Several of the top marathon men not only in Scotland but around the world started their marathon career only after a background involving lots of conditioning and then a period of fast running on the track – Allister Hutton for example.    Lawrie Spence must be among the best ever Scottish examples of this pattern.    Starting as a boy in Greenock Glenpark Harriers and based in the South West District of the Cross Country Union he won the District title every year from first year Senior Boy through to Senior Man and then went on to win the West District Senior Championship three times after his move to Shettleston Harriers.   He also medalled in every age group in the National Championships – the only other marathon runner to do so was Mike Ryan who was third in the Mexico Olympics marathon in 1968.   In addition he ran for the Junior Scottish team in the last Cross Country International in 1972 and for the Senior team no fewer than eight times   He also took over from Jim Alder as the Scottish Team Captain.   These are summarised in the table below: the first three columns are the Cross Country titles won, the second three columns (in blue) detail the International appearances.   (As in all tables in this section, placed runs in championships such as his second in the Scottish Junior Cross in 1969 and medals in team races have been omitted as there are so many of them).

His track history built on this and is no less illustrious.   Most track runners would have been happy to be in one Scottish all time list at their specialist distance but Lawrie is in no fewer than six.   He has also won track championships at Scottish level: The SAAA Junior 1500 metres title in 1972 in 3:57.8; the SAAA Senior 1500 metres title in 1973 in 3:47.6 and in 1975 in 3:47.3 ; the SAAA 5000 metres title twice in 1978 in 13:45.0 and again in 1981 and the 10000 metres title three times in 1982 in 29:38.1, 1983 in 28:38.9 and 1984 in 29:18.3.   Although not winning a UK title he won silver in 1983 and bronze in 1981 for 10000 metres.   In 1971 he was ranked top Scot for 3000 metres in 7:52.82.

Let’s have a  look at his appearances in the Scottish All Time Best Performances list.   I can’t think of another Scottish marathon man who has run sub four for the Mile.   He also held the Scottish record for 2000 metres with 5:20.8 which he set at Airdrie in 1975 and then lowered to 5:12.8 in 1976 at the same venue.   His current pb (set in Belfast when beating Rod Dixon the 1972 Bronze 1500 metres and 1983 New York marathon winner in a new All Ireland record of 5:03.8) although not eligible for a Scottish Native Record is actually faster than Frank Clement’s record of 5:03.5 set in 1978.   In addition his 10000 metres time noted below is only 0.15 seconds slower than Lachie Stewart’s record of 1970.   A track pedigree to be eminently proud of!

The table summarises the personal bests and their all time rankings in Scotland and England – I have added the marathon best and the asterisk at the GB Marathon ranking indicates that it was arrived at by adding one to the UK Athletics rankings which stopped at position 151 on 2:16:00, just stopping short by one second of Lawrie’s mark    Positions as at the start of April 2010.   Lawrie’s own story of the Sub-Four Mile can be read at the SATS website – www.scotstats.com – just visit the site and go to the BLOG  section.

The bare bones of his marathon career are as follows:   He ran five marathons in all over a three year period.   He ran his first marathon in Glasgow in 1983 where he hit the wall and walked in to finish in 2:42:12 but the following year got it right when he finished third in 2:16:01 having learned the lesson of the previous year.   In 1985 he started with an excellent 2:19:11 (fifth in Scotland and fifty eighth in the UK) which he set in Perth, Western Australia.    His faster marathon was in Orange County, Los Angeles when he ran 2:15:03 but the course was never certified and ended up being a one off event and so doesn’t count!   By 1986 he had it down to 2:17:01 which he set in London and brought him up to number five in Scotland for the year.

***

Having found the Scottish Marathon Club questionnaire very useful in the past, I used IT to put some questions to Lawrie about his running career  and specifically about his marathon running. His replies are below in italics.

How did you get into athletics in the beginning and were you coached?

I was coached by my brother Jim who took me from the boys’ age groups through to senior international level..   During the break through years I was lucky to have Lachie Stewart as a mentor which gave me a great foundation in the sport.  In the early eighties I had a spell with Stan Long who was Brendan Foster’s coach but due to him being based down in Gateshead, the distance proved to be difficult before the age of our modern communications like email and mobile phones.   As time went by I became more in control of the detail of what was in the sessions and what the  plans were to be, but always keeping Jim as a rock in my training.   I do believe that you do have to have somebody at the different stages of your athletic career, and also others, almost a team for example to play the ‘good cop/bad cop’ when reviewing your performances and help to modify what is working and what is not.   As I am now a coach myself, I try to be an athletes coach and not a coach of athletes, using my own experience to help them develop and minimise their mistakes.

A jump now to the marathon years.   Why did you run the first one – was it your own idea, were you talked into it, or what?

As I progressed through the events of the 1500m, 5000m and 10000m the marathon was always a natural move for me and it was just a question of when I was going to do it.

Do you  think you came to the event too early, too late or just at the right time in your career?

I don’t think I would have wanted to try the marathon any earlier than I did.   Even when I did, on reflection, I don’t think I ever fully committed myself to the event in that I wanted to still be able to compete on the track and therefore never did the miles of running that would maybe have allowed me to perform better and not suffered the aftermath of the recovery phase.   I do have the thought of what really could my pb really have been?   I know I underperformed in the marathon.  

What did you think was your best race (not always the same as the fastest)?

As stated earlier, I don’t think I ever had a best one but my second Glasgow after having to walk the finish for my first one, gave me the most satisfaction as I was able to run it the whole way in 2:16:01 finishing third and first Scot and getting an engraved crystal vase for my efforts!

My most enjoyable trip to one was to Perth, Western Australia.   The reason for the trip was to go with my wife Ann to see my old training companion Duncan McAuley (who ran for Cambuslang when he lived in Scotland before emigrating) and his wife Fi..      We had spent many a session together and run together.   His help in sessions was invaluable in my development and thereafter in my racing performances.   That’s one of the best things about our sport: the friendships that you build up which last for ever – and they are “real” friends.   Trevor Wright, the English internationalist, was racing and he also had his wife Rosemary (maiden name Stirling) who won gold for Scotland over 800 metres in the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh but who was not running in the marathon.  

It always amazed me who I met throughout the world when I travelled to races.   It was great to catch up with them.  

he race in Perth ended up a disaster at about the 19 mile mark in a pack of five when I went to grab my drink bottle from the tables, one of the other athletes also crossed, caught my heels and I fell skinning my arms and knees.   I then did the classic of getting up too quickly and chasing after them like a bat out of hell as they had put the boot in when they saw me go down.   I got back on to the back of the pack but was feeling uncomfortable as I sat for a while but the break was on after my fall and I then drifted off the back running on my own, feeling very sorry for myself with my grazed knees and elbows.   It ended up being a long run back to the finish but passing one who was in a worse state than me to move up to fourth in the race but dropping valuable time which would have given me a PB over a hilly but very scenic course along the Swan River in Perth.  Mind you, I did beat Trevor!

What was your worst?

It must be my first one in Glasgow.   I hit the wall at 22 miles and was reduced to a walk and finished in 2:42.   This international track runner who had been able to race half marathons well was caught out and given the message that the marathon is a unique event and demands respect.   But I did finish the race as that was my whole make-up as an athlete – never drop out but finish and take it on the chin as you take the plaudits when you do well!

Can you give some idea of your training?

It was very much on 10,000 metres training with the speed sessions, fartlek runs and hill work depending on the time of year.    My belief was, and still is, if you train slow then you race slow and vice versa.   I increased my Sunday runs to over two hours and also tried to learn to take on water.   The problem was being able to bring the pace down  in these runs and not overcook and pay the penalty.   I also increased the mileage in my other runs (not sessions) during the week and was hitting about 120 miles per week. 

Finally, what have you got out of running?

Belief in myself, never lose your confidence and take the knocks and get on with it!   I left school at 15 with no formal qualification and at best was getting a craft job in the Shipyards but through running giving me confidence in myself (I was one of the top boys in Scotland at the time) and learning the discipline of training I was able to go to night school and then day release and so able to get the qualifications to go to Strathclyde University, which in turn allowed me the opportunity to have a successful work career.   Through hard work and dedication to the lifestyle and getting the success this brought with it, I moved onwards and upwards as a person.  

In terms of career development and as a model for any young athlete, Lawrie’s career development can’t be bettered.   I knew and raced against his brother Jim (and know George and Cammy as well) and it is good to see the effect he has had on Lawrie’s career.   Jim himself won many races and was Scottish Marathon Club Champion in his own right.    But having said all that and being an admirer of all that Lawrie has done, the marathon enthusiast in me can’t help saying “If only …”

Bill winning the SAAA Marathon Championship in 1969 at Meadowbank

I met Eddie Knox of Springburn in the Cowgate in Kirkintilloch many years ago.    Eddie had won the Junior International Cross Country Championship and was a multi title holder in every age group from Under 15 up.   He had just come back from a race for a small Scottish team in Hannut in Belgium and couldn’t get over the fact that a Scotsman over the age of 40 had beaten him!   The veteran Scotsman was Bill Stoddart who came to most people’s attention when he won the 1969 SAAA Marathon Championship from the unfinished Meadowbank Track.   The race was used as a trial for the route to be used for the Commonwealth Games marathon in 1970 and a good field was forward for the event including Donald Ritchie, Jim Wight, Hugh Mitchell, and various others.

‘A Hardy Breed’ covered the race as follows; “The runners covered one lap of the track and left to the cheers of a few workmen since spectators were banned from the site.   Donald Ritchie also took part and shared the early lead with Bill Stoddart.   The course was Restalrig Avenue, Joppa, Musselburgh, Seton Level Crossing, Longniddry and the Chance Inn Bridge where competitors turned for home.   At three miles they were joined by Jim Wight (Edinburgh AC) who later became an international marathon runner.   Police, motor cycles, patrol cars. ambulances and carloads of officials shadowed the runners through the city streets and out over the country course. However, by five miles Donald felt the side of his right foot burning and nipping but decided to press on.    Jim lost contact on a hill at seven miles.   Bill put in an effort before 10 miles and passed that mark six seconds clear in 54:10.   Donald’s foot was now giving him great pain so he stopped at eleven miles to investigate.   A three inch blister on the sole had burst.   Even Donald could not restart and had to return to the stadium in an ambulance.   He had modified a pair of EB racing shoes to reduce weight and increase breathability.   That is, he had cut holes in them, succeeding only in decreasing stability allowing excessive foot motion and friction -and disaster.

Bill Stoddart in more recent years has become a veteran multi world record holder and champion in track and cross country as well as the marathon.   In 1972 at the age of 41 he recorded 2:21:18.   He reports that back in 1969 he was a 38 year old teacher of maths and physics at Reid Kerr Technical College in Paisley.   Six weeks earlier he had been silver medal winner in the SAAA Track 10 Miles so he was in good form.   However only a fortnight before the Scottish Championship he had run his first 26 miler in the Shettleston event starting too fast and fading over the last two miles.   Perhaps he would learn better pacing for this championship.   At halfway (at Spittal, East Lothian) he swung round a policeman guarding a bollard first in 70:40. followed by Alistair Matson (Edinburgh Southern) and Hugh Mitchell (Shettleston) in 73:15.   Then came Gordon Eadie (Cambuslang), Jim Wight and Jim Irvine (Bellahouston).   Bill found the head wind on the way back refreshing on a hot and humid day, but the course seemed boring with long straights to endure.   Still, ‘when you win, what does it matter?’   At 23 miles, out on his own, climbing the hill to the stadium, Bill remembers that ‘Willie Fulton, the time keeper was shouting out my time, which I couldn’t hear  since I was a bit light headed by then.   I vaguely remember shouting back to Willie not to bother with my time but would he please tell me (as in the song) the miles to Dundee.’

Bill Stoddart’s winning time was 2:27:25, second was Hugh Mitchell in 2:31:30 and third was Peter Duffy (Motherwell YMCA) in 2:37:04.

Bill’s career as a marathon runner went from strength to strength and it will be covered soon but I’d like to tell for the first time that he was almost the subject of a protest and possible disqualification on the day.   All the officials for the Commonwealth Games Marathon were having their first ‘dry run’ and were assigned to their places well in advance.   I was part of the team at Fisher Row in Musselburgh who were to serve the drinks to the runners.    When Bill passed a car stopped at the side of the road and gave him his drink – it had not been approved and sent out to us before the race started.   The chief steward was all for reporting the incident and having ‘action taken.’   Fortunately we managed to change his mind.

