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May 2022
12:36pm, 25 May 2022
58,187 posts
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Velociraptor
Adam has been advised lots of times over the years, probably including on this site back when he did his first 10 in 10, that he could be running at international level or even be an Olympic contender, and he's made it clear that he's not interested. I suspect this reflects terrific self-awareness and he'd be impossible to pin down to a coaching regime.
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May 2022
12:55pm, 25 May 2022
1,775 posts
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Big_G
I remember getting a pic of him years ago when he was leading the DD. I was a photographer at the event and he was absolutely legging it down a hill, huge stride length, trailing foot kicking his backside. Amazing to see, to be honest.
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May 2022
1:04pm, 25 May 2022
58,191 posts
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Velociraptor
I remember Adam posting on here in 2009 as a 21-year-old that his plan for the 10 in 10 was to try to stick with Steve Edwards and see how he got on. We thought he was underestimating the size of the challenge, because Steve was so highly regarded as a fast multiple marathoner. We underestimated Adam. He's an incredible athlete.
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May 2022
2:22pm, 25 May 2022
4,850 posts
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Oscar the Grouch
He is. He *does* also stretch the patience of RDs. I know of a recent event (marathon) where he asked to turn up an hour after the start so that he could do x Parkrun. They compromised on half an hour as he had his daughter (?) with him... It was an out and back lapped course so I think he saw her every 10-15 minutes, but it's not what I'd have done on any level!
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May 2022
2:23pm, 25 May 2022
4,851 posts
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Oscar the Grouch
He is also a superb runner and did catch everyone up and pass them to finish first. He lapped us (so he took 6 miles AND half an hour out of us!)
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May 2022
5:18pm, 25 May 2022
3,093 posts
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B Rubble
You’re right V’rap. I seem to remember us trying to put it down to youthful enthusiasm, he really has shown how good he is. I do admire him for going his own way, training to be an elite professional athlete focused on times must be quite stressful and he’s obviously decided he doesn’t want to do that.
We had a really good runner in our club. He would win the local triathlon on one day and then a local 10k race the day after. Quite early on I think he had decided that he didn’t want to do it professionally.
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May 2022
9:35pm, 25 May 2022
36,854 posts
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SPR
With all of this you need to enjoy the journey or be a 'definite' to make it and enjoy the rewards. The push to get to the next level is likely exponentially harder than showing the talent to be at that level. There's sub 4 milers that don't make it to the top.
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May 2022
9:43pm, 25 May 2022
5,737 posts
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Joe Hawk
Yep, and unless you really are at the top tier you'll have to self fund everything.
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May 2022
10:03am, 26 May 2022
7,396 posts
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paul the builder
Let's say he had the ingredients to do what either Steve Way or Paul Martelletti did (to pick 2 examples that should be familiar to many here). Whether they "made it" or not depends on your definition. They certainly haven't made a living from their running.
Which path would you choose? Which impresses you more?
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May 2022
10:16am, 26 May 2022
58,200 posts
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Velociraptor
It is, as you say, largely about personality types. I think Adam's great and I love how he's matured as a runner and as a performer (because he's got an engaging public persona) but I also admire people like Steve Way who decide to pick a path, put the blinkers on, and see how close to the top they can get.
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RW sub3/3.15
Feb 2025