Ron Hill

all shoes back in the 60s & 70s were minimalist by todays standards

hill was a bizzare character who insisted on training every day of his life (literally), despite injury and illness. In a day when immune systems were stronger though, so would be even more bloody stupid today.

Do you know if Hill performed 'surgery' on his shoes as some 'in the day' did?

Having read some of his training exploits it is a wonder he did not get mono.

" In a day when immune systems were stronger though,"

ok, let me here why you think immune systems were stronger back then........

Anyone have a log of Hill's?

trouble walking anymore?

Brit Fan wrote:

Do you know if Hill performed 'surgery' on his shoes as some 'in the day' did?

Having read some of his training exploits it is a wonder he did not get mono.

Ron Hill was also noted for performing surgery on his number and uniform. My memory is that at one Olympics his uniform was of some new metalic concoction and full of holes. I do not think he wore any shoes in the 1968 Mexico Olympics when he placed 7th in the 10,000. He also announced that he had won the sea-level Olympics after the Mexico race. I also remember ambulances on the infield carting runners off at that games. I always enjoyed watching him race.

HE WAS A GREAT RUNNER.

in those days all shoes were minimalist by todays standards. Shoes back then were desidned for athletes only as there was no mass market to sell to. Shoes were built for function not fashion, they didn't have giant wedges of rubber under the heal so runners cushioned their foot-fall by landing closer to the ball of the foot allowing the achilles tendon to function properly. Very few achilles injuries back then. More, natural, like running barefoot, you know like the Africans do before someone pays them to wear shoes.

I'm not sure if Hill's log is included but here is a link to a website that has a section of Ron Hill updates:

http://www.realrunner.com/ukandeurope/ronhill/index.htm

I know. I ran then. In the 50s and 60s, the shoes were not much, no support and no arch and no padding. Also, there was very little to choose from. The big shoe companies for the track people were addidas and puma. In the very early 70's, like now, I wore New Balance because I have a very narrow foot. The Company in Massachusettes had am outline of my foot and they would produce a shoe for me in response to a phone call. After the running boom things changed. The shoes got much better but became very expensive and brands kept changing. (I had bought Tigers for about $2.00 a pair at the Olympics in the 1960s.)

web wrote:

ok, let me here why you think immune systems were stronger back then........

ok, i will list a few reasons.

1. better diet. Fresh fruit and veg, home cooking, no pesticides, less sugar/fatty foods in the daily diet.

2. less pollution.

3. less late night social distractions (nightlife/late night tv).

there are plenty of reasons.....but i will let you think about them, before posting more silly questions.

Uh, dude... you don't know Ron Hill too well if you think this...

3. less late night social distractions...

He is a great guy, but he can sure can sup some beer, trust me.

About the minimalist shoes, Ron's company once bought out a shoe called the "2.08" (in the days before this time was achieved in marathons, remember, Ron had run 2.09 himself). This was about as basic a shoe as it was possible to get. I loved the pair I got and ran everywhere in them (even long runs) till they fell apart.

for all Ron Hill's training info and background. Get hold of a copy of Ron Hill: The Long Hard Road (there are two parts). An excellent book.

Here's some training stuff on Ron Hill:

The name Ron Hill is synonymous with marathon running.

Sat 14 Oct 1967

AM WALTON-ON-THAMES 1 HOUR RACE Very windy - did 3/4 mile warm up - ran barefoot - alternated the lead with Jim Alder and Martin Craven - only 3 in the field - after 6 laps Martin dropped back - after 6 miles I dropped back too and from then on just struggled round - almost lapped twice by Jim who was 6 yards outside my British Record - I ran 11miles 1675 yards 2 feet 5 inches - no warm down - stitch at times - left leg a bit stiff too 12½

PM 1 mile run along canal bank - absolutely throwing it down with rain 1

Sun 15 Oct 1967

AM 2mile course easy running - nice and sunny but feeling rough from a hangover 2

Mon 16 Oct 1967

AM 5 mile course - easy running - felt a bit sick and not particularly sparkling 5

PM Ran home from work in freezing rain and mud 7

Tue 17 Oct 1967

AM Ran to work - windy and raining - put gloves on - very muddy again 7

PM ran home from work - easy all the way - via Chadkirk - raining hard again at times 8½

