Running in 1979 was viewed as a sport for the genuine athlete, to be performed on an athletic track. Those seen out in the streets running aimlessly about were seen as cranks or, at best, eccentrics with nothing better to do with their time. Running the streets in those days invoked the local kids to shout encouragement to you such as, “Get your knees up mister”, or they were even given to an impromptu joining in on the run for a short distance, then losing interest just as quickly.

My objective was the same as most runners at that time which was to improve my fitness, which was starting to slip as the years were added to my body and mind. My years of playing squash were rapidly coming to an end and, as I lurched from one injury to another, running seemed an attractive alternative. This was an activity that could be performed anytime, anywhere and was relatively inexpensive. Most importantly it was less demanding on the body than some of the other sports.

So this was the start to my running career which, initially started with running out and back a mile, and then progressing to a few pals running regularly, short distances, until one day it was suggested that a run to Knott End and back on the road be undertaken .The distance of 10 miles seemed an improbable distance to complete but, by starting slow and finishing even slower, it was achieved to much emotion and self congratulation. This was it, the bug had bitten, and the next stage was to compete in competition with others in road races.

At that time Brian Grundy, one of the forces who form the Lytham St.Annes RRC in recent years, was organising teams from within the ICI Ltd. to compete in the Cross Country Championships at Lever Park and suggested to me that the experience and the terrain would be beneficial to my aspirations as a road racer. This was the first time I had experienced the atmosphere and camaraderie of runners at a race meeting and I can say, with few exceptions, that this warm, friendly and a considerate outgoing has been felt throughout my running days.

As reported in the last magazine by Anorak Man, the clothing in the early days of road running was not as sophisticated but the running boom, which was in its infancy, brought onto the market a new range of road running shoes. Although this new equipment was relatively expensive, it was to be a ‘must’ if injury, through excessive training and pounding the tarmac, was to be minimised. My first pair of running shoes, at the extortionate cost of £35, were Nike Internationals.

The first road race I entered was the 4^th Annual Eastham 7. I can’t remember the route but I do recall it being an enjoyable day and the beginning of many similar experiences that were yet to come.

There are several problems with aging. One is certainly your reduction in the power of recollection. You know when you’re a Wrinkly when it becomes difficult to reflect, with any real clarity, on the past, and you know when you’ve gone beyond this to the Oven Ready or Coffin Dodger stage when you can’t recount anything. Fortunately I kept most of my results sheets so, with some accuracy, I can recall my efforts.

I was to enter races which today don’t exist but are still in the memories of those who ran them. Races such as Lancaster Earwig, Condor Bottom 5, Southport Beach 10, Kendal Gathering Gallop, Swintex International, Chris Vose Road Race, and Provincial 10, which was run between Bowness and Kendal and even Hambleton had the Hambleton Hobble 10.

My training during the week was usually running to and from work which gave me a daily distance of 8 miles. This I found most beneficial, as the repetitive action of running gave me relaxation of the body and mind and time to think through the problems of the day before arriving home.

I was to join the Monday night training session group which Alan Seddon of Blackpool and Fylde coached. These sessions usually took the form of 200 metre sprints along the Zoo road with 2 minute intervals. Needless to say I was lucky if I had a 1 minute between mine before the group set off again. After the sessions my legs felt that they had turned to jelly, if the saying, “No gain without pain” is true, then I was making rapid progress to increase my fitness level.

Marathon running in 1982 had become the ‘vogue’ and, any runner worth his salt, was going to try and run this phenomenal distance. So it was that I found myself on the starting line of the Bradford Marathon. What an emotional experience to finish your first Marathon, even in a time of 4 hours, but to me, the conclusion of many months of preparation gave me an immense feeling of satisfaction and was to encourage me to train and enter many more over the next few years.

Other times for my Marathon events were:
October 1982	Windermere	3hrs 37mins 25secs.
October 1983	Windermere	3hrs 33mins 50secs.
October 1984	Windermere	3hrs 34mins 00secs.
April 1985	London	3hrs 27mins 47secs
June 1988	Blackpool	3hrs 47mins 12secs.

My road running was now in full flow and, like the younger members of our club today, I was a prolific enterer of races. Just for the record these are my PB’s.

Blackpool 10k	41mins 05secs.
Ribble Valley 10m	69mins.
Freckleton ½ Marathon	1hr 33mins 30secs.
London Marathon	3hrs 27mins 47secs.

