Martin Thompson – 1976
It started at 6.00.a.m. in the dark, misty and cold
morning of the 25th October at the Tipton Harriers cinder
track, outskirts of Birmingham in the Midlands. Entry was
by invitation and restricted to twenty runners – my own
selection was primarily based on my run in the London to
Brighton – other than that I was the least experienced in
the field. The programme did mention that I’d run only 39
long distance races (i.e. marathons or beyond.)
Cavin Woodward (Leamington C. & A.C.) along with Ron Bentley
(Tipton H.) were the pre-race favorites. Ron Bentley won
the last RRC 100 mile track race in 1971 – Radex 100 – in
which he clocked the 4th fastest time in the world. Since
then he had achieved the world’s best performance for the
24 hours run (in 1973) with an incredible 161 miles 545
yards and ran a personal best for the marathon – 2.23 in
the same year – not bad for a fellow in his mid forties.
Woodward lined up as the fastest marathon runnerr in the.
field, 2:19.50 (Maxol 1972) and holder of the world
30 miles record, 2:43.52 (1975) – only 5 weeks previouly he
had won the London to Brighton (52 miles) 5:12.07. Most talk
centred around whether Cavin Woodward would be
able to run on strongly in the latter stages or be found
wanting and give way to the more experienced Ron Bradley.
There were a number of other contenders to be considered
seriously among whom – Seigfried Bauer (New Zealand) stood
out with an impressive ultra distance record – winner of
the Mazda 1000 miles race averaging 77 miles per day, winner
of Borhem 100k (Belgium), 2nd in Unna 100k (West Germany), etc.
I started the race with the thought that to finish would be
tough alone – not forgetting that there was a 16 hour time
limit. The world record of 11:56.56 standing to K. Kay
(Sth. Africa) was certainly under threat and I was very pleased
to be included in the field but not at all confident about my
chances of dipping under the 16 hours. I had a feeling that
my selection was partly influenced by being Australian – and
so adding a little more international flavour to the event.
As expected Cavin Woodward raced into the lead setting a
blistering pace, covering the first mile in 5min. 19secs. and
reaching 10 miles in 56.27. I was surprised to find myself in
second place with Ron Bentley’s brother Gordon, although a mile
or so behind the leader. Woodward passed through 15 miles in
1:25.20 and 20 miles in 1.54.25. I was still in second place at
20 miles in 2:10.37 with Derek Funnell (48 years) third in 2:13.51
and Tom Reilly 4th in 2:14,40. Daybreak saw Woodward fly through
the marathon in 2:31.10, 30 miles, 2:53.50, 40 miles in 3:56.18
and record a world record for 50 miles – 4:58.53.
I had shoe troubles between 20 miles and 50 miles, changing my
shoes three times and finally remodelling a pair of ‘Tiger Montreal’
with a pair of scissors to allow for swelling feet. Also made a
necessary pit stop to shed some ballast — consequently I was very
pleased with my time at 50 miles – 5:45.20. I’d slipped to
3rd place with Alan Richards and Bill Carr both of Tipton Harriers
close behind in
5:48.08. Ton O’Reilly had moved into 2nd place, 5:32.49 at 50 miles.
Ron Bentley wasnt having a good day and I later found out that
he had been troubled by a groin injury before the race. His brother
sustained a calf injury and was forced to retire.
I drank “Accolade” (a drink similar to Staminade) in the early
stages and then switched to “Dynamo” (a glucose syrup drink) after
about 35 miles. Had a few mouthfuls of creamed rice from the tin at
55 miles sucked away on (GLcose) barley sugar. Finally ended up
drihking strong hot coffee. The day was cool (around 9°C) and
overcast for most of the time with a misty atmosphere in the morning.
The organisation was superb with times called and recorded for every
lap (400) for all competitors. As the day progressed the spectators
grew in number and in the final stages the encouragement from the
crowd was terrific. Dr. John Brotherhood of the Medical Research
Council had a tent set up on the infield for testing urine samples
and generally kept a check on all the runners.
Cavin Woodward went on to break the would 100k best with a time of
6:25.28 and the 100 miles record was a definite possibility provided
he didn’t cave in from the scorching first 50 miles. Meantime I had
lost another place with Tom O’Reilly in second place and moving well
and followed by Alan Richards. I remember nearing 75 miles and thinking
that I felt pretty good and there was only a marathon to go. Another
10 miles and I moved into third place and actually started to pull back
a few laps on the leader. Woodward was starting to battle and had to put
on tracksuit pants to keep warm. At 90 miles I thought I might be
able to hang on for 3rd place but a couple of miles later I started to
run into a rough patch – completely drained physically and
psychologically. By 93 miles I was shuffling and just didn’t want to
run. I took my first and only walk – 150 yards – which brought me around
to where the bulk of the spectators were.
