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“The Long Hard Road” By Andy Talbot

Brief history I then entered the Sunderland Half marathon a week before the marathon I confirmed to myself
I joined the Army in the September 1976 as an in May 2018 and finished in 1hr 33mins, later in I would run it and do my best I could run a possible
apprentice chef and left after serving over 26 years 2019 I entered the Lancaster 20 mile and finished 8 minute mile pace for a 3:30 marathon was the
as a Warrant Officer. During my first few years I it in 2hr 23min the next day a member mentioned best in my opinion I could achieve on the day.
was lucky to have served with 3 of the best running that I should run in the Masters qualifying mar- So my aim was to make the start line and hope
regiments, I served with 1 Armd Div & Signal athon in 2020 to qualify to run for England so I to make the finish line and be proud to have worn
Regt from 1978 to 1982, coming 2nd Individual in entered the Milton Keynes 2020 Marathon that the England vest.
the BAOR x-country as a junior in 1978. incorporated the Masters qualifier. However covid- The big day
Then in 1979/80 & 1980/81 season I helped the 19 hindered my goal as it was deferred and deferred
Race day Sunday 2nd October 2022 – My 5th
team win the BAOR’s & Army x-country cham- during 2020 I managed to break nearly all the clubs
Marathon wearing the England vest
pionships, in 1981/82 season we won the BAOR’s V60 records from the 800m to the marathon and
It was a mile walk from the hotel which
and came 2nd to 3 Para in the Army x-country also managed to run my 3rd marathon a 10 lap
was good to loosen my back up and met all the
championships. course around Elvington airfield and finished 1st
England runners. We all formed up behind the
In 1982 I was posted to 1 PWO where I won V60 in a 3hr 10min which was more or less what
elite runners and at 09:00hrs the horn went off
the Wilts & Border x-country league Individual I was aiming for so now I knew I could run it and
and away we went off the Chester racecourse and
title as well as the team taking the title too, we also had to do it again in 2021 at Milton Keynes.
into the city centre finding myself right behind the
won the South West x-country league and finished The Milton Keynes Marathon was a 2 lap race
3hr pacer I will never learn from going off too fast.
2nd to 3 Para in the army x-country championships on a car free circuit around the pleasant walkways /
I had taken pain killers for the first time in decades
before being posted to Berlin with the Battalion we cycle paths however they were very bumpy and was
to help. I knew I was in for a tough time, well I
won the South West Marathon team with myself slightly undulating not flat as it was described with
went through the first 10k in 44:29 a 7:09 pace
coming 3rd in my first marathon in a time of 2hr many twists & sharp turns not ideal wearing the
taking my first gel at the 5 mile point and water
46mins. Then a few weeks later we ran in the Inter springy platform racing shoes.
throughout the race, slightly slowing to a 7:34 pace
Services marathon at RAF Swinderby. The team Keeping the pace for the next 10k, taking a salt stick tablet around
1 PWO came second to 3 Para with me coming
The aim was to run a 7:10 pace to finish in an the 10mile point after another gel and around the
9th in a time of 2hr 35mins. 1983/84 & 1984/85
expected time of 3:10, well it never happened I got half way point.
we as a team won every running event we entered
a bit carried away and went a little too fast over There was some great support from the specta-
in Berlin and won the BAOR x-country as well as
the first half and knew I had to slow it a little and tors as we went into Wales and through the villages
the Army x-country championships.
then around the 19 mile point the pain began with the officials and markers were so encouraging too.
A 10 year break my piriformis issues mainly on the inclines and The next 10k was slowing like you never knew it,
In 1985 I was posted to 3 Para where we were 2nd declines I tried to keep a steady pace but was slow- having to walk up the small hills as I was in so
to 1 PWO in the army x-country championships ing down due to the faster early pace struggling the much pain from sciatica taking 53:06 mins for that
after that I was posted to other units and my run- last two miles but I knew whatever I had to finish. 10k, taking another gel around the 19mile point as
ning achievements were coming to an end apart The official time was 3:11:33 well as another salt stick, the next 10k was a little
from winning a few chef races. Knowing I had done my best on the day, slower at a 8:42 pace taking another 54:06 mins
In 1995 I had a mental breakdown and was the results came in showing I was 1st V60 and and had my final gel around 22 mile, the crowds
off work for a number of months and never really it ensured me a place to run for England in the supporting the race at the finish helped a little but
recovered for many years after it still affected me Masters Marathon to be held within the Chester I was in so much pain finishing the last 2k in 11:12
in some way or another. After leaving the army in 2022 Marathon. with a finish time of 3:30:45
February 2003 I went out for a run and basically A long wait was to come as it was 15 months to All I can say I am very proud of myself for rep-
told myself I didn’t like it anymore I never did the Chester Marathon with lots of ups and downs resenting England and celebrated with a fine bottle
any physical exercise until the end of 2015 when I soon after the Milton Keynes Marathon I slipped, of Chateau Talbot 2010.
knew I had to do something as I was getting very coming down Catbells in the Lake District, dis- During the many races I managed to run.
depressed, so I started off with a very slow 2 mile locating my left shoulder and a hairline fracture I found out that my track mile time of 5min 36sec
jog walk and soon managed to run it in 20 min- in my arm, continued piriformis issues and then was a North East V60 record and also the 9th fast-
utes and started to get better and longer, then in late January 2022 I somehow managed to slip and est in the world for a V60 in 2020.
the February 2016 I found out about the Parkrun dislocate my right shoulder. So six weeks before I know that I have inspired some people over
and ran one and was amazed I completed the 5k on Chester marathon I ran a 20 mile race at Lancaster the years and hope that I will inspire more of my
snowy ground in a time of 22:23. and completed it in a surprising time of 2hr 23min running friend’s anything is possible.
During 2016 I moved to Newton Aycliffe and and was a great feeling I was on the right track Everyone has their issues either with mental
between sorting the house restoration out, I man- to a very good performance wearing the vest of health or ill health or both. I have had both over
aged to train for the Great North run in 2017 and England. Two weeks later I trapped a nerve in my the years and know others have too, never give up
ended up with a better time than I thought I could back and couldn’t do any training for two weeks. and talk to someone it does help.
achieve finishing in a time of 1hr 34min. So with a 16 mile week and then ran a 10 mile run Believe & Achieve.
Representing England in the
Chester Marathon, October 2022

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