would be the finale, but the thought had crept into my head as I warmed up that I was here to do a job for the lads  –  there were no butterflies, no buzz of anticipation, no qualms of trepidation, I was totally calm.  I went out on the road and did the work for the team as efficiently as I could, not for medals or prizes but to squeeze the very best performance out of my body that could be managed on that day.  And the cheering and the shouting might just have been for me.  Who knows?

Al Howie racing in 1981

Al Howie is not a name known to many, even of the distance running fraternity in Scotland, and his name was passed to us by William Sichel.    Colin Youngson decided to pursue the reference and contributes some of what he has discovered below.

“Al Howie is another Scot who got away – by emigrating and becoming a great Canadian-Scot ultra-marathon runner.   William Sichel, our best current very long distance specialist, states that he is heavily motivated by trying to improve on Al’s impressive performances.   Arthur ‘Al’ Howie was born in 1945 in Ayrshire.   Having emigrated to Toronto, he started running as a hobby in 1974 ‘to get rid of the aggravation from quitting a three-pack-a-day smoking habit’.   By 1978 he had moved to Victoria, British Columbia, and started training for long runs, including many between cities.   His racing career was from 1979 to 1999.  

The Wikipedia summary of Al’s feats is as follows.   ‘He has won more than fifty marathons, ultramarathons and multi-day races in over two decades, including the 1991 Trans Canada Highway run (7295 kilometres) in the record time of 72 days and 10 hours.   A brass plaque on Victoria’s Mile Zero Marker commemorates this athletic event for which he raised 750 thousand dollars for a fund for children with special needs.   Two weeks after running across Canada, he won the Sri Chinmoy 1300 miler in New York, improving on his own world record time.   Both the Trans Canada run and the 1300 mile race qualified for the Guinness Book of Records.’

Very early in his running career, Al began running from city to city, partly as long distance training, partly to save costs and often for charities.   He would put his clothes on the bus, run to the city, change his clothes, put his bags back on the bus and carry on!  

Al Howie mentions as his great influences: Don Ritchie, Emil Zatopek, Yiannis Kouros (the great Greek runner) and Hilary Walker (an English woman who has broken world ultra records.)   His funniest running experience was learning to tie his shoe laces without stopping during a world record non-stop run!        Sadly his most memorable discovery is that even very good runners can have serious health problems – he himself overcame a brain tumour but since 1995 has been suffering Diabetes 1.  

The Wikipedia article on Al Howie   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Howie)   is absolutely fascinating.   It gives details of amazing feats of endurance and includes several quotations from the man himself, which show him to be eccentric, clever and incredibly tough.   His initial reaction to diabetes was to continue his rigorous training regimen, saying “Running towards the horizon of human endurance on synthetic insulin is exploring an uncharted universe.   Once again I’m a pioneer in the aerobic universe, this time in the diabetic galaxy.”

Colin is right, the entry is very good and has a lot of detail.    The ironic thing is that for all the information contained therein, for all the wonderful athletic feats he has accomplished or been part of, there is wide coverage in the world at large but here in Scotland, his name is hardly known.   Good as the Wiki article is, there is a more personal article about him in a Sri Chinmoy report from 1989 which you can find here and the article below is from ‘Scotland’s Runner’ of April, 1989 and is of a visit with Adrian Stott.  click on the image for a larger version.

Al died in June, 2016 and the excellent Obituary by Jack Davidson can be found   here

Simon as pictured in a Tourist Brochure

Simon Pride has won the Scottish Marathon Championship four times representing three different clubs in the twenty first century at a range of venues and has a remarkable record over all the endurance distances from10K to 100K.    What follows was in the main written by Fraser Clyne with additional information from Colin Youngson.

Simon Pride was born on 20th July, 1967 in Swansea.   he represented Wales in 800m and 1500 metres as a youngster and was in the same schools international team as world champion hurdler Colin Jackson.   His promising running career took a back seat after he left school to join the Army at 17.   Four years later he moved to Fochabers in Moray, Scotland where he settled with his wife Linda and took a job as a roofer and sheet metal erector.   Running remained a casual but enjoyable pastime until a frightening and nearly catastrophic industrial accident changed Pride’s outlook on life.   He explained “One day a nail was fired through my thigh bone just above the knee.   It was probably the turning point as I thought my running days could well be over.   Not only did the incident make me change jobs (he became a postman), at also shook me up into a training frenzy.   For too long I had taken my running for granted.   Within four months I had won my first GB vest.

Pride found international success in the world of ultra distance running.   His first 100K in 1996 produced a Scottish championship bronze medal.     The following year he was ninth in the European year and by 1998 he had a top six finish in the World Championships to his credit (6:59:38).   Simon benefited from the wisdom of world 100K record holder Don Ritchie who lived relatively close by in Lossiemouth.   The Keith and District athlete’s greatest triumph came in May 1999 in France where he won the world title with a UK road best of 6 hours 24 minutes 05 seconds.   It was a superb performance which took the  ultra-marathon world by surprise.

Even more surprising was Simon’s decision a year later not to defend the world title.   “I need a break from ultras” he said at the time.   He decided to concentrate on marathons for a while and when the opportunity for a Scottish title on his home patch presented itself, Pride was in no mood to miss out.

He was determined to win the Scottish title in 2000 – and equally keen to break the course record of 2:25:38 set eight years earlier by Fraser Clyne.  he achieved both with plenty to spare.   Running on his own for almost the whole way he took advantage of the perfect conditions to stop the clock in 2:21:17.   It was the quickest winning performance in the championships since 1984, the biggest winning margin  ever and just14 seconds outside his personal best set in London four months earlier.

OTHER INFORMATION

In 1998 Simon won the prestigious, and sadly missed, Two Bridges Race (35 miles 495 yards) from Dunfermline over the Kincardine and Forth Bridges finishing in Rosyth.   His time was three hours twenty nine minutes.   Simon always maintained  not only endurance but also speed in his training – long mile intervals with short recoveries, and tempo runs or fartleks, often on undulating forest tracks.   After winning North of Scotland Road and Cross Country titles and placing in the top ten at Scottish Cross Country championships, as well as personal bests for 10K and marathon in his build up, in March 1999 Simon Pride came close to breaking the world record for 40 miles track when winning the well respected annual event in Barry, Wales, with a time of 3:53:55 which was a race record.   This was a key part in the preparation for   his amazing achievement on 15th May 1999 when, as Adrian Stott wrote, “He stormed to the gold medal at the IAU World  100K Championships at Chevennes-en-Paillier in France.   Living only a few miles from Don Ritchie in Moray, Pride had been inspired and guided by the training and racing attitude of his illustrious compatriot.   In an exciting last 10K he prevailed over the Frenchman Thierry Guichard by a mere 21 seconds!   His time is still a Scottish (and GB) record.”    later Simon received the John Jewell Medal for 1999 which is presented annually by the Road Runners Club for the most outstanding annual road running performance at any distance from 10K upwards by a British athlete.   In addition he was Scotland’s Athlete of the Year.

Simon’s concentration from 2000 onwards on the marathon distance paid dividends.   He recorded an excellent personal best of 2:16:27 in the 2001 London event and represented his adopted country, Scotland, in the Manchester Commonwealth Games marathon in 2002 finishing sixteenth. On the road, Simon earned four Scottish International vests as well as six GB ones.

After a brief return to ultra running when he finished third in the 2004 European 100K Championships in Faenza, Italy, Simon’s running reverted once more to shorter distances.   Marathon victories include Belfast, Dublin, Lochaber and the Loch Ness event.   he was Scottish Marathon Champion four times, in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2006 (variously representing Keith, Metro Aberdeen and Forres Harriers).   In addition he has won umpteen 10K’s, 10 milers and half marathons as well as the M35 title in the Scottish Masters Cross Country Championships.   Simon Pride is talented, versatile, brave and tough  and his finest achievements (all as a Scotsman) have been absolutely outstanding.

                                                   Simon Pride – Marathon Career Record    

No	Date	Venue	Position	Time	Winner (Club) Time
1	28 April 1996	Fort William	3	2:40:24	John Duffy (Shettleston) 2:29:03
2	06 September 1998	Elgin	1	2:29:04
3	25 April 1999	Fort William	1	2:24:24
4	16 January 2000	Houston (USA)	10	2:21:35	Stephen Ndungu (Kenya) 2:11:28
5	16 April 2000	London	33	2:21:00	Antonio Pinto (Portugal) 2:06:36 ER
6	03 September 2000	Elgin (SAAA)	1	2:21:17
7	30 October 2000	Dublin	1	2:18:49
8	12 January 2001	Dubai (UAE)	14	2:20:03	Wilson Kibet (Kenya) 2:13:36
9	22 April 2001	London	17	2:16:27	Abdelkader El Mouaziz (Morocco) 2:07:11
10	02 September 2001	Elgin (SAAA)	1	2:28:34
11	29 October 2001	Dublin	8	2:17:37	Zacharia Mpolokeng (South Africa) 2:14:03
12	06 May 2002	Belfast	1	2:22:21
13	28 July 2002	Manchester (Comm)	16	2:23:56	Francis Robert Naali (Tanzania) 2:11:58
14	28 September 2003	Loch Ness	2	2:23:52	Tomas Abyu (Salford) 2:20:59
15	27 October 2003	Dublin	5	2:18:52	Onesmus Nzioka (Kenya) 2:17:03
16	29 February 2004	Seville (ESP)	8	2:19:42	Nelson Lebo (Kenya) 2:11:13
17	25 April 2004	Fort William (SAAA)	1	2:21:21
18	29 August 2004	Elgin	1	2:36:49
19	03 October 2004	Loch Ness	1	2:27:58
20	25 October 2004	Dublin	19	2:29:01	Lezan Kipkosgei (Kenya) 2:13:08
21	02 October 2005	Loch Ness	1	2:30:15
22	23 April 2006	Fort William	1	2:27:57
23	03 September 2006	Elgin	1	2:39:53
24	01 October 2006	Loch Ness (SAAA)	2	2:22:25	Zachary Kihara (Kenya) 2:22:17
25	30 October 2006	Dublin	11	2:23:06	Aleksey Sokolov (Russia) 2:11:39
26	02 September 2007	Elgin (SAAA)	2	2:33:46	Jamie Reid (Cambuslang) 2:33:11

                                                           Simon Pride – Ultra Career Record        

No	Date	Venue	Pos	Time	Winner (Club) Time
1	14 April 1996	Speyside Way 50 km trail	1	3:11:00
2	21 July 1996	Edinburgh ACP/UK 100 km	3	8:01:38	Stephen Moore (Hertford & Ware) 7:17:16
3	22 Sept 1996	Glenrothes (SAAA) 50 km	2	3:08:56	Terry Mitchell (Fife) 3:02:27
4	02 March 1997	Barry 40 miles track	1	3:54:24
5	06 April 1997	Speyside Way 50 km trail	1	2:59:18
6	31 May 1997	Del Passatore (ITA) Euro 100 km	9	7:10:25	Alexsei Kononov (Russia) 6:47:35
7	20 July 1997	Edinburgh ACP/UK 100 km	2	7:14:13	Stephen Moore (Hertford & Ware) 7:04:22
8	13 September 1997	Winschoten (NED) World 100 km	17	6:57:09	Sergey Yanenko (Ukraine) 6:25:25
9	01 March 1998	Barry 40 miles track	1	4:01:32
10	12 April 1998	Speyside Way 50 km trail	1	3:19:59
11	19 June 1998	Torhout (BEL) Euro 100 km	13	6:57:28	Grigoriy Murzin (Russia) 6:23:29
12	29 August 1998	Two Bridges 35.5 miles	1	3:27:40
13	18 October 1998	Nakamura (JAP-World 100 km)	6	6:59:38	Grigoriy Murzin (Russia) 6:30:06
14	07 March 1999	Barry 40 miles track	1	3:53:55
15	11 April 1999	Speyside Way 50 km trail	1	3:02:20
16	15 May 1999	Chavagnes-en-Paillers (FRA-World 100km)	1	6:24:05	UK record (road)
17	16 June 1999	Comrades 89.9 km (down)	33	6:09:21	Jaroslaw Janicki (Poland) 5:30:10
18	14 April 2002	Speyside Way 50 km trail	1	3:07:27
19	13 April 2003	Speyside Way 50 km trail	1	3:11:56
20	11 April 2004	Speyside Way 50 km trail	1	3:02:15
21	29 May 2004	Del Passatore (ITA) Euro 100 km	3	6:48:48	Maro Ardemagni (Italy) 6:31:45

 

Alan in the Aberdeen 5K: others include Paul Evans (3), and Steve Cram (in black) 

Alan Reid was born on the 19^th of April 1966. From an early age he showed considerable running talent – especially speed – and was a ferocious front-runner, although he was, just occasionally, known to ‘blow-up’. It took a few years to develop tactical awareness, and then, for more than two decades, Alan was usually the best cross-country runner in the North of Scotland and also ran for his country. He was also successful on the road and eventually represented Scotland and Great Britain as an ultra-distance runner, in International 100k races, including the World Championships. His bravery is unquestioned, because of his boldness in races and frequent battling through injury. In addition he is friendly, cheerful and eccentric!

As a Youth, he ran cross-country for Coasters AC, which was based in Banff. Donald Ritchie, the great ultra runner, remembers him asking for advice about whether to wear spikes or studs on the notoriously hilly and stony Lochaber AC course. Studs were recommended, of course. Alan won the 1985-6 under-20 title in the North District Cross Country League. This must be one of the toughest, traditional CC leagues in Britain. Even nowadays, the courses feature tussocky grass, deep mud, snow, ruts, tree-roots and hills and frequently traverse burns and even icy rivers. Weather conditions are often wintry and, as they say, seriously challenging. It’s not compulsory to be mad when you tackle these events…… At least six races take place each season, in venues including Keith, Elgin, Forres, Nairn, Inverness, Caithness and East Sutherland, and the points accumulated in an athlete’s best four races count towards the championship. (In the earlier part of Alan’s career, you had to complete five of the six races.) Over the years, Alan Reid won a great number of races, usually by large margins, and finished second or third in most of the others. He won the senior title for the first time in 1988. His last triumph was in 2011. Altogether, representing Coasters or Peterhead Running Club, Alan accumulated an amazing total of thirteen North League championships. In addition he won the North District CC championships five times; and won the Aberdeen Hydrasun CC ten times. In addition he ran well in the Scottish National CC, with a best placing of 16^th in 1994 as well as 22^nd and 23^rd.

Alan Reid ran internationally for Scotland on several occasions, starting as a Junior in the 1985 Inter-Area contest at St Andrews. As a Senior he represented his country twice at Mallusk, Northern Ireland, and also in Durham and at the UK World Championship trials at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow. In 1989, running for North District, he won the Inter-District CC, beating amongst others the illustrious Tommy Murray.

