Steve Smythe catches up with an iconic distance runner who made a large affect on the marathon scene half a century in the past successful European and Commonwealth titles
These days, the world’s high marathoners are principally Kenyans and Ethiopians. Regardless of the large and inspiring breakthrough for Emile Cairess and Mahamed Mahamed in ending within the high 4 on the London Marathon this yr, Britain’s two quickest runners don’t rank on the planet’s high 100 males over the previous 12 months because the African nations dominate.
Return half a century although and it was Britons who typically led the best way numerically. For instance within the males’s 1500m to marathon Commonwealth high 10s of 1972 – Britain had a complete of 29 athletes ranked to Kenya’s 9. Actually the world’s high particular person marathoner of 1974 when it got here to the yr’s world rankings (on benefit and time) was the younger and thrilling Brit Ian Thompson.
His efficient rag to riches story was unparalleled amongst top-level British runners as he went from an unknown to being voted runner-up within the 1974 British Sports activities Writers Sportsman of the 12 months awards behind boxing world champion John Conteh and he received the British Athletics Writers award for 1974 forward of BBC Sports activities Persona of the 12 months Brendan Foster.
Thompson completed the yr with a shocking European title in Rome however it’s nonetheless extremely related how the 24-year-old trainee instructor, with no coach, acquired to that time.
His first marathon was on the finish of 1973 when he shockingly received the AAA title and England Commonwealth Video games trials at Harlow. His time was the world’s quickest ever debut of two:12:40 as he simply defeated a unimaginable high quality area together with reigning Commonwealth champion and Britain’s best ever marathoner Ron Hill (2:13:22) and European fourth-placer Colin Kirkham (2:15:25).
Thompson had by no means raced over 10 miles earlier than on the street and was persuaded to go there to assist his crew Luton and he wasn’t among the many 40-odd names that AW Editor Mel Watman highlighted in his in depth preview.
Though Thompson was unknown he was clearly a significant expertise simply ready to search out his occasion.
Born in Birkinhead in Cheshire, his first reminiscence of working was not that constructive whereas he was rising up in Canada. He was working previous some tied canine and thought he was secure however unknown to him the canine have been on a really lengthy lead and almost caught him and he ended up falling in a ditch and needed to be rescued by a Mounted Policeman.
“We moved from Canada when my father had a job at Vauxhall Motors and I joined Luton AC once I was about 13 and began working cross-country and 800m and 1500m on the monitor,” he says.
“I can bear in mind seeing Ron Clarke run at White Metropolis within the mid-Sixties breaking the world three miles report and I began having extra success and I used to be fourth within the 1968 English Colleges Cross-Nation and fifth within the English Colleges mile that yr.”
John King received the cross-country in 25:51 with Thompson on 26:29 forward of Dave Bedford who was seventh. A yr later Bedford would win the Worldwide junior cross-country title and break the British senior 10,000m report as a youngster.
Thompson ran 4:17.4 for fifth within the mile closing in a race received by Paul Dennis in 4:09.8.
Ian Thompson’s sneakers and 1974 Commonwealth and European medals
His most notable end result on the monitor as a senior although was solely a 14:05.6 5000m which meant none of his main marathon rivals actually had a clue who he was however there have been a couple of runs within the winter of 1973 that possibly ought to have sounded some warning bells.
He was solely thirty fourth within the Inter Counties cross-country however forward of some marathon stars reminiscent of Olympians previous and future – Jim Alder, Keith Angus and Charlie Spedding and Commonwealth medallist Don Faircloth and future British champion Dave Cannon.
A number of weeks later was an much more vital efficiency as he received the Jap cross-country Championships at Peterborough forward of internationals Graham Tuck and Tony Simmons. The latter, who would go on to complete second within the European 10,000m the next yr, was affected by a chilly although.
When it comes to endurance one notable effort in all probability not seen by many was a second place within the Orion 15 cross-country in March when Thompson misplaced the lead within the final 200 metres to Malcolm Thomas – a future English nationwide champion and somebody who would set a Welsh marathon report in Harlow, albeit a good distance behind Thompson.