1969 was a very good year for Bill.   He had two marathon times in the Scottish Rankings: 2:27:25 at Meadowbank placed him tenth Scot and was the fourteenth time by a Scot that year; he also recorded 2:29:16 at Manchester on 20th July.   The faster time placed him at number forty six in the UK; At ten miles his time of 50:55 placed him at number two in Scotland and thirteenth in the UK; he was also number three at Six Miles in Scotland.   There was no way that anyone could regard his run in the marathon as a freak performance.   Earlier in the year he had won the Scottish South West Cross Country title for the first time leading Wellpark to victory in the team race and in 1970 he competed for Scotland in the world championships.   In looking at the rankings you must remember of course that it was at a time when British and Scottish endurance running was at a real peak with Don McGregor, Jim Alder, Alistair Wood, Fergus Murray, Ian McCafferty and Lachie Stewart were all running and in the wider British scene there were athletes like Ron Hill, Mike Freary, Bill Adcocks and Tim Johnston we  all performing exceptionally well.

His next medal in the Scottish championships was in 1971.   Clyne and Youngson again: “Bill Stoddart remembers that “torrential rain greeted us as we prepared to warm up for the race and people could be seen dashing for cover.   In a matter of minutes we were running round splashing like ducks in a pond!”   In fact the weather was so bad that the officials were forced to abandon (temporarily) the SAAA Track and field championships while the road runners squelched onwards dourly.   It was ever thus from a marathoners point of view – ‘track fairies.’   After six days of training totalling 58 miles, Pat Maclagan remembers starting  the race through standing water in his Onitsuka Tiger shoes with added foam padding under the tongue, and heel pads.   Since he did not wear socks he had  also taped the soles of his feet.   Unfortunately the soaking dislodged a piece of tape to his considerable discomfort.   Pat recalls complaining about this to Don McGregor who replied callously or helpfully, “Why don’t you stop and take your shoe off, then?”   Instead Pat spent some time trying to manoeuvre  the offending  tape between his toes so it became no longer a problem.

Bill thinks that no one was keen to take the pace due to the depressing conditions so he led for most of 22 miles,   By then Donald Ritchie had dropped back as had Don McGregor  and Willie Day (Falkirk Victoria Harriers) had come through.   According to Pat, Bill and Willie tried to get away at this point but he hauled them back.   Bill remembers Pat “speeding past ” me as if I was going backwards and he didn’t even say ‘Hello'”.   Or indeed ‘Goodbye’.   Pat Maclagan won by two minutes in 2:21:17 with Bill Stoddart second in 2:23:31 and Willie Day third in 2:26:07 – good times considering the weather.

***

This year he was eleventh in the Scottish rankings for the marathon, seventh in the one hour track run with 18,900m 11 ml 1309 yards, ninth in the ten miles track and twenty second in the 10000 metres with 31:12.6.   The times and distances are remarkable and only indicate how high the standard was at the time – in 2010 he’d certainly be in the top two or three.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The best summary of his career that I have come across is this article from the ‘Scotland’s Runner’ magazine in November 1992 outlining Bill’s career to that point.

NEVER TOO OLD TO STRIKE GOLD

Margaret Montgomery talks to Bill Stoddart in the wake of his gold medal winning performance at the veteran world road racing championships in Birmingham

With a spritely and alert demeanour which belies his 61 years and semi retired status, Bill Stoddart appears every inch the world veteran champion.   Watching him greet non athletic contemporaries at his regular training haunt – Battery Park in Greenock – the impression of a man with an unusual degree  of zest and vitality for his years is even more pronounced.   While Bill jogs along with easy grace, those he bumps into are either slowly walking their dogs or watching the activities of boats on the Firth of Clyde from the comfort of a park bench.   his particular lunchtime however Bill was to join the ranks of the park bench pensioners.   Taking an hour or so off from a fairly hectic daily training schedule, he managed to sit down long enough to talk about his latest athletic accomplishments and share the goals he has set himself for the coming year.   Fresh from the recent world veterans road race championships where he struck gold in both the over 60’s 10K and25K, Stoddart is presently on the crest of a wave.   Even by his own very exacting standards he has just achieved something rather special.   “I really wanted to pull off the double”, he explains, “Although I’ve come first and second in these events in a single championships, I’ve never won both at once before.”   Stoddart’s preparation for double gold was long and arduous.   Despite his comparatively advanced years, he was putting in between 70 and 80 miles a week in the run up to Birmingham.   On top of that he was racing every other week and doing the equivalent of another five miles a day deep water treading in a local swimming pool.

“I’ve used deep water treading as part of my training for around three years now,” Stoddart confesses.   “I started it in my late fifties and my times have got faster every year since.   It’s a tremendous thing.  It works your cardio-vascular system, tones muscles and prevents shock.   People tend to use it when they’re injured but I’d recommend using it as an everyday training aid.”   Bill’s performance in Birmingham rounded off a highly successful season for the Greenock man.   At Arbroath in June he achieved a world best in his age group for the half marathon with 75:53, while in August he did, to all intents and purposes, the same thing in the 10K when he clocked 34:51.   This however has still to be ratified.   With the world ten mile best in the same age group already lodged under his belt (at East Kilbride and Lanarkshire 10 mile road race in August 1991 he clocked a formidable 57:43) Stoddart’s remaining target is an Over 60 world best in the marathon.   This he hopes to have acquired by the end of the year.  “I clocked 2:49:53 at the Inverclyde Marathon last year,” he says  “I’ve got 2:42 to beat but I’m fitter this year than I was in 1991 so I think I’m capable of the low forties.”   Whether or not Bill does achieve his marathon goal by the end of the year, he won’t be short of accomplishments to list on his athletics curriculum vitae.   Stoddart has won Scottish and British titles in all veteran’s age groups, Scottish titles in distances from 1500 metres up to the marathon and the British in distances of 10000 metres and upwards.   Meanwhile on top of this Stoddart has the distinction of being the only man to have held world bests in all veteran age groups, these being in distances of 5K and upwards.

It all adds up to a remarkable career.   What makes it all the more outstanding however is that it hasn’t been developed on the back of an equally glittering senior career.   Although he competed as a senior, representing Scotland a number of times along the way, it is only since turning 40 that he has become what is euphemistically known as a world beater.   Stoddart puts his ‘late development’ down to the fact that he was too much of an all-rounder in his early days to concentrate solely on one sport.   A county standard table tennis player and a keen junior football player, he only began running ‘for fun’ when he was called up for National Service in 1952.

“I was stationed with the RAF in the Black Forest for two years,” he recalls, “the choice was either to become an alcoholic or a sportsman.   I decided I’d rather become a sportsman.   I started doing cross country running every Wednesday and eventually became good enough to win a place in the RAF combined team.   I suppose I got a taste for running at this time but it was very much a leisure pursuit.   I still saw football and table tennis as my main sports.”   By the time Bill returned to civilian life he was 23.   His appetite for running whetted, he joined Greenock Wellpark Harriers to which he has remained loyal ever since.

Throughout his twenties and most of his thirties, Bill by his own admission was no more than a good club runner.   Training just twice a week and competing in only the odd cross country, mile and half mile, he was devoting most of his energy to building up his career as a draftsman while also pursuing his old loves of table tennis and football.   Running was not high on his list of priorities and perhaps would have stayed that way had it not been for a change of lifestyle and a chance meeting at the national cross country championships when he was in his late thirties.   “I met up with Andy Brown who I’d known was in the RAF,” Bill explains.   “I’d just come twenty fifth in the national which was quite good, all things considered.   Andy came over and said I should concentrate on my running and that if I did I’d make the Scottish team.”

As it turned out he was right.   Brown gave Stoddart a training schedule.   Bill who had just entered further education for the first time and had more time on his hands than he was used to, duly complied by following it assiduously.   Table tennis and football were finally dropped and before long he was representing the SAAA in road races and had made the Scottish cross country team, a feat he managed in four successive years from 1969 to 1972.   “I was known as the old man of the team,” says Stoddart, a veteran of 42 during his last year in the team.   In making the national team at this late juncture in his life. the Wellpark Harrier had what he describes as the ‘great honour’ of being part of one of the greatest ever Scottish cross country teams and attending the World Championships in Vichy.   Among those he travelled to France with were Lachie Stewart, Ian McCafferty, Ian Stewart, Gareth Bryan-Jones and Jim Alder.   It was a team capable of a top three place.   In the end however it failed to place among the medals.   “We got caught up in the strikes that were hitting Paris at the time.   We ended up travelling overnight and were tired before we even started running.   There’s no doubt we could have done better if we had been blessed with better circumstances,” he now says.

Stoddart has also suffered his fair share of injury.   In 1974 while competing in the South West Cross Country Championships, he hot a rock with his spikes and was forced to pull out of the race.   The next week, thinking what was a minor matter had cleared up, he entered another race.   In fact he had fractured an ankle and racing again so soon had turned it into a compound fracture.   Out of training and racing for almost a year as a result of the injury, he gave up ideas of continuing to compete as a senior and began from then on to concentrate on the veteran scene.   “I never got into the County or Scottish team after that injury,” says Stoddart.   “That’s when I seriously started to compete as a vet.”

Although he thinks he might well have achieved more as a senior had he taken running more seriously at an earlier age, Stoddart doesn’t regret the way he’s done things.   “I suppose I thought I had the balance right at the time,” he says.  “There were too many other things to do when I was a young man.   Nowadays it is a lot easier to be concentrated on the one thing.”   Certainly he has packed a lot into his life and has a number of other strings to his bow which might be absent were it not for the fact that he had an all-rounder’s outlook when he was young.   Head of Management and Industrial Studies at James Watt College, Stoddart was one of the first people to complete an Open University degree and can also boast an MA from Strathclyde University in Industrial Relations.   On top of this he is a corporate member of the Institute of Industrial Managers, the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and the British Board of Management.   Other sports related commitments include the post of chairman of the Inverclyde Athletics Initiative and a place on the committee of the Scottish Veteran Harriers Club.

In many ways Bill exudes the qualities associated with old fashioned athletics values.   It is only since a more flexible working life and semi retirement came his way that he has made running a major priority in his life.

“I’ve always worked full time,” says Bill.  “I’ve never made a penny out of my running.”   Although he admits he “wouldn’t say no” to making a small amount from his efforts, Stoddart says he would never go out of his way to look for cash.   The fact that a fair number of the people he beat in Birmingham have subvention funds and are managing to make a living from running as a vet is not enough to change his strongly held beliefs on this matter.   “It’s gone a bit too far,” he says.   “Take Linford Christie and Carl Lewis.   They’re delaying a race until the stakes are high enough.   It’s all gamesmanship and professionalism.   People are obsessed with it.   I remember when people used to be happy to run for a canteen of cutlery or a set of sheets.”   Whatever his views on the sport’s ethics (or lack of them) Stoddart is nonetheless determined to stay with it for as long as he can.   “Till death us do part!” He jokes.

Who knows then what the future could hold for veteran athletics?    I like to think I’ve set standards for others to beat,” says Bill.   “And I hope to go on doing so.”   Now in his sixties, he’s one of the few vets in any age category to have dipped below 76 minutes for the half marathon, 35 minutes for the 10K and 60 minutes for 10 miles.   He’s also getting faster as he gets older.   There would seem to be little doubt that Bill Stoddart could be setting challenging standards for some time to come.

Bill Stoddart Fact File

Date of Birth: May 2, 1931

Club: Greenock Wellpark Harriers

World Bests

10 Miles: 57:43 (East Kilbride and Lanarkshire 10 Mile race, August 1991

Half Marathon: 75:53 (Arbroath Half Marathon, June 1992)

10K: 34:51(SVHC Championships, August 1992)

World Titles

10K and 25K (World Veterans Road Race Championships, August 1992)

Personal Bests

Personal Bests in Current Age Group

Where do these times stand in 2010?   At British level, the half marathon time above still stands as at December 2009 as a British M60 age best but Bill ran an excelleny 18:18 for 5K Road on 18th June 1997 at Lochinch which was and still is a British record for the M65 age group.   It is a sign of the quality of the times that in an era when veterans and masters athletics are being fought out at a higher level than ever before that times set eighteen and thirteen years ago are still top of the lists.