In the Edinburgh to Glasgow Road Relay, Alan represented North District eight times in succession, between 1987 and 1994. Although the team was never better than tenth, he had particularly good runs on the two most prestigious stages: Six (in 1989) and especially Two – he gained five places in 1992, 1994 and 1993, when he was third-fastest to Alan Puckrin and Bobby Quinn, in front of luminaries like  John Sherban, Graeme Croll and Peter McColgan. Then in 2001, on Stage Two yet again, Alan ran for etro Aberdeen RC. His team finished 5^th and won the medals for most meritorious performance.

When I search through my own training/racing diaries, Alan Reid is mentioned frequently. In the late 1980s, he served his apprenticeship in events like the Peterhead 4, the Seagull 5k and the Buckie 10k, and was still beatable. When he first came south to race in Aberdeen, there were many good quality city athletes who may have sniggered in a condescending manner as this raw, red-headed young man shot off like a misguided missile down the promenade after the start, only to be overhauled later by the likes of Fraser Clyne and Chris Hall. In 1990 Alan and I were part of an Aberdeen AAC team which did well to finish fifth in the Scottish Six-Stage Relay at Livingston. Alan never quite got rid of his habit of arriving only just before the race started or even afterwards! Undaunted, he always charged off anyway despite the lack of a warm-up. Yet in the 1990s he developed into the fastest guy in the North-East as well as the North. (Alan asserts that once he certainly did do a warm-up: 22 miles before winning the Keith 7 and a half miles (mainly off-road) race in front of Mick Flynn!)

Alan’s track career is less well remembered, but demonstrates speed and durability. He ran for North District (and won North championships) at every distance from 800m to 10,000m, including the steeplechase. The 5000m was won eight times and the 10,000m (PB 30.30) ten times. In addition he took part in the 4x400m relay. At the long-established Forres Highland Games in 1992, Alan won the 400m, 800m, 1500m and 3000m in one afternoon! (He twice won this 3k wearing a kilt,) In addition he won many local hill races. He says that he never concentrated on one event but simply wanted to do everything!

Alan Reid won many road races, including  three victories in the Inverness Half Marathon; the 1995 Aberdeen Half Marathon, and the Aberdeen 10k (1995 and 1996). His triumphs in the latter event must have been particularly sweet. Alan had been second in 1992 and 1994 (when he also secured a silver medal in the concurrent Scottish 10k championship). Then in 1995 (as third-placed Fraser Clyne wrote in the 2011 history of Aberdeen’s premier road race) he achieved “a runaway victory, showing no mercy as he blitzed through the streets and opened up a big lead which stretched to 73 seconds by the finish in beautiful Duthie Park”. A year later, Alan retained his title with another front-running performance, eighteen seconds clear of an elite group including Ross Arbuckle, Frankie Barton, Mike Carroll, Simon Pride and Fraser Clyne.

In the Elgin 10K

Of course Alan frequently ‘cleaned up’ in local 10k races, such as Buckie, Elgin, Fraserburgh and Peterhead, plus the Lossiemouth Turkey Trot (and North of Scotland 10 mile championship). He won the Moray Marathon in 1995 and completed the arduous West Highland Way Race in 2008. Furthermore, wearing a heavy-duty Seaforth Highlanders outfit, he claimed the World Kilted Running Title at the Balmoral 10k! (Previously, at the Fettercairn 10k he had run 33.25 wearing the same kilt.) Alan reckons that he won this ‘true Scot’ World championship five times.

Alan started to experiment with ultra-distance races, starting with the 1994 inaugural Speyside Way 50k. He established a good lead but 2.11.50 marathon runner Fraser Clyne (Metro Aberdeen RC) came through at 26 miles to finish first in a record 3.02.07. Fraser mentions that Alan zoomed away recklessly from the start and was in front by 3 minutes at 10k and 6 minutes by 20k. After struggling in second, Alan maintained that someone must have given Clyne a lift in a car! (In 2000, Alan did win the Speyside Way race, finishing in 3.12.20, well in front of a very good ultra runner, William Sichel, who recorded 3.26.54.)

Progress was evident when Alan won two Scottish 50k road titles in Glenrothes. These victories took place in 1999 (when he also won the arduous 28 mile Lairig Ghru race) and 2000. In the latter Alan recorded 3.07.42. In the fifteen race history of the event, only Fife’s Terry Mitchell recorded a faster time. Alan Reid had also won the famous Two Bridges Race in 1999, four and a half minutes clear of Andy Eccles of Wigan Phoenix. (Alan had been five minutes clear by ten miles and nine minutes in front at the marathon distance, but although he lost ground late on, he was always in control of the race.) Then in 2000, racing in the British and Scottish 100k championship on the Heriot Watt Campus, Edinburgh, Alan Reid finished second (7.27.24) to four-time-winner Steven Moore of Hereford AC and England. (In fact, as first Scot, Alan should have been awarded the Scottish title.) This event also included the Anglo-Celtic Plate International contest (England v Scotland v Northern Ireland v Wales), and the Scottish three-man team finished second to the Auld Enemy by the slim margin of nine minutes (over 300 kilometres!)

Alan in the Barry 40 miles track race

In March 2001, Alan Reid travelled from Banff in cars belonging to Donald Ritchie and then Adrian Stott to the well-established Barry 40 miles track race in Wales and then back home again. (Don eventually reached Lossiemouth at 4.30 a.m. on the Monday, slept for less than four hours, then drove to his work!) Don says that he thoroughly enjoyed Alan’s company. The Barry 40 organiser Mick McGeoch relates that Alan won comparatively easily, leading as usual from gun to tape, having run the first of 160 laps in a swift 74 seconds, which unsurprisingly remains a record for the event! Alan’s times illustrate his tactics: 56.43 at 10 miles; 1.56.09 at 20 miles; 3 hours exactly at 30 miles. His winning time was 4.11.45, in front of experienced GB Internationals Ian Anderson (4.19.29) and Chris Finill. When Don Ritchie suggested that Alan might modify his racing strategy, the latter replied that he felt better running fast from the start. Alan remembers this as an especially satisfying win.

Alan Reid’s peak ultra performance came in on 20^th May 2001 when he won the British 100k championship (and became the first Scot to win the annual Anglo-Scottish Plate International title) in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire. Alan recorded a very good time of 7.13.30, and was followed in once again by Ian Anderson (7.17.18) and Chris Finill. In 2002, at the same venue, despite starting with a torn calf, Alan was third in the British 100k championship. In total, he won gold, silver and bronze in this important event. (Since 2001, only Craig Stewart (Forfar), in 2011, has emulated Alan by winning the Anglo-Celtic Plate title for Scotland.)

Alan in the British 100K in 2001

 Alan Reid was chosen to represent Great Britain in three World 100k Championships (2000, 2001, 2002) in Holland, Brittany and Belgium. He finished two but unfortunately was pulled out of the third, despite that fact that he was still struggling on. Overall, Alan gained three GB vests and represented Scotland eight times. In championships he won 96 medals: 80 North District; 4 Inter-District; and 12 National, including 53 gold medals.

In 2008 Alan decided to have a go at the West Highland Way Race, which he completed very respectably in 19 hours. Earlier that year he had completed a rather unusual 33 mile training run as part of an effort to get fit for the WHW. The event was the Peterhead to Fraserburgh 16.5 mile Beach Run in January. Unfortunately he missed the start by 10 minutes, but ran it anyway, in a decent 2 hours 13 minutes. It was cold and wet, he felt dizzy and he was a bit demotivated since he had no chance of catching the leaders. However he had a good excuse! At 6 a.m. that morning Alan had run from Fraserburgh to Peterhead. It was quite dark and the tide was too far in, so he had to head inland and run on unfamiliar fields. In the gloom he fell into a couple of drainage ditches and collided with barbed wire more than once. Alan summed up the whole experience as ‘a good work-out’! (In fact he completed that exhausting session several times!)

Alan Reid’s career has been long, successful and unusual. He has many great racing performances to look back on with considerable satisfaction. Alan says that his ultra success was down to the fact that ‘I don’t give up very easily’. Too true! Unfortunately he began to suffer all sorts of chronic leg injuries and then a bad car crash in 2011 forced him out of the sport, we all hope temporarily. If anyone can come back fighting, Alan Reid will be that man!

In the BUPA Aberdeen 5K: Alan (19), Khalid Skah (1)

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Scottish athletics has been fortunate over recent years in having had a series of top flight ultra distance runners.    William Sichel is one of the finest and what follows is Colin Youngson’s tribute to him.

William Sichel, the International Ultra Distance Runner from Sanday, Orkney, has a career record markedly different from those of Don Ritchie, Rab Heron and Simon Pride, the other three ultra distance runners featured on this website.   They concentrated on ‘shorter ultras’, mainly from 50km to 100 km although Don also broke world records for 100 miles, 12 hours and 200 km, and ran well in the 24 hours event.   Willie Sichel, by comparison, has also broken records from 48 hours all the way up to the amazing distance of 1000 miles on the road in less than 14 days.

This is only a brief introduction to William Sichel’s own website: www.williamsichel.co.uk  which is comprehensive and fascinating.   It includes references to the history of ultra running; newsletters; blogs; training advice; links to Twitter, YouTube and Facebook; information about his sponsors; many details about his yearly running progress and umpteen fine performances (often record-breaking), and much more!

His Running CV is as follows: “William started ultra running in 1994 and has set multiple ultra distance records at World, British and Scottish level, including age-group records, classic event records and Guinness World Treadmill Records (Full details available on the site).   Unusually he won his debuts in the 100km, 24 hour, 72 hour, 6 day and 7 day events.   Furthermore he has won international events in the UK (five times), Netherlands, USA (twice), Switzerland, Monaco (twice), Greece and Germany.   In the Athens 1000 Mile World Cup Race held in March 2010, William was runner-up in an M55 world record of 13 days 20 hours 8 minutes and one second.   He also became the oldest British person ever to have completed 1000 miles in under 16 days.   In addition he set intermediate age-group world records at 6 days and 1000 kms.   The last time a British runner of any age completed a 1000 mile race in under 16 days was 1991.”

William in Athens 2010.

Below are just some of William Sichel’s personal bests are as follows

Marathon:   2:38:17 (1995)

100km:   7:07:49 (1996)

12 Hour (Track):   141.50km/87.92 miles (2001)

24 Hour (Road):  246.70km/153.30 miles (2000)

48 Hour (Indoor):   344.267km/213.92 miles (2007) Scottish Record

6 Days (Track):   857.07km/532.56 miles (2008)

1000km (Road):   7 days, 23 hours, 45 minutes, 43 seconds.   (2010)

1000 Miles (Road):   13 days, 20 hours, 8 minutes, 1 second (2010)

Spartathlon:   33 hours, 14 minutes, 20 seconds (2005) Scottish Record

Badwater:   31 hours, 36 minutes, 12 seconds (2006) British Record

.

William Sichel, a former table tennis international, has represented Great Britain 11 times since 1996 in 100km and 24 hours events.   His ambition is ‘Project 60@60‘ – to have set 60 ultra distance records before his 60th birthday on October 1st, 2013.   Details are at his website, address above.He is undoubtedly Scotland’s finest current ultra- distance runner.

That’s Colin’s introduction and the website in question is remarkable in the range and depth of coverage as well as giving some insight into the mind and attitude of this quite outstanding competitor.   Below is a photograph of William taken by David Hall of him running at Perth in 2010.   Note the two ‘running sticks’ that he has in his hands – he has been using them for two years now (2011) and the rationale can be found here.

 

 

We have a complete list , courtesy of Mich McGeoch, of Don Ricthie”s marathons (98 in total) and ultra marathons (134 in total) separately rather than in the middle of the profile.   It’s such an amazing list that it deserves to stand out on its own to be admired and wondered at.  Amazine.   Go here  –  Don Ritchies Marathon and Ultra Record

I have to thank Colin Youngson for this portrait of Don Ritchie – if we are talking of unsung heroes of Scottish Athletics then he has to be at or near the top of the list.   For a Scot to set a world record is rare, for a Scot to set as many as Don has is totally unique.   In fact for most of the population it is unheard of! 

Donald A. Ritchie of Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland, has undoubtedly been the greatest ultra distance runner the world has ever seen. This was the verdict in 1995 of Andy Milroy, a journalist who knows more about this branch of athletics than anyone. Milroy compared Don’s achievements with those of past greats like Charles Rowell, George Littlewood and Wally Hayward; and with his contemporaries Yiannis Kouros and Bruce Fordyce. On the basis of the length of his world class ultra running career and his amazing accomplishments, Donald Ritchie is considered to have been the very best. Unconvinced? Look at these statistics.

WORLD BEST TRACK PERFORMANCES

Date Event Time Location

29/04/1977 50 km 2:51:38 Epsom

25/09/1977 150 km 10:37:47 Crystal Palace

25/09/1977 100 miles 11:30:51 Crystal Palace

30/06/1978 100 km miles 6:18:00 Hartola, Finland

28/10/1978    50 miles 4:53:28 Crystal Palace

28/10/1978    100 km 6:10:20 Crystal Palace

10/03/1979    50 km 2:50:30 Altrincham

16/06/1979  100 miles road 11:51:11 Flushing Meadow, N.Y.

16/10/1982    40 miles 3:48:35 Copthall, London

12/03/1983  50 miles   4:51:49  Copthall, London

30/10/1983    200 km 16:32:30 Coatbridge

04/02/1990    200 km indoors 16:31:08 Milton Keynes

3-4/02/1990   24 hours indoors  Distance 166.243 miles 267.543 km I.A.U. World  Championships, Milton Keynes

26/10/1991 200 km 16:19:16 Copthall

Consider also: scores of Veteran World Best Performances, several British vests (despite these not being available for ultra runners until 1990, when Don was 45 years old); U.K. Championships at 24 hours and 100 1cm; Scottish marathon vests; his part in the record-setting Aberdeen AAC John 0’ Groats to Lands End relay in 1982 (77.26.18); his heroic solo record for the same 844 mile journey in 1989 (10 days 15 hours 25 minutes); and winning eleven marathons, three Two Bridges 36 miles races and two 53 miles London to Brighton races, not to mention many events abroad.

Donald’s honours include being ‘Runners World’ ultra athlete of the year; the subject of a ‘World of Sport’ documentary; a guest at a Royal Garden Party; and the final accolade — his M.B.E. in 1995.     Just a few of so many tributes can be included on this website.

Donald in the Edinburgh to Glasgow Ultra

First in 1995 by Dave Cooper, a fine ultrarunner himself and past editor of the prestigious Road Runners Club Magazine.

“It gives me great pleasure to offer congratulations to the possessor of the cleanest pair of heels in the business, Don Ritchie, on behalf of the RRC Council and all our members, for receiving the Member of the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.   The quiet man from Elgin has been a great ambassador for the sport for many years and his superb array of world record performances and steely determination on road and track is in sharp contrast to his modest self-effacing demeanour.  

A side of his character that especially appeals is his sense of humour. The following vignette will serve as an example. In the introduction to his article on Training, in Andy Milroy’s “Training for Ultras”, Don writes “To run an ultramarathon, you require a good training background, and a suitable mental attitude, i.e. you must be a little crazy. A certain type of mentality seems to be advantageous. I think you require to be a calm, determined, patient person with a high toleration for prolonged discomfort and a high capacity for delayed gratification.”

