The Birthday Boy

Woke up to a dazzlingly bright morning and took the short walk across Pittville Park to spend a few more hours with the birthday boy and other friends. I first met Frank Thomas in the middle of the night, while doing a 100 mile event along the South Downs Way in 1979. His reputation had preceded him as well as a five hour start. By that stage our paces were well matched and we ran/jogged/walked the last 25 miles together. I finished euphoric, first meeting my goal of finishing in under 24 hours and, second, being in the presence of greatness. Frank was already a legend in what was then a very small number of elite ultra-distance runners. There weren't many events to run in those days, unlike now where they have proliferated just like marathons did in the 80s. Frank finished the event in 18 hours and a few minutes. He probably won it. I can't remember now and neither could he! Bonding through those hours of darkness and into the morning, we struck up a friendship which saw us have many adventures over the course of the next ten years or so.

The previous evening, at the party, five hours disappeared in a flash as we recounted our various stories of epic endeavour! I was reminded by Chris Dodd of one of the most memorable of all, an ascent of the Dent Blanche that a number of us had made together. 

Martin Stone was on hand to update us on all the recent astonishing Bob Graham attempts from Kilian Jornet, Finlay Wild and, very recently, Jack Kuenzle in 12hrs 23mins. For anyone who knows that 66 miles and 42 peaks and 27,000ft of limb, that time is ridiculous. Martin was present at the very beginning of the ultra fell running scene and is now at the very centre of it, from a logistics angle. His infectious enthusiasm remains undiminished. I think he gets as much buzz, if not more, from these record attempts as he did from running himself. He needs to recruit pacers for an attempt, which requires the runner to be accompanied at the top of each peak. Social media makes that easier in some ways. The problem is finding enough people who are fast enough to stay with these new gods of the sport for just one leg of the route!

Frank has travelled all over the world and is planning a trip to Thailand in the new year. He has copious written pieces and photographs from all the places he has visited and is trying to work out what to do with them all. I've offered to help. I'm not sure that was wise. I might get sucked in too deeply. Frank's is another whose enthusiasm for life is deeply infectious.

Happy 80th, mate.