Wed 18 Oct 1967

AM Ran to work - easy running - a little bit of frost about 7

PM Ran home from work at 5:35 - did my 2 mile loop - all easy - dark at the end - muddy 9

Thur 19 Oct 1967

AM Ran to work easy running 7

PM Ran home from work - 10 mile course - easy all the way 10

Fri 20 Oct 1967

AM Ran to work easy running - felt bloody well shattered all the way 7

LUNCH 5 mile course from work 5

Weekly milage 88 miles

Sat 21 Oct 1967

AM BLACKPOOL 7 mile course opposite - easy running - found it hard work - legs tired 7

PM 7 mile course - added loop of Anna’s Rd. and Peel Hall - put in 6 strides – a couple of them 1/2 mile or more 8½

Sun 22 Oct 1967

AM 211/2 mile course - easy - managed it pretty well, but had a hangover from last night 21½

Mon 23 Oct 1967

AM 5 mile course opposite - easy running - felt alright 5

PM Ran home from work - 5:30 - easy running - very dark when I got home 10

Tue 24 Oct 1967

AM Ran to work easy running - didn’t feel too bad 7

PM Ran home from work - 10 mile course - one or two bursts at first because I felt like it 10

Wed 25 Oct 1967

AM Ran to work - easy running - stomach trouble continuing? 7

PM Ran home from work at 6:15 - bloody dark - via Chadkirk - stomach very full - a rather uncomfortable run 8½

Thur 26 Oct 1967

AM Ran to work - easy running - a good following wind 7

LUNCH 7 mile run along canal bank - blowing an absolute gale on the way back 7

PM Ran to Wythenshaw Park from changing rooms - did 2 laps ( one fairly fast with a bearded runner ) - ran back 5½

Fri 27 Oct 1967

AM 5 mile course opposite - easy running 5

LUNCH 7 mile run along canal bank 7

Weekly milage 116 miles

Sat 28 Oct 1967

AM 5mile course opposite - easy running 5

PM 13 mile course - very dark when I got back - pushed it a couple of times over the latter half because of the failing light 13

Sun 29 Oct 1967

AM 6:30 - 28 mile - easy - had some chocolate after the very long hill - managed it quite easily 28

Mon 30 Oct 1967

AM 5 mile course easy running - felt stiff in the thighs a bit 5

PM From home, dark - 7 mile course opposite – easy running - one or two bursts at the end - felt like nothing at all 7

Tue 31 Oct 1967

AM 7 mile course easy running 7

PM DUNKENHALGH HOTEL- CLAYTON-LE-MOORS Ran to Whalley Rd. - Reed - Padiham - Clayton - about 70 minutes 11

Wed 1 Nov 1967

AM Dunk. Htl. Ran to Altham - Huncoat - Clayton (Whinney Hill) - felt pretty tired 7

PM Ran home from work - road way - via

Navigation, Romiley and Chadkirk Valley - one or two bursts 10

Thur 2 Nov 1967

AM Ran to work easy running - bloody muddy 7

LUNCH 5 mile course - easy running 5

PM Ran home from work - road ( from now on ) - Navigation - Romiley Centre - felt alright 9

Fri 3 Nov 1967

AM Ranto work - easy running 7

LUNCH 7 mile run along canal and loop from work - raining nearly all the way 7

Weekly milage 128 miles

Sat 4 Nov 1967

AM 5 mile course - easy running - very frosty - full tracksuit from now on 5

PM 13 mile course opposite - easy running for first half - one or two sharp bursts over last half -

ran in shorts 13

Sun 5 Nov 1967

PM 201/2 mile course opposite - easy running - cold and raining at times a hard cold headwind as I turned for home from the moors - had a couple of twinges of cramp in the back of my thigh 20½

Mon 6 Nov 1967

AM 5 mile course opposite - easy running -

a bit tired 5

PM Ran home from work - via Navigation, Romiley, Chadkirk - put in 6 x 3- 440’s with 3/4 mile interval - felt very tired 10

Tue 7 Nov 1967

AM Ran to work - easy running - felt pretty good at first, a little tired at the end 7

PM Ran home from work - easy all the way - via Navigation, Romiley Centre - felt alright 9

