Tracey Morris

[Deleted User]

Look DB, I think you're listening far too much to Mike. Your 28:30 in the Cheshire Uphill 10k was a very creditable performance and dont let anyone tell you otherwise!

Mike Gratton 2

Good lad DB, let me know how it goes?

[Deleted User]

That was my next question - as she's 36 how many bites at a major championship is she going to get?? From what you're saying it's possible that she could be around for the next Olympics as well, and that 15 year layoff may prove beneficial as she won't have so much wear and tear to contend with as someone who's run from being a junior.

Mike - don't you ever watch the FLM and think "I could still do that" ??

[Deleted User]

Mind you - I had an 8 year lay off, and I'm still b*ggered......

[Deleted User]

Chimp: thanks (but I was disqualified for running the course in reverse).

Mike: will do, don't worry I won't do anything silly. Anything under 3 hours will do (must remember to tape the soles of my Green Flash trainers though).

Mike Gratton 2

No FR, I'm 50 this year and well retired from Marathon running, although can still occassionally be seen busting a gut in shorter road races....I watch it now (LM)and can't understand how I managed to run under 5 mins per mile for 26.2 miles yet struggle to run under 6 min per mile for 5 miles now - 3 stone extra weight is part of the problem I guess. Had the honor to do the BBC Digital comentary on the mens elite race this year and have to say I had to say I never had the leg spead to compete with the 4.30 miles they chuck into the race towards the end. The event has moved on in 21 years.

DB, can't knock Green Flash, had a pair for my first English schools champs way back - they neer helped my tennis though.

[Deleted User]

Yes but DavidB wears his Green Flash's with his new Constantina Ditta top and headband combo.

Not a good look.

DB, remember, they go on your arms.

[Deleted User]

Agree with Chimp on the Yorkshire races - no chance to go for a Yorkshire Marathon medal this year. Tried to get our club to put on a track marathon but no interest:-(

[Deleted User]

Strange that - I would have thought that lots of people would like to run 105 times around a track!

[Deleted User]

Put an ice cream van at the Start/Finish line. I was sorely tempted during last years GNR to nip over the barrier for a 99.

popsider

I suppose a track marathon wouldn't need a lot of organisation - use of the track and someone willing to count laps.

[Deleted User]

77,78,79,78, er, er bugger!

Its no good, you'll have to start again lads!

[Deleted User]

Hey, I'd run 105 times around a track - at £2.60 that would be great value:-)

Now Chimp, if you REALLY want to put Pudsey Pacers on the map...

[Deleted User]

Id do one too

[Deleted User]

Suppose you wouldnt have to worry about baggage collection or hills or running on your own or marshalls that only shout for their own runners or where the water station is or how far to go to the finish. In fact......

>> What are you saying, Chimp?? Get a grip, man! <<

[Deleted User]

No way! 5k on a track is so boring. It really would turn you crazy. Worse than a tradmill.

[Deleted User]

Some of us don't need to be turned crazy:-)

[Deleted User]

No, you already are....you teach children.

[Deleted User]

<<<edges towards the wall to avoid hi-jacking thread>>>

[Deleted User]

Hey Stifler,

Are tradmills better than those new-fangled modern ones??

[Deleted User]

Yeah, way better.

You can set them up so it looks like your running down a coastal path, beach, mountains or lakesides. All virtual reality.

[Deleted User]

Mike - if you're still around - just what to say I watched the race on digital and really enjoyed your commentary. And your comments on here have been very illuminating too. Cheers.

popsider

Seconded Baz

Mike Gratton 2

Thanks bazza & popsider, wasn't sure if anyone actually watched the digital broadcasts

[Deleted User]

I also watched the digital broadcasts, flipping between the men's and womens.

It was much more interesting than the main coverage.

[Deleted User]

If you go to a BMC event at Watford this summer and run an 800m you'll find loads of what are elite, or potentially elite runners wanting to compete. I waited 3 hours last year for one of my races while what seemed like hundreds of kids ran 800's - the 3km which was eventually held at 10:30 at night. There seems to be plenty of 800/1500m runners in this country - at most tracks I've been to there are always a couple of middle distance groups, but we no longer have any depth in distance running. This seems to me because of the sort of quick fix society we've become. To run a good marathon takes a lot of training and mileage and people just don't seem to want to do this anymore, when Mike was running we had loads of guys running under 2:20, but they did it because they spent years training and put the work in, it would not be unusual for local clubs to have a number of runners logging 100m per week nowdays all the half decent runners want to run quick 800's off 30m per week.

[Deleted User]

Psst, guys, not sure about this Mike Gratton character. I went for a 26.2 mile run last night (just as he told me to) and I hit the wall after only 6 miles!! It was the wall just outside the fish and chip shop (I'd popped in for a cone with scraps and was trying to open the vinegar sachet when I went A over T on a knee high wall). I didn't expect this sort of thing to happen when I was being coached by a former international athlete. Just be warned guys, ok. Is Mike Gratton 1 around? Maybe he would be a better coach.

[Deleted User]

Bad luck on the run, DavidB.

I have a theory about Mike2. Next time you speak to to him, call him Ron. See how he reacts. Dont want to say too much for now but I think you know what I'm saying.

He's also claiming to have commentated on FLM and I know for a fact he's not a geordie or a woman so maybe he's not all he seems after all.

Take tonight off.

Mike Gratton 2

That's the problem with carbo loading during the run....you can't see where you're going with all that newspaper flapping around. Mike Gratton 1 had irretrevable technical problems and would be a completely hopeless coach now.