posted Jun 22, 2007

Fatima's book is very inspiring, detailling her life from orphanage, rape, to world's best javelin thrower

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posted Jun 22, 2007

I find Michael Watson's story inspiring. I've not read his book ("The Biggest Fight") but it's definitely on my list.

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posted Jun 22, 2007

What is not so inspiring is the fact that so many of our top athletes are injured and pulling out of major competitions.

So why did UKA tell the sport when it took over control with millions of pounds of public money, that they would provide the best medical back up in the world for athletics and reduce the incidence of injury and illness?

What happened, then, because so many of our top athletes can't compete?????

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posted Jun 23, 2007

Another thread hijack brought to you by the self important ananonymous poster whose only interest appears to be slagging of UKA.

For my money if you want some inspirational athletics reading you could do worse than Feet in the Clouds by Richard Askwith which is a fantastic mix of tales from the fells and his own personal journey. For those who like something a little more homespun try to get hold of Signs of a misspent youth by Mark Pickard. Mark was one of the worlds best ultra runners and even in the odd world of ultrarunners a bit of an eccentric. This is a guy who went out and ran his 10 mile P the day before the London to Brighton.

Further affield cycling has more than it's fair share of good reads. Tim Moores French evolutions is an absolutely brilliant account of his cycle around the tour de france route, as a complete novice with no previous cycle training and with very little logistical planning. If you want something about the top end Try William Fotheringhams biography of Tom Simpson Put me Back on my Bike, truly inspirational stuff.

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posted Jun 23, 2007

I felt inspired by it because it shows the grit determination and sacrifice that he made in order to try and achieve. When you are out on a long run and it starts to hurt and you think of what these guys did to be the best they could you know a little bit of an ache is nothing at all.

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posted Jun 25, 2007

I agree about Feet In The Clouds. The only trouble is the fells are getting crowded with other people like me who all wanna be Jos Naylor

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posted Jul 8, 2007

Bob champions victory in 1981 has to be a big inspiration to anyone with John Hurt playing the lead in the movie.

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