Vote for Tony's onthebeach - Asicis Target 26.2

Please vote for me! . . . . .

. . . . because I will succeed and achieve my dream of being trained by Britain’s Top Coaches and running the Paris Marathon with RW and Asics support

My love Running is and has been everything from survival - escaping the school bullies, knee deep in mud on school Xcountry, being beaten by national hopefuls in the local fun run or to just running home from the pub because it's quicker!!

Entered my 1st race and joined Newquay Road Runners 1996 and within 2 years had PB's in every distance from a leg of the 4 x 400 m relay to marathon distance with a time in the London Marathon of 2 hours 37 min and 21 seconds plus to Mountain Marathons which took me to the top of the Pap’s of Jura!!!

Like all runners those who do it alone for fun or those who run with clubs at all levels, we all have that massive common denominator we love to run and for that all differences are forgotten . . . . .

Although having run for ever it came to a sudden stop when my wife was diagnosed with Cancer 2 weeks before our daughter was born, thankfully our daughter was born fine and life with a new born and 3 year and a wife going through treatment was testing, luckily family, friends within our community were fantastic and here we all are 5 years on!

Family life is a compromise; you have to sway like a tree in the breeze if you don't bend with it you break as with things that you go through in life.

I have even had the experience of training my wife, her best friend and my sister for the Race for Life which became hilarious as they suddenly went all competitive (in a nice way) not want to miss a run even with a cold!

Now 15 years on and the ripe old age of 46! I am as proud of being a member of Newquay Road Runners and Newquay Par Athletics as ever and would never have achieved all that I have achieved in running if it was not for all the fantastic runners there.

Cornwall is a most amazing place to run whether it is on our amazing coast path with the sun setting and the surf rolling in or upon Bodmin Moor in the mist or running down a beautiful country lane as long as I am running everything is good

Getting through being one of the 5 in the Asics Target 26.2 will be such an amazing opportunity and everyone around me has been offering their support for me and for that I thank them now no matter what the outcome of the completion is!

It will give me the opportunity of re-entering the London Marathon 2014 and a chance to see if I could get a AAA's qualifying time? who knows it is all in the click of a mouse!

I look forward to hearing from everyone and thanks for reading, Tony

Opps . . .  the link the link to vote for me is here

Vote for Tony's onthebeach

Tony - a great read and an inspiring story. I know we are in the same category but Good luck mate!

DS2 - thank you and yours too, yes as you said who ever does'nt get through they know anyone of use deserves it, can we all go?

Yes good luck

Hi Tony....

Been waiting for your thread..........why so long to join the party ??

Hi what are you recent race time like and your recent mileage  for you to go for a sub 3

oh yes

 what do you hope to gain from the forums and what do you think you can give to the forums

Hi seren nos, late to the party mainly due to access to getting on the computer so post early mornning and night time

Most recent race was 5m in 34min a couple of weeks ago or a Indian Queens Half marathon 2009 - 1hr 26min

Recent mileage has been below 20m per week just ticking over?

The question is how much I can use previous marathons to calculate my projected time?  Did I every reach my absolute top performance? All that I ever did was without a training schedule, how much difference would that make?

I really view this as an amazing chance to get the level of help only professional athelets get which would be a dream come true for some one who has run for so long

Reference what am I looking for . . . . . at first I didn't know but now jumping in at the deep end I have found it very motivating and having met everyone at bootcamp great to be in touch with them, I think goiung forward being able to ask a question, asked about the weather and got updates from several places which was great

 I had always been very nervous about posting anything in the past, but I think going forward I can offer advice on my experience in running, encouragement and certainly information on the running scene in and places to run in Cornwall and of course the weather conditions!!

Does that make sense?

Loved reading your story Tony, and a pleasure to meet you at bootcamp.

Only been to Cornwall once but I absolutely loved it! Would be great to visit again and try out those amazing coastal paths you were talking about...

Best of luck!

Thanks, you must let me know when and where and can give lots of info, the Cornwall running clubs have details of all the races

Cornwal Athletics Club, Carn Runners, East Cornwall Harriers, Falmouth Road Runners, Hayle Runners, Kernow, Launceston, Mounts Bay Harriers, Newquay Road Runners: www.newquayroadrunners.co.uk St Austell, Tamar Trotters, Truro Running Club

Jus ta few to choose from! but must let me know if your coming down

Cheers Tony

Will do Tony 

A few people on here are talking about meeting up to do the TR24 in Derby - are you and Sarah up for it? Could probably make a few teams between the lot of us...

Hi Sarah, getting there I think new to this forum stuff!  Thank you for your kind words

I think the enthusiasm gets magnified when I spend time with or speaking to fellow runners.  Yes my wife is okay her main issue is her Lymphedema in her arm

You have a cool story and the time spent with your Mom something that will stay with you for ever, I had the privilege of working with my grandfather for 8 years that will always stay with me

Good luck for yourself and yes great to meet last week which having met so many great people makes the forum good fun

Hi Steve

Potentially I must admit it looks fantastic, just need to look at working out the logisitics?. . . .

Hey Tony.....what was it like training your wife? Is she a runner as well, or a running widow? 

Morning Shady_Ady . . . . . . it was fun to watch someone go from not interested to get unhappy when she got a cold and not able to run, then when I went out with her friends I had lots of questions how far did we go, who was fast, did you stop etc.

Unfortunately her reduced immune system means running is very up and down, but not over

How did you feel after your first marathon? . . . . I just felt I can do better and did one or 2 for the next 6 years!

Hi Shady_Ady, that is a real shame and an act of idiots you spend that time encouraging and supporting someone to get that far and then that work is trashed, such a fantastic achievement to have done a half marathon she has my admiration for getting out their and doing it, I have run with people who have a mental block at running past 2 to 3 miles.  You know they can do it but in their mind they cannot patience encouragement and belief will win in the end.

My experience with Newquay Road Runners a good one and why I love clubs we all encourage one another not matter what the level, just that we are all there and we all have different goals, I hope maybe one day she will run again

My first was is 1997 I had been training with the club and they were all training hard for the London and then I got a charity place at the last minute and did 2:55 and that was it for me hooked

Sep 97 did Nottingham 2:45 and 3 A's entry to London

 Apr 98  London 2:37:21 which was my PB a further 5 london's mixed results 2:38 closest I have ever got in the year I decided to hold back a little where as friend Chris went away in front and did 2:37 but you never know could have gone with him and slowed up?

Have done Cardiff beautiful location you go through the castle and out on the breakwater and finish in the Millenium Stadium

Amsterdam - again beautiful place start and finish in the Olympic stadium on the track, follow the Amstel river out of the city into flat country side with windmills!

Duchy here in Cornwall 2 lap course lanes and coast road looking down to St Ives in the distance

Cornish again stunning location but run in November weather can go either way one of hardest marathons the time I ran was due to needed it for the Cornish Grand Prix Series 14 races best 8 to count so no training and worst time in a Marathon!

Favourite - difficult as each have something different London atmosphere Cornish landscape!

I found it difficult to replicate the conditions I had with my PB which I think is I did more cross training before with Gym work, mountain biking and windsurfing then when I concentrated on running only my times got worse!