He started severe coaching for Harlow in August and early in his coaching he was a stable sixth within the Shaftesbury 10 in 49:49 in near-80 diploma temperatures in a race received by clubmate Tony Simmons in 48:20 as Luton received the crew race and the Southern gold medals.
The work within the closing weeks was particularly laborious as he accomplished two very lengthy runs runs within the closing two and a half weeks earlier than the race. His first tried 30 was near five-minute miling earlier than blowing up at 24 miles after which he did a slower 30-miler at 5:30 miles.
Thompson says: “I’m positive not one of the most important contenders for the English crew knew who I used to be. I needed to have some days off earlier than the race as I had shin splints however I used to be match however I didn’t have any race plans aside from to strive for round 2:20 and be across the high 10.
“I used to be very relaxed as a result of I wasn’t anticipating something earth-shattering and I spent among the early miles chatting with my clubmate Tony. I bear in mind I acquired to fifteen miles at Harlow and everybody gave the impression to be respiration laborious and I felt recent and like I used to be floating and considering that is going properly. At 18 miles I simply took off uphill and nobody may include me. I used to be anticipating the wall however nothing occurred and I felt good.”
After the race in a post-race interview, Thompson stated: “I used to be happy to have the press round me after the race as I’ve by no means had that earlier than. They received’t be asking who’s Ian Thompson anymore, will they?”
Oh his decisive transfer, he added: “It was a half-mile burst,” to which second-placer Hill interjected: “It was an eight-mile burst! I attempted going with him however he will need to have run that mile in 4:45. He ran with out inhibitions.
Thompson coated the fourth 10km in a searing 30:33 as he went from nowhere to fifth all-time amongst Brits.
In Mel Watman’s very good AW report he stated; “What occurred to Ian Thompson is a realisation of the dream of most athletes who haven’t but made the highest grade – a dream that at some point all the things will click on and they’ll tackle and beat the champions. When the miracle happens it provides renewed hope and incentives for all different aspirants. Life for Thompson can by no means be the identical once more however his rags-to-riches story will quicken the heartbeat and lighten the step of the remaining as they slog away on their winter coaching. If it may occur to him, why shouldn’t it occur to them too?”
Thompson’s run right here and in Christchurch and Rome is definitely why I took up marathoning on the earliest alternative virtually half a century in the past and whereas I’m nonetheless working marathons in 2024.
His win certified him to symbolize England within the Commonwealth Video games at Christchurch the place he greater than proved that Harlow was no fluke however earlier than his first worldwide, not all the things had gone to plan.
“I attempted to run 140 miles every week in preparation for the Commonwealths however I had a couple of sicknesses and so I solely averaged 87 miles every week between October and January however that was in all probability extremely useful as I felt recent for Christchurch,” he recollects. “After I acquired to New Zealand I bear in mind doing a 20-mile run at five-minute miling and assume I need to decelerate because it was not lengthy earlier than the race however I additionally bear in mind doing 20x400m in 63 seconds and feeling good. I loved being out within the sunshine and away from Britain through the three-day week.”
Of the race, he says: “It was very heat all day however the race was round 5pm so it was cooling however I appreciated the warmth and I felt very relaxed and within the zone. I bear in mind sitting down chatting to somebody pre-race and I noticed him put up race and he stated I solely spoke to you since you appeared so relaxed, I assumed you weren’t racing.”
He handed 10km in 30:15 and held that tempo (30:15) for the second 10km earlier than working a vicious third 10km of 30:05, a time faster than his precise 10,000m PB. He was properly forward of world report schedule however he eased again to 31:37 for that fourth 10km as he performed secure and he additionally needed to offset abdomen cramps.
Ian Thompson leads the 1974 Commonwealth marathon
Although he eased again he smashed the British and European report with the second quickest time in historical past of two:09:12 in comparison with Derek Clayton’s world finest of two:08:33.6. Clayton dropped out in New Zealand whereas Hill was an injured 18th and outdoors 2:30 as Thompson received by over two minutes from Kiwi Jack Foster.