Daily Training Schedule

Morning: Swim, followed by half an hour intensive deep water training

Lunchtime: 40 minutes to an hour easy running and strides.   Usually 6 – 8 miles at most

Afternoon: 4 Mile Run.

(Bill says: “I’m not a scientific runner.   I do ten to twelve miles every day but I’m not obsessed by the stop watch while I’m doing it.   I aim to keep even pace.   Speed work frightens me – at my age particularly it can lead to too many injuries.)

Bill  was universally respected – and liked as well although the two don’t always go together – died in September, 2015 and there was a lot of comment on the various social media platforms.   Fergus Murray circulated the news around his contemporaries and friends who all commented on how they got on with him and the qualities that they realised he embodied.   Typical of many of them was this one from Alistair Matson:

“Hi Fergus,

Thanks for letting me know abut Bill Stoddart. I’ve now read his “Scotsman” obituary online. Although I ran in races with him only in 1968 and 1969, he made quite an impression – not least because he was a good number of years older than us yet did not seem to have any serious running background!    Also, he always seem to run really hard – and hope for the best!   If my memory is correct, in his early road races, he tended to fade after battling with the leaders but gradually stayed with them longer until, of course, he won the Scottish Marathon of 1969 from the under-construction Meadowbank Stadium.   I ran in the Shotts and Dunblane Highland Games 14 mile races on successive Saturdays in Sept. 1968 and while Bill was 6.30 mins behind Lachie Stewart in 6th pos. he had reduced that to just over 5 mins behind Lachie at Dunblane also in 6th!

I ran in what would have been his first marathon – Shettleston, 1969.  It didn’t go exactly to plan and he should have won it convincingly. He was about a minute ahead of me at 20 miles and I was well ahead of the rest including Sandy Keith who won in 2:29:22. Sadly a marshall wasn’t in place to direct Bill and me to turn on to a minor road which eventually rejoined the full loop we covered on the first lap.   I don’t know what Bill’s reaction was when he realised like me that we had run in error the full loop a second time to add more than half mile to the marathon distance!  Personally, I felt very deflated as I probably would have held on to 2nd spot and got a pb.   So the account of that Shettleston in the Scottish Distance Running History web-site doesn’t really reflect Bill’s potential success!

Of course, Bill achieved proper recognition at the Scottish Marathon 6 weeks later when he made light of the torrid conditions on a humid day exacerbated by the fumes from the continuous traffic on the A1.   Although lying 2nd at the turn, I succumbed a few miles from the finish from asthma symptoms related to hay fever.  Bill though from the photo of him finishing looked very sprightly with a well deserved victory.

He was a great guy and I’m sorry I wasn’t in Scotland longer to know him better”

There was an excellent film made of him by the Inverclyde Council which is available on youtube :

In the 21^st Century, many Scottish runners, after glancing at statistics from the 1960s to the 1980s, wonder how so many of their predecessors ran a lot faster than nearly all the Scottish athletes in their twenties and thirties nowadays.

Alex and Jim Wight are excellent examples of men who trained hard, raced over a range of distances and produced many outstanding performances. Undoubtedly they had genetic talent but this was developed through sheer effort and relentless competition. It will be far from easy for today’s youngsters to make similar progress.

Alex was born on the 5^th of November 1942; and Jim on the 22^nd of October 1944. They both, in turn, went to Edinburgh University in time to become part of the greatest student team in Scottish athletics history. Alex was part of the EU outfit which was third in the National cross country championships in early 1965. By November that year Jim had joined him in the Edinburgh University team which smashed the course record for the Edinburgh to Glasgow Relay. Jim enjoyed a major breakthrough by taking no less than 39 seconds off the Stage 7 record, while in the lead ‘running scared’ from Bert McKay of Motherwell YMCA, who was only four seconds slower than Jim. However Bert’s team finished 80 seconds behind the flying students.  While Alex tried to run 100 plus miles per week, Jim aimed for 50 to 60, although he was running up to 75 by the late sixties. 100 plus did not suit Jim, although he wonders now whether, with even more application, he might have been capable of a 2.12 marathon. Alex says that Jim had more natural ability than himself.

The Edinburgh students’ success was due to the inspiration of 1964 Olympian Fergus Murray and the heroic squad of masochists who trained from ‘The Zoo’, 78 Morningside Drive. The house was named after the nicknames of certain inmates: Fergus was ‘The Beast’ and Chris Elson ‘The Bear’. Other fine runners who lived there some of the time included Alastair Matson, John Meldrum, Brian Covell, Dave Logue, John Bryant and the Wight brothers. Don Macgregor came through from Fife for the Sunday session. It was the toughest training school in the land. Up to100 miles or even more every week of long runs, repetitions, fartlek and races, in an ambitious, competitive group. Improve or retire!

For EU and subsequently EAC in the E to G, Alex won two gold and five silver medals. He was first reserve for the 1967 winning EU team! Jim won three golds and a silver. However it wasn’t just about road running. In true harrier tradition, the Wights raced ferociously in cross country. Jim’s finest result was probably 17^th in the 1972 English National at Sutton Coldfield, coming through very strongly despite the notorious blizzard. In the Scottish National event, between 1965 and 1979, Alex won seven gold, three silver and three bronze medals. Jim was in the winning EU Junior team in 1964 and 1965. Between 1967 and 1975, Jim won four Senior gold, two silver and two bronze, plus an extra silver in the National Cross Country Relay. They both featured in the greatest team performance in National history, in 1975, when EAC’s six counters could only total a measly 37 points! Alex, whose best individual place was 8^th, was unlucky not to run for Scotland in the International Cross-Country Union Championships. Jim, however, ran for the junior Scottish team in Dublin 1964; and also the senior Scottish team in Cambridge 1972.

n the track, Alex improved his 1969 times [14.43 5000m and a (team effort) steeplechase in 10 minutes precisely] to14.32 in 1973, 9.47 in 1973 and, more significantly, for 10.000m, 29.38 also in 1973. Jim went from 14.48 in 1969 to 14.17 in 1972, and had a PB for 10,000m of 29.22 in 1973.

However a major focus for this website is marathon racing. All the above intensive training and racing led to excellence in the marathon and indeed the so-called ‘shorter ultras’.

Even when I joined Edinburgh Southern Harriers in autumn 1974, the Wights’ legendary Sunday run persisted. This featured a gruelling tour of Pentland reservoirs and went on and on for at least 20 miles at a very unsocial pace; which might explain why I usually chose the softer option of 16 miles along the disused railway line to Balerno and back. It took me months to follow my own training pack (led by iron man Sandy Keith) up to the infamous reservoirs. Eventually we learned to endure the occasional 25 miler – but always avoided those hard men, the Wight brothers!

Alex started his marathon career in the Beverley East Yorks race in April 1966, finishing second to Don Shelley in 2.23.15. However he suffered what he describes as ‘a dose of hot weather reality in the June Polytechnic race in 2.52’! He raced on the road at all sorts of distances in North and South England, as well as the Scottish Highland Games road race circuit, although the intended goal was always improved marathon performance.

In 1969 Jim won the Highgate marathon in 2.24.28, with Alex fourth in 2.31.07. Next year Alex was third in the SAAA 10,000m track, just in front of Jim, and maintained this slight sibling advantage in reducing his marathon time to 2.21.05 (5^th in the famous Polytechnic race from Windsor to Chiswick). Alex considers this performance, in what was the English Commonwealth Games trial, one of his best races, partly because he finished just in front of A.J. Wood. Jim did 2.22.58 for 8^th in the 1970 Scottish Commonwealth trial event.

The Edinburgh to North Berwick marathon on the 8^th of May 1971 produced seven PBs for the first eight finishers. Alex Wight won in the superb time of 2.15.27, with Jim second in 2.15.43. That autumn Alex increased the distance by winning the Two Bridges 36 mile race from Dunfermline, over the Kincardine and Forth Road Bridges to Rosyth. His time was 3.28.20. As an afterthought, he also won the Edinburgh to Glasgow Individual Race (and for EAC, inevitably, the team award!) His own account of this event is given in the Point to Point section of this website.

Jim started 1972 in the best possible fashion by outkicking Jim Alder on his own ‘turf’ to win the famous Morpeth to Newcastle. Jim Wight regards this as his most satisfying road race. In the Olympic trial Maxol Marathon in Manchester, Alex finished a disappointed 24th in a respectable 2.19.59, but found better form in retaining his Two Bridges title in a record 3.24.07, with Jim second. This, along with his fine marathon PB, was to represent the very best of Alex Wight, long distance runner.

From then on, Alex seemed to concentrate on shorter races, apart from 2.21.53 in 1974 (Harlow). Jim, two years younger, reached his peak in 1973-4. After his best 10,000m time, he lined up for the Scottish Championship marathon (which was the trial for the Commonwealth Games team). A small, select group raced off on a very hot day, with a following wind. The headwind on the return journey added to the strain for those who could not keep up with the leaders. Even Alex dropped out eventually. Jim, however, was only 34 seconds behind the winning 2.17.50 of Donald Macgregor, who told the press that “Plucky Jim Wight should come with me to the Christchurch Games.” Indeed they were both selected.

A well-known photo of the time shows the 1974 Commonwealth Marathon leading pack, with fiery-eyed Ian Thompson tormenting a suffering group who are straining to follow his 2 hours 9 minute pace! Don Macgregor is there, with Jim Wight hanging on grimly. In the end Don finished 6^th in 2.14.15, his best ever, but Jim was forced to step off the road. However Jim Wight made a great return to form later in the year when he won the Two Bridges in 3.26.31; and then romped away to an easy victory in the Harlow marathon in the excellent time of 2.16.28, also gaining revenge on Don Macgregor who finished third in that race. EAC won the team title from Edinburgh Southern Harriers – not bad for Scottish runners in Essex!

In between the Two Bridges and the Harlow, from 6 p.m. on 28^th September 1974, at Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh Athletic Club broke the world record for the 24-hour 10-man x 1 mile relay. This outstanding feat even out-performed the world best for a composite team and the U.S. Olympic Training camp select, in addition to the record for members of a single athletics club. Their final distance was 297 miles 1145 yards (or 479.009 kilometres). This translates to an average of 4 minutes 50.27 minutes per mile. The heroes were: Jim Alder, Jim Dingwall, Doug Gunstone, Phil Hay, Danny and Ronnie Knowles, Alex Matheson, Joe Patton and, unsurprisingly, Alex and Jim Wight. Truly an amazing achievement.

Jim seems to have retired from racing after the National Cross Country EAC team massacre in 1975; Alex kept going in that event, gaining further team golds in 1976 and 1978, with a swansong silver in 1979.

The Veteran/Master scene was in its infancy and obviously did not appeal particularly to the Wight brothers, although in the 1980s Alex did run 2.32 for 8^th in an Edinburgh Marathon plus almost exactly the same time in a London Marathon. Alex remembers thinking even then that the British standard was on the way down. At a recent EU cross-country reunion, he found it interesting to meet people who were useful in their university days but were only fringe team members then, who later turned out to be champions at national and world level – true marathon runners.

The Wight brothers achieved so much. Each took his turn to defeat the other, without apparent animosity. Alex seemed to me casual, ‘cool’, and friendly – a true amateur – while Jim was silent and serious. However they both trained and raced like demons! Alex may have smiled more often but both Wights must have enjoyed their running a great deal. They have every right to look back with considerable satisfaction on marvellous athletic careers.

Peter Wilson running cross-country at Livingston in 1985

Some runners never get the credit that their running deserves. Were you to ask any road running athlete to name as many SAAA marathon champions from Aberdeen as they could, then everyone would come up with Alastair Wood, Fraser Clyne and Colin Youngson, some would add Graham Laing, some would make inspired (but erroneous) guesses at Don Ritchie and Rab Heron but not many would come up with Peter Wilson. Peter has had a fairly distinguished career with two marathon medals and a place in the Aberdeen team that set the record for the John o’Groats to Land’s End Relay in 1982. The picture above is from that race, with Peter fourth from the left. As a Scottish marathon champion, for most clubs in Scotland he would be a totally unique figure, while in Aberdeen he is one of many. What follows is mostly, but not entirely, from ‘A Hardy Race’ by Fraser Clyne and Colin Youngson (2000).

