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In the coming years, Glyn was to complete
almost 60 marathons worldwide including the New York, Rome and
Dublin as well as 13 consecutive London Marathons. He
competed in over 40 ultra distance races (beyond 26 miles)
including running the width of The Grand Canyon USA and
regularly competing in the Grand Union Canal Race – 145 miles
from Birmingham to London and is currently the only runner in
the history of the event to complete the distance five years
in succession. He also competed in the 106 mile run from
Pudsey in Leeds to London for Children in Need and the London
to Brighton Run. In 2003 Glyn completed one of his greatest
achievements to date when he ran the Paris Marathon and on
crossing the finish line, continued running to the start line
of the London Marathon completing the challenge with the end
of his second marathon in a week having run a total of 302
miles in all. Most of this was done in the name of charity. So
far his efforts total in excess of £75,000 spread over such
causes as Tommy’s Appeal, Muscular Dystrophy, St John's
Ambulance various local charities and the National Autistic
Society.
In the late summer of 2004, Glyn was honoured
to represent his country running in the Greek Spartathlon, 153
miles non-stop from Athens to Sparta in searing heat. This
event is one of the most gruelling events on record with
competitors having to qualify by proving they are up to the
challenge. It was John Foden, President of the Spartathlon
Association who then approached Glyn with the invitation to
run. The invitation was later extended to include the 2005
Spartathlon.
Immediately preceding the 2005 London
Marathon, Glyn smashed the Guinness World Record for long
distance running on a treadmill over seven days which he did
once again to raise money for charity. He repeated the
challenge in 2006.
Despite never asking for recognition for
himself, inevitably success brought its own reward. He has
run with well known celebrities such as Nell McAndrew and the
cast of Emmerdale, was nominated for Midlander of the Year
Award 2001/2002 and BBC West Midlands Unsung Sporting Hero
Award 2003/2004. In 2004 Glyn was awarded the Mayor’s Civic
Award and was also heralded as Walsall Sports Personality of
the Year in 2001, 2003 and 2005. It goes without saying he was
greatly honoured to be invited to a Royal Garden Party in 2002
where he and his first wife Ann were granted an audience with
The Queen. These are just some of the awards Glyn has received
to date.
Until early 2006, Glyn ran and trained with
Sneyd Striders Running Club based in Walsall and with whom he
was proud to serve as one time Club Captain. Training required
a great deal of sacrifice and commitment with normal training
runs consisting of around 60 miles a week increasing to
approximately 85 where a marathon was involved or 100 for an
ultra distance race averaging 10-18 miles on a daily basis. In
addition to all this, together with colleagues Kevin Postins
and Steve Budjoso, Glyn co founded a new beginners club and of
course, was delighted when his young son Liam took up the
sport. Needless to say it was an extremely proud moment for
Glyn when Liam completed his first 5km race inside 30 minutes.
Glyn's running achievements continued to
escalate until May 2006 when disaster struck. A recurrent knee
injury suddenly flared up during the 145 mile Grand Union
Canal Race forcing Glyn to drop out. Devastatingly for him,
later tests and surgery confirmed irreplaceable damage to the
joint resulting in early and unexpected retirement from
running. For Glyn it was a bitter pill to swallow and for a
while it seemed to be the end of his competitive career.
However, with the love and support of fiancé Karen together
with a little help from a few friends, Glyn's determination to
conqueror a new sport was soon cultivated. Following enquiries
to the British Wheelchair Racing Association, Glyn was
accepted as a member and training is well in hand for his
first half marathon race in September of 2007. Once again his
future aim is to compete in the London Marathon but this time
in a wheelchair. With Glyn's strength of character and
dedication there is no doubt he will achieve his goal and
already has received messages of support from Dame Tanni Grey
Thompson, Dr Ian Grey Thompson, Dame Kelly Holmes and of
course, Vicki Michelle who supported him throughout his
running career, in addition to numerous fans and admirers to
which all of whom Glyn is extremely grateful. He continues to
strive to help others by his tireless fundraising efforts
particularly for the National Autistic Society now drawing his
inspiration from his young son Liam who has autism. Glyn is
also currently involved in a project with Walsall Council to
improve sporting opportunities for young people with
disabilities. It is hardly surprising that Glyn has just added
to his tally of accolades by being named as an Express and
Star Newspaper Local Hero Award winner. All of this is not bad
for a man who was only going to run one London Marathon. |