“The course was tremendous quick and the tempo was fast from the off and my plan was to see how I felt at 30km however I acquired away earlier than that at round 11 miles,” he says. “I used to be conscious what the gang impact was within the 10,000m when Dick Tayler beat Dave Black and Foster was getting a number of shouts. So if I believed I used to be alone the shouts would all be for me! I did ease down within the final 10km as soon as I used to be properly clear as a result of I didn’t to need to danger blowing up however I’m positive I may have run 2:08. The primary half was 63 and the second 66 so I believed I may go sooner with extra even tempo.”
Like all marathons, Clayton’s time was by no means ratified as a world finest and the Affiliation of Highway Racing Statisticians consider because of the technique of measurement, after a lot later investigation, Clayton’s run was round 400 metres quick and lots of consider Thompson’s time was actually an unofficial world finest.
Thompson ran 2:09 virtually 50 years earlier than the tremendous sneakers and was not a full-time runner. The sneakers he wore again then had no carbon plates or tremendous foam and have been barely glorified slippers.
The sneakers Thompson ran his European report in
Some cynics have prompt Thompson’s run will need to have been quick as he by no means ran 2:09 once more however there’s zero proof that this multiple-measured championships occasion course was under-distance confirmed by the 10km splits and different runners instances.
Thompson was in superior form, the course was flat, the competitors was intense and Thompson by no means acquired the identical alternative in the identical form in his profession.
He returned to the UK and loved an enormous response from the folks of Luton and he additionally was in a lot demand for interviews.
Ian and Margaret Thompson coaching in Luton
It was not lengthy earlier than he was again racing although however a 151st within the English Nationwide wasn’t a real reflection of his means however in April he received the Marathon to Athens occasion in a quick 2:13:51 with 5 minutes to spare and that was adequate for the British selectors to take a then unprecedented step of choosing Thompson for Rome with out the necessity to contest the British Trials in June.
In scorching situations in Rome, Thompson ran what he deemed as his most full efficiency as he made it 4 marathon wins out of 4. He stayed with the lead group within the first half earlier than letting free on the second half to win in 2:13:19, 90 seconds forward of East Germany’s Eckhard Lesse with former Olympic steeplechase champion and world cross nation champion Gaston Roelants a distant third in 2:16:30.
Thompson admitted: “I used to be relieved I used to be pre chosen as in any other case I might have finished 5 marathons in properly below a yr. I like racing within the warmth and I choose racing later in day and my coaching had gone rather well.”
Of the race, he stated: “I noticed others warming up and considering why are they bothering on this warmth and humidity? I simply sat within the shade and skim a guide. I used to be decided to begin gently and be final out of the monitor and first again. And that’s what I did. I progressively moved up after which the leaders have been slowed at one level when a canine attacked them in order that enabled me to catch the entrance group up.
“About midway, I felt robust and pushed on and by 25km it was right down to me, Lesse and Roelants. Quickly after they dropped off and it was only a case of working my very own race and ending properly and I felt good all the best way to the end. There was a underpass with a steep climb and that harm greater than something in my different marathons. The cobblestones harm my Achilles just a little and whereas I can run properly within the warmth, the humidity made it laborious.”
As he hit the stadium, trying extremely simple, relaxed and pleased, he acknowledged the gang with a wave. “You undergo the tunnel and all of the noises stops and your by yourself and it’s horrifying as you realize there are 40,000 odd folks ready within the stadium to cheer you. It’s a bizarre feeling and I’ll always remember it.”
BBC commentator David Coleman stated of his arrival: “He’s striding out like he has simply finished two or three miles – he’s filled with working celebrating all the best way across the monitor – striding out – so match so recent, What a marathon man he’s.”
Ian Thompson together with his 1974 Rome vest
The next month he had one in every of his finest non marathon outcomes ever when he ran a course report 47:23 within the Walton 10 as he tied with Simmons.
The evening earlier than he was on the Southern Counties Dinner Dance on the Victory membership when the venue was bombed by terrorists and needed to discover different lodging to remain earlier than happening to the race.
After the heights of 1974, 1975 was a quiet yr wherein he acquired married. He solely completed a hundred and twenty fifth within the English Nationwide and in addition did a couple of path races together with ending third within the Sierre-Zinal race in Switzerland.