“Peter Wilson, now a successful osteopath, but then a 27 year old scientific officer at Aberdeen’s Macaulay Institute for Soil Research, was an ex-hockey player who had been running seriously for three years by 1983. An article about him stated “Peter’s weekly training regime is a study in self-imposed torture that would leave the Marquis de Sade drooling!” Every weekday lunchtime he ran ten miles in 55-60 minutes, followed by another five before his well-earned tea. Add Sunday 20 milers, long repetitions and hill-work, and Peter’s reputation – as a difficult man to train with and a fine road racer – is explained. As well as running marathons for Scotland and competing in Europe and the USA, he was a good cyclist and a competent swimmer, and this training turned him into a successful triathlete.”

Although 1983 was to be the year he won the SAAA Marathon, he had a good year in 1982 when, on July 10^th at Grangemouth, he was third behind Colin Youngson (2.18.02) and Sandy Keith (2.26.34) in 2.27.01. 1983 started with a good run in the London Marathon in April, when he ran a personal best of 2.20.05 to set himself up for the Championship, which was to be run from Edinburgh. The top three runners, based on form and times, were Colin Youngson (Champion in 1975, 1981 and 1982), Evan Cameron and Peter Wilson. Youngson had the incentive of having won the previous two championships, and while there is always real prestige from three-in-a-row, it would also equal Joe McGhee’s record series of victories. Unsurprisingly he went straight to the front and by five miles he had 30 seconds on his younger rivals, but unfortunately he had a stomach bug which decided to make its appearance during what the referred to as his ‘pit-stop marathon’. Despite having to stop three times, he was 80 seconds up by 18 miles. ‘A Hardy Race’ takes up the tale: “Dehydrated and exhausted, Youngson could not muster any fighting spirit when his clubmate Peter Wilson, who had paced himself well, and sensing victory had closed rapidly, strode past strongly and went right away. The result was: first Peter Wilson (2.26.20); second Colin Youngson (2.28.46) and third Evan Cameron (2.29.30).

In the 1982 JOGLE (see the report elsewhere on this website) Peter was paired with Aberdeen AAC’s fastest marathoner Fraser Clyne and they were inside record pace on the very first stage. Along with the rest of the ten-man team, they built on this to be one and three-quarter hours inside the old record by the finish of the 850-mile run. Fraser writes: “I always respected Peter and enjoyed his dry humour. My recollections of the JOGLE are very blurred, no doubt due to the combined effects of sleep deprivation and exhaustion. Peter was incredibly strong throughout the journey and showed his true endurance potential. There’s no doubt that expedition probably helped us all in our marathon careers, as 26.2 miles seemed easy after trying to run 12 times five-minute miles with a five minute recovery, three times every 24 hours for three days. Peter always impressed me as being extremely dedicated to his running and was a great student of the sport. He frequently downplayed his abilities (another common quality among good runners) but at the same time had a granitic determination to do well.”

Peter Wilson had a fine record in the Edinburgh to Glasgow Relay. He first represented Aberdeen AAC in 1980, running Stage Five and holding on to 4^th place, although the team eventually finished 8^th. In 1981 Aberdeen won a bronze medal, with Peter fifth fastest on Stage Four. Another bronze was obtained in 1982, with Peter running the First Stage. 1983 was the year when Aberdeen AAC achieved a glorious victory, after a real battle with Bellahouston Harriers. Peter did well to hold on to a narrow lead on the windswept Stage Five. Then in 1984 Peter ran the Last Stage but Aberdeen could only finish fifth. After that, Peter Wilson moved to Edinburgh and joined the famous Edinburgh Southern Harriers. He was given the responsibility of anchoring his team to second place behind the oddly-named Kangaroos, a guest team of multi-national USA-based stars. Peter ran faster than his American opponent! Surely ESH received the gold medals they deserved.

Peter was very much a specialist road-runner and less confident on the country. Nevertheless he featured in the Aberdeen team which won the East District CC title twice (in 1982 and 1983); made the top fifty in the National CC twice, and in 1982 was one of the AAAC team-mates who were pleased to win bronze, even without Fraser Clyne, who was usually their top man, in that event.

His best track performance was a 10,000 metres at Balgownie, Aberdeen, in a fine 30.28. This was only a month before Peter’s 1983 Scottish marathon victory, and demonstrated his good form.

On the roads, his fastest half marathon was an outstanding 66.11 at Fraserburgh in October 1984.

The 1983 Scottish marathon course was certainly slower and more challenging than the old Commonwealth route. It was a variation on the 1981 course, starting and finishing at Meadowbank Stadium, but turning left at the Portobello roundabout before plodding through Granton followed by two hilly loops around Cramond, back through Granton, then steeply up Craigentinny Avenue and right for the finish.   Peter was the proud winner of a special-designed gold medal, to commemorate the centenary of the Scottish Amateur Athletic Association.

His progress at the marathon had been gradual but relentless and consistent. 11^th in the Aberdeen Marathon in September 1981 (2.27.34). 2.27.01 for third in the Scottish marathon in July 1982. Representing Scotland in the Home Countries International, he was 10^th in Aberdeen in September 1982 (2.26.20). As first Aberdonian, after this he was sponsored by the Milk Marketing board to take part in the Breakfast Run before the New York Marathon, all expenses paid! Then he produced that 2:19:56 ‘lifetime best’ in London, April 1983. Next was his Scottish Marathon Championship victory in June 1983 (2.26.20)

                                                                                   Impressive finishing sprint to win the 1983 Scottish Marathon

In 1984 he wore the Scottish vest again in the hilly and very competitive Barcelona International Marathon, finishing second Scot (21^st in 2.21.42), behind Lindsay Robertson but once again well ahead of Colin Youngson. The Scottish team was third. In 1985, Peter managed 2.26.31 at Dundee. He ran again for Scotland in the gale-torn Aberdeen Marathon in 1986, when he was 7^th  and third Scot.

Unfortunately, Peter Wilson suffered a bad bicycle crash in Edinburgh. Although he eventually made a good recovery, he did not return to the marathon. Back in Aberdeen, this dedicated man, with an extremely dry sense of humour, remains very fit, and in recent years has become a fearless rock-climber and motor-bike circuit racer!

However – word has reached me from Colin Youngson that after a 22 year break, theis former Scottish marathon champion and sub 2:20 runner is back running seriously again.   Lookout vets everywhere!

Don Ritchie, Colin Youngson and George Reynolds

Aberdeen has been the most prolific of Scottish cities in providing SAAA Marathon champions – I include Aberdonians running for other clubs as Aberdonians.   Colin Youngson, Alastair Wood, Sandy Keith, Graham Laing, Fraser Clyne and Peter Wilson were all worthy winners and in 1984 he joined the happy band.   In some ways it was harder for guys like George and Peter Wilson because they were not accorded the – at times excessive – respect that others received and so the races were maybe that wee bit harder.   Colin Youngson pays this tribute the SAAA Marathon Champion George Reynolds.

George, originally from Kinloch Rannoch, was for some time based at RAF Kinloss, near Forres in Moray.   His career highlights included beinng part of the record-breaking Aberdeen AAC team in the 1982 John o’Groats to Land’s End ten-man relay and winning the 1984 Scottish Marathon Championship.   George represented Elgin when running the 1980 Aberdeen Marathon in 2:36:42.

By 1982, George Reynolds was 21 years old and was winning North District Cross-Country League races.   He joined Aberdeen AAC in time to take part in the JOGLE in April of that year.   Although George was the youngest participant, this tall, strong runner played a vital part in his team’s success which is documented elsewhere on this website.   This triumph was celebrated in style at a Civic Reception in the formal splendour of the City of Aberdeen Town House.   Not long after this, George Reynolds moved south to Lincolnshire where he worked as an aircraft technician.   He recorded a fine personal best of 2:20:40 when in the 1983 London Marathon, and subsequently trained heavily for London in 1984, after finishing twelfth in the tough RAF Cross-Country Championships.   For twelve weeks (four weeks build up, four weeks intense, four weeks taper down) he ran as many as 125 miles in a week including a three hour Sunday run.   However this recipe did not produce the desired result, since after a fast start he slowed especially in the last three miles to 2:28.

Like many others he had learned that more does not necessarily mean better.   Consequently he altered his plans for the Aberdeen Marathon, which included the 1984 Scottish Marathon Championship.   After showing impressive stamina with a good third place in the seven-day Tour of Tameside, he started a nine week regime (three weeks build up, three intense, three taper).   In total contrast to his pre-London system, he decided to reduce the weekly mileage to 75 – 80 and concentrated on speedwork.  Sunday runs (24 miles) might be on his own or with friends from Grimsby Harriers.   The reduced mileage gave him a feeling of speed in the legs, even after a long run.   Unfortunately, since the base was preparing for a big flying service in Cyprus, he had to work 12-hour shifts around the clock, and became physically and psychologically low.   This ended in the most pleasant way when just before Aberdeen, the SAAA eventually got around to inviting him to represent Scotland in the Home Countries international versus teams from England, Ireland and Northern Ireland.   George was delighted and revived immediately.

The night before the race George tried out his splendid new Scotland strip and tracksuit and checked his faithful Asics Tiger Jayhawk racing shoes for comfort.   He slept well despite constantly thinking about the race next day.

He remembers nervous chatting to rivals before the Sunday morning event, and the unusual weather in Aberdeen – no wind, sunny and warm.   At seven iles, going up a near deserted Union Street he enjoyed a solitary piper blowing tuneful encouragement to the Scots in particular.   There was to be a piper at every single mile marker on the route!   It was a surge by Charlie Haskett (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers) after fifteen miles which began to split the group.   However on the South Deeside Road at twenty miles, George and Charlie heard the fateful patter of large English feet as Mark Burnhope loomed alongside and before long moved away to victory in a time of 2:19:36.   George was left, isolated and vulnerable, to survive the final miles, gradually tiring and worrying about losing second place.   He only looked over his shoulder in the home straight and didn’t spot the sprinting English runner Alan Catley and was relieved to hold his place (2:21:04, five seconds in front of Catley.   George’s mother, brother Alick and girlfriend Ingrid rushed over to congratulate him.   It was an extra pleasure to realise that he had won the SAAA Marathon gold medal.   Silver medallist was Charlie Haskett (fourth in the International race in 2:21:37) and bronze went to Colin Youngson (sixth overall  in 2:23:36) behind England’s Colin Brown (2:22:37).

Just one week later, George Reynolds ran the Humber Marathon from Hull to Grimsby and amazingly won the event in 2:22:38, winning a trip to the New York City Marathon!    By 1985 George Reynolds, having moved back to Kinloss, had switched clubs to Elgin AAC, as well as the RAF, and ran 2:22:31 in the London Marathon.  No slouch at shorter distances on the road he ran the 1986 Aberdeen Half Marathon in 66:53.    Later he joined Donald Ritchie in Forres Harriers and despite training less hard, finished second in the 1992 Lochaber Marathon.

George eventually gave up competition in 1994, but for some years kept running twenty miles a week and seeing old friends or foes at Highland Games – as an expert on the bagpipes.

***

The profile indicates that George was a worthy winner of the championship and it is maybe unfortunate that he seems to have given the sport up completely at what was a comparatively young age.   

Colin winning the BVAF M45 Cross Country Championships at Irvine in March 1995

The running career of Colin Youngson exemplifies the golden age of Scottish road running like no other.   Mainly in the 70’s and 80’s it just about made it to the 1990’s.   The work of Dunky Wright and Jimmy Scott in the Scottish Marathon Club had got the SAAA Marathon championship firmly installed on the big stage of the national championships, and the growing and thriving road running scene made for the best road relay of them all, the eight-stage Edinburgh to Glasgow.   Every road runner of note took part in them both but Colin revelled in them.  Ten medals in the Scottish marathon championship along with 7 golds in thirty appearances in the E-G.   Quite remarkable.   Like many other Scottish road runners, Colin joined the Road Runners Club.   Joining in 1968 he is still a member which in itself is testament to how much he loves the sport: he has written an article for their magazine and it was published in early 2016 under the title  ‘What Did The RRC Ever Do For The Scots?’.

We could start his profile by looking at his replies to the questionnaire.

