What were you doing 20 months ago? Where were you? What have you achieved in that time?

Danish Ultra Runner, Jesper Olsen was in Nordkapp, Norway preparing to start his World Run 2 (www.worldrun.org) that would take him from the northern most tip of Norway to the Southern most tip of Africa, before going to South America and running to the northern most tip of Canada.

He started the run on the 1 July 2008 and after 21, 250km he will be running into Cape Point this Saturday, 13 Mar 10.

He has run thorugh a dozen different countries in his quest which was a lot harder than first expected. Fighting illness, injury, fatigue and lonliness on the road! Even though he is no stranger to Solo Running, having completed his first World Run in 2005 (Europe, Russia, Japan, Australia and North America – 26,000km), this Run has been a lot harder than expected and he will be taking a break at Cape Point before starting the second half of his journey in South America in a few months time.

As Jesper was quoted as saying “For me the success of my runs around the world, world run 1 and 2, is just as much about respecting the body as it is about setting new milestones for human endurance running.”

Jesper has been joined on the road by Australian Runner, Sarah Barnett for about 9,000km so far. Sarah ran the first leg from Norway to Turkey , before taking a break and joining him on the road a couple of times since. Sarah is a Champion runner in her own right, having won a couple of 6 day races around the world.

Jesper will be bringing up several firsts when he runs into Cape Point. These include the first runner to finish two documented runs over 20,000km, the first runner to run from the northern most tip of Europe to the southenr most tip of Africa and the first runner to run across Africa from North to South. All massive achievements in themselves.

Jesper has been ably assisted, looked after and crewed for by various members of the South African running community since being in South Africa. These volunteers were wonderfully co-ordinated by Darrell Raubenheimer and Jesper is eternally gratefull for their assistance over the last couple of months. Just another example of the great spirit that exists in Running around the Globe.

So when your driving to work this Friday morning, see if you can remember where you were on the 1st July, 2008 and think about Jesper, his “Änything is Possible”spirit and the 21,000km that he has run in that time.

Phil Essam

PS – On a personal note. Congratulations Jesper.  Enjoy the break and we shall get organised for the second half.

Related Posts

• January 23, 2010 — Olsen half way through EPIC World Run
• March 1, 2010 — From Iron Ore to Gold
• January 26, 2010 — Walking around South Africa – Kyle Meenehan
• December 20, 2009 — Lisa Tamati runs New Zealand
• October 4, 2009 — 1,254 mile mountain-marathon: Lands End -John O’Groats

http://www.roadrunnersclub.org.uk/

We have received the very sad news that Cavin Woodward, RRC Member 3467, passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly on Thursday 26th February, aged 62.

Cavin was one of the greatest British Ultra Distance runners ever. He set a World 100 Mile Track best of 11hrs 38mins 54secs in October 1975. He won the London to Brighton race that year as well as twelve other finishes. He also ran World class times at various othe Ultra distances on the track and on the road.

No other details are available at this time.

Cavin was a long time and loyal RRC member, a lovely man and a very great runner.

The photo shows Cavin at the London end of the London to Brighton route in 1975, the year he won the race in 5hrs 12min 7 secs (52miles 1172 yds). This was one of his 12 Brighton finishes spanning the years 1971 to 1998.

Related Posts

• February 15, 2010 — London to Brighton Race – 1993
• December 31, 2009 — Eleanor Robinson
• March 1, 2010 — Update from the Webmaster
• March 1, 2010 — From Iron Ore to Gold
• February 25, 2010 — Shepparton 50km – 1994

But come July, We will be in our own home, the “Ultralegends” tub will be unpacked and blogging will recommence. Mean while – did you know there are 1,004 seperate articles on Ultralegends. Bet you havent looked at each one!

But if people have got some articles or information on the sport of Ultrarunning, 1995 and before, please send it to me and I will get it posted.  The next few months also gives me a chance to edit the site and get some ultra books re read and reviews written. So look forward to them.

Related Posts

• February 25, 2010 — Shepparton 50km – 1994
• February 25, 2010 — Caboolture Multi Day event – 1994
• February 25, 2010 — AURA 6 hour Track race – 1994
• February 25, 2010 — Albany to Perth – 1994
• February 24, 2010 — Brindabella Classic 1994

Hello

About me:-

I am a  UK Senior Citizen , with  a long and strong family connection to athletics going back into the 19^th Century .  A former  track athlete , Rugby player , Health and Fitness Professional , I  commenced coaching from the late 1950s and gained a Diploma in Physical Education (1964) along the way followed by , firstly the Amateur Athletic Association (1969) Honorary Coaching Award  , then since 1972 have  held the British Amateur Athletic Board accreditation as a Senior Sprints Coach ; I produced  several works on athletics skills and conditioning , including the widely acknowledged  “Sprinting and Relay Racing”, I  was co-architect  of the Body-Tec System of physiological assessment used in fitness testing  leading European and Commonwealth Gold Medalists .  In the early 1980s  I  was invited to be interviewed for the position of National Athletics Coach .

The Northern Council for Sport and Recreation made use of my knowledge and ability in production of the Regional Recreational Strategy 1981 and  , also in the ‘80s  , I  was  consulted  on   behalf of  The Sports Council in regard to Coaching / Teaching / Instructing for National Vocational Qualifications

I am trying to announce   my  recently   published book (synopsis below) and have included a copy  of a locally circulated poster, and I wonder if you could see fit to announce the availability of the book on the Ultra Legends website?