Thompson went into 1976 as one of many Olympic favourites however he suffered leg cramps within the British Olympic Trials on a scorching day and hard course at Rotherham and after sharing the lead with eventual winner Barry Watson as much as 19 miles, he light to seventh in 2:19:02. He did find yourself in Montreal however solely as a spectator alongside together with his spouse Margaret as he was invited by the British Athletics Supporters Membership. The AW letters pages on the time prompt he ought to have been chosen anyway however Thompson admits his break after 1974 with no latest world class type was a mistake.
He recollects: “For Rotherham I simply did an excessive amount of working and was over skilled and I bear in mind within the build-up simply at all times being drained and within the race I knew the foundations have been the highest three went. My respiration was okay through the race although however my left thigh cramped at 5 miles after which the appropriate one at 10 and there was nothing I may do. I felt like stopping… however!”
He did come again late season in 1976 and ran 2:12:54 for second in Fukuoka passing Olympic champion Waldemar Cierpisnki late on. That point would have positioned him fifth in Montreal the place one of the best of the Brits Jeff Norman completed twenty sixth.
He carried on good type if sometimes inconsistent and never fairly to his 1974 heights and received the 1977 Poly Marathon in 2:14:32 forward of Hill’s 2:16:37 and was second within the 1978 New York marathon in 2:14:12 to Invoice Rodgers’ 2:12:12. He was fourth in New York in 1979 in 2:13:42 with Rodgers once more successful in 2:11:42.
Throughout this era his finest run was in all probability a 3rd place in Auckland in 1977 with a time of two:03:31 however the course was discovered to be a mile and a half quick (about eight minutes).
He started 1980 with a modest tenth in Auckland in 2:20:17 (received by former world 5000m record-holder Dick Quax in 2:13:12) and he was removed from favorite when he lined up for his second Olympic Trials in Milton Keynes three months later.
Once more it was a star-studded area however this time he ran strongly all the best way and received in 2:14:00 from double Commonwealth monitor medallist Dave Black however like his British team-mates Bernie Ford and Black, he dropped out in Moscow on a foul day for British marathoning.
Ian Thompson (313) within the 1980 Olympic trial (Mark Shearman)
“I can’t bear in mind a lot of Moscow however I do know I didn’t get pleasure from it due to the political row and the stress from Thatcher’s authorities who wished the BOA to boycott and we solely went there for a couple of days. I bear in mind I wasn’t relaxed like I used to be in all my finest races.”
Shortly after he made probably the most of his in depth coaching – he thinks he could have over skilled for Moscow – by simply successful the London to Brighton (over 87.3km) in a extremely spectacular 5:15:15 the next month having although additionally ran two sub-2:20 marathons in between!
Typically working 140 miles every week carrying on with common 30 milers in his marathon coaching, he feels he may have finished properly at different extremely occasions however there weren’t so many larger occasions as these days and he was unable to run the Comrades because of the political scenario.
He additionally recollects he could have raced an excessive amount of and the day after successful the Birmingham Marathon he went straight right into a 5 day stage race in Italy!
He bowed out his marathon profession at London – his final one concerned a charity problem from Jimmy Savile with him being the final off the beginning and seeing what number of he may over-take. Weaving and sidestepping via the sphere he ran round three hours and handed many 1000’s.
On the finish of a protracted and profitable marathon profession he can boast a resume that noticed him win an European and Commonwealth title, two British championships, a win in Paris and Auckland, a second in Fukuoka, New York. Rome and Geneva and in addition home wins within the Polytechnic, Manchester, Potteries and Birmingham Marathons.
Now retired, he lives in Devizes in Wiltshire. His spouse Margaret as soon as held the British marathon report concurrently him in 1975 (aged simply 21 in her debut) and she or he’s nonetheless a high grasp in her age group having run for England and however for latest damage was trying ahead to becoming a member of the W70 ranks this summer time.
Now he’s content material to assist her on the larger occasions such because the Masters Worldwide. “I do know my place,” he chuckles.
Thompson, who was simply 24 when he set his report – the youngest UK marathoner to set a PB within the all-time high 30, has not competed a lot lately resulting from well being points however he did run within the British Masters cross-country in 2022 within the M70 class.