NAME:   Colin James Youngson

CLUBS:   Aberdeen University, Aberdeen AAC, Victoria Park AAC, Fredrickshof IF, Edinburgh Southern Harriers, Aberdeen AAC again, Metro Aberdeen AC, Forres Harriers

DATE OF BIRTH:   27 October 1947

OCCUPATION: Retired Teacher of English.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE SPORT?   Although I was a poor sprinter at Primary School, I was aware that I had some stamina, and knew that my father had been a miler.   At 15 I ran just over 5 minutes for the mile in the Aberdeen Grammar School Sports, then won the mile in S5 and S6 with a best time of 4:35.   I was ninth in the Scottish Schools cross-country (well behind the winner, my very good friend Innis Mitchell and fourth in the Mile.   At Aberdeen Uni I improved gradually, especially once Donald Ritchie (the future ultra star) arrived. He usually beat me on the country but I was better on the road. We both aspired to finish less far behind the brilliant runners from Edinburgh University.

HAS ANY INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP HAD A MARKED INFLUENCE ON YOUR ATTITUDE OR INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE?

I was one of dozens of good Aberdeen runners who were inspired by the sarcastic, irascible but charismatic marathon runner Alastair Wood. Sunday runs were merciless and challenging. Ally and Steve Taylor were still very hard to beat when they were veterans! Once I started teaching in 1971, the talented tough guys of Vicky Park (including Pat Maclagan and Alastair Johnston) helped me to train harder and make progress. By the time I went to Sweden for ten months (1973-74) I was capable of training consistently well on my own. I reached my peak after I moved to Edinburgh (1974-81), and settled to 80 miles per week, including a long Sunday run and two repetition sessions with a number of very fit guys like Martin Craven, Sandy Keith, Fergus Murray, Alistair Blamire and (for a while, before he got far too fast) Allister Hutton. Then after I returned to Aberdeen we had a very good group, led by Fraser Clyne and Graham Laing. Metro Aberdeen was a particularly sociable club and the midweek ten mile runs were always competitive. Now I have retired, I am no longer capable of training with others without getting injured but Forres Harriers are very friendly and also successful (without my help). All my clubs have been excellent. Although this is certainly an individual sport, I always tried to be a reliable, consistent, valuable club runner, especially in road relays.

WHAT EXACTLY DID YOU GET OUT OF THE SPORT?

Self-respect.  Opportunities to explore potential and achieve many targets. Daily outdoor exercise, fitness and health. Rivals who became friends.  A lifelong interest in a great sport.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR BEST EVER PERFORMANCE OR PERFORMANCES?

1975: Scottish Marathon win in a championship record of 2.16.50; record on Stage 1 of the E to G.

1992: first Scot to win an individual category (M45) in the annual Veterans 5 Nations CC International (1992)

YOUR WORST?

Nothing too dreadful. Plenty of disappointing runs, inevitably. You learn to get over it and move on.

WHAT AMBITIONS DO YOU HAVE THAT WERE UNFULFILLED?

Never made the team for a major games, due to peaking in the wrong year, injury caused by over-training, the absence of physio support and lack of world-class physical talent. At my best, certainly worth a Commonwealth Games place, but never mind, since I enjoyed several successful international performances in different age-groups.

WHAT DID YOU DO AWAY FROM RUNNING TO RELAX?

Reading, writing, film, television, music, hill-walking, cycling, drinking good beer in great pubs all over Europe.

WHAT DID RUNNING BRING YOU THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE WANTED TO MISS?

A few days when it felt like I could run fast, almost for ever. The intensity of racing and hard training. Satisfaction from a good result (managing to give maximum effort). Running marathons in many countries. Winning international vests. The friendship of fellow runners.

CAN YOU GIVE SOME DETAILS OF YOUR TRAINING?

At university, 40 miles per week. At my peak, averaging 60 odd over the year but when building up to a marathon, six weeks of 80, including a weekly long run (16-25 miles), two or three rep sessions, plus recovery mileage, followed by two weeks tapering. As a younger veteran, 50-60, with the speedwork mainly fartlek. As an older veteran (age 60 plus), maybe 30-40 and only one run per day, from 3 miles to 10 miles in length. Nowadays a major aim is to get out every day but to avoid injury as much as possible.

If you have a look at Colin’s list of achievements on the Career Highlights page you will have an idea of what a marvellous career in the sport he has had/is having.   From 800m to 10 Miles on the track, Cross Country on all sorts of surfaces, hill and point to point running (the Lairig Ghru) and maybe particularly the roads where he has excelled in short stage relays and on up to the 45 miles of the Edinburgh to Glasgow straight through.   If they ever resurrect the Trans America Foot Race, don’t bet against him.  The photograph above was taken at Irvine when he was winning the British Vets M45 Cross Country Championship in March 1995.

As I said above, Colin’s career exemplifies the zenith of Scottish road running like no other, with the possible exception of Donald Macgregor.   The Scottish road running scene had been developed over the years since the war by Dunky Wright , Jimmy Scott and their committee members at the the Scottish Marathon Club to  a point at which SAAA Marathon Championship had been given a place in the national track and field championships – road running’s highest trophy and it was held on the biggest stage in the land.   The runners loved it.   In addition the Edinburgh to Glasgow eight stage relay had been building since the days of the fifties when Bannon, Binnie and company plied their trade.   Colin ran in 30 Edinburgh to Glasgow Relays and won no fewer than ten medals in the SAAA marathon championships, four of them gold.   a total of 40 (FORTY!) run sub 2:30 and nine of those sub 2:20 is some record and one of which he can be justly very proud.   He ran in all sorts of road races – the Edinburgh to Glasgow straight through for instance – and at venues all over Britain and the continent with a foray across the Atlantic.   The details are at the link above to his career highlights.   But should any sports historian be contemplating a review of the road running scene they should start with his career.

Have a look at this

It is a picture of a successful and outstanding career in road running in the Edinburgh to Glasgow Relay and the marathon.   The tankard  was presented to him after he completed his thirtieth E-G and every race is listed on it, the medals are representative – they are all gold and in two different styles.  If you would like his comments on his career in the Edinburgh to Glasgow Relay, go here .  The smaller ones are the original type of medal which had a relief picture representing each of the two cities on it – the bigger and shinier one was the later version.   The plaque is the Donald McNab Robertson Trophy when he was the Scottish Road Runner of the Year in 1975.   If you want a closer look, click on the wee thumbnail at the bottom.   The link to his E-G career is above and the marathon record for Scottish Championships only is below: if you want his complete marathon running record for over 50 races plus some ultras then go here.

                                                                                 Colin about to win the 1982 Scottish Marathon at Grangemouth

There is a lot that can be picked up from accounts of Colin’s three victories in this race and these are described here:

“Sandy Keith was, in the mid-1970s, a major marathon rival and I trained with him on long runs near Edinburgh only when I felt good, since he was basically stronger than me. I defeated him three times in the Scottish Marathon – in 1974, 1975 and 1982. However, he beat me in 1977 and was the superior marathon runner from 1976 to 1979.

My training at this time included three key weekly sessions. Monday meant The Meadows: four laps including no less than sixteen repetitions – short or long, on the flat, uphill or downhill on tarmac paths. Wednesday was a nine-mile pavement fartlek through Colinton with a series of testing longer efforts. Saturday was race day in the 1970s but, no matter what state you were in, the Sunday run was compulsory – a basic sixteen miles from The Meadows through Colinton Dell and out the old railway line to Balerno (and then back). The route might be extended via the reservoirs and Bonaly Tower. Anything between 16 and 25 miles might be covered (the latter with a sadistic little final lap of The Meadows, pretending not to be exhausted, until you parted from your companions/rivals with a cheery wave, turned a corner, and struggled wearily home. If you added some recovery running or a few hill reps on the intervening days, you had about eighty miles of excellent training in the hilly city – worth a hundred in the flat south?

Saturday 28^th June 1975, Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh.

It was a warm, sunny day, and Sandy Keith took the initiative from the start, racing away down the hill to Portobello into a slight headwind. Only Colin tucked in behind and tried to relax. It seemed a hard way to start 26 miles! Sandy’s ambition was to win a marathon from start to finish, from the front – and how he tried! Five miles in 25.30, ten in 51.30, the turn in 67.30. As the pair, on their return journey, passed ex-champions Alastair Wood and Donald Macgregor, who were approaching the turning point, Wood muttered that the young fools would destroy each other. Macgregor warned that they were about two minutes ahead already!

Since there was now a pleasant following breeze, and to show that he was feeling good in spite of Sandy’s efforts, Colin moved alongside and they ran together for the next five miles. Then, at nineteen, as the route swung into a lay-by for a drink station, an official was clumsy in handing up Sandy’s cup of water. Sandy swore, quite uncharacteristically, hesitated for the drink, and Colin, seeing that his rival was feeling the strain, simply surged away for a full mile, down the Wallyford hill. 20 miles in 1.43.45. A nervy glance back revealed a decent gap, fifteen seconds, and it was head down again and flat out for Musselburgh and Portobello. The pace was still fast, but tiredness and worry set in. To win the Scottish Marathon was Colin’s main ambition in the sport, and now it was a case of hanging on grimly. Up the long hill to Jock’s Lodge and then, at the twenty-five mile mark, Youngson’s right leg suffered cramp. Would Keith catch up, so near to the finish? Keeping the limb as straight as possible, Youngson bashed onwards, to the stadium and round the track. No sign of Sandy until the final bend was reached and it was safe to negotiate the straight and break the tape.

What a relief for Colin Youngson, who felt sure that he must have broken the 2.20 barrier at last, but was very surprised to find that Jim Alder’s championship record had been broken by 21 seconds. Finishing times were: Colin Youngson (Edinburgh Southern Harriers 2.16.50; Sandy Keith (Edinburgh Athletic Club) 2.17.58; Alastair Wood (Aberdeen AAC) 2.21.14; Davie Wyper (West of Scotland) 2.25.44; Gordon Eadie (Cambuslang) 2.25.48; Alistair Blamire (ESH) 2.26.20; Ian Trapp (EAC) 2.28.26; Mike Logue (Victoria Park AAC) 2.29.56.

After the race, Alastair Wood said, “Well done, Colin. I think you’re at your peak now.” To which Colin replied that he felt there was a little more to come. But in fact Alastair did turn out to be right since this remained Colin’s fastest time ever. Still, the rest of the season produced further success: second to Allister Hutton (1990 London Marathon winner) in the 10,000 metres track race for Scotland against Iceland in Reykjavik; second behind ‘ultra’ great Cavin Woodward in a fast ‘Two Bridges’ 36 miler; and a close second to Olympian Danny McDaid of Eire in the international marathon in Berchem, Antwerp. This was Colin’s only race representing Great Britain, and he and Max Coleby won the team race. At the end of the 1975 season Colin Youngson was presented with the Scottish Amateur Athletics Association ‘Donald McNab Robertson Memorial Trophy’ as Scottish Road Runner of the year.

Saturday 20^th June 1981, Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh.

The course was completely new, and not as fast as the ‘Commonwealth Games’ one. The route was London Road, Seafield Road East, Seafield Road, Lower Granton Road; two loops round West Harbour Road, Cramond Esplanade, turn left at the Cramond Hotel, Glebe Road, Lauriston Farm Road, West Granton Road; and then right for Granton, Seafield Road, turn right up Craigentinny Avenue, and right again for the stadium.

Colin Youngson, who had moved north to teach in Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, and had changed clubs from ESH to Aberdeen AAC, was fit and confident. On a warm, sunny day, he started fast and led a group of eight down the hill towards Portobello and then left towards Granton. After a little hesitation, he surged at five miles (25.17) and the group broke up, with Donald Macgregor (Fife AC), Doug Gunstone and former champion Alastair Macfarlane (both Springburn Harriers) chasing hard. Olympian Donald Macgregor was by now SAAA event coach for the marathon, but it is not true that he shouted advice to everyone within earshot – e.g. “Slow down!”

The lead was slender, only six seconds between Youngson (50.42) and Gunstone, who was running with Macgregor at ten miles. By halfway (68.36) it was eleven seconds; and by fifteen (77.06) 16 seconds, with Macfarlane another twelve seconds down, and gaining.

The twenty-mile point was reached in 1.44.40 by Colin Youngson, who was really feeling the mental strain of leading by so little for so long. By then the gap was up to 34 seconds – not at all a comfortable lead. So Youngson put his head down and ran flat out for three miles, to stretch away from Macgregor and Macfarlane, who had moved into third place. Colin was about a minute ahead with a couple of miles to go, but slowed down on purpose while plodding up the steep hill of Craigentinny Avenue, so that he could gain some physical and mental resilience to fight, if Donald’s famed strong finish proved a threat. At 25 miles (2.12.58) the time gap was 54 seconds.