One of my running highlights came in July 1990 when I took part in the Tour of Thameside; what a challenge this event was, with road racing, cross country and fell running all within a week with just one rest day on the Wednesday. The companionship, camaraderie and competition was at its best and, thanks to Norman Bateman who kindly transported us during the entire week, I was able to sleep on the way home from all the evening events.

My introduction to cross country running was through the Mid. Lancs. League with the first race of the season being at Barrow-in-Furness. I never did find cross country terrain easy, particularly as the season progressed and the going got more difficult, but the beneficial effects on to your stamina and the increase in your strength of mind, which could be carried over into your road running, made it well worth while The major problem I found was due to your initial effort on the first circuit, that when you passed the finishing line for the first time, your mind would flood with masses of negative thoughts on your capacity, or even desire, to complete the race.

The Northern Championships at Burnley was an opportunity for me to be on the starting line with the likes of Steve Cram and his contemporaries. It was just as well that I saw him at the start as, by the time I finished, he was probably back in Gateshead!! Still, it’s not everybody who can claim to have raced international stars.

Colin Rushton, a good friend of mine, introduced me to Fell Running in the late eighties. Colin gave me much encouragement, which I was to need due to my first race up and down Pendle Hill; the direct route becoming a bad experience. I knew, during the steep decent, that I had sustained a very sore blister. What I didn’t realise until later was that it covered the entire sole of my foot, but did it put me off, well, “Yes it did!” It was to be several years later that I returned to fell running.

Some of my worst, and best, running experiences have happened on the fells. This is a sport of extremes and can, at times, be quite hostile but adds extra elements and dimensions to running. It is a dangerous sport if undertaken without the correct preparation and training and is usually run over very isolated areas of the fell and mountains. Skills in map reading and the right protective gear are essential, as weather conditions during a race can change suddenly from one extreme to another.

During the Kentmere Horseshoe Fell Race in April 1994, we had a ‘white out’ on High Street which caused many runners to get disorientated. This tragic race cost the life of Judith Taylor, a member of Clayton-le-Moors Running Club. I’ve had several bad falls on the fells and encountered many difficulties, the latest at Dunnerdale last November when the conditions had been the wettest ever in the history of the race. Fortunately John Keone and Helen Jolly were there to help me off the fell to safety and, on that occasion, I sustained a badly cut hand.which needed hospital treatment.

My better experiences have been competing in the Ben Nevis Mountain Race, running the Three Peaks Race, and winning the Three Shires Race 12miles, 4000ft around Little Langdale, and the Cadfod Grisdale Horseshoe, for the Over 60 years Trophies.

When I retired from work some 14 years ago, I was fortunate that, at the same time, Brian Wilkinson was also just retiring. Brian suggested that we should, at least once a week, have a day out running the fells and that he had a pal who lived in Hurst Green who would also be interested. I met Dougie Brown for the first time when the three of us ran on Pen-y-ghent. This was to be the start of many regular outings, sometimes twice a week. We covered areas of the Yorkshire Dales as well as the Lake District and around the hills of East Lancashire. The three soon turned to four when Les Ward joined the group. These runs continue today, although Les has retired, and Brian has been reduced to walking and jogging. These were halcyon days with days spent in Doug’s caravan, running the fells and mountains of Scotland and Wales and, in the evenings, enjoying a few drinks in the local hostelries. What happy memories! It was through Brian that I started to enter the long distance walker’s events which we ran rather than walked. Events like The Great Shunner Shuffle, 29 miles covered in 6 hours; Swaledale Marathon, Anglesarke, Wycock Challenge, Rombold Stride and many more, these were classics and full day events.

I cannot finish this article without a mention of the Wrinkly Group, ridiculed by some, but a party of sensible and mature people who have come together for enjoyment and fun as well as an interest in running. Having had some marvellous holidays and happy times together with planned runs on a Thursday of each week, most due to the efforts of John Whiteman. Without John’s energies, effort and time, this would not happen or have been sustained and Norma and I are personally indebted to him for the enjoyment we have had together with the group.

Well that’s a glimpse of the past but what about the future. If Mike Walsh is anything to go by then I can confidently predict looking forward to a few more years of running, albeit at a much reduced level of competition. I’ll know when the time has come to hang up my running shoes for good –when John and Peter start beating me to the finish line. Let’s hope that is not too soon!!

Finally I want to thank all the members of Wesham Road Running Club, and indeed all those who I race against and train with, for keeping my interest in running fresh and interesting and for helping to give me a younger outlook on life in general.

Written by: Keith Gresty.

Submitted: 24^th April 2006

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Website/Magazine Editor.