Wed 8 Nov 1967

AM Ran to work - easy running - felt pretty tired all the way 7

LUNCH 7 mile run along canal ( loop opp. ) -

very easily 7

PM Leverhulme Park - Bolton - dark - changed outside car - 3/4 mile warm up - 6x440’s with 220 interval ( last one 65 - 66 secs. ) - felt

absolutely shattered 5

Thur 9 Nov 1967

AM 7 mile course opposite - felt absolutely knackered and weary all the way 7

PM Ran home from work via Chadkirk - easy all the way - didn’t feel too bad most of the way apart from a little stomach ache 8½

Fri 10 Nov 1967

AM Ran to work - easy running - found it a bit hard work running uphill - legs tired 7

LUNCH 5 mile run along canal bank - very

easy running 5

Weekly milage 115 miles

This training preceded the classic Waterloo 8 Mile Road Race the next day, Saturday November 11th., near Liverpool.

When discussing the shoes that Ron Hill designed for a time, one has to remember that Ron had very strong feet. So strong that he often ran cross-country races barefoot. I think he once won the National in bare feet. So of course, his shoes were minimalist, but they certainly didn’t suit the majority of runners. I recall Dave Bedford wearing a pair when he shattered the Southern Road Relay record on the long leg. He threw them away after the race! I think they were picked up by Steve Badgery.

Orville Atkins wrote:

I know. I ran then. In the 50s and 60s, the shoes were not much, no support and no arch and no padding. Also, there was very little to choose from. The big shoe companies for the track people were addidas and puma.

Absolutely, Adidas Roms were popular for training, most of the guys on our XC team ran at least 100 miles/week, I don't recall shin-splints and stress fractures being much of a problem, nor achilles. Road racing the favored shoe was the original Tigers. I can't run comfortably in modern trainers, I wear roadracing shoes for lightness and lower heel.

hill raced in a reebok shoe called the "world 10" (for the 10 mile WR) that was built next to nothing. it was orange leather and white with a gum rubber sole, maybe a 1/4" of cushioning. he ran his best marathons in it.

i had a pair when i was a senior in high school. i got them from graham parnell(?), a randolph, massachusetts guy who ran the spartan ac, a club art dulong ran for. graham was an englishman who hung out with fred norris and his talented son, ed.

all of these men were very talented runners, tough as one could be.

I had both the World 10 and 2:07 or (2:08) racing flats made by Reebok. The 2:07's were purple with white trim. I could race up to 10k in them, but there was very little cushioning. They definitely forced you to run efficiently.

Ron Hill Sports made some great racing gear. Mesh singlets that allowed cooling. Freedom Shorts were made of lightweight cloth (think handkerchief material) with high side vent to the hip. You'll see old pictures of Brendan Foster, Ian Thompson, and Steve Ovett wearing this gear. I think he is still selling equipment, but now more mainstream. He also made Tracksters, the loose fitting tights that Jim Hill (Sporthill) copied with great success.

ron used to sell his own brand of shoes as well. had some gear for fell running as well.

but hey, i dont mean you Mr 3 Cents.......whatever.

Ron has always liked a drink, its Northern tradition. If he didn't drink then he would have been labelled as "the only gay in the village" ...... a similar thing happened to ex Welsh xc international Daffyd Thomas, but thats another story.

What you have most probably witnessed is Ron drinking a pint of dark brown, am i correct?

Well, this is not as you may have originally thought. It was not Guinness, nor Hobgoblin, nor any of the popular pale ales that might be on offer at his local, the 2 Legged Tripod, in Bolton. It would in fact have been another of our Great British favorites, gravy. Yes, gravy! Ron was mad on the stuff. He used to drink pints of the stuff every day, so much so that David Bedford soon began to copy him, thinking that this may be Hill's secret to fine racing performances and an injury free existance. Unfortunately, where Ron chooses to drink gravy for his enjoyment, Bedford became dependant upon it and his performances soon began to decline once he had broken the world record for 10000m....such was his addiction, he actually turned to drink (gravy of course) rather than training. The signs of gravy addiction can still be seen in Bedford today, all across his top lip there sits a sticky brown mess, rather resembling a small shaggy dog which has just had a mud bath.

This is true my friends, Ron had control over his social skills and was always in bed by 11pm, tucked up with a jug of hot Bisto with the latest Alf Tupper story for reading.

Nowadays however, he is often seen being ejected from nightclubs at 3am with a bird on each arm and gravy stains down his vest. How times have changed eh, runners in the Greater Manchester area nowadays do that the night before a race!

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF GRAVY