He has worn with distinction the Great Britain vest for the 24 hours and also the Blue Riband ultra, the 100 km, for as many years as they have been available to ultra-runners, and continues to do so at the age of over 50.

It only remains for me to wish Don, his wife Isobel and his children, the best of health, happiness and prosperity, and long may he continue to thrill us with record- breaking performances.”

Don drops drink in the E-G Ultra 1984

Then from 1989 by Glen Elliot, the chairman of the still-flourishing Moray Marathons road races.

“RITCHIE, THE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS”

“The agony and the ecstasy of long-distance running”. Don Ritchie, this quiet unassuming Moray athlete, never realised how true that description could be until a few years ago, when he set the first of his world records on the Epsom track.  

Don, a member of Forres Harriers, now holds a string of world records set around the globe. He is an electronics lecturer at the Moray College of Further Education and is without doubt one of the greatest ultra-distance runners of all time. He regularly dips under 2 hours 30 minutes for the marathon (he set a personal best time of 2.19.34 in the London Marathon) but his forte is certainly his ability to keep up a relentless pace over greater distances.  

It is difficult to pick out any specific record (he holds so many!) but his 100 miles race at Crystal Palace in the late 70s still staggers the ultra-distance fraternity — he covered the 100 miles in 11 hours 30 minutes 51 seconds, a phenomenal pace of under 7 minutes per mile — yes for every mile. Although this remarkable athlete still rates his other record achieved at the same venue of 100 kilometres in 6 hours 10 minutes 20 seconds (under 6 minutes per mile!) as one of his best performances.

Possibly his finest achievement came in the 100 miles road race at Flushing Meadow Park in New York. The humid conditions and intense competition looked like testing this irrepressible Moray man, but again with the single-mindedness of a true champion, he produced another world best performance to win. In recognition of another magnificent achievement, Don was presented with prestigious trophies by the famous New York Road Runners Club and the Sri Chinmoy Club.

Don has survived many bumps and scrapes in his illustrious running career and many close friends feared the worst when, in the summer of 1988, he was sent crashing to the ground at the start of the Lincolnshire 100 kin road race. The Moray man sustained a broken kneecap which would have finished most athletes, but typical of Don and his fighting spirit, he started all over again with a period of recovery and then back to pounding the roads around Moray. To prove to himself and his followers that he was back in business, Don entered the gruelling 24 hours race in Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall Sports Arena — yes, he did it again and established wore records. Don was the only athlete to run/jog non-stop throughout the 24 hours, establishing new Scottish records for 40 miles, 50 miles, 100 miles, 200 km, 12 hours and of course 24 hours distance running.

The Iron Man of Scottish Athletics has blazed a path in ultra-distance running in America, Spain, Italy and many far-flung places, but he never forgets to support numerous local events. Don can be seen lining up with many ‘lesser mortals’ in the Moray Marathon, and he always has a sympathetic ear for his fellow athletes, novices, and fun runners alike. Don may be excused for being biased, but having run all over the world he still finds the Moray countryside an ideal setting for his arduous training schedule. He covers up to 160 miles a week through many forests, beaches and quiet country roads.”

Donald winning the 1984 E-G

Next, two of Donald’s friends write about their memories of him. Firstly, Donald Gunn.

“I have known Donald Ritchie for nine years now and have on a number of occasions joined him on Sunday morning runs — along with Mick Francis.    Invariably Don’s “just over 22 miles” usually turned out to be 25 to 28 miles. Mick and I always added an extra half hour to our estimated running time, before we set out.    It was on these therapeutic runs that Don’s character would reveal itself For two hours little was said — only comments regarding the weather or our present state of fitness, and then just as Mick and myself were starting to get tired and having to concentrate on keeping up with Don’s pace, he would start telling jokes. We reckoned the idea was to encourage us to forget the extra miles still to come.

I found Don to be always calm and collected when things were not going his way. This was certainly the case in Santander, Northern Spain, October 87.

The event was a 100 km race. Mick Francis and I intended competing as part of a week’s holiday. Although we were staying in the same hotel as Don, he was to arrive the evening before the race. 10 p.m. came and still no sight of him. A little later a tired Don appeared. Unfortunately there had been a mix-up with transportation from Bilbao airport to the hotel, with the result that poor Don had to find his own way, which involved a long train journey with standing room only. All this and the beginning of a sixty-two and a quarter mile race only a few hours away.

Most people would have been fuming at being let down by the organisers, especially before a big event, but not Don Ritchie. “Just one of these things” was his comment. We managed to find him some fruit to eat that night before he slumped into bed. Hours later he set off with the leaders and took the lead at times. The temperature was in the mid-eighties, quite a change from Lossiemouth in October. Eventually the Spanish champion Domingo Catalan finished a few minutes ahead of Don — but what a gallant try. To cap all this, only a fortnight later in a 250 km race in Italy, Don held the lead for 12 hours before finishing 5th.  To race two such distances with little mental or physical recovery seemed remarkable to me.

In the following years I was again witness to ultra-distance feats. At Kelvin Hall Don ran non-stop for 24 hours to set a Scottish Indoor record of 144 miles and 1009 yards. The following year (1989) his JOG-LE triumph left Mick Francis and myself gasping. We accompanied him and attended to his needs during his record- breaking run. Inclement weather, which included gale force winds for one full day, a heavy cold and stomach pains didn’t deter Don from cheerfully starting on his 70 to 90 mile-a-day stints, after only 4 hours sleep and sometimes less.

He never complained at any of the inconveniences that came his way — helping to push the support van out of a muddy caravan park one cold and dark morning, or once again in the early hours having to explain to the traffic police just outside Perth what we were doing.

There were other lighter moments during the run, such as one sunny morning during the latter stages, when I ran over to the side of the road Don was running on, to ask which drink or kind of food he wanted for one of his regular snacks, which were always done on the run.  Due to a combination of the cold he had caught at the start of the venture and sheer fatigue, his voice had all but disappeared, so Don whispered something which was barely audible. Another few yards on I repeated the question. Ah! A butty! It sounded like. Off I trotted back to the van, avoiding the traffic. I spread a nice big home-made jam butty, sprinted down the road to catch him up again. No, he waved — he didn’t want my offering and hoarsely whispered something. Sorry, Don, can’t quite catch what you’re saying. Again he shouted — which can only be described as a whisper. Yes! I caught it this time. So off I went again and returned with a peeled banana. Wrong again — he waved his arm. This time I was going to get it right. So running alongside as close as possible without tripping him, I heard the whisper above the noise of the traffic: IT S A LOVELY DAY.

Another amusing incident occurred during one of our massage and stretching sessions which I gave Don (at the end of each running session) in the back of our van. He was particularly tired and kept on falling asleep, which presented a problem. Some of the stretches required him to indicate precisely at which moment to stop the stretch so as to avoid injury. So I started to repeat the words “more, more”, listening for the ‘grunt’, at which point I would hold his leg for around thirty seconds. Unknown to us, there was small bunch of local teenagers outside the van, which was parked in a corner of the village square. We then realised what the youngsters found so funny. Because Don was lying on his back, all they could see was his naked legs sticking up above window level and me stripped to the waist because of the heat in the van. The only conversation that could be heard was “more, more”!  

Although Don is usually a very quiet character, Mick and I did once glimpse an emotional man.  

This occurred during the final moments of his triumph. On finally reaching the Land’s End finishing mark, he suddenly sprinted towards the cliff edge! My God! Mick and I thought, what on earth is he doing? Then he punched he air, like a footballer on scoring an all-important goal. The normally unmoved Don was cheering and had just run an extra 50 metres to make sure of his tremendous achievement.”

1983 Two Bridges: with Cavan Woodward on the Killer Hill at 22 Miles

 

And now, Colin Youngson.

“Saturday 25 June 1967 — a windy, warm and at times wet day for the Scottish Amateur Athletic Association Championships at Grangemouth Stadium. I was just finishing my first year at Aberdeen University, and trailed in 16th in the 3 miles event. Yet two memories from that occasion linger in my memory: Aberdeen’s Bill Ewing just defeating Gareth Bryan-Jones in the Steeplechase (and almost giving me a heart attack by stopping suddenly at the 220 yard mark — in actual fact the race finished on the back straight); and my first realisation that quiet unassuming Donald Ritchie wasn’t a bad long distance runner.  

The photograph in my imagination shows Alastair Wood lounging against a wall beside the entrance to the track. He is sipping a cup of tea, having won the marathon several minutes ago (in 2.21.28) and has been sufficiently unruffled by his exertions to take an interest in the progress of a protégé.  Before Wood strode into the stadium to record his fourth (of six) Scottish Marathon victory, spectators had been left in suspense. The last news that we had, at the ten mile point, was that Wood had set a fast pace and that his (fairly obscure) Aberdeen clubmate was hanging on, with the dangerous Wight brothers from Edinburgh AC following close behind. Alastair had won literally by a mile. Had the brave unknown paid the penalty for his boldness? We need not have worried. Red-faced, perspiring but resolute, Donald swung into view past a mildly congratulatory Wood, and claimed his silver medal. It had been tough, but he could take the strain.

A year afterwards Donald (‘Don’ came later) began to make a greater impact on my competitive nature. The inimitable, wittily grumpy but charismatic Wood (an Oxford University ‘blue’ to whom we both owe a debt of gratitude) had convinced Donald not only to train 120 miles per week, but also to go to Aberdeen University. Of course this meant that I had to race against him every week — and more often or not he beat me! We ‘enjoyed’ quite a rivalry. Occasionally on a fast surface or on the track I got revenge — but when it came to mud or distance he was much better. I couldn’t understand how his body could soak up the miles; and he thought I was a lazy so-and-so.

What other memories of Don Ritchie come to mind?

His introduction to University ‘social life’. The contrast between silent sober pre-race Don, strong determined racing Don, and extremely talkative if incoherent less-sober Don being restrained from jumping out of a train window! Luckily he calmed down after those early personality switches.  

A University 10,000 metres championship, on a muddy gale-torn King’s College grass track. I tried fartlek until half-distance in a vain attempt to shake off the sound of his relentless footfall and noisy regular puffing — before simply giving up and dropping out while still in front!

My first marathon (the Inverness to Forres on a hot day in July 1969) when I finished third in 2.41.13. Alastair Wood was first in 2.27 but when Donald tried to stick with him this time he blew up! I spotted him on the horizon at about 16 miles, passed him at 18 and he actually dropped out at 23! How often did Don ever break down? Must be human after all.

One summer Donald and I went hill-walking together for a few days near Glencoe. It was not a stroll — we positively zoomed up to the peaks before his hill- runner’s legs cruised away from me downhill. It was good fun, but his nerve for the dangerous sections was far greater than mine. This phlegmatic courage has been vital in dealing with crazy events like 24 hour races or the solo End-to-End run.  

In the summer of 1972 the two of us decided to have a holiday in Finland, visiting clubmate Charlie Greenlees, his wife-to-be Maria and their friends. Being poor, we decided to hitch-hike; and being patriotic, we thought innocently that we’d wear kilts to attract lifts. I borrowed my Dad’s kilt, but Don had to buy one, for eight pounds, from an ex-army store. He chose a Black Watch kilt which was made of a cloth so coarse that it rubbed the red hair off his thighs! (Rare sensitivity in such a tough guy.) However we secured one lift from about Newcastle to Hull. After the ferry deposited us at Gothenburg, the same lift continued to the other side of Sweden. And after the second ferry, over to Turku in Finland, the same lift took us to the forest outside Helsinki, where we camped for the night! The lure of the kilt (or Don’s legs?)  

In Finland we took full advantage of the exotic foreign food, living off Baltic herring and local potatoes — in other words a cheap, wholesome, typical North-East Scotland diet. We finished 6th and 8th in the Finnish Olympic Marathon trial (Donald suffering a ‘pit-stop’). And I remember one very hot day when, despite or because of the kilts, we failed to attract a lift in rural Finland and, carrying heavy backpacks, were forced to walk twenty miles along the road. To prevent heat exhaustion, we bought chilled milk from shops along the way, drinking at least ten pints each!  

After I left university, Donald’s form over ‘short’ distances reached its peak — he won the Scottish Universities’ Cross-Country title and was an excellent 11th in the ‘National’. How many people realise he was that fast? Previously, I remember him beating Wood, Ewing and Steve Taylor in a track three-miler, much to their disbelief.. Later on he seemed to lose his speed over ten kilometres (thank goodness), due of course to the strain of training for ultras.  

But what a career he has had! Don’s best marathon time is a speedy 2:19:34, but he was wise to specialise in ultra distance. His success has been breathtaking. It may be partly due to diet — energy drink, slabs of soda bread (which acts like radiator sealant to his system!) and secret recipe home-brew afterwards, merely to aid recovery. He seems to have a tremendous physical and mental resilience, treating pain only as inconvenience. Although at one stage I had the edge on him in marathons, when we lined up together before the 1984 Edinburgh to Glasgow 50 miles road race, and he suggested that I keep him company for a few miles, I had no hesitation in declining! Sure enough he won by more than half an hour and, despite cautious pacing, I struggled in a wrecked third placer. He is different class, an all-time world great. And it couldn’t happen to a more deserving fellow. I like, admire and respect Donald and am proud to be a friend. Does he have any enemies? I doubt it.

In 1982 Aberdeen AAC made their third attempt on the ten-man relay record from John O’Groats to Land’s End (the JOGLE). I was fortunate enough to be paired with Don in the fourth dormobile. We had an excellent couple of drivers and the trip was almost stress-free (apart from physical exhaustion, of course). As you can imagine, Donald was calm, relaxed — and a totally reliable running machine. We had a great time. In my ‘Running Shorts’ book is one story ‘Shap Summit’, which attempts to describe our shared experience as Jogle runners, engaged in an unusual ultra- distance event.”

In the Two Bridges, 1984

The best article is this last long one! Unsurprisingly it was written by Donald himself, about a gruelling Italian ultra-marathon. Just imagine yourself trying (and failing) to emulate him!

“ ITALIAN JOB

In March 1979 I received an invitation from Giors Oneto to participate in a 101.5 km race from Firenze (Florence) to Faenza. As I had not visited Italy before, I readily accepted the invitation to this race to be held on a Saturday near the end of May. To reach Faenza from Firenze the Appenines have to be crossed, and the race was named ‘Del Passatorie’ after a bandit who operated in those mountains. Passatorie from what I gather was a Robin Hood sort of character.

The arrangement for this race was that I should organise my own travel, and would be reimbursed in Faenza. Following some correspondence with Giors I established that there was no airport in Firenze, so I would have to fly to Milan then take the train.

Arrangements were made for travel and soon departure date arrived. From Elgin the train to Aberdeen was followed by a bus to the airport and then the flight to London. This part of the journey had already occupied some six hours. Next there was the flight to Linatie airport at Milan. From there I got a bus into the city and managed to locate the Central Station. By now it was 8 p.m. and I found that the next train to Firenze was at 9.30 p.m.