Tonbridge M80 winner David Moorekite leads a bunch together with Thompson (270)
Modest and unassuming, and with no ego, nobody at Tonbridge realised the as soon as best possible runner on the planet was ending 113th out of 131 runners within the vet girls and M65-plus males’s race.
He recollects one cross-country league, he was chatting behind the sphere with a fellow competitor they usually talked marathons and his rival virtually fell over when Thompson talked about his 2:09 PB!
His membership Devizes Operating Membership, although, do know the way good he was up to now and offered him with a particular trophy to commemorate the 50 years anniversary of his Commonwealth gold.
Thompson says: “I at all times liked working and loved the bodily well-being plus the travelling and assembly a number of folks. I ran for a very long time earlier than I had success so I knew I might keep it up after the success. The entire expertise was constructive and I by no means acquired confused by working or competing and by no means handled it as a profession. I at all times loved different issues reminiscent of books and music and simply centered on sport as one a part of my life.”
Earlier than I spoke to him his earlier parkrun was a 61:03 effort on the Quakers parkrun in February the place he was the official tail-walker (simply behind his spouse). I’m wondering how most of the 200 parkrunners that day realised that the previous world No.1 marathoner was behind each one in every of them?
Ian and Margaret Thompson
A number of Thompson’s main 50 marathons
October 1973. Harlow. AAA Champs. 1st 2:12:40
January 1974. Auckland. Commonwealth Video games. 1st 2:09:12
April 1974. Marathon to Athens. 1st 2:13:51
September 1974 Rome. European Championships. 1st 2:13:19
October 1975. Korso. 1st 2:24:30
Could 1976. Rotherham. AAA Champs. seventh 2:19:07
October 1976. New York. twenty second 2:26:26
December 1976. Fukuoka. 2nd 2:12:55
Could 1977. Amsterdam. 4th 2:17:48
June 1977. Polytechnic, Windsor. 1st 2:14:32
October 1977. New York. thirteenth 2:17:46
November 1977. Auckland. third 2:03:31 (1.5 miles quick)
December 1977 Fukuoka forty fourth 2:33:41
Could 1978. Sandbach. AAA Champs. twenty eighth 2:20:21
July 1978. Oyarzun. 1st 2:21:00
October 1978. New York. 2nd 2:14:12
November 1978. Auckland. 1st 2:13:49
December 1978 Tiberias fifth 2:19:50
January 1979 Bermuda 2nd 2:21:48
August 1979. Montreal. sixth 2:15:24
October 1979. New York. 4th 2:13:43
February 1980. Auckland 1980 tenth 2:20:17
Could 1980. Milton Keynes. AAA Champs. 1st 2:14:00
August 1980. Moscow. Olympic Video games DNF
August 1980. Stockholm. third 2:19:25
April 1981. Geneva. 1st 2:17:18
September 1980 Rotherham. 1st 2:18:59
September 1980 London Brighton 55 1st 5:15:15
December 1980. Fukuoka. thirty second 2:18:14
March 1981. Tokyo. seventh 2:14:39
March 1981. Duchy (Cornwall) 1st 2:27:53
September 1981. Birmingham 1st 2:13:50
March 1982. Rome. 2nd 2:12:09
March 1982. (7 days after Rome) Geneva 2nd 2:15:28
Could 1982. Paris 1st 2:14:08
September 1982. Chicago. nineteenth 2:18:59
Could 1983. Paris. third 2:17:14
August 1983. Bolton. 1st 2:18:09
November 1983. Istanbul 1st 2:32:35
February 1984. Beppu. eleventh 2:15:48
Could 1984. Geneva. 2:17:47
June 1984. Potteries (Stoke). 1st 2:20:54
July 1984. Manchester. 1st 2:16:08
August 1984. Antrim. 1st 2:23:00
August 1986. Guernsey. 2nd 2:25:22
February 1987. Malta. 1st 2:29:06
Could 1987. London. forty first 2:18:57
October 1989. Leeds. 1st 2:26:39
» See the June difficulty of AW journal, which you should purchase right here, for extra on Ian Thompson