Eventually it was a relieved but exultant Colin Youngson who hung on to win in 2.20.42 from Donald Macgregor (2.21.31); Alastair Macfarlane (2.22.25); Doug Gunstone (2.26.52); Evan Cameron (ESH 2.27.23); Tommy Wiseman (Victoria Park 2.27.57); Dave Lang (Elgin AAC 2.28.28); and Donald Markie (Falkirk Victoria Harriers 2.29.32).

Doug Gillon, in the Sunday Standard, described the three medallists as ‘ageing but speedy war-horses, mounting the rostrum’. (Colin was 33, Donald 41 and Alastair 35).

Saturday 10^th July 1982, Grangemouth Stadium

This took place on an out and back course from Grangemouth Stadium. A calibrated wheel was used to ensure that the correct distance was run. Only thirty competitors turned up, but they included a number of good athletes. Conditions were warm and humid.

Colin Youngson of Aberdeen AAC had been running fast in training, including six or ten mile time-trials in his 80 miles per week. He had reduced this to 50 two weeks before the race, and had then experimented, running a fairly hard 21 on the Sunday, followed by the protein ‘diet’, a ten mile run at 7 a.m. on Monday and a carbohydrate-packed breakfast. Thus the tough part of the regime had lasted only 20 hours! No running on Tuesday and Wednesday, a three mile ‘digestive’ jog/stride on Thursday and Friday, and off to the start.

In the dressing room he encountered Jim Brown (Scottish 10,000m record holder and GB International), who declared his intention of running two hours twelve minutes! Colin had great respect for his younger rival, who had defeated him easily on countless occasions over the country and in shorter road and track fixtures. It was agreed that they would share a sensibly brisk pace to ten miles, in under 52 minutes. Then Jim would make his bid. Colin started quite fast, and led for two miles. Thereafter they went to the front for one mile each, into the breeze. Five miles passed in 26.27, which seemed wrong – rather slow for the pace they seemed to be setting. At this point Sandy Keith completed the trio. By ten miles, on target 51.49, the watch indicated a speed-up but the tempo had in fact remained much the same, although Sandy had slipped back to 53.00 and was running with Craig Ross, a 2.21 man.

For the next three miles to the turn, Youngson simply sheltered behind Brown and waited for him to surge away. Nothing happened. Half-way was reached in 67.21; with Ross in 69.10; Keith 69.32; Peter Wilson and Gerry Fairley (Kilbarchan) 71.40. At the front, nothing continued to happen, and the breeze was now helping progress. Fifteen miles (78.11) saw the duo 2.16 in front of Ross.

Gaining in confidence due to the steady, fairly comfortable pace, and feeling that, although it was hard to imagine Jim Brown beatable, he ought to be tested, at least, Colin Youngson prepared to try. As his stopwatch reached 1.30, he moved to the middle of the road and ran absolutely flat out for the next half mile. A look behind revealed a fifty-yard gap! Another hard half mile – and there was no one in sight! Jim Brown, perhaps feeling that his target time was unattainable, had dropped out.

An unsympathetic but delighted Youngson later wrote in his diary “Bashed on slightly less hard”. 20 miles took 1.45.14; Ross 1.50.24; Keith 1.50.38; Wilson 1.51.56; John Lamont (Aberdeen AAC) 1.52.47. Craig Ross had to stop shortly afterwards. The last two miles felt tough to Youngson, since he was striving to beat 2.20 and could see neither the stadium nor a race steward to point the way. However, both appeared, and as Colin panted up to the entrance, there was previous winner Jim Dingwall leaning against the wall. Jim glanced at a stopwatch and said, “Still only 2.16 – should get a decent time if you hurry.” So there was no steady lap of the track, waving modestly – just a red-faced maximum effort which resulted in a narrow failure to break 2.18. Still, it was Colin Youngson’s third-fastest time (2.18.02), and one of the bigger winning margins. Second was Sandy Keith (EAC 2.26.34); third Peter Wilson (Aberdeen AAC 2.27.01); fourth John Lamont (Aberdeen AAC 2.28.59); and fifth Andy Stirling (Bo’ness 2.30.17). Another good Aberdeen performance – even Sandy Keith used to be a club member.”

Looking for a review of his career I came up with this article by David Carter in the ‘Scotland’s Runner magazine which is sadly now defunct.   The article covers his career up to the point where he became a veteran and provides a good starting point.   It is worth pointing out right at the start however that although known mainly as a road runner, there is much more to Colin Youngson than that – see the photograph above for a start!   Let’s just list his honours, as far as I know them that is.    The gold medal haul is very impressive:

From the SAAA Marathon, 1985

Representative Vests

(NB: Senior Scottish appearances between ages of 27 and 40.   Scottish Masters in every five year age group from M40 to M70 (15 representative races to 2017). 1965 to 2020, 56 successive seasons (in seven different decades) completing at least one ‘Scottish Championship’ of some variety – Indoor or Outdoor Track, Cross-Country or Road.)

Now for the promised article from ‘Scotland’s Runner’

YOUNGSON NOW ELIGIBLE FOR THE VETERAN FRAY

David Carter profiles Colin Youngson who became eligible for veteran competition on his 40th birthday in October.   Colin is also a talented fiction writer and from next month ‘Scotland’s Runner’ will be serialising two of his entertaining short stories.

Marathons are made of milestones and Colin Youngson has just passed two.   This year’s Aberdeen Marathon was his 50th and in October he turned 40.   The veteran world is going to notice the difference.

The record so far is impressive – and consistent.   He has 10 medals from the SAAA Marathon between 1972 and 1985 (he missed 1976) – three gold, three silver and four bronze, including a championship record and a personal best in 1974 of 2:16:50.    He has been an ever present in the Edinburgh – Glasgow Relay (apart from 1973 when he was in Sweden) with some memorable (winning) tussles over the last lap.   He still holds the fastest time for the first leg which has stood since 1975.

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 I liked adventure runs, crazy runs of you like, runs to prevent brain death” 

___________________________________________

Another impressive thing about Colin Youngson’s record so far is its variety, particularly more recently, though he ran Ben Nevis as well as his first marathon as soon (aged 21) as the regulations allowed.   He won the Lairig Ghru race last year and came sixth in this year’s Highland Cross.   ‘I’ve always liked adventure runs, crazy runs if you like, runs to prevent brain death.   Especially when you’re on the slide a bit you’ve got to find fun events, the unusual events, the challenge’ he explains.   One event he recommends is the Two Bridges Race.   ‘The scenery’s good, the event is well organised, and if one is used to running marathons it’s a delight to be able to do it all at training speed.   What’s more everyone chats, and there are the beer prizes.’

In 1980 he ran the London to Brighton (54 miles), hitting the wall at 40 but still finishing respectably.   ‘Interestingly,’ he says, ‘I recovered more quickly from that than many marathons.   The marathon, at speed, is hard.   It’s speed that does it.   All those guys that do four hour marathons should forget it.    They should do 10K’s and half marathons and then they could look at a marathon and do a half decent time.’   Yet marathons are clearly in Colin’s blood.   I was interested in the remark that he ran his first marathon (2:41) at the age of 21.   Why was that?   Inevitably, for distance runners from the north east, the name that cropped up was that of Alastair Wood.

‘There was almost a school of distance running at the time around Aberdeen, mainly because of Steve Taylor and Alastair Wood.   In other places in Scotland there was an exaggerated respect for the marathon – it was only for old men.   But Wood gave us belief.   He had done it.   And we saw him training every Sunday.    There was Abebe Bikila, a Japanese, someone else I can’t remember – and Wood.   He called himself “The world’s fastest white man”.’

Was he a coach then?   A mentor?   A guru?   ‘Not really.   The attempt to gain his respect was the spur.   He’s mellowed now but by God he was cantankerous then.   Witty, satirical, challenging.

Colin’s best year in terms of performance was 1975, and 1976 his worst.   Yet 1976 was undoubtedly of more lasting importance.   In 1975 he was sixth in the British rankings for the marathon and an Olympic place in 1976 was not out of the question.   Heavy training, however, produced some disappointing performances., and in 1976, sciatica.    ‘I realised,’ says Colin, ‘that my body just wasn’t built for 100 a week mileage.’

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If things are getting really crazy in the marathon I’ll just step off the track. 

_____________________________________________

It was a good lesson learned and since then he has settled into a basic 60 miles a week (with increases for particular marathons) with maybe six serious races a year.   It means that he is more or less as fit, fresh and resilient as he was at 21.

His first race as a vet will,he hopes, be the Scottish Vets Cross Country in January.   The Boston Marathon in April is the next possibility.   He realises that an invitation is unlikely but the prospect of a $5000 prize for first vet is tempting.   ‘I’ve got to be pretty fit,’ he says, ‘to put my own money down on that one.’   Then there’s the British vets, European vets and many more.   Will he approach races differently?

‘Yes.   I feel that I want to do more distances.   Maybe 1500 metres for example.   And if things are getting really crazy in a marathon I’ll just step off the road.   I’ve never dropped out before though I can think of one or two occasions when I probably should have.   There was the Athens Marathon for example in 1976.   I was running a temperature beforehand and coughing badly.    There was a medical examination before the race and I filled myself full of cough sweets.   I passed the test but coughed all the way back to the hotel.   It was blistering hot and I did a personal worst, 2:48.   I really shouldn’t have run.   On the other hand of my 50 marathons nine have been sub 2:20.   It would be pleasant to go below 2:20 as a vet ……’

Somehow, dropping out is something I can’t see Colin Youngson doing.    I asked him to describe his running style.   ‘Heavy footed’, he said, ‘hardly elegant – determined.’

He has himself pretty well summed up there.   And when you add to that determination his experience and his competitiveness, you have a formidable runner.   Colin Youngson has a promising future.

Colin’s Dad was a runner and a source of great inspiration to him.   Colin did what all of us should do and researched for himself his Dad’s sporting history.   It is a warm-hearted and also inspiring story and can be reached from    here   The trophies in the picture are also part of the testament.    But, to conclude, if we turn the focus back on Colin we should point out that he has since that article all those years ago had a lot of success as a veteran athlete too:   he was won many Scottish Masters Medals and – for now – six British Masters titles at distances between 3000m and the marathon!   And he’s not finished yet ……….

Colin Youngson – Marathon Career Record

Asterisk * = Scottish International

** = Scottish International team win

*** = British International team win

Colin Youngson – Ultra Career Record

Colin’s Top 50      Colin’s SAAA Victories     Colin’s Marathons     Commonwealth Batons, 1970 and 2014   ‘What Did The RRC Ever Do For The Scots?‘   Running Shorts    A Hardy Race

EARLY DAYS IN ATHLETICS

By Alastair Macfarlane

Alastair, in white, running at Braemar

Anyone familiar with Scottish athletics, marathon running and this site will immediately recognise Alistair Macfarlane as a top class runner whether on the track, over the country or on the roads.  A former Scottish champion, he has never run a national marathon championship and failed to finish in the first three.   As a professional athlete in his earlier days he paced Alan Simpson to a British record as well as winning much more than his share of races all over Britain.   He wrote the following article for the Scottish Veteran Harrier Club’s magazine in early 2015 and it is well worth reprinting here.   Read and enjoy!

The editor, obviously pretty desperate for some words to fill an empty page, has looked in my direction to ask me to reflect on the early days of my running career, especially during a period that couldn’t happen today.

I started running at school in Stirling and was soon invited to join the local club, St Modans AAC, a club no longer in existence but nevertheless a club of some standing in the sixties and early seventies. Club colleagues during my period in membership included Mike Ryan who was to go on and win Olympic and Commonwealth medals in the marathon while representing New Zealand, George McLachlan, a GB decathlon international and Scottish Steeplechase champion Charlie Meldrum.

The adventure began at Hamilton Racecourse, the venue for the National Cross Country Championships in 1963. In dreadful, frozen underfoot conditions I picked up a National silver medal in my very first race. Okay it was a team medal and I was fourth counter in a race won by future Commonwealth silver medallist Ian McCafferty, but I wonder how many people can say they won a National medal in their first race. Over the next couple of years as I moved into my late teens, being the weakest in my age group, and not making much progress I became a bit disillusioned. Sensing this, a chap called Willie Scott who trained with the club but was a professional runner took me under his wing and advised me to become a professional. Many people in the sport today won’t understand what this meant in the sixties. Unlike today there was a clear distinction between the amateur and professional codes. There was a huge and thriving circuit of Games, mostly in Fife, the Borders and the Lake District where money prizes were on offer. Anyone who took part in any these of these meetings was deemed by the Scottish Amateur Athletic Association, the then governing body of the sport in Scotland, and the IAAF, to be a professional and not allowed to be a member of a club in SAAA membership. And this exclusion even extended to those who had earned money from other sporting pursuits; many people will have heard of John Tarrant, ‘the Ghost Runner’ who had earned a few pounds in a boxing booth. Rangers’ players Willie Johnston and Sandy Jardine were decent sprinters on the pro circuit while Hibs and Stirling Albion winger George McNeill was possibly the fastest man ever produced by Scotland. All of these athletes were denied the opportunity to compete in amateur athletics and in McNeill’s case to represent his country.