My next priority was to get some food, so I headed off to see what I could find. A restaurant provided spaghetti something de Mar which I deduced should be some seafood. It turned out to be spaghetti mixed with a sauce containing a sort of shellfish hotch-potch including the shells. There was quite a variety of shells, some of which, including the razor and mussel, I recognised. Some had edible bits inside, or at least remains, but mostly they were empty. I also found bits of chopped-up octopus tentacles in there. It was quite a change from Luigi’s fish and chips at home. Once I had reduced this course to shells only, I finished off with some excellent ice cream and fresh strawberries.  

Suitably refuelled, I returned to the station, purchased my ticket and carefully located the correct train. Although it was half an hour before departure time the train was packed and there were people in every corner. Train travel was inexpensive here so I expect this accounted for the popularity. I resigned myself to a long stand in the stifling heat.

 

We got underway exactly on time, and the draught through the open windows, caused by the train’s motion, reduced the discomfort caused by the heat. Eventually after a tedious journey Firenze was reached. It was now half past midnight and I had to find my hotel. Clutching the letter from Giors with the name of the hotel on it, I sallied forth. There were several police in and around the station, but they did not seem the type you ask directions from: they were wearing bullet-proof waistcoats and carrying sub-machine guns. Later I found one with only a pistol so I asked him. He could not speak English and I could not speak Italian but despite this he was able to indicate the general direction to go in. Further directions were sought from one of several painted ladies I passed and I found the hotel or at least a door with the sign ‘Melegano’ above it. What a relief; I had been travelling since 6.30 a.m. and it was now 1 a.m.

 

After repeated bell ringing the door was unlocked and opened by a sad- looking man with a very pale complexion, who was wearing a striped nightshirt and spectacles with very thick lenses. I showed him the letter, he looked at it and then said, “No English”, which I took to mean he could not understand or speak English. He did have a few words of English, such as ‘Hotel full’ and ‘you tomorrow’. It was clear that he was not going to invite me in or suggest any alternatives. As he closed and locked the door, I thought to myself ‘this is another fine mess I have got into’.

 

I decided the best thing to do was to return to the Railway Station and make use of the waiting room. The station is a very grand building with marble floors and many marble pillars supporting marble arches and the roof.  Even the benches in the waiting room were marble. It was fairly crowded in there but I got a bit of bench. Some people were stretched out on the benches sleeping soundly and snoring profusely; others were in sleeping bags on the floor; while some played cards, smoked and drank wine.

 

During the remainder of the night, I managed to doze off a couple of times. At about 7 a.m. there was a stir as the cafeteria at one side of the room began to open up. It took me some time to establish the system for obtaining some food. You had to go to the cash desk and pay for the items you wished to have. You then get a receipt which you present to the assistant behind the service counter. She then hands over the required item without having to touch the unhygienic money. I managed to get the equivalent of a buttery roll and a cup of coffee. 

 I could now relax a little, knowing my kit was on the bus and that my support was organised, so I went off to find some shade from the blazing sun. The temperature was about 32 degrees centigrade.

There was quite a carnival atmosphere with a band playing traditional music, and a group performing with huge whips which they cracked loudly.

I found some shady steps and sat down and began sipping from my pre-race bottle. While packing for the trip at home, I found that I was short of a few drinks bottles so I took whatever was available, including an empty half-bottle labelled Smirnoff Vodka. This served as my pre-race container.  

A reporter from one of the Italian Athletics magazines recognised me and began to ask for some information such as: how would I run in the race? How had I prepared? What did I think about Firenze? What did I think about Vito Mileto? Etc. As I had never heard of Mileto, he explained that this was the winner of the race last year and the year before that. Finally he asked what I was drinking on such a warm afternoon. Being in a rather flippant mood by now, I just pointed to the label on the half-bottle containing the colourless glucose polymer solution. He noted it down in his pad with a rather puzzled look on his face. Perhaps he thought it was a refinement of the carbohydrate loading diet.  

Once he had exhausted his questions and gone, I made my way to find a toilet, for a final pre-race check. These were hard to come by, but I managed to use the facilities in a café off the Piazza. On emerging from the café, a reporter with a camera crew from a local TV station recognised me and wanted to interview me. I was reluctant as it was now only fifteen minutes before departure time, but agreed when it was pointed out it would only take a few minutes. About five minutes later, the interview completed, I made my way to the start line, and observed that there appeared to be a lot less runners in the Piazza now. I reached the front row with a couple of minutes to spare. Ahead was the lead car containing the starter, who was standing so that his torso was protruding through the sun roof. He was holding a stopwatch in one hand and a raised flag in the other. On either side of the car were police motor cyclists who kept revving the engines of their Moto Guzzis impatiently. As the 4 p.m. start time grew closer and closer, the tension heightened as a sixty second countdown was started and the revving became more vigorous and more frequent. Suddenly the tension was released as the flag dropped and we surged forward, after the speeding car and the motor cyclists.  

After about 2 km I was joint leader with a tall thin Italian, and we continued to pull away from the rest. Just before the climb out of the city began at around 5 km, I was surprised to overtake some runners wearing race numbers. They were jogging and as we continued the 900 feet zigzag up to Fisole, we passed increasing numbers of these joggers. I could not understand how this had occurred. At first I thought that somehow we had gone off course and ended up doing a loop, and were now passing through the field. I abandoned this notion and decided that the less serious runners, who just wanted to complete the course before the cut-off time, midday tomorrow, had set off a little early. By the time I reached Fisole at 10 km, I must have passed about 1500 runners struggling on the stiff climb. My cyclist met me there and he gave me my first drink with an anxious look. “Prima fifteen minutes,” he said. “No, I am Prima,” I said. He repeated his information, and I suddenly realised that it was not only the joggers who had got underway prematurely.

I was furious, and immediately increased my pace. In my early days, I used to run handicap races: quarter, half and mile races at Highland Games, but I never dreamed that I would do a 101.5 km handicap race. The course now undulated and on sections I could see runners, not so many now, various distances ahead. As I caught these up one by one, it was obvious that they were not joggers. I began to think that my pace may be suicidal in the warm conditions, but these thoughts were ignored, and I continued my anger-driven charge.  

After Vetta le Croci at 23 km, and a height of 1560 feet, the route descends into the next valley, and there was some shade. At about 30 km I caught and passed one of the French runners. “You have a problem?” he asked as I swept past. I did not attempt to explain and simply grunted yes.  

In Borgo San Lorenzo at 35 km it seemed like the entire population had come out to cheer the runners on. The main street appeared to be completely full of people, but as one approached they moved apart, providing a metre-wide path to run along through theft cheering midst. What an inspiring atmosphere they created. I had never experienced anything like it before.     

On leaving Borgo, the climbing began again, a short sharp incline and then a gradual rise into the Appenines where the real hill climbing started. I could see the road ahead zigzag up the mountainside, terrace upon terrace. Now the sun was much lower in the sky and often blocked by the surrounding hills. I caught the Gennari brothers running together, and they shouted some encouragement as I passed. My cycling second was pleased with my progress, and kept calling me Daniel. He pointed up to the road a couple of terraces above, and indicated that there was the Prima. Next I caught and passed the Canadian, Chovinard, as we neared the top of the pass, at Colla di Casaglia, which was at 3000 feet.  

The top of the pass is at 52 km, and the remaining 49.5 km to the finish is almost entirely downhill, steep at first then gradual, until the flat plain is reached 5 km before Faenza. I let rip on the first downhill and soon caught the second, a Czechoslovakian, and gained on the leader, who was accompanied by a posse of cyclists, motor scooterists and others on mopeds.

I caught the leader, Vito Mileto, and swept past into the lead with about 45 km to run. I was running strongly, although my feet were very sore from the hot road and my quads were becoming very painful. Every 2 km there were marker boards indicating the distance to the finish, which I found quite comforting. As darkness fell at about 8 p.m., the entourage of bicycles, motor cycles, mopeds, scooters and cars, which I had acquired on assuming the lead, provided plenty of light, but too much company. The continual blowing of horns, general noise and exhaust fumes, especially from the two-stroke engines, became increasingly annoying, as I became more tired.  

We came to a level crossing with the barriers down, but some of the cyclists rushed ahead and opened them bodily. I had enough sense to check that the train was not too close before running across the rails. I passed through more towns, and it seemed that all the inhabitants had turned out to cheer the brave runners. There were bonfires and bands playing, which all contributed towards producing a really stimulating atmosphere.

A car with a TV film crew would draw alongside me every now and again, to make some recordings with the aid of some powerful spotlights. I was longing to be finished, but I had to be patient and just keep working away. At last I reached the final five kilometres of the race with the lights of Faenza clearly visible. Crowds of people lined the route over the last couple of kilometres, all cheering loudly. I actually had to jog the last 100 metres, as the TV crew had difficulty making its way through the crowds. At the finish, one had to run up a ramp on to a stage, so that one could be presented to the huge crowd gathered in the floodlit square. It was a marvellous few moments, which I will always treasure.

My feet were very painful, and my quads were not much better, so I requested some medical assistance. I was helped to the room where the medics had set up their centre.

After some foot repair work, I requested some aspirin to dull the discomfort I was experiencing. A couple of minutes later, a doctor appeared, bearing a fairly large syringe. This did not look like any aspirin I had ever seen, so I informed him that I wanted aspirin, not an anaesthetic. He assured me that it was indeed aspirin. I decided that I wasn’t feeling that bad after all and declined the medic  

After a shower, I was taken to the Hotel Vittoria, and on passing through the square I could see that a whole ox had been roasted on a spit. People were queuing to purchase roast beef rolls with salad, along with cups of red wine. At the hotel I consumed a large quantity of strawberries and ice cream, plus a few beers before trying to sleep.

The prize presentation was scheduled for midday on Sunday. Before this I got a note of the results: my time was 6.52.23; Mileto was next in 7.7.05; and Chauvinard third in 7.10.41. The times were good despite the heat; even the Italians said it was warm.

I bought some newspapers to see if there were race reports. One paper had a full page report on the race and had the headline: ‘Ad Uno Scozzese Amante delta Vodka Ia Centro Chilometri del Passatorie’. This and a further mention in the report referred to my pre-race bottle. I wondered how many Italian ultra runners would try this ‘method’ before their next 100 km.  

Prize presentation took place in the square, on the finishing stage in front of a large crowd, which had gathered to show their appreciation of the runners’ efforts. My award was a ceramic plaque, about one metre by three-quarters of a metre, portraying Passatorie in three dimensions. The other prize from the main sponsors, the wine company of the region, was one hundred bottles of wine: fifty each of Trebbiano and Sangiovese.  

This was rather unexpected, and I began to ponder how these might be transported back, or, alternatively disposed of.  With Giors Oneto’s help, the latter option was more feasible. The method of disposal was not novel, but was satisfactorily accomplished. 

‘Del Passatorie’ had been an unforgettable experience and a ‘good adventure’. All I had to do now was get back to Lossiemouth for work at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.”

 

Donald gave another very good interview to the RRC Magazine and he recently passed a copy to Colin Youngson who has sent it on for reproduction here.  He also wrote about his solo JOGLE of 1989 and it’s quite a story.   What he went through!   He’s a good writer and it is a good article.   The links are at the foot of the page.

Back to Front Page        Don’s Autobiography: The Stubborn Scotsman      Don’s RRC Interview          The 1989 Solo Jogle

 

DON RITCHIE: VETERAN CHAMPION
After my dear friend Donald died suddenly in June 2018, many impressive tributes and obituaries were published on both sides of the Atlantic. He was rightly celebrated as a modest, friendly, incredibly tough Scotsman who had been the greatest 20th Century ultra-distance runner, certainly in track or road events between 50km and 24 hours indoors. Do check online to learn more about Donald’s peak performances between 1977 and 1979 (when his age was 32-34).

For the SVHC Newsletter, I thought it would be appropriate to mention highlights of his ‘Masters’ running career.

In the M35 category he won important 100km titles, set Track World Records for 40 miles, 50 miles and 200km, ran two sub-2.20 marathons, represented Scotland (aged 39) at that distance and won the Two Bridges 36-mile road race.

Before his retirement from running in 2011, Donald secured another ten Scottish vests (four for marathon and six for 100km) and 17 British vests (eleven 100km and six 24 hours). His last Senior International appearance (aged 56) was in 2000.

His achievements, in Veteran age-groups from M40 to M55, were outstanding. Although he could do no better than 4th in the 1985 Scottish Masters cross-country and first M45 in the 1992 Lochaber/SVHC marathon, as an ultra-runner, Donald reigned supreme.

In the M40 category, he ran the 1985 London Marathon in 2.21.26; won 100km races in Lincolnshire and Turin; triumphed in the 1986 Two Bridges; won overall silver (and M40 gold) in the very first (1987) IAU World Championships 100km in Belgium; and was victorious in the Italian Del Passatorie classic (101.5 km) and the Moray Marathon. In 1988, Donald set 7 Scottish Indoor Track Records (from 40 miles to 144 miles 1009 yards) in the Kelvin Hall 24 hours race. In April 1989, he set a new record for the gruelling John o’Groats to Land’s End solo run: 846.4 miles in 10 days 15 hours 27 minutes.

As an M45, he had a marvellous race in the 1990 Road Runners Club 24 hours indoor event in Milton Keynes, winning the AAA, GB and International titles with a new World Record of 166 miles 425 yards (setting other new marks en route at 100 miles and 200km). Then Donald finished first in several other races: Lochaber Marathon, John Tarrant Memorial 50 miles, Lincolnshire 100km, Two Bridges 36 miles and Santander (Spain) 100km. Unsurprisingly, also in 1990, Donald had no difficulty in becoming the inaugural Scottish 100km track champion, establishing World M45 records. Aged 46, he secured his first GB vest in the IAU World Cup 100km in Duluth, USA.

More M45 achievements followed. Donald was first Veteran in the 1991 Madrid 100km; second GB team counter, contributing to bronze medals, in the Del Passatorie 100km World Cup; finished outright victor in the West Highland Way Race and the Tarrant 50 miles; and first Veteran in the Santander 100km. He became British 24 Hours outdoor track champion with a personal best of 166 miles 1203 yards, which was also an M45 World Best (at 100 miles, 200km and 24 hours).

By 1992, Donald had been awarded all the major Scottish Athletics trophies including the 1991 Donald McNab Robertson Trophy; and the 1992 George Dallas Memorial Trophy. That year he won the British 100km championship and retained his AAA 24 hours title. Then he finished first Veteran in the European 100km championships; and won the first Scottish 100km road championships at Riccarton, near Edinburgh. In 1993 he was second in the UK National 100km and also the AAA 100km. 1994 included 3rd place (and first M45) in the West Highland Way.

At M50, Donald continued to run well most of the time. In the 1994 Commonwealth Games demonstration 100km, which took place in Victoria, Canada, he was individual bronze medallist and first M50, contributing to Scottish team silver behind the host nation. In 1995, he set an M50 record in the Barry 40 miles track race; became European M50 champion over 100km; secured Scottish 100km M50 gold; for GB was first M50 in the IAU World Cup 100km in Holland; and set M50 World Track Records (for 50 miles and 100km) in a 24 Hours race in England.