I suppose that you would not class marathon as exactly Ultra but as an ancient sprint coach it’s a hell of a long way !  I think  your site visitors would be interested in my book .

Sincerely ,

Ray Hewson

Synopsis:

“Dalton’s Marathon Man – From Iron Ore To Gold”

(Ray Hewson 2010)

Arthur Preston (1879 – ) a truly historic but until now unrecognized name in the annals of the marathon race  . This third Son of Lancashire Iron Ore Miner Roger Preston and his Wife Elizabeth , one of  a family of nine boys and one girl , was to become a class athlete but it would take 101 years for this fact to be acknowledged .

“Dalton’s Marathon Man – From Iron Ore To Gold”  (Ray Hewson 2010)

Tells the story of a Lancashire man , born in the latter quarter of the 19^th Century , emigrating at the age of 26 to South Africa , already a fine athlete in both amateur and professional events , an iron ore miner , an adventurer , eventually a gold miner  , who turned out to be one of the best marathon runners in the World ( arguably the best ) and whose exploits , because of his choice to run as a professional athlete , have been ignored by an athletics “fraternity” that chose not to acknowledge the achievements of such athletes  -  largely due to the fear , widespread during the period which this story covers , that to recognize them would entice “amateurs” of the day to follow in their footsteps .  Many , of course did !

In the land of  the  Springbok  he competed over varying distances , but  it was in March 1909 in Johannesburg  that  he produced two historic marathon wins – the subject matters of this book .

Related are the many factors with which the runners in those and similar races  had to contend ;  read about aspects such as the effects of altitude as related by Jack Daniels , PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of Wisconsin and altitude consultant for a U.S. Olympic Track and Field team ; the opinions expressed by acknowledged leading authorities on marathon David E. Martin PhD and Roger W.H. Gynn regarding the one hundred years of experience from which modern Marathon exponents benefit due to the pioneering efforts of Arthur Preston and his like who experimented and learned by the doing .

Arthur Preston was  obviously in the upper echelon of the participants , on a World – wide basis, in the Marathon during his career . He was certainly one of the very best in the World in his day – but it’s taken 101 years to recognise his  talent . Of that there can be little  doubt  !

101 YEARS LATE !

“Dalton’s Marathon Man – From Iron Ore To Gold”

By Ray Hewson

(Author of the widely acknowledged “They Could Catch Pigeons”, “Sprinting & Relay Racing” and “Let’s All Go Down The Strand”)

Dalton’s Marathon Man .. the Arthur Preston story…in his day arguably the best marathon runner in the World…..a notion until now unrecognised ! Foreword by Peter Wood (South Africa)

Available strictly to order.

Book format UK £9.99 inc. CD-Rom format UK £6.00 inc.

Abroad £12.00 inc. Via Airmail   Abroad £7.00 inc. Via Airmail

Adobe Acrobat Document (.pdf)

Order from:-   M. Hewson ,   2, Cumbria View , Walney Island, Barrow in Furness , Cumbria , LA14 3HP, England .

Cheques payable to M. Hewson .

Enquiries to :- Penbloc@aol.com

Related Posts

• March 8, 2010 — Olsen to finish first half of World Run 2
• March 2, 2010 — Cavin Woodward – RIP
• February 15, 2010 — London to Brighton Race – 1993
• January 26, 2010 — Walking around South Africa – Kyle Meenehan
• January 23, 2010 — Olsen half way through EPIC World Run

I love the mention of the Races in Darwin.  It must have been torture!

03 jim gleeson

Related Posts

• October 19, 2009 — Nobby Young at Barclay Homestead
• June 4, 2009 — Gordon Smith – Australia’s first Centurion
• May 13, 2009 — 50 mile walker in Tasmania – 1847
• May 13, 2009 — Another World Walker – 1898
• April 27, 2009 — The Curious Feats of the Flying Pieman

Related Posts

• March 1, 2010 — Update from the Webmaster
• February 25, 2010 — Caboolture Multi Day event – 1994
• February 25, 2010 — AURA 6 hour Track race – 1994
• February 25, 2010 — Albany to Perth – 1994
• February 24, 2010 — Brindabella Classic 1994

Related Posts

• March 1, 2010 — Update from the Webmaster
• February 25, 2010 — Shepparton 50km – 1994
• February 25, 2010 — AURA 6 hour Track race – 1994
• February 25, 2010 — Albany to Perth – 1994
• February 24, 2010 — Brindabella Classic 1994

Related Posts

• February 17, 2010 — La Rochelle 6 day race – 1993
• January 1, 2010 — Emil La Harrague
• March 2, 2010 — Cavin Woodward – RIP
• March 1, 2010 — Update from the Webmaster
• February 25, 2010 — Shepparton 50km – 1994

Related Posts

• March 1, 2010 — Update from the Webmaster
• February 25, 2010 — Shepparton 50km – 1994
• February 25, 2010 — Caboolture Multi Day event – 1994
• February 25, 2010 — Albany to Perth – 1994
• February 24, 2010 — Brindabella Classic 1994

Related Posts

• March 1, 2010 — Update from the Webmaster
• February 25, 2010 — Shepparton 50km – 1994
• February 25, 2010 — Caboolture Multi Day event – 1994
• February 25, 2010 — AURA 6 hour Track race – 1994
• February 24, 2010 — Brindabella Classic 1994