It’s hard to explain – but somehow with all the yelling and encouragement
I started off again at a painful shuffle – I had to keep going now and
my second – John Offley was urging me on. He, his girl friend Beryl
and my wife had done a great job throughout the day and now we were so
close to the finish. To me it seemed the finish was getting further away
with every step. It is very difficult to get across the extreme mental
determination that it took to keep moving in the final stages yet
somehow I had managed to get to 90 miles before the tough battle began.
The crowd really moved me – 12000 miles from home and hundreds of people
yelling out my number and christian name. Just 4,’-,• miles from the
finish I said goodbye to the bronze medal as Bill Carr came past – I was
not particularly dis,gppointed – struggling on to 4th place I recorded
12:42.50 – 8th fastest in the world and an Australian best
(according to RRC) – also my 50 miles time ranks somewhere in the top
20 so I was deeply satisfied with the run.
Cavin Woodward had a great day to end up with four world records -
50 miles in 4:58.53; 100k in 6:25.28; 150k in 10:44.55; 100 miles in 11:38.54.
1. Cavin WOODWARD (Leamington C & A.C.) llh. 38m. 54s.
2. Tom 0″REILLY (Small Heath) 12h, 02m, 32s.
3. Bill CARR (Tipton H.) 12h. 34m, 51s.
4, Martin THOMPSON (Traralgon H.) 12th, 42m. 50s.
5. Fred HOWELL (Wakefield) 12h. 49m. 29s.
6. Alan RICHARDS (Tipton H.) 12h, 59m. 48s,
7. Ron BENTLEY (Tipton H.) 13h. 29m. 56s.
8. Siegfried BAUER (New Zealand) 13h. 31m. 55s.
9. Derek FUNNELL (Epsom & E.) 13h. 49m. 24s.
10, Bob MEADOWCROFT (Altrincham) 14h. 42m. 30s.
11. John BERRY (Wakefield) 14h, 55m, 38s.
12. Ken SHAW (Cambridge H.) 15h. 35m. 44s.
13. Ron JEANS (Salisbury & Dist.) 15h. 47m. 58s.
Cavin Woodward’s performance added to his already remarkable record of
placing in 16 of 17 ultra-distance races since 1972. He ran his first
marathon in 1969 clocking 2:47 and since then has run 26 marathons-
(best 2:19.5(J) and 19 Ultra-marathons. He is 28 years of age, about 5'8" tall
and weighs 9.4, enjoys his running – training twice a day – 3 miles a.m. and
10 miles p.m. with the pace varying between 6 and 7 minutes a mile. He is a
prolific racer with rarely a weekend away from competing – cross-country,
road, track and a few cycling races thrown in when light on for running races.
This year the RRC are sponsoring him to run in the Comrades Marathon. After
the race and celebrations we set off for Cavin’s place and enjoyed their
hospitality for a few days. His wife Carol is his number one supporter along
with their three young children. Both of us moved a bit unsteadily on our
feet the following day – I had a swollen lower right leg which was troubling
me
and ended up with it elevated for a couple of days. Cavin had delicate knees –
other wise both of us felt pretty good.
Four weeks later I ran the Barnsley Marathon – more as a social outing – some
social outing! The course was very hilly and to make things tougher there was
a thick fog which shrouded most of the course. Ice formed in my hair with the
temperature – 3°C and I was satisfied to finish about 43/200 in 2:47.46 and at
the same time amazed with the performance of the winner Mike Critchley of
Cardiff AAC who ran 2:17. There was a women’s section in the same event which
attracted six entries including Ian Thomson’s wife who had recently clocked
3:07 in Finland. The winner Hilary Mathews (22 yrs) recorded 3:13.27 after
winning the Women’s C.C. Championship the day before.Second was Norma
Campbell,
47 yrs old mother of three, who finished ahead of 31 men in 3:16.20. 3rd was
Lesley Watson, ’showed good form’ in 3:18,46 – a great advertisement for
female
marathoning. Now there is a move afoot to organise a Ladies Marathon on April
16th.
Since the Barnsley Marathon I’ve gone into hibernation to stay alive during
northern English winter. Managing to do enough to maintain fitness and my
studies-have ’caused ..me to curtail extensive training plans so far this
year.
Nevertheless Iim cagerly looking forward to the first marathon in 1976 – the
Cambridge Boundary run which is essentially a cross-country marathon in 8-9
weeks
time. I finished the 1975 year with a total of 42 marathons/ultra marathons –
and hope to finish this year with 60.
Martin Thompson.