Then on 5th December 1995, Queen Elizabeth presented Donald Alexander Ferguson Ritchie with the M.B.E. (Member of the British Empire) for services to Running and Charity.

In 1996, Donald was Scottish Captain for the 100km Anglo-Celtic Plate and won individual and team silver medals. Then diabetes was diagnosed and his running suffered. Nevertheless, he was second M50 in the European 100km.

In 1998, Donald was third M50 in the European 100km; and first GB counter in the IAU European 24 hours. In 1999 he was first M50 in the Speyside Way 50km; and the Scottish 50km championships; as well as running well for Scotland (5th overall) in the Dublin 100km Anglo-Celtic Plate.

In 2000, Donald set an M55 record in the Speyside Way 50km; and was second Veteran in the Scottish 50km. He was first M55 in the Flanders 100km and the Moray Marathon. He became M55 champion in the World Veterans 100km in Holland; and won his age group in the London to Brighton 55 miles road race. Then he was second GB finisher in the European 24 Hours in Holland and contributed to team bronze medals.

In 2001, Donald won his age group in the Barry 40 miles track. In 2002, he was first M55 in the London to Brighton. By the end of that year he was still averaging more than 100 miles training per week. His final win took place in 2003, when he won the Sri Chinmoy Track 24 Hours race in England.

Despite enduring several worsening health problems, Donald kept trying to run until 2011; and then during the last seven years travelled world-wide with his wife Isobel.

Donald Ritchie’s whole career training diaries (1962-2011) cover a thousand pages and note every mile run: an amazing total of 208 thousand 100.8 miles. Truly phenomenal!

Inevitably, this great athlete has been inducted into the Scottish Athletics Hall of Fame.

by Colin Youngson

Don Ritchie – Marathon Career Record                                            

No	Date	Venue	Position	Time	Winner (Club) Time
1	23 April 1966	Shettleston	5	2:43:25	Alastair Wood (Aberdeen) 2:24:00
2	28 May 1966	Glasgow (SAAA)	5	2:45:58	Charlie McAlinden (Babcock & Wilcox) 2:26:31
3	09 July 1966	Inverness-Forres	3	2:29:08	Alastair Wood (Aberdeen) 2:13:45
4	13 May 1967	Shettleston	3	2:29:59	Alastair Wood (Aberdeen) 2:23:02
5	24 June 1967	Grangemouth (SAAA)	2	2:27:48	Alastair Wood (Aberdeen) 2:21:26
6	08 July 1967	Inverness-Forres	2	2:35:00	Alastair Wood (Aberdeen) 2:16:16
7	11 May 1968	Shettleston	3	2:34:13	Alastair Wood (Aberdeen) 2:25:27
8	22 June 1968	Grangemouth (SAAA)	2	2:32:25	Alastair Wood (Aberdeen) 2:21:18
9	27 July 1968	Cwmbran (AAA)	33	2:44:23	Tim Johnston (Portsmouth) 2:15:26
10	22 June 1969	Edinburgh (SAAA)	DNF		Bill Stoddart  (Greenock Wellpark) 2:27:25
11	12 July 1969	Inverness-Forres	DNF		Alastair Wood (Aberdeen) 2:27:44
12	25 October 1969	Harlow	9	2:24:38	Alastair Wood (Aberdeen) 2:19:15
13	11 April 1970	Shettleston	2	2:25:44	Pat Maclagan (Victoria Park) 2:22:03
14	16 May 1970	Edinburgh (SAAA)	11	2:26:28	Jim Alder (Morpeth) 2:17:11
15	24 October 1970	Harlow	16	2:30:52	Alastair Wood (Aberdeen) 2:17:59
16	08 May 1971	Shettleston	2	2:23:31	Steve Taylor (Aberdeen) 2:23:25
17	26 June 1971	Edinburgh (SAAA)	4	2:28:39	Pat Maclagan (Victoria Park) 2:21:17
18	04 September 1971	Enschede (NED)	13	2:28:54	Bernie Allen (Windsor) 2:16:54
19	23 October 1971	Harlow	6	2:29:13	Dave Holt (Hercules Wimbledon) 2:18:22
20	13 May 1972	Edinburgh-North Berwick	1	2:24:26
21	08 July 1972	Inverness-Forres	1	2:33:00
22	25 July 1972	Helsinki (Finnish Champs)	8	2:33:37	Reino Paukkonen (Finland) 2:18:49
23	07 July 1973	Inverness-Forres	2	2:27:10	Alastair Wood (Aberdeen) 2:22:29
24	01 September 1973	Enschede (NED)	9	2:25:37	Ron Hill (Bolton) 2:18:06
25	27 October 1973	Harlow (AAA)	DNF		Ian Thompson (Luton) 2:12:40
26	04 May 1974	Rugby (AAA)	6	2:28:27	Jeff Norman (Altrincham) 2:19:37
27	22 June 1974	Edinburgh (SAAA)	DNF		Don MacGregor (Fife) 2:18:08
28	01 December 1974	Barnsley	DNF		John Newsome (Wakefield) 2:24:25
29	30 August 1975	Enschede (NED)	73	2:54:38	Ron Hill (Bolton) 2:15:59
30	08 May 1976	Rotherham (AAA)	45	2:29:30	Barry Watson (Cambridge) 2:15:08
31	22 July 1978	Pietarsaari (FIN)	9	2:29:39	Jorma Sippola (Finland) 2:20:57
32	13 May 1979	Coventry (AAA)	31	2:35:10	Greg Hannon (Northern Ireland) 2:13:06
33	21 October 1979	New York (USA)	154	2:36:43	Bill Rodgers (USA) 2:11:42
34	28 September 1980	Aberdeen	20	2:42:53	Graham Laing (Aberdeen) 2:19:33
35	27 September 1981	Aberdeen	15	2:30:33	Max Coleby (England) 2:21:29
36	24 October 1981	Black Isle	2	2:33:38	Dave Geddes (Garscube) 2:29:58
37	18 July 1982	Thurso	1	2:30:53
38	15 August 1982	Elgin	1	2:29:36
39	19 September 1982	Aberdeen	7	2:24:00	Gerry Helme (England) 2:15:16
40	23 October 1982	Black Isle	1	2:24:28
41	17 April 1983	London (AAA)	90	2:19:35	Mike Gratton (invicta) 2:09:43
42	26 June 1983	Loch Rannoch	5	2:28	George Reynolds (Aberdeen) 2:24:09
43	17 July 1983	Thurso	4	2:37:04	Dave Clark (Verlea) 2:20:34
44	14 August 1983	Elgin	1	2:36:11
45	18 September 1983	Aberdeen	9	2:25:20	Kevin Johnson (England) 2:19:01
46	22 October 1983	Black Isle	1	2:26:07
47	29 April 1984	Dundee	5	2:19:58	Don MacGregor (Fife) 2:18:16
48	13 May 1984	London (AAA)	73	2:21:33	Charlie Spedding (Gateshead) 2:09:57
49	15 July 1984	Thurso	1	2:31:25
50	12 August 1984	Elgin	1	2:29:19	Don Ritchie (Forres) 2:29:17
51	16 September 1984	Aberdeen	9	2:26:35	Mark Burnhope (England) 2:19:36
52	21 April 1985	London (AAA)	77	2:21:26	Steve Jones (RAF) 2:08:16
53	28 April 1985	Dundee	7	2:26:35	Murray McNaught (Fife) 2:20:25
54	19 May 1985	Motherwell	4	2:28:04	Charlie MacDougall (East Kilbride) 2:26:53
55	11 August 1985	Elgin	DNF		Graham Flatters (Dundee Hawkhill) 2:41:15
56	15 September 1985	Aberdeen	38	2:57:43	Dave Catlow (England) 2:22:54
57	20 April 1986	London (AAA)	211	2:30:43	Toshihiko Seko (Japan) 2:10:02
58	25 May 1986	Aberdeen	9	2:36:53	Ray Maule (England) 2:22:56
59	10 August 1986	Elgin	1	2:36:45
60	21 September 1986	Glasgow	25	2:26:50	Kenny Stuart (England) 2:14:04
61	01 November 1986	Black Isle	1	2:28:38
62	24 May 1987	Aberdeen	11	2:34:27	Ian Corrin (England) 2:27:42
63	09 August 1987	Elgin	1	2:31:50
64	31 October 1987	Black Isle	4	2:42:31	Rod Bell (Dundee Hawkhill) 2:35:18
65	24 April 1988	Lochaber (SAAA)	2	2:30:26	Colin Martin (Dumbarton) 2:30:09
66	22 May 1988	Aberdeen	11	2:29:50	Hammy Cox (Scotland) 2:21:15
67	29 October 1988	Black Isle	2	2:34:56	Mike Ryan (Dundee Hawkhill) 2:34:30
68	28 May 1989	Aberdeen	11	2:41:42	Ian Bloomfield (England) 2:22:30
69	06 August 1989	Elgin	4	2:44:54	Charlie McIntyre (Fraserburgh) 2:31:58
70	22 April 1990	Lochaber	1	2:34:01
71	27 May 1990	Aberdeen (SAAA)	7	2:31:00	Chris Tall (England) 2:23:32
72	05 August 1990	Elgin	5	2:35:47	Erik Seedhouse (City of Hull) 2:28:29
73	03 November 1990	Black Isle	2	2:37:55	John Duffy (Shettleston) 2:31:16
74	21 April 1991	Lochaber	3	2:30:40	Jim Cooper (Springburn) 2:28:34
75	12 May 1991	Dundee	6	2:32:03	Hugh Mackay (Fife) 2:26:03
76	04 August 1991	Elgin	2	2:46:13	Ron Kirkton (Milburn) 2:38:18
77	02 November 1991	Black Isle	4	2:45:45	Fraser Clyne (Aberdeen) 2:27:18
78	26 April 1992	Lochaber	3	2:38:42	Colin Youngson (Aberdeen) 2:36:23
79	02 August 1992	Elgin (SAAA)	15	2:54:45	Fraser Clyne (Metro Aberdeen) 2:25:38
80	31 October 1992	Black Isle	2	2:42:08	Andy Stirling (Bo’ness) 2:36:15
81	02 April 1995	London (AAA)	551	2:46:45	Dionicio Ceron (Mexico) 2:08:30
82	23 April 1995	Lochaber	9	2:42:47	John Duffy (Shettleston) 2:31:19
83	03 September 1995	Elgin	8	2:43:51	Alan Reid (Fraserburgh) 2:34:43
84	01 September 1996	Elgin	DNF		Allan Stewart (Moray RR) 2:37:15
85	07 September 1997	Elgin	DNF		Fraser Clyne (Metro Aberdeen) 2:29:37
86	06 September 1998	Elgin	16	3:08:54	Simon Pride (Keith & District) 2:29:04
87	25 April 1999	Lochaber	15	2:55:17	Simon Pride (Keith & District) 2:24:24
88	08 August 1999	Gateshead (World Vets)	90	2:59:24	Tony Duffy (Bolton) 2:23:25
89	05 September 1999	Elgin	7	3:04:30	David Lancaster (Rowntrees York)2:46:37
90	30 April 2000	Lochaber	10	2:53:43	David Rodgers (Lochaber) 2:28:53
91	20 August 2000	Glasgow	61	2:58:25	Wilson Cheruiyot (Kenya) 2:22:45
92	03 September 2000	Elgin (SAAA)	11	2:57:18	Simon Pride (Keith & District) 2:21:17
93	28 April 2002	Lochaber (SAAA)		3:31:08	Jamie Reid (Cambuslang) 2:21:46
94	27 April 2003	Lochaber		3:15:41	John Duffy (Shettleston) 2:41:22
95	06 July 2003	Perth (AUS)	62	3:26:21	Sandy Burt (Australia) 2:42:21
96	31 August 2003	Elgin (SAAA)	52	3:32:27	Jamie Reid (Cambuslang) 2:34:08
97	29 August 2004	Elgin	53	3:35:30	Simon Pride (Metro Aberdeen) 2:36:49
98	24 April 2005	Lochaber	241	4:06:32	John Duffy (Shettleston) 2:42:15

                                                                                  

DON RITCHIE – ULTRA CAREER RECORD

 