However having decided to start competing on the professional circuit I was in for a bit of a culture shock. Highland and Border Games were mostly track and field competitions and perhaps 90% were held on a handicap basis. Handicap running produces a mind-set in some people where they will try less than their best in the smaller events in an attempt to build a good handicap then having built a good handicap will pounce to win a big money race. So deceiving the handicapper in order to build a better handicap almost becomes a sport in itself. In addition betting was not only allowed but was a major part of meetings.  Although many meetings offered big money prizes, especially in the sprints, the real money was to be made from the bookies.

As a naive 19 year old newcomer to all this, I certainly found it a new world. My amateur club background along with my natural competitive spirit meant that I went into every race trying to do my best regardless of any future loss of handicap. There wasn’t a lot of money at stake in my early days; in my first race at Blackford Highland Games I finished third in the mile to win £2 and a couple of weeks later at Pitlessie, I took home 12/6 (62.5p) for third in the half mile. (Note the pre metric race distances). After a couple of seasons of doing reasonably well and picking up some prize money, but much more importantly, picking up valuable experience in how to race on the track, I started to make a bigger impact in 1968, going to some of the biggest  meetings at places like Hawick, Jedburgh, Peebles and Selkirk and winning. A new face appearing on the scene that year was GB International Alan Simpson, Britain’s top miler who had finished 4th in the 1964 Olympic 1500metres and was silver medallist behind Kenya’s Kip Keino in the 1966 Commonwealth Games. We became friends, trained together and stayed at each other’s house. Another ‘name’ to show up was former world mile record holder Derek Ibbotson but by this time he was well past his best and was never a serious threat in races. But the highlight of the pro runner’s season is undoubtedly the New Year Gala, nowadays held at Musselburgh Racecourse but in my time still held at the charismatic Powderhall Stadium in Edinburgh. This is the big one; the meeting for which most runners try to preserve a decent handicap, because of the big prizes on offer. Having had a good season during the previous summer I was back marker in the mile at the New Year meeting of 1969. Having only just qualified for the final after finishing a distant 2^nd in the heat, I managed to get up in the last few strides to win and take the £80 first prize.

That effectively was the end of my career as a professional runner, the next couple of years taken up with getting married and moving house a couple of times. I had never lost touch with the amateur club scene and started training with Springburn Harriers, whose club Coach was Eddie Sinclair, a former Scottish 3 mile Champion,  against whom I had raced on the pro circuit, and decided to see how far I could go in the sport by attempting to be re-instated as an amateur.   This had been achieved only once previously to my knowledge, by John Robson, later to become a star at 1500 metres on the International stage. However for me that proved to be no easy task. My applications for reinstatement were rejected  on two occasions and it was only after two years  of trying that I was given the green light and I was officially an amateur again. How times have changed over the last 40 years with people now able to make fortunes from the sport!

I was reinstated initially as a ‘National’ amateur, meaning I was unable to compete in International competition, a condition somehow overlooked when, having reached a decent standard, I was selected to represent Scotland in an International marathon in Tullamore, Ireland. I suppose this indicates that incompetence from our governing body is not a new phenomenon! However after I had pointed out their error the SAAA made application to the IAAF on my behalf and I was reinstated internationally and went on to represent Scotland a few times.

My time as a professional runner brought few regrets and many happy memories; I had the pleasure of competing at the same time as and seeing at close quarters people like George McNeill, Stuart Hogg, later to become a fitness coach to some of the country’s top football teams, the multi-talented John Freebairn, for many years for many years a member of  the SVHC committee, and John Steede, still a member of SVHC and in his day an awesome sight as he hit top speed!

After reinstatement a whole new chapter opened up for me as I turned from track racing to the roads and competed against some of the best endurance runners Scotland has produced, people like the late Jim Dingwall, our Newsletter editor Colin Youngson and Olympian Donald Macgregor, but that’s maybe a story for another day.

Back to Alastair Macfarlane     Back to Front Page

1975 SAAA Marathon 2.16.50. Championship record. Meadowbank, Edinburgh. 1^ST after battle with Sandy Keith

1975 E to G First Stage 26.00 record (never broken). ESH 1^st in a record time.

1992 Five Nations International Veterans XC Belfast. 1^st M45 by a minute. Scotland won team event.

1982 SAAA Marathon 2.18.02. Grangemouth. Won by eight minutes after ‘persuading’ Jim Brown to drop out.

1981 SAAA Marathon 2.20.42. Meadowbank. 1^st after leading all the way and a struggle with Donald Macgregor.

1975 representing BAAB in Berchem Marathon, Antwerp. Second by seventeen seconds to Danny McDaid (Eire) after a good fartlek tussle. Max Coleby nine seconds down. Britain won the team award.

1983 E to G. AAAC 1^st. Self second-fastest on glory leg after tremendous struggle to hold off Peter Fleming.

1986 E to G. AAAC 1^st. Self fastest on Last Stage. No bother!

1975 East District 10,000m Meadowbank. 2^nd to Jim Dingwall after a real fight. 29.33.4.

1975 Two Bridges 36 2^nd. 1^st Scot 3.29.44. Almost three minutes behind the fast-starting Cavin Woodward but raced away from Mick Orton up the Forth Bridge whaleback.

1983 Glasgow Marathon 4^th and second Scot to winner Peter Fleming. Scottish two-man team beat England, Wales, Eire, N.I.

1992 Barnsley Vets 10k Road 6^th and 1^st M45 in AAA/BVAF event.

1999 World Vets XC Chester-Le-Street 7^th M50. G.B. won team gold.

1977 E to G fastest on Stage Three. 20.18 record.

1973 Swedish Winter Marathon Championship 1^st. ‘Scottish Teacher Causes A Sensation!’ Minus five centigrade. Snowing.

1993 Bruges European Vets 25k. First Briton in race. 3^rd M45 bronze medal. G.B. team silver.

1975 AAA 12 Stage Relay. Sutton Park, Birmingham. ESH 2^nd to Gateshead. Self 14.16 third fastest on short stage, 18 seconds slower than Brendan Foster.

1980 London to Brighton 54 and a quarter. 7^th 5.52.04

1975 SAAA Track 10 Carluke. 2^nd to Doug Gunstone. 49.00.8.

1983 Westland Marathon, Maasluis, Holland. 2.17.33 6^th.

1993 BVAF Marathon at Stone. M45 gold.

1989 SAF Vets XC at Balgownie, Aberdeen. 1^st by 24 seconds from Charlie MacDougall – Mum, Dad and Brother spectating. AAAC team gold.

1989 BVAF XC at Sunderland. 2^nd, 12 seconds behind Andy Holden.

1989 SVHC Vets Indoors at Kelvin Hall. 3000m gold 8.58.7 British Veterans M40 record.

2003 BMAF Indoors at Kelvin Hall. 3000m M55 gold.9.56.91.

1993 Morpeth to Newcastle 14.1m. 1.15.25 first class standard. 1^st M45/M40 by only three seconds from Jimmy Bell.

1981 European Clubs XC 29^th, 1^st for ESH.

1981 East Districts XC 2^nd just behind Fraser Clyne.

1989 Scottish Vets / Lochaber Marathon. Race winner.

1990 Tom Scott 10 mile road, Law to Motherwell. 1^st SVHC Championships 49.31.

1974 ESH 1^st Team, course record in Allan Scally Relay. 90.45.

1997 SAF Vets XC Relay at Dundee. Metro gold.

1995 BVAF XC at Irvine. M45 gold.

1999 BVAF 10,000m at Meadowbank, Edinburgh. M50 gold.

1979 Edinburgh to North Berwick 21+ 1.52.13 record. 1^st hard to hold off Sandy Keith.

1979 Lesmahagow Half 69.21 record. Very hilly. 1^st from Evan Cameron.

2000 SAF Vets XC at Cumnock. M50 gold (three-in-a-row) by seven seconds from Charlie MacDougall. Really tough.

1988 Great Scottish Run / Glasgow Half 67.39 1^st Vet.

1987 Inverness Half Marathon. 66.29 2^nd to Simon Axon. Beat Frank Harper and Graham Laing.

1987 Black Isle 10k 30.02 1^st Vet on 40^th Birthday.

1986 Dundee Marathon winner.

1973 Stockholm Marathon winner. Absolutely even pace for both halves. The easiest marathon personal best time.

1985 Aberdeen Marathon 2^nd. 1^st for Scotland team.

1988 Moray Half 69.18. Race winner / 1^st Vet.

1971 Scottish Universities v Irish Unis v U.C. Louvain. Belfield, Dublin. 1500m 4.01 , 3^rd. Shaven grass track. Wet. Led till straight.

1972 Kingsway Relays, Dundee. 13.32. Fastest individual.

1974 ESH Fernieside Relays. Fastest individual, six seconds in front of young Allister Hutton.

1974 Frykstaloppet, Sweden. 25k 78.30 record. Race winner.

1973 (75,76,77,78) Drymen to Scotstoun 15+ Race winner. Dunky Wright trophy, presented by the man himself.

1991 SAAA Vets Track. Grangemouth. 5000m gold in 15.24.8 after duel with Tom Graham and Phil Dolan.

1973 Scottish Inter-Counties XC, Irvine. 1^st from John Ferguson and Ron Macdonald. Golf course with tarmac stretch alternative!

1974 SAAA 10 miles track, Meadowbank. 1^st from Martin Craven, despite dodgy hamstring and windy day.
          COLIN YOUNGSON: RUNNING SUMMARY

Team golds in: Scottish National XC; Edinburgh to Glasgow Relay; National Six-Stage Relay; National XC Relay; Scottish Veterans XC; SVHC Eight-Stage Relay; SAF Veterans XC Relay.

Member of AAAC’s record-breaking John O’Groats to Land’s End Relay teams in 1973, 1974 and 1982.

8 British Veterans golds: International and National XC; Road; Indoor Track; Outdoor Track. Distances from 3000m to Marathon.

BAAB Marathon representative in Antwerp 1975.

British ‘Masters’ Team medals in Euro and World Vets.

Scottish International 10,000m in Reykjavik 1975.

Eleven Scottish International Marathon vests.

Scottish first team for Gateshead International XC 1975.

Scottish Universities representative in XC and Track.

16 Scottish ‘Masters’ XC International vests in seven age groups (M40-M70). (Individual medals in three age groups.)

1965-66 Full Colours, Aberdeen Grammar, Athletics,XC, Cricket.

1969-71 Double Full Blue, Aberdeen University: XC; Athletics.

1975 Donald McNab Robertson Trophy for Best Scottish Road Runner of the year.

1991 J.F.Walker Award from Scottish Marathon Club.

1991 SCCU presentation for 25^th E-G. (Ran 30 by 1999; 13 medals; 7 golds; 7 stage wins.)

1993 Aberdeen City Veteran Sports Personality.

Ran for: Aberdeen Grammar School 1965-66; Aberdeen University 1966-71; Victoria Park AC 1971-3; Fredrikshof Idrottsforeningen (Stockholm) 1973-4; Aberdeen AAC 1974 and 1981-93; Edinburgh Southern Harriers 1974-81; Metro Aberdeen Running Club 1993-2008; Forres Harriers 2009-.

76 ‘Scottish Titles’ to June 2013: Senior; Team; Veteran.

40 marathons sub-2.30; 9 sub-2.20.

10 SAAA Marathon medals: 3G; 3S; 4B.

27 medals in 20 successive Scottish Veterans XC: 11G (7 ind.); 11S (5 ind.); 5 ind. Bronze.

1965-2020: 56 seasons in succession of running at least one Scottish championship per year.

