I'm a Valley Strider too and watching Tracey overtake the leading Britons and finish so stongly was just fantastic. A brilliantly judged race. Now I can't wait to see her run in the Olympics.
I must admit, I was very sceptical when I saw her steam past the the second British girl to finish (can't remember her name). My first thought was that she had just joined the event at the 20 mile stage and was taking the p1ss. But no, fantastic, brilliant, the run of a lifetime. At the end she had no idea that she was first British lady.
It just goes to show, there is hope for all of us.
In the unlikely event that you're reading this Tracey - thank you!! Thank you for being such a brilliant and inspirational runner, for compensating those of us who didn't get into the Marathon with some amazing running to watch and for showing us that we can all aim high!! And, best of all, you're from Leeds ... giving us Yorkies a real boost; perhaps the lads at Elland Road could take note!!
Has been announced an hour or so ago that she will be selected for the Olympic team. An amazing achievment! Well done. Truly inspirational and the stuff that lesser films have been made out of. If I were her I'd get myself an agent and let the bids start rolling in!
Just brilliant! Ever since her performance at The Abbey Dash, I have been boring my fellow club runners rigid with my repeated assertions that Tracey was capable of qualifying for Athens. Isn't it great that a 'normal' club runner can achieve something like this, and even more so when it is someone who exemplifies the joy of running (even after 26 miles)? Well done, superstar!
Absolutely. We are in awe of Paula; she is an icon. Tracey though is what we are all out there dreaming of when the pain hits and we all dig in hard and hope to achieve that time we all thought impossible.
Well done Tracey, indeed an inspiration. I have always said that there is talent out there, but it just needs to be found and nurtured. Obviuosly there are major issues and challenges to UK athletics to find the heros of the near and distant future, but here is a cheeky wee thought for UKA:
There are only a limited number of people ie coaches and high profile former champions, that can spot true talent or potential and bring it too a good level. How about getting these people to go out and find all the others Traceys out there and bring them on, rather than wasting their time coaching B list celebs on reality progs like "The Games". How many club athletes with potential would have loved to be getting the kind of attention and coaching that Jodie Marsh and Pat Sharp got?
Good on you T and to the club, you must all be so proud. If anyone knows her secret could they publish it.or is she just very special?
What a fantastic performance! And she looked so comfortable at the finish that surely there are even better ones still to come.
I'm not sure why the BBC (and other media) made such a huge deal of the fact that Tracy had only started running when she entered the 1999 FLM but decided to conceal the fact that she had actually captained the Welsh Athletics team as a junior... I know it made for a better story, but I couldn't help but feel slightly cheated when I found out. (Not that this detracts anything whatsoever from Tracy's amazing acheivement, of course). And however naturally gifted she is, I'd still love to see her training logs from the last five years to see how she managed to get into such fantastic form...
Yes, she isn't just a fun runner as such and was highlighted in the FLM magazine as one to watch... She isn't as one rag said Mrs Nobody and has a good history of fast racing...
I've seen her name regularly in the top finishers in some of our local runs, but never knew what she looked like - I knew what the back of her vest looked like...
Comments
great result and well done
(she's my wife's optician)
Well done Tracy
Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I must admit, I was very sceptical when I saw her steam past the the second British girl to finish (can't remember her name). My first thought was that she had just joined the event at the 20 mile stage and was taking the p1ss. But no, fantastic, brilliant, the run of a lifetime. At the end she had no idea that she was first British lady.
It just goes to show, there is hope for all of us.
Go get 'em girl.
Ever since her performance at The Abbey Dash, I have been boring my fellow club runners rigid with my repeated assertions that Tracey was capable of qualifying for Athens. Isn't it great that a 'normal' club runner can achieve something like this, and even more so when it is someone who exemplifies the joy of running (even after 26 miles)?
Well done, superstar!
Way to go girl!
And in the best traditions of superb British marathoners the TV screen loves her, and she's eloquent.
The best bit if course is the way she has decided to be the superb runner that she is.
Is there hope for me?
There are only a limited number of people ie coaches and high profile former champions, that can spot true talent or potential and bring it too a good level. How about getting these people to go out and find all the others Traceys out there and bring them on, rather than wasting their time coaching B list celebs on reality progs like "The Games". How many club athletes with potential would have loved to be getting the kind of attention and coaching that Jodie Marsh and Pat Sharp got?
Good on you T and to the club, you must all be so proud. If anyone knows her secret could they publish it.or is she just very special?
I'm not sure why the BBC (and other media) made such a huge deal of the fact that Tracy had only started running when she entered the 1999 FLM but decided to conceal the fact that she had actually captained the Welsh Athletics team as a junior... I know it made for a better story, but I couldn't help but feel slightly cheated when I found out. (Not that this detracts anything whatsoever from Tracy's amazing acheivement, of course). And however naturally gifted she is, I'd still love to see her training logs from the last five years to see how she managed to get into such fantastic form...
I've seen her name regularly in the top finishers in some of our local runs, but never knew what she looked like - I knew what the back of her vest looked like...