No	Date	Venue	Pos	Time	Winner (Club) Time
1	22 August 1970	Two Bridges 36.2m	7	3:50:50	Phil Hampton (Royal Navy) 3:41:18
2	24 August 1974	Two Bridges 36.2m	5	3:36:58	Jim Wight (Edinburgh AC) 3:26:31
3	29 September 1974	London – Brighton 52.7m	3	5:24:54	John Newsome (Wakefield) 5:16:07
4	02 November 1974	Walton-on-Thames track 30 m	2	2:49:33	Mick Molloy (Ireland) 2:44:47 WR
5	19 June 1976	Lairig Ghru 28 trail	DNF		Andy Pratt (RAF) 3:12:40
6	30 April 1977	Epsom 50 km track	1	2:51:38	World Best
7	25 June 1977	Hillingdon 50 km track	1	2:51:42
8	27 August 1977	Two Bridges 36.2m	2	3:28:34	Cavin Woodward (Leamington) 3:27:10
9	25 September 1977	London – Brighton 52.9m	1	5:16:05
10	15 October 1977	Crystal Palace Track 24 hours	DNF		Tom Roden (SLH) 156m 439y Don Ritchie 100 miles 11:30:51 WR
11	30 June 1978	Hartola (FIN) 100 km	1	6:18:00
12	29 July 1978	Woodford-Southend 40 miles	2	3:59:35	Cavin Woodward (Leamington) 3:50:14
13	26 August 1978	Two Bridges 36.2m	5	3:32:49	Cavin Woodward (Leamington) 3:24:45
14	01 October 1978	London – Brighton 53.5m	1	5:13:02
15	28 October 1978	Crystal Palace Track 100km	1	6:10:20	WR
16	10 March 1979	Altrincham Track 50 km	1	2:50:30	WR
17	28 April 1979	Ewell Track 40 Miles	1	3:54:07
18	26 May 1979	Del Passatore (ITA) 101.5 km	1	6:52:33
19	15 June 1979	Flushing Meadows (USA) 100 ml	1	11:51:11
20	30 September 1979	London – Brighton 54.3m	DNF		Allan Kirik (USA) 5:32:37
21	27 October 1979	Crystal Palace Track 24 hours	DNF		Dave Jones (Blackburn) 153m1143y
22	06 April 1980	Niort (FRA) 50 km	3	3:05:44	Martin Daykin (Gloucester) 2:58:47
23	04 May 1980	Torino-St Vincent (ITA) 100 km	1	6:35:00
24	24 May 1980	Del Passatore (ITA) 101.5 km	1	6:54:14
25	07 June 1980	Oulu (FIN) 50 miles	DNF		Risto Laitinen (Finland) 5:03:16
26	04 April 1981	Niort (FRA) 50 km	2	2:55:29	Pattrjk Macke (Grantham) 2:53:05
27	30 May 1981	Del Passatore (ITA) 101.5 km	DNF		Vito Mileto (Italy) 6:53:15
28	10 October 1981	Copthall / RRC Track 24 hours	DNF		Mark Pickard (Epsom & E) 163m 1249y
29	29 May 1982	Del Passatore (ITA) 101.5 km	DNF		Luciano Ceni (Italy) 7:29:53
30	19 June 1982	Altrincham Track 24 hours	DNF		Dave Cooper (Cambridge) 147m 1083y
31	11 July 1982	Pistoia-Abetone 53 km	11	4:05:15	Sergio Pozzi (Italy) 3:30:58
32	25 September 1982	Santander (ESP) 100 km	1	6:28:11
33	16 October 1982	Copthall / RRC Track 100 km	DNF		Peter Sugden (Reading) 7:07:22 Don Ritchie 40 miles 3:48:35 WR
34	12 March 1983	Copthall / RRC Track 50 miles	1	4:51:49	WR
35	28 May 1983	Del Passatore (ITA) 101.5 km	DNF		Mauro Cillia (Italy) 6:57:08
36	27 August 1983	Two Bridges 36.2m	1	3:34:39
37	25 September 1983	London – Brighton 53.6m	3	5:24:23	Bruce Fordyce (South Africa) 5:12:32
38	29 October 1983	Coatbridge Track 24 hours	DNF		Dave Cooper (Cambridge) 151m 1098y Don Ritchie 200km 16:32:30 WR
39	25 February 1984	Manx Airlines 40 miles road	1	3:53:14
40	03 June 1984	Edinburgh-Glasgow 50 miles	1	5:03:44
41	24 June 1984	Lincolnshire 100 km	1	6:48:15
42	25 August 1984	Two Bridges 36.2m	2	3:34:47	Barry Heath (Royal Marines) 3:31:46
43	07 October 1984	London – Brighton 53.5m	2	5:28:27	Barry Heath (Royal Marines) 5:24:15
44	24 November 1984	Coatbridge Track 24 hours	3	136m1390y	Dave Cooper (Cambridge) 148m 247y
45	23 February 1985	Manx Airlines 50 kms road	3	2:56:39	Jeff Norman (Altrincham) 2:53:21
46	23 June 1985	Lincolnshire 100 km	1	6:47:40
47	13 July 1985	Solihull Track 24 hrs	12	116m 528y	Martin Daykin (Gloucester) 152m 713y
48	03 November 1985	Geneva (SUI) 100 km	DNF		Vaclav Kamenik (Czech) 6:23:49
49	01 March 1986	Manx Airlines 50 kms road	3	3:06:48	Jeff Norman (Altrincham) 2:53:26
50	04 May 1986	Turin-St Vincent (ITA) 100 km	1	6:36:02
51	22 June 1986	Lincolnshire 100 km	1	7:02:46
52	23 August 1986	Two Bridges 36.2m	1	3:36:37
53	04 October 1986	Santander (ESP) 100 km	2	6:47:49	Domingo Catalan (Spain) 6:32:09
54	28 February 1987	Manx Airlines 50 kms road	2	2:57:00	Jeff Norman (Altrincham) 2:55:15
55	30 May 1987	Del Passatore (ITA) 101.5 km	8	7:47:08	Jean Marc Bellocq (France) 6:52:42
56	20 June 1987	Tourhout (BEL) 100 km (World)	2	6:40:51	Domingo Catalan (Spain) 6:19:35
57	29 August 1987	Two Bridges 36.2m	3	3:41:19	Charlie Trayer (USA) 3:36:27
58	03 October 1987	Santander (ESP) 100 km	2	6:43:58	Domingo Catalan (Spain) 6:36:32
59	16 October 1987	Cagliari-Sassari (ITA) 254 km	5	25:28:51	Milan Furin (Czech) 23:59:11
60	27 February 1988	Manx Airlines 50 kms road	2	3:02:47	Jeff Norman (Altrincham) 2:58:27
61	28 May 1988	Del Passatore (ITA) 101.5 km	4	6:56:03	Normano Di Gennaro (Italy) 6:37:10
62	19 June 1988	Lincolnshire 100 km	DNF		Paul Taylor (Woodstock) 7:41:45
63	19 November 1988	Kelvin Hall Indoor Track 24 hrs	1	144m 1009y
64	25 June 1989	Paris (FRA) 100 km (World)	13	7:21:32	Bruno Scelsi (France) 6:47:06
65	16 July 1989	Hereford 50 miles	3	5:43:14	Martin Daykin (Hereford C) 5:27:55
66	26 August 1989	Two Bridges 36.2m	9	3:55:07	Mick McGeoch (Les Croups) 3:36:02
67	07 October 1989	Santander (ESP) 100 km	2	6:51:14	Luis Saraiva (Portugal) 6:46:10
68	03 February 1990	Milton Keynes Indoor Track 24 hrs	1	166m 425y	World Indoor Best: 100ml, 200km, 24hr
69	01 April 1990	Madrid (ESP) 100 km	5	7:11:49	Luis Saraiva (Portugal) 6:48:34
70	03 June 1990	Holme Pierrepoint 100km (AAA)	1	6:46:29
71	24 June 1990	Livingston Track 100km (SAAA)	1	6:46:10
72	15 July 1990	Hereford 50 miles	1	5:29:50
73	22 July 1990	Lincolnshire 100 km	1	7:12:17
74	25 August 1990	Two Bridges 36.2m	1	3:38:00
75	06 October 1990	Santander (ESP) 100 km	1	6:40:23
76	27 October 1990	Duluth (USA) 100 km (World)	10	7:11:14	Roland Vuillemenot (France) 6:34:02
77	07 April 1991	Madrid (ESP) 100 km	4	6:54:10	Valmir Nunes (Brazil) 6:35:41
78	25 May 1991	Del Passatore (ITA) 100 km (World)	8	7:13:26	Valmir Nunes (Brazil) 6:35:36
79	02 June 1991	Holme Pierrepoint 100km (AAA)	3	6:56:55	Erik Seedhouse (City of Hull) 6:42:02
80	21 June 1991	Tourhout (BEL) 100 km	5	6:52:09	John Paul Praet (Belgium) 6:33:51
81	30 June 1991	Lairig Ghru 28 miles trial	10	4:06:32	Ben Preece (Aberdeen) 3:27:45
82	06 July 1991	West Highland Way 95 miles trial	1	19:44:11
83	21 July 1991	Hereford 50 miles	1	5:40:15
84	24 August 1991	Two Bridges 36.2m	2	3:41:28	Andy Stirling (Bo’ness) 3:41:04
85	05 October 1991	Santander (ESP) 100 km	5	6:49:13	Valmir Nunes (Brazil) 6:36:53
86	26 October 1991	Copthall Track 24 hrs (AAA)	1	166m 1203y
87	16 February 1992	Palamos (ESP) 100 km (World)	39	7:34:21	Konstantin Santalov (Russia) 6:23:35
88	05 April 1992	Madrid (ESP) 100 km	14	7:44:49	Konstantin Santalov (Russia) 6:42:22
89	03 May 1992	Barcelona (ESP) 100 km	9	6:57:31	Konstantin Santalov (Russia) 6:22:28
90	31 May 1992	Holme Pierrepoint 100km (AAA)	1	6:51:54
91	19 June 1992	Tourhout (BEL) 100 km	15	7:12:33	John Paul Praet (Belgium) 6:24:46
92	12 July 1992	Hereford 50 miles	2	5:56:15	Tony Lenagan (Wigan Phoenix) 5:45:26
93	08 August 1992	Birmingham 24 hrs track (AAA)	1	161m 1521y
94	29 August 1992	Two Bridges 36.2m	11	4:00:52	Peter Baxter (Pitreavie) 3:47:48
95	12 September 1992	Winschoten (NED) 100km (Euro)	7	6:52:20	John Paul Praet (Belgium) 6:16:41 WR
96	27 September 1992	Edinburgh 100 km (SAAA)	1	7:01:27
97	03 October 1992	Barcelona-Madrid Stage Race	DNF		Konstantin Santalov (Russia) 40:39:29
98	27 February 1993	New York 100 km (US Champ)	9	7:53:23	Valmir Nunes (Brazil) 6:45:35
99	01 May 1993	Basel (SUI) 24 hr (European)	DNF		Nikolai Safin (Russia) 164m
100	22 May 1993	Holme Pierrepoint 100km (AAA)	2	7:09:40	Greg Dell (Vale of Aylesbury) 6:58:50
101	29 May 1993	Feltham 24 hours (AAA)	2	129m 932y	Mike Aris (Ealing & S) 142m1205y
102	27 June 1993	Lake Saroma (JAP) 100 km	14	8:02:38	Toshiro Kashihara (Japan) 6:43:14
103	08 August 1993	Torhout (BEL) 100 km (World)	DNF		Konstantin Santalov (Russia) 6:26:26
104	03 April 1994	Speyside Way 50 km trail	6	3:31:06	Fraser Clyne (Metro Aberdeen) 3:02:07
105	21 May 1994	Szeged (HUN) 24 hour (Euro)	9	138m 340y	Janos Bogar (Hungary) 162m 508y
106	18 June 1994	West Highland Way (short)	3	14 hr 46min	Brian Davidson (Citadel) 13 hr 41 min
107	31 August 1994	Victoria (CAN) 100 km	3	7:29:46	Stefan Feckner (Canada) 6:54:31
108	22 October 1994	Tooting Bec 24 hours track	1	147m 314y
109	05 March 1995	Barry 40 miles track	2	4:21:34	Robin Gardner (Woodstock) 4:17:46
110	16 April 1995	Speyside Way 50 km trail	3	3:26:25	Peter Baxter (Pitreavie) 3:23:11
111	27 May 1995	Chavanges (FRA) 100km (Euro)	18	7:16:17	Jaraslov Janicki (Poland) 6:28:36
112	17 June 1995	West Highland Way 95 miles trail	3	20:46:43	Dave Wallace (Harmeny) 17:43:30
113	30 July 1995	Edinburgh 100 km (SAAA)	3	7:34:30	Stephen Moore (Hertford &W) 7:17:47
114	16 September 1995	Winschoten (NED) 100 km (World)	37	7:09:49	Valmir Nunes (Brazil) 6:18:09
115	14 October 1995	Tooting Bec 24 hours track	21	62m 1116y	Mike Aris (100 km Assoc) 132m 765y Don Ritchie: 50mile 5:37:17 and 100km 7:07:29 World M50 bests
116	22 June 1996	West Highland Way 95 miles trail	7	22:11:24	Dave Wallace (Harmeny) 18:36:22
117	21 July 1996	Edinburgh 100 km (Anglo CP)	2	7:38:15	Stephen Moore (England) 7:17:16
118	25 August 1996	Cleder (FRA) 100 km (Euro)	64	8:11:20	Jaraslav Janicki (Poland) 6:33:39
119	02 March 1997	Barry 40 miles track	5	4:23:28	Simon Pride (Keith & District) 3:54:24
120	20 July 1997	Edinburgh 100 km (SAAA)	DNF		Stephen Moore (Hertford &W) 7:04:22
121	11 October 1997	Tooting Bec 24 hours track	9	112m 1489y	Jaroslav Kocourek (CZE)150m 1727y
122	12 April 1998	Speyside Way 50 km trail	10	3:58:32	Simon Pride (Keith & District) 3:19:59
123	10 May 1998	Greenwich 100 km (Anglo CP)	3	7:41:28	Stephen Moore (England) 6:57:33
124	19 June 1998	Torhout (BEL) 100 km (Euro)	50	7:59:38	Grigoriy Murzin (Russia) 6:23:29
125	19 July 1998	Edinburgh 100 km (SAAA)	DNF		Mark Guichard (100 km Assoc) 7:50:35
126	29 August 1998	Lille (FRA) 24 hour (Euro)	11	145m 804y	Lucien Taelman (Belgium) 166m 583y
127	12 September 1998	Winschoten (NED) 100 km(World Vets)	37	8:53:10	Andrzej Magier (Poland) 6:59:50
128	18 October 1998	Nakamura (JAP) 100 km (World)	48	10:43:42	Grigoriy Murzin (Russia) 6:30:06
129	07 March 1999	Barry 40 miles track	23	5:19:56	Simon Pride (Keith & District) 3:53:55
130	11 April 1999	Speyside Way 50 km trail	13	3:44:44	Simon Pride (Keith & District) 3:02:20
131	09 May 1999	Glenrothes 50 km (SAAA)	11	3:34:48	Alan Reid (Peterhead) 3:12:48
132	19 June 1999	Dublin 100 km (Anglo Celtic P)	5	7:35:29	Stephen Moore (England) 6:56:27
133	18 July 1999	Edinburgh 100 km (SAAA)	DNF		William Sichel (Moray RR) 7:32:19
134	25 September 1999	Verona (ITA) 24 hour track (Euro)	5	138m 399y	Yiannis Kouros (Guest) 163m 1y
135	05 March 2000	Barry 40 miles track	6	4:44:09	Chris Finill (Harrow) 4:21:57
136	16 April 2000	Speyside Way 50 km trail	10	3:43:32	Alan Reid (Peterhead) 3:12:20
137	14 May 2000	Glenrothes 50 km (SAAA)	7	3:33:04	Alan Reid (Peterhead) 3:07:42
138	16 June 2000	Torhout (BEL) 100 km	18	8:05:10	Farid Ganiev (Russia) 6:33:19
139	09 September 2000	Winschoten (NED) 100 km (World)	61	7:54:45	Pascal Fetizon (France) 6:23:15
140	01 October 2000	London-Brighton 55.0m	8	7:07:03	Sarel Ackermann (RSA) 5:56:50
141	21 October 2000	Uden (NED) 24 hour track (Euro)	17	136m 1476y	Lubomir Hrmo (Slovakia) 161m 185y
142	04 March 2001	Barry 40 miles track	9	4:53:07	Alan Reid (Peterhead) 4:11:45
143	03 March 2002	Barry 40 miles track	16	5:31:50	Mikk Bradley (Watford) 4:20:03
144	07 April 2002	Moreton-in-Marsh 100 km (AAA)	18	11:12:15	Dennis Walmsley (Bourton) 7:07:39
145	12 May 2002	Glenrothes 50 km (SAAA)	11	4:05:49	Terry Mitchell (Fife) 3:16:18
146	06 October 2002	London-Brighton 54.1m	23	8:12:20	Brian Hennessey (Crawley) 6:00:57
147	20 October 2002	Crystal Palace Track 100 miles	DNF		Oleg Kharitonov (Russia) 11:28:03
148	02 March 2003	Barry 40 miles track	20	5:38:03	Brian Hennessey (Crawley) 4:13:10
149	11 May 2003	Glenrothes 50 km (SAAA)	14	4:09:02	Dennis Walmsley (Bourton) 3:08:37
150	31 May 2003	Apeldoorn (NED) 24 hour		81m 630y	Etienne Van Acker (Belgium) 157m 446y
151	27 September 2003	Verona (ITA) 50 km		4:17:44	Mario Fattore (Italy) 3:06:00
152	11 October 2003	Tooting Bec 24 hours track	1	117m 951y
153	07 March 2004	Barry 40 miles track	17	6:05:29	Brian Cole (Royal Marines) 4:08:16
154	09 October 2004	Tooting Bec 24 hours track	19	84m 1504y	Ken Fancett (Beckenham) 133m 801y

           

 

Don Ritchie finishing the E-G Point to Point

The following article and interview was given to Colin Youngson by Don Ritchie and we thank him for it.   It is a fascinating insight into the man and as it says, his book will surely have to be published.