Personal Bests:

800m 1.58; 1500m 4.01; 3000m 8.26 (or 8.28);

5000m 14.26 (or 14.29); 10,000m 29.33.4;

10 miles track 49.00.8; Half Marathon 66.29;

Marathon 2.16.50.

Seldom can an Aberdonian have squeezed more from a teabag of talent.         Colin James Youngson (born 27/10/1947).

[Some teabag, some talent!]

Abbreviations:  Inverness* Inverness – Forres    Marathon**  Marathon to Athens   Bridges  –  Two Bridges 36   Brighton   –  London to Brighton 54

E-G 50  –  Edinburgh to Glasgow straight through.   Lairig  –   Lairig Ghru 28,     Speyside  –  Speyside Way 50K

A quick count through the results indicates that there were 13 first places, 12 seconds and five thirds as well as many commendably high placings in championships and big city marathons.   What can’t be denied is this list of achievements:

55 Marathons

7 Ultras

10 Scottish Championship Medals

2 British Veterans Medals

2 Scottish Veteran Medals

 11 Scottish Vests

1 British Vest

Colin Youngson leading Evan Cameron

Colin Youngson has an amazing record as a road runner – a good man on the track and over the country, he was outstanding on the road with his stage records and medals won in the Edinburgh to Glasgow relay and his ten medals in the SAAA Championships.   It was also at a time when the SAAA marathon was held as an event in its own right and in combination with the track championships so there was no chance of it being mixed up in a field of 1000+ with the attention focused on soldiers dressed as hippos or some celebrity passing through.   Nor, maybe more important as far as I am concerned, were there any guest runners from Africa, Asia or the Americas.   It was a Scottish championship and the runners and spectators could concentrate on the race.   The man running into the stadium at the end was the winner and not a guest, there for the money.   The common reason given for allowing/encouraging non-Scots into the championships is that they raise the standard of competition – but that argument does not hold water as far as the marathon is concerned: the standard of Scottish marathon running seems to have declined in proportion to the size of the field.  People like Colin Youngson, Don Macgregor, Jim Alder, Fergus Murray and all the rest could be seen plying their trade in times faster than most and in races more dramatic than most.   Colin has written the following account of his three SAAA marathon victories and it is an interesting read.

Sandy Keith was, in the mid-1970s, a major marathon rival and I trained with him on long runs near Edinburgh only when I felt good, since he was basically stronger than me.    I defeated him three times in the Scottish Marathon – in 1974, 1975 and 1982. However he beat me in 1977 and was the superior marathon runner from 1976 to 1979.

My training at this time included three key weekly sessions. Monday meant The Meadows: four laps including no less than sixteen repetitions – short or long, on the flat, uphill or downhill on tarmac paths.  Wednesday was a nine-mile pavement fartlek through Colinton with a series of testing longer efforts. Saturday was race day in the 1970s but, no matter what state you were in, the Sunday run was compulsory – a basic sixteen miles from The Meadows through Colinton Dell and out the old railway line to Balerno (and then back). The route might be extended via the reservoirs and Bonaly Tower.   Anything between 16 and 25 miles might be covered (the latter with a sadistic little final lap of The Meadows, pretending not to be exhausted, until you parted from your companions/rivals with a cheery wave, turned a corner, and struggled wearily home. If you added some recovery running or a few hill reps on the intervening days, you had about eighty miles of excellent training in the hilly city – worth a hundred in the flat south?

Saturday 28^th June 1975, Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh.

It was a warm, sunny day, and Sandy Keith took the initiative from the start, racing away down the hill to Portobello into a slight headwind.   Only Colin tucked in behind and tried to relax. It seemed a hard way to start 26 miles!   Sandy’s ambition was to win a marathon from start to finish, from the front – and how he tried! Five miles in 25.30, ten in 51.30, the turn in 67.30.   As the pair, on their return journey, passed ex-champions Alastair Wood and Donald Macgregor, who were approaching the turning point, Wood muttered that the young fools would destroy each other.   Macgregor warned that they were about two minutes ahead already!

Since there was now a pleasant following breeze, and to show that he was feeling good in spite of Sandy’s efforts, Colin moved alongside and they ran together for the next five miles.  Then, at nineteen, as the route swung into a lay-by for a drink station, an official was clumsy in handing up Sandy’s cup of water    Sandy swore, quite uncharacteristically, hesitated for the drink, and Colin, seeing that his rival was feeling the strain, simply surged away for a full mile, down the Wallyford hill. 20 miles in 1.43.45.   A nervy glance back revealed a decent gap, fifteen seconds, and it was head down again and flat out for Musselburgh and Portobello. The pace was still fast, but tiredness and worry set in. To win the Scottish Marathon was Colin’s main ambition in the sport, and now it was a case of hanging on grimly.  Up the long hill to Jock’s Lodge and then, at the twenty-five mile mark, Youngson’s right leg suffered cramp.  Would Keith catch up, so near to the finish? Keeping the limb as straight as possible, Youngson bashed onwards, to the stadium and round the track. No sign of Sandy until the final bend was reached and it was safe to negotiate the straight and break the tape.

What a relief for Colin Youngson, who felt sure that he must have broken the 2.20 barrier at last, but was very surprised to find that Jim Alder’s championship record had been broken by 21 seconds.    Finishing times were: Colin Youngson (Edinburgh Southern Harriers 2.16.50; Sandy Keith (Edinburgh Athletic Club) 2.17.58; Alastair Wood (Aberdeen AAC) 2.21.14; Davie Wyper (West of Scotland) 2.25.44; Gordon Eadie (Cambuslang) 2.25.48; Alistair Blamire (ESH) 2.26.20; Ian Trapp (EAC) 2.28.26; Mike Logue (Victoria Park AAC) 2.29.56.

After the race, Alastair Wood said, “Well done, Colin. I think you’re at your peak now.”    To which Colin replied that he felt there was a little more to come.   But in fact Alastair did turn out to be right since this remained Colin’s fastest time ever.   Still, the rest of the season produced further success: second to Allister Hutton (1990 London Marathon winner) in the 10,000 metres track race for Scotland against Iceland in Reykjavik; second behind ‘ultra’ great Cavin Woodward in a fast ‘Two Bridges’ 36 miler; and a close second to Olympian Danny McDaid of Eire in the international marathon in Berchem, Antwerp.   This was Colin’s only race representing Great Britain, and he and Max Coleby won the team race. At the end of the 1975 season Colin Youngson was presented with the Scottish Amateur Athletics Association ‘Donald McNab Robertson Memorial Trophy’ as Scottish Road Runner of the year.

Saturday 20^th June 1981, Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh.

The course was completely new, and not as fast as the ‘Commonwealth Games’ one.  The route was London Road, Seafield Road East, Seafield Road, Lower Granton Road; two loops round West Harbour Road, Cramond Esplanade, turn left at the Cramond Hotel, Glebe Road, Lauriston Farm Road, West Granton Road; and then right for Granton, Seafield Road, turn right up Craigentinny Avenue, and right again for the stadium.

Colin Youngson, who had moved north to teach in Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, and had changed clubs from ESH to Aberdeen AAC, was fit and confident.   On a warm, sunny day, he started fast and led a group of eight down the hill towards Portobello and then left towards Granton. After a little hesitation, he surged at five miles (25.17) and the group broke up, with Donald Macgregor (Fife AC), Doug Gunstone and former champion Alastair Macfarlane (both Springburn Harriers) chasing hard.   Olympian Donald Macgregor was by now SAAA event coach for the marathon, but it is not true that he shouted advice to everyone within earshot – e.g. “Slow down!”

The lead was slender, only six seconds between Youngson (50.42) and Gunstone, who was running with Macgregor at ten miles.  By halfway (68.36) it was eleven seconds; and by fifteen (77.06) 16 seconds, with Macfarlane another twelve seconds down, and gaining.

The twenty mile point was reached in 1.44.40 by Colin Youngson, who was really feeling the mental strain of leading by so little for so long.   By then the gap was up to 34 seconds – not at all a comfortable lead.   So Youngson put his head down and ran flat out for three miles, to stretch away from Macgregor and Macfarlane, who had moved into third place.   Colin was about a minute ahead with a couple of miles to go, but slowed down on purpose while plodding up the steep hill of Craigentinny Avenue, so that he could gain some physical and mental resilience to fight, if Donald’s famed strong finish proved a threat.   At 25 miles (2.12.58) the time gap was 54 seconds.

Eventually it was a relieved but exultant Colin Youngson who hung on to win in 2.20.42 from Donald Macgregor (2.21.31); Alastair Macfarlane (2.22.25); Doug Gunstone (2.26.52); Evan Cameron (ESH 2.27.23); Tommy Wiseman (Victoria Park 2.27.57); Dave Lang (Elgin AAC 2.28.28); and Donald Markie (Falkirk Victoria Harriers 2.29.32).

Doug Gillon, in the Sunday Standard, described the three medallists as ‘ageing but speedy war-horses, mounting the rostrum’. (Colin was 33, Donald 41 and Alastair 35).

Saturday 10^th July 1982, Grangemouth Stadium

This took place on an out and back course from Grangemouth Stadium.   A calibrated wheel was used to ensure that the correct distance was run.  Only thirty competitors turned up, but they included a number of good athletes.  Conditions were warm and humid.

Colin Youngson of Aberdeen AAC had been running fast in training, including six or ten mile time-trials in his 80 miles per week.   He had reduced this to 50 two weeks before the race, and had then experimented , running a fairly hard 21 on the Sunday, followed by the protein ‘diet’, a ten mile run at 7 a.m. on Monday and a carbohydrate-packed breakfast.   Thus the tough part of the regime had lasted only 20 hours!   No running on Tuesday and Wednesday, a three mile ‘digestive’ jog/stride on Thursday and Friday, and off to the start.

In the dressing room he encountered Jim Brown (Scottish 10,000m record holder and GB International), who declared his intention of running two hours twelve minutes!    Colin had great respect for his younger rival, who had defeated him easily on countless occasions over the country and in shorter road and track fixtures.   It was agreed that they would share a sensibly brisk pace to ten miles, in under 52 minutes.    Then Jim would make his bid.   Colin started quite fast, and led for two miles.   Thereafter they went to the front for one mile each, into the breeze.   Five miles passed in 26.27, which seemed wrong – rather slow for the pace they seemed to be setting.   At this point Sandy Keith completed the trio.    By ten miles, on target 51.49, the watch indicated a speed-up but the tempo had in fact remained much the same, although Sandy had slipped back to 53.00 and was running with Craig Ross, a 2.21 man.

For the next three miles to the turn, Youngson simply sheltered behind Brown and waited for him to surge away.   Nothing happened.   Half-way was reached in 67.21; with Ross in 69.10; Keith 69.32; Peter Wilson and Gerry Fairley (Kilbarchan) 71.40.   At the front, nothing continued to happen, and the breeze was now helping progress.   Fifteen miles (78.11) saw the duo 2.16 in front of Ross.

Gaining in confidence due to the steady, fairly comfortable pace, and feeling that, although it was hard to imagine Jim Brown beatable, he ought to be tested, at least, Colin Youngson prepared to try.   As his stopwatch reached 1.30, he moved to the middle of the road and ran absolutely flat out for the next half mile. A look behind revealed a fifty yard gap!    Another hard half mile – and there was no one in sight!    Jim Brown, perhaps feeling that his target time was unattainable, had dropped out.

An unsympathetic but delighted Youngson later wrote in his diary “Bashed on slightly less hard”. 20 miles took 1.45.14; Ross 1.50.24; Keith 1.50.38; Wilson 1.51.56; John Lamont (Aberdeen AAC) 1.52.47. Craig Ross had to stop shortly afterwards. The last two miles felt tough to Youngson, since he was striving to beat 2.20 and could see neither the stadium nor a race steward to point the way.    However both appeared, and as Colin panted up to the entrance, there was previous winner Jim Dingwall leaning against the wall. Jim glanced at a stopwatch and said, “Still only 2.16 – should get a decent time if you hurry.”    So there was no steady lap of the track, waving modestly – just a red-faced maximum effort which resulted in a narrow failure to break 2.18.    Still, it was Colin Youngson’s second-fastest time (2.18.02), and one of the bigger winning margins.    Second was Sandy Keith (EAC 2.26.34); third Peter Wilson (Aberdeen AAC 2.27.01); fourth John Lamont (Aberdeen AAC 2.28.59); and fifth Andy Stirling (Bo’ness 2.30.17).    Another good Aberdeen performance – even Sandy Keith used to be a club member