Back to Don Ritchie

Don Ritchie finishing the E-G Point to Point

The following article and interview was given to Colin Youngson by Don Ritchie and we thank him for it.   It is a fascinating insight into the man and as it says, his book will surely have to be published.

Back to Don Ritchie

Donald in the 1984 Two Bridges

The seed of the ambition to run from the most Northerly point on the island of Great Britain, John O’Groats, to the Southern extremity, Land’s End, was sown in my mind many years ago. On long Sunday runs in the late 60’s with Alistair Wood and Steve Taylor, we used to periodically discuss the possibility of an “end to end” relay run. Enthusiasm for the relay grew, and in April 1972 I was part of the eight man Aberdeen A.A.C. team which completed the John O’Groats to Land’s End (J.O.G.L.E.) run, estimated at 867 miles, in 80 hours, 25 minutes, some 45 minutes outside the record set by Reading A.C. in1967. Using the experience gained, Aberdeen A.A.C. improved on Reading’s record by 23 minutes, the following April, but I was not able to participate in this “adventure”. The idea lived on, and in April 1982 I was part of a very strong Aberdeen A.A.C. team, which reduced the record to: 77 hours, 26 minutes and 18 seconds.

Since then the idea of a solo run grew steadily stronger, until in June 1986, I decided to plan an attempt during our two-week Easter Holidays from School and College in 1987. Both of my parents had died of cancer: my father in 1985, and my mother in 1986, so the time seemed right to attempt the run, and raise funds for cancer research, through sponsorship. After months of planning, my attempt began at 7.00am on the 5^th April at Land’s End. I had decided to start there, to make use of the prevailing wind, which in April is from the West, and the “homing pigeon” effect. My support team consisted of: Graham Milne, co-ordinator for the run, Peter Chalmers, in charge of navigation, Mike Francis, who looked after my requirements on the road, and Malcolm Morgan, (magic Morgan), the head physiotherapist from Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.

I set a schedule for ten days, and my strategy was to run for one hour, and then walk for five minutes, before running another hour, continuing in this fashion until 1.00pm, when I would take a break of one hour. The afternoon and early evening would be similar. On the first day I finished in the town of Lifton, having covered 83 miles in 12 hours, 44 minutes of running and walking.

Next morning I set off in pouring rain which was miserable. Mike and I got lost in Taunton, which wasted time and energy. I ended the day in Bridgwater, having covered 80 miles, plus 1 mile in the wrong direction. Day three started well; the sun was shining, the road was flat for about 16 miles, and I felt quite good. However many miles later in the early evening between Monmouth and Hereford my attempt floundered. I was running down a steep hill before St. Weonards when suddenly a severe pain developed in my lower left leg, making further running impossible. Treatment from Malcolm that evening proved ineffective. Next day was a miserable experience; walking, or rather, limping along at less than 4 miles per hour. At Hope under Dinmore, which I reached in the late afternoon I abandoned the attempt, after consultation with Malcolm, who could see no chance of the injury improving. Later the injury was diagnosed as a stress fracture in tibia.

I made a complete recovery from this, and wanted to try the J.O.G.L.E. run again. However, before committing myself, I wanted to give my leg a good test, so I accepted the invitation to run in the Cagliari to Sassari race of 254Km in Sardinia, on 17^th October. I completed the run in 25hr 28min 51s, with no leg problems, apart from the normal one of not being able to move them quickly enough.

Having passed this test I decided to make a second attempt, starting on the 11^th of July from Land’s End. Everything was set up for the attempt, so it was a bitter blow to all involved when the attempt had to be postponed on the of 19^th June. On this day, soon after the start of a 100Km race in Lincoln, I collided with another runner and fell very badly, onto the pavement. I fractured my left patella, and had to endure the next three and a half weeks with my left leg in plaster, from groin to ankle. Following the plaster removal, after daily physiotherapy and muscle strengthening exercises, I regained full bending movement in my knee, but my leg looked rather like a stork’s. I was able to start jogging on 7^th August, and progressed to full training by 12^th September. I wanted to test my knee to see if I could contemplate another J.O.G.L.E. run the following Easter. I ran the Black Isle marathon on 29^th September in 2-34-56 with no ill effects, except increased discomfort and ache in my knee for a few hours after the race. Then on 19/20^th November I ran in the indoor (200m track) 24hr race in the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, and managed 144miles 1009yds. My knee was no problem during the run, but did swell with fluid for a few days after.

I decided that I was sound enough to plan another attempt for 1989, again in our two-week Easter Holidays from School and College; this time I planned to go from John O’Groats. My reasoning was; it is much easier to get to John O’Groats from Lossiemouth, my home, and in the event of my knee giving out, which I thought might happen after three days if at all, it would not be so far to get home. There was, however, more likelihood of head winds going this way. I set up the attempt to begin on the first of April at 12noon (no longer an April fool), which was the first day of our two weeks Easter holiday from School and College. My support team consisted of: Isobel, my wife, Donald Gunn and Mike Francis, both team mates from Forres Harriers, George Stewart, plus Claire and Anna, our family. Isobel assisted by George was to tow our caravan, provide meals, wash kit, and make a video record of parts of the run when she got a chance. Mike took responsibility for route finding and keeping the logbook, while Donald was to administer massage after each running session. They would also both collect names and addresses for the witness book, as required by the Guinness Book of Records, should I break the record, as planned.

As on my previous attempt I decided to use my run to raise funds for the Cancer Research Campaign. Sponsor forms were distributed to Lossiemouth High School by; Izzy, to Moray College by me and others given to family and running pals to elicit donations.

On my first attempt two years earlier the ‘confirmed’ record for the end-to-end was 12 days 1 hour and 59 minutes, by Ken Craig, a Scot living in South Africa, who ran between 29^th August and 10^th September 1984. Fred Hicks had claimed to complete the run of 876 miles between the 20^th and 30^th of May, 1977 in 10 days 3 hours and 30 minutes. The Guinness Book of records included his claim before introducing requirements for documentary evidence: log book and record of ‘sightings’. Since then the record for the run had been improved on two occasions. On the 28^th of June 1988, Al Howie from Saltcoats in Ayrshire, but who lived in Victoria, Canada, completed his run from John O’Groats to Lands End in 11 days, 3 hours and 18 minutes. This improved the existing record by 22 hours and 41 minutes. In a letter to Albert Middleton, the manager of the Co-op in Buckie, who had given Al food for his run, he said ‘Beside the running the main problems were the traffic and the ever changing weather’. Richard Brown, although primarily a race walker, had used a combination of race walking and running to reduce the record time to; 10 days 18 hours and 23 minutes, so this was the time that I had to attempt to beat.

One of Isobel’s pupils, Julie Walker, was eager to help with fund raising and through her enthusiasm, her father, Stuart Walker, who operated a taxi service in Lossiemouth, agreed to be the ‘link’ person. I arranged that at the end of each day’s run, either Mick or Donald would telephone Stuart with information on my current progress. Stuart would then pass this information to appropriate contacts when they telephoned for ‘latest information’

On Friday the 31^st of March, after work we set off for Golspie, where we were to stay at Donald’s parent’s holiday cottage. Mike and Donald drove a minibus, supplied by our main sponsor, “The Macallan” whisky distillers. I had all the seating removed except that for the driver and passenger, so that it could easily carry all our provisions, kit and a bicycle, and also so that I could lie out in it for massage.

Overnight Mike developed severe toothache, so he and Donald set out early to try to find a dentist in Wick, while we made our way to John O’Groats some time later. My plan was to ease into the run by starting with a half day, and would run to Brora. At John O’Groats it was bitterly cold, and a strong South East wind blowing, so a wet suit, hat and gloves were necessary. Mike and Donald arrived about 30 minutes before noon, having found a dentist in Wick, who fixed Mike’s tooth for free as his contribution to our run, which by was known as “Ritchie’s Run 89”.

Nine friends and supporters turned up before the start, to wish me luck and see me off, which I greatly appreciated. I planned to start to start exactly on the 12 noon time signal from a B.B.C. radio station, but I selected the wrong station on the car radio in the excitement, and there was no time signal, so my actual departure time was 12.02.

I set off to cheer and was soon alone, tackling the first of many hills, running into a strong head wind in this very exposed region, and I wondered what the next ten days would bring. To try to minimise stress, and hopefully avoid injury I had decided that I would not run for more than three hours in a session, and that I would have at least 30 minutes break between sessions. I intended to run 3 times 3 hour sessions, followed by 2 times 2 hour sessions, plus whatever else was necessary to complete the target mileage if it was practical. During the 30minute rest I would change kit, and shoes if necessary, take food and drink, and receive a massage and stretching routine from Donald. Malcolm Morgan had demonstrated the techniques on me a few weeks before, while Donald and Mike observed, and Isobel made a video recording for reference. To gain skill, we think that Donald practiced massaging his girlfriend’s legs.

After I had covered about three miles, Donald and Mike began running alternate miles with me, to try giving me some protection from the wind, on the exposed road to Reiss. Soon Wick was reached, and we passed through with some encouragement from local people. I stopped at Thrumster for my first rest period, which passed quite slowly, but I was sure that this would not be the case later in the run. I continued down the undulating A9 road, which afforded some spectacular views of cliffs, sea and mountains. At the Berriedale Braes I was very cautious of the steep descent, fearful that excessive jarring might provoke another stress fracture, so I walked down the steepest part, a practice I would continue on all future steep downhills. The climb from Berriedale was O.K., and there were several other stiff climbs, before the descent to Helmsdale at sea level again. From there the road is almost flat, and I could see the lights of Brora, eleven miles away. This section appeared to take a long time to complete; it was quite annoying seeing the lights, which did not appear to be getting any closer. I finished in Brora at 10.45pm, having covered 65 miles.

I had difficulty sleeping that night, and was feverish. In the morning I was choked up with a cold; the cold, which had been threatening over the past week, had developed into a class one cold. After breakfast we returned to Brora, and I began running from last nights stop at 6.10a.m. The wind was not a problem until the high exposed ground from the south end of Loch Buidhe to Bonar Bridge. Going over the Struie hill was very hard as the wind was so strong at times that I had difficulty staying on my feet. I was glad when the descent to the Cromarty Firth began, as there were trees either side of the road, offering some protection.

Shortly before crossing the bridge over the river Averon, a sharp pain on the front of my left patella developed, and I worried that this might signal the start of problems with this knee. However, applying some freeze spray eased it considerably, and eventually it faded away and I forgot about it.  Raymond Cameron and members of the Minolta Black Isle A.C. joined me a couple of miles before I rejoined the A9, and ran with me in relays from there to the Kessock Bridge at Inverness. It cheered me up to have this enthusiastic support, and they also helped to shield me from the wind. At Kessock Bridge, Colin Bailey had arranged a group of veteran Inverness Harriers, to run with me from the bridge to within a few miles of Slochd summit. Again they were a big help against the wind, and in lifting my morale. It became colder, and by Slochd summit there were flurries of sleet. I was tired and anxious to see the turn off for Carrbridge, where I was to stop. I reached there at 10.05p.m, having covered 84.7 miles, and feeling very tired. It had been a hard day with the wind and hills.

Donald drove us to the Caravan Park in Aviemore, where we were to spend the night and we all appreciated the hot showers. Next morning was frosty as I set off from Carrbridge at 6.05 a.m. I felt comfortable, and it was peaceful running along the B9125 road rather than the A9; I would have plenty of it and its traffic later in the day. The day developed into a pleasant morning, with no wind, and the sun was out, which was quite encouraging. My first three hours took me to Kingussie, only 19.5 miles, but I had come to accept this as the norm if I am to avoid injury, and complete the task. After Newtonmore I rejoined the A9, and after about 4 miles, I had company from Graham Milne, who had driven up from his parent’s home in Pitlochry. It was good to have his company to my next stop at Drumochter pass. By now Isobel had arrived, and the hot soup she offered was very welcome. Peter Scott a club mate of Graham’s, who was involved in the planning of the previous attempt, also arrived. He and Graham became my support team until Pitlochry, while Donald and Mike went ahead to Graham’s parents for a meal and some much needed sleep. Peter ran with me on my next three-hour session, and then Graham took over again until we reached Pitlochry, where a refreshed Mike and Donald resumed their task.

About one mile after rejoining the A9, after the Pitlochry section, I could see a figure running towards me, and on getting closer I recognised that unmistakable running style; it was Ian Moncur. I knew he was pleased to see me, as he began jumping up and down, waving his arms in the air and shouting at the top of his voice, “where the hell have you been?”. I had asked Ian prior to the run if he would like to run a section, and he readily agreed, so earlier in the day I had asked Graham to telephone him to let him know my location, so that he could plan a meeting. Unfortunately Graham gave him a very optimistic estimate of my arrival time at Ballinluig, so he had expected to meet us some three hours earlier. Ian ran with me for two hours, down to Dunkeld turn off, by which time it was quite late. I left the A9 soon after to go to Bankfoot, where we finished at 11 pm, with a total of 81.8 miles for the day. In view of this late finish, Mike suggested, what I had also been considering; that I start one hour earlier in the mornings.

There were no hot showers at our night stop, at Scone Palace Caravan Park near Perth, so we did without. Next morning I began running at 5.12am, and only covered 17.5 miles in the first session to Glenfarg. I was coping with the run, but getting weaker daily, and certainly not adapting to it, as some people suggested would happen. My cold had progressed into bronchitis, which was rather worrying.

Adrian Stott from Edinburgh joined me about five miles before my next stop at Hill of Beath. It cheered me up a lot to have his company. I developed a nose-bleed, the first of many, so I had to run along spattered in blood, and with a wad of toilet tissue in my nostril to stop the flow; just another nuisance. As we approached the Forth Road Bridge, snow began to fall, and there was a very strong East wind. Isobel passed us on the bridge, and so was able to video us coming off the other side. Adrian ran with me round the Edinburgh Bypass, which was very busy, and extremely nerve racking to run on, due to the fast and heavy traffic. We were both very relieved to get off and head for Penicuik. I observed at my next toilet stop, in some roadside cover, that as the day before, there was evidence of intestinal blood loss; something else to try and remedy. Adrian left us at Leadburn Inn, with best wishes for our “history in the making” event, and a flask of fresh tea plus a £5 donation from the Inn staff.

More snow fell on my next session down to and through Peebles, where I missed the most direct route onto the B7062 road. With the drop in altitude the snow turned to sleet. Somewhere on the narrow road, as mike and I ran along in the light from the van behind us, the lights suddenly veered to the right. Mike and I turned to see what had happened and saw that the van was off the road on the right hand side. Donald had fallen asleep while driving at such a slow speed. Thankfully there was no ditch and we were able to get the van back onto the road. I finished by Traquair House at 10.26pm, having covered 80.6 miles. It was quite a long drive to the Caravan Park at Tushielaw Inn, made difficult due to the snow on the B709 road, as we followed it over the hills. Again there were no hot showers, and it was after midnight by the time we had finished our ‘evening’ meal.

Later that morning, at 4.00am, we had to push the Macallan Van off the site, as the tyres were slipping on the slushy and muddy grass. I began running from last night’s stopping place at 5.16am, and soon faced a long climb over to the A708 junction, and then another climb, over to Tushielaw.  The roads had a covering of snow, and it was quite therapeutic running through this quiet countryside, apart from sheep, as dawn broke.

Mike and Donald took turns at driving and sleeping, so that they would be fresher later in the day. I followed the meandering B709 on to Eskdalemuir, then down into Langholm, and we left the hills behind us, as the flat country around the Solway Firth spread out before us. I crossed the English border in the late afternoon, which gave me a morale boost.

Apart from my bronchitis, and intestinal blood loss, I was now beginning to get stomach pains, despite regular eating. I worried that I might be developing an ulcer. Also the inside of my mouth was very sensitive, almost raw, so it was an effort to eat; especially anything hot or with salt in it. I pondered possible courses of action to combat this problem. I had already given up quit dilute orange squash in favour of water, or tea or electrolyte drink after the second day. I noticed that my sore mouth was aggravated, by eating bread and jam, so I decided to eliminate sugar from my diet to see if this would help. I ate the dry wholemeal bread along with an electrolyte drink, and a banana every hour. Within a day of this regime my stomach pains vanished, and there was no longer evidence of intestinal bleeding. The inside of my mouth, however remained raw.

I passed through Longtown and approached Carlisle along a very busy A7; it was the rush hour. I was very tired and I flopped into the van at my next stop at the North side of Carlisle. Following this rest stop, Donald guided me through Carlisle and onto the A6 road, which I followed as darkness fell. Mike accompanied me with a torch, to our finishing point at the Northern outskirts of Penrith, reached at 11.11 p.m. This gave me 81 miles for the day.

Next morning I started at 5.11am, and felt comfortable on the run up to Shap fell. I did not like the steep descent after Shap summit, and I had to go very cautiously to avoid putting to much stress on my legs. Mike joined me as I approached Kendal to guide me through, before dashing off to buy another pair of shoes from Pete Bland’s shop. I was extremely tired by this time, and covered only 16.9 miles in this, my second session, which finished about two miles South of Kendal. During my massage in the rest period, I kept falling asleep and going straight into a dream. Donald did very well in his massaging sessions, but we soon used up all the massage oil, so Johnson’s baby oil was used, but this caused some hairs to get pulled out on the insides of both thighs, causing boils to occur there. These were another source of irritation. Next we tried “crisp-n-dry” cooking oil, which worked well, but it left a pungent sickly smell on any kit contaminated with it, and on the air bed used for massage, which was also Donald’s night bed.

I put on lighter shoes to see if this would help matters, as I pushed on to Carnforth and Lancaster. I felt very weak, and wondered how much longer I could keep going. My concern grew so I decided that I would run less than was planned, so that I could finish earlier and get to bed earlier. I finished at 9.27pm in Preston town centre, having covered 72.4 miles.

Next morning I got underway at 5.20am, and followed the A49 to Wigan and onto Warrington. I felt a bit fresher, but still managed only 17.3 miles in my first session. After Stretton I ran through some attractive countryside, and just after mid-day logged 500 miles. During the afternoon I had another nosebleed, and this became a regular occurrence until the end. Rather than stop I stuffed a pieces of toilet paper up my nostrils to stem the flow of blood. I finished the day at Wem at 9.25pm, with another 73.1 miles added to the total. My plan w, was to run at least 70 miles a day to the finish, instead of my planned 80 miles, as the latter was proving too stressful and might promote a breakdown.

 

My 5.02 am start the following morning was my earliest, but I felt tired, and covered just 16.7 miles in my first three hours session. It was frustrating to be going so slowly, but at least I was still running, and had no injuries. The owners of Lower Lacon Caravan Park at Wem, Shropshire, where we had stayed the previous night waived their charge as their contribution to our charity.

Going through Shrewsbury I passed by the Lion Hotel, where we had stayed in 1987 following the abandonment of my first attempt. I passed through some attractive countryside as I followed the A49 to Church Stretton and Ludlow.

The weather became quite warm in the afternoon sunshine, and I was tempted to put on shorts, but I discovered that it was not quite warm enough on stopping. It was rather pleasant, running from Ludlow through Richards Castle and Luston to Leominster along the quiet B4361. Passing through Leominster I felt some twinges in my right calf, and I began to worry that this might be the start of an injury. After a few more occurrences, they did not reoccur, which was a relief. I passed Hope under Dinmore, where my previous attempt finished, and my thoughts returned to that miserable day two years ago, when I was very downcast. Hereford was reached at dusk, and then ran on and up the long climb to the A466 turn off. I finished at 11.07pm, North of St. Weonards, with a total of 73.6 miles, for the day.

At 05.08 am next morning, I started quite aggressively, and gave thanks that I was still running, as I passed the spot where my stress fracture had happened two years previously. Monmouth was passed through, and my run down the Wye valley, early on this Sunday morning was pleasant. I reached the Severn Bridge at about 11am, and weather conditions were quite warm again. In Bristol, Mike and I navigated to the Clifton Suspension Bridge; only to discover that the road we were to have taken down to the riverside was closed. I decided to go over the bridge and go down on the other side, assuming that we could find a bridge at river level, and cross back to rejoin our route. This was a mistake, because, despite our city map, we got disorientated, in fact thoroughly lost, and wasted time going in the wrong direction. However, we asked directions from local people, and after clambering over a couple of fences, and a railway line we regained our route.

By my next stop, on the climb out of Bristol, on the A38, I had only covered 12.2 miles in the last three hours session. During the next session, the road was very busy; I assumed that it was people returning to Bristol, after a Sunday afternoon outing. Mike’s sister, Hilary joined us after Bristol, and assisted Isobel locate our night’s Caravan Park, and get set up ready to receive us later. Once over the Mendip hills, the road became flat, just like the batteries of our torch. Rain began to fall, so I splashed along holding a torch, which was almost useless. Mike fetched the batteries from the rear light of the bicycle, but they soon faded also. Despite this I managed to avoid damaging myself, in any potholes in the roadside. I was aiming for Bridgwater, and eventually reached the outskirts, where I stopped for the day. It was 11.25pm, and I had covered 71.8 miles.

Next morning I got going at 05.01 am, and made my way through Bridgwater and on to Taunton. In my first session I covered 17.4 miles, which was quit encouraging considering my poor condition. Tiverton was next, then a very hilly section across to Crediton. As I was still concerned about excessive leg stress, I choose to walk on steep downhill sections. I decided to try four three-hour sessions, rather than switch to two-hour sessions. On the next session I had a sharp pain on the left front side of my chest, which was aggravated by swinging my left arm, in my normal running action. I had to run along with my left arm folded against my chest to ease the pain. I thought that I must have pulled a muscle; due to all the coughing I had been doing over the past few days, because of my bronchitis. Then I wondered what a collapsed lung felt like. When I mentioned my new problem to Donald, who had arrived to accompany me over the remaining few miles to Oakhampton, he suggested that it was probably indigestion. I took this to mean, “stop feeling sorry for yourself and get on with the run”. I reached Oakhampton at 8pm, in a very tired condition, with only 14.7 miles covered in the last three hours. I had a 66-minute rest before continuing with Mike and a rejuvenated torch, towards Lewdown where I finished at11.18pm, with 74.2 miles added to the total. I was now 88 miles from the finish, so the next day should be the final one.

I began my last day at 05.18am, with a sense of excitement and apprehension. My chest pain of the previous day had gone, but I was concerned that something may go wrong even at this late stage of the run. After about an hour into the run a headwind began to blow, and rain followed. Amazingly quickly, the wind became a gale and the rain became torrential. I battled on against the elements, the gale increasing in ferocity, as I climbed onto Bodmin moor. In my first three-hour session I only covered 15.4 miles. On my next session I was concerned that some of the gusts of wind would blow me into the path of a truck, or some other vehicle, so I asked Donald to drive the van ahead of me, so that I could get some protection, and so maintain a straight course. By the Bodmin Bypass the rain had ceased, but the wind was still strong. This second session yielded only 15.3 miles, and an even poorer 15.00 miles were achieved on the next. I changed into lighter shoes for my fourth session, and felt that I was running better, and covered 16.6 miles. However on the next, a two-hour session, I only managed 9.7 miles, finishing at the St. Ivel factory at Hayle at 11.08pm. I began my final session at 11.47pm, knowing that I had to complete the remaining 16.2 miles in 6hr 38min, to break Richard Brown’s record. By now the wind had died, and it was a peaceful night with a clear sky, and a near full moon. On reaching Penzance, not thinking clearly, I took the Bypass road rather than go through the town, which turned out to be a mistake, as I appeared to complete a large semicircle, involving some nasty climbs. As I left the Bypass, a signpost indicated 9.5 miles to Lands End; at least I was almost there, but I was very tired and it seemed to take ages to reach Sennan, where I could smell the sea. As I ran towards the finish a floodlight came on, to allow the B.B.C. South West camera team to record the finish. I stumbled and almost fell on a speed control ramp in the road, and I was confused as Lands End was completely different from what it had been like two years earlier. There were new buildings, but I eventually found the hotel on the cliff top, and the “official” signpost, where I finished at 3.27am.

At last it was over! I had finished the journey of 846.4 miles, on foot, in 10 days 15 hours and 25 minutes, a mere 2 hours, 56 minutes faster than Richard had achieved. I was very relieved to that we got through it, without any mishap to myself or my support crew and my family. After hugs all round, we opened the bottle of Champagne, given by Albert Middleton, and drank to our successful project. I was very grateful to Mike and Donald for their dedicated and uncomplaining attention throughout each long day and to Isobel for her unfailing support. They each contributed a great deal to the success of the run.

Once the camera crew had signed our witness book we made our way to Lower Treave Caravan Park at Crows-an-wra. It was about 4.30 am before we got to bed; normally we would be preparing to start another day’s run at this time. I found it difficult to sleep, as had been the case throughout the run, and got up at 9.00am. It was wonderful, not to have to go and run!

 

Later after making various telephone calls we returned to Lands End, to see in daylight the new developments, and to sign the “End to End” book. Mike and Donald set off for home in the afternoon, as Mike had to get a flight to Boston for the marathon; he had a unique preparation for it.

Isobel and I and the girls stayed another night at Crows-an-wra; the girls enjoyed watching the tortoise in the site owners garden. While there, a stream of yellow liquid suddenly poured from my nose, as though someone had turned on a tap. Isobel on seeing this commented that it was my brains running out, which we both found appropriately funny, and we ended up with a ‘fit of the giggles’.

It took us four days to get back to Lossiemouth, and we arrived home on Sunday the sixteenth of April in the early evening. I had then to prepare for my return to work next day. We were certainly not refreshed after our Easter vacation. My weight on Monday the seventeenth of April was 9 stone, 7 pounds, which is around 7 pounds below normal; so since I had been snacking almost continuously, during waking hours, since I finished, I estimate that my weight may have been down to 9 stones.

The aftermath of the run was not what I expected; I was not injured, just very weak, and my health/immune system had broken down. Apart from the continuing bronchitis, I had swollen glands either side of my neck, and my pulse was always ten beats above normal. My G.P. prescribed antibiotics and they worked sufficiently well, for me to resume running on the first of May. I had difficulty sleeping, for about five weeks after finishing the run. I would be very restless, and keep thinking it was time to get up and get ready to run, or I would dream that I was running, and getting lost.

Being an optimist I had entered for the Lochaber marathon on 23^rd April, and the first British Athletics Federation and Road Runners Club 100Km championship, on the seventh of May, prior to my run, but I had to withdraw from both events. My poor health continued throughout the summer; each time I began to train hard, I picked up another infection. I had seven courses of antibiotics, plus two decongestant mixtures, before I began to get back to normal in early September. I felt stronger each week, from then, and I knew I had recovered when I ran 6-51-14 in the Santander 100Km, in Spain, in October.

In association with my run, my many helpers and I raised £5666.85, for cancer research, of which £2900 went to the Moray branch of the Cancer Research Campaign and £2766.85 was donated to the Breast scanner appeal for Elgin. This made the run all the more satisfying. I have great respect for anyone who completes the ‘End to End’ journey on foot, as I know how difficult it is.

Postscript.

There were several record attempts since 1989, and most petered out after three or four days. Richard Brown, whose record I had broken, sent me a card, saying ‘congratulations on your record, enjoy it until I get it back’. I thought that he was joking, but years later I realised that he was not.

On Saturday the thirteenth of May, Isobel and I drove overt to the A9 and met Richard Brown on the old A9 North of Kingussie. He was in excellent spirits and walking strongly and aiming to cover eighty miles a day by combining running and fast walking. I cycled with him until beyond Slochd Summit. There was quite a heavy snow shower on the section after Aviemore.

His support team consisted of two camper vans, with the following crew in one: Doug Aitken, the organiser/route finder and driver, Cyril the cycling attendant and James the physiotherapist, an unemployed graduate, who also looked after the cooking and meals. In the other van there were: Don Thompson, Amos Seddon and another walker/cyclist.

The two vans worked in 4-hour shifts and Richard had an attendant walker or cyclist with him at all times to carry drinks of ‘Leppin’ and provisions. The on-duty van continually leapfrog him from one lay-by to the next convenient grass verge, so that they were never more than half a mile away. In this way Richard could get food on request and any additional clothing required to cope with the changing weather. This is the arrangement that I would have adopted if I had access to funds that would permit it, but I am proud of our successful ‘shoe-string’ adventure.

Richard was sleeping in his fresh kit and rising at 04:00 so that he could get out on the road by 04:15 and did not take a break until 12:00, when he would take 40 minutes or an hour for lunch. He then continued without a break until 23:30!

During this to time he alternated race walking with running. While I was there he did a little jogging before his lunch break, but after that he only walked because he was worried about a knee problem. However his walking pace of 4.25 to 4.5 miles an hour was sufficient to meet his schedule. I expected that he would reduce my end-to-end record by several hours and should be close to ten days. There was some talk that Richard and his wife Sandra, who was also embarked on her own L.E.G.O.G received some financial assistance from the distributors of the film ‘Forest Gump’, but I forgot to ask Richard about this.

Since my run in 1989 there had been some road improvements and one major advantage was that there was a bridge over the Dornoch Firth, which removed the need to climb over the ’Struie’ and the loop through Bonar Bridge.

On the 15^th of May 1995 Richard completed the journey from Lands End to John O’Groats (L.E.J.O.G.) in10 days 2 hours 25 minutes, to set the current record. I know that the record should be under ten days, but who will accomplish this? A strong ultra runner with the time, and adequate financial backing, plus an experienced support crew, would be a good bet. I am occasionally tempted to plan another attempt to get the record back, and finish under ten days. Perhaps the desire will reach such a level that I will have to do something about it. Time will tell.

 

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