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The Four Bells Running Club

The Four Bells Running Club

This idea was something that an old running friend Steve and I used to talk of often. The name came about as we would regularly meet for out runs at The Four Bells public house in Woodborough Nottinghamshire, (the pub name is taken from St. Swithun's church across the road). During the summer of 2002, Steve and I ran many miles together through the pleasant and sunny lanes of the Nottinghamshire Trent villages, it almost seemed like the summer would never end. Steve called it his 'summer of running' before he left with his partner Jas for pastures new in Worcestershire.

The Four Bells, Woodborough

That 'summer' in fact endured almost to the end of the year with a lot of good companionship and pleasing scenery and what seemed like never-ending sunshine day after day as we ambled contentedly though those sunny lanes and down past the River Trent. Often we would take a drink outside the Nag's Head at Lambley on the way home to end a lovely morning or afternoon.

Those days are gone now but other running friends still endure and meet regularly. It seemed to me that this would be a perfect juncture to resume this idea now that the summer of 2005 is almost upon us.

Additions I'd like to offer in the future here are the training routes that we use(d) and some notes about them. Handy hints for training and injury treatment and that kind of thing will also be included. Perhaps a few old (and new) memories will also find their way onto this page.

The Runners:

Stuart Frew

Melanie Weaver

Margaret Glover

Gill Lees

Sheila Skinner

Gill Shipley

Sarah Langley

With respects to the many people who have joined us to run in the past.

St. Swithun's, Woodborough

Les Skinner

Les Skinner ,who passed away on the 6th September 2005

Les Skinner
A celebration of my friend Les.

It was with great sadness I heard the news of the passing of Les Skinner recently, an old friend of mine and a great friend to many at Redhill Road Runners and of the club itself. I felt it important to write a few words about him at this time and although this is a sad occasion, I shall attempt to relate some of the lighter times with Les – just as I believe he would have wanted.

Many of you will know that Les was a founding member of the running club having begun running with a group of colleagues from his then place of work, Jessops, in the city. The rest is history as they say with the group evolving into a genuine and successful running club over the years into the present day.

I was first ensnared by Les’s powers of persuasion in the early nineties. I would notice him when out running through our favourite woods at Bestwood, we’d shout a cheery hello when passing each other and on one particular day I saw him in the distance and actually managed to catch up with him, (no mean feat in those days!) We chatted a little, running alongside and he duly invited me along to the Redhill Running Club. So many were the occasions out running afterwards with Les I would observe him doing this with other runners. It was at this time I first realised his great pride in the club that he had been a founding member of.

One of the many reasons I enjoyed running and training with Les was simply because he was great company. Out there on the country lanes and through the fields and woods, a tough fifteen mile run would seem to pass in the blink of an eye with him chatting away and laughing together with you. All of you that knew Les will recount his mischievous but good natured humour. One of the attributes I always loved about him was his bright-eyed enthusiasm he brought to everything, it was impossible not to be motivated by him when he spoke, he was one of those rare people that make all things seem possible.

Although Les lived away from his native Cornwall for many years his love for his home county never diminished. He remained very much a Cornishman and proud of it. One of the many yarns he would relate would be the story of him being born in a castle down there in that loveliest of counties – it was true too!

There were so many humourous times with Les, to recount them all would take up pages and pages, from the Nike ‘Shoe Mountain’ which was his pride and joy at home to the story of when he broke ranks, leading at the very vanguard of the London Marathon at the mass start. Perhaps he would be inclined to inform you about the latest of his many and varied ‘injuries’ which would thwart his latest plan for world veteran running domination! Les told me once he ran part of a marathon with Australian champion Steve Monaghetti and I believe him. Make no mistake though and casting jokes aside for a moment, Les was a special and gifted runner. Those who ran with him like I did knew that.

It seems almost churlish to mention facts and figures in the context of a light-hearted man like Les but I would just like to add that his best time for a marathon was no less than 2.49 – almost international class. Without being dramatic many of us will remember him as being a tough and determined character, well suited to the rigours and hardships of long-distance running. He also had a great, natural inbuilt talent for the sport too, of that there can be no doubt.

Latterly after Les contracted his illness I would still see him out on the roads and trails, not running but walking (probably faster than many could run actually). This to me was the mark of Les Skinner – a true warrior athlete who NEVER gave in.

I’d like at this point to acknowledge all the considerable work and dedication that Les and his wife Sheila, who I am proud to also call a friend, have offered to the Redhill club over the years. I’m sure that you will all share this moment with me to offer our condolences to Sheila and his two daughters Tina and Kerry who Les leaves behind.

No more shall I see that familiar running style of Les with that distinctive left arm curling outwards as he raced along – was this man one of the most easily recognised runners from a distance you have ever seen?

What’s more I’m going to miss it.

Thanks for being a friend Les, you will be very sadly missed.

Stuart

Type your title here.

James Murtha

In these days of increased awareness about charitable organisations and mass coverage by the various media, it’s sometimes easy to become somewhat hackneyed in one’s views on the subject due to the wide exposure given. Every so often a story comes along however that is so moving and portraying such emotion and human spirit that it is impossible to ignore I hope to humbly relate just such a story to you here today.

Recently there has been a very welcome resurgence within the age-old charitable consciousness of Hibernian Football Club. In recent times we have marvelled at the fantastic achievements of our fellow supporters in bringing a little sunshine into an orphanage in a foreign land in Dnipro, and if this were not enough, we must not forget the wonderful efforts and thoughts of not only all those Hibernian people that contributed so spectacularly to that cause, but also the story of young leukaemia sufferer David Alexander that humbled us and of how the Easter Road faithful gathered to raise money for CCLASP via such varying methods as football matches and Hibernian wristbands.

To add to this, allow me to relate the story of one James Murtha of Burbank, California – a lion of a man and one we - for those of us who are aware of his story - are proud to know. James is a former serviceman over in the US. These days he is the proud father of three daughters and works for the Disney Corporation. His allegiances to Hibernian FC and Dundalk FC in Ireland were forged by his family history of having an Irish father. James is a man who never forgot his roots and how important they are to one.

James’ courageous fight against cancer and amazing recovery against very high odds has been extremely well documented. This terrific and uplifting story of the strength of the human spirit cannot be bettered by me so I will kindly request that you spend a few moments reading those words. Please prepare to feel humbled.

http://www.dundalkfc.com/Trust/Hospice.htm

As befits a man of James’ character, he decided that having beaten off the challenge of a life-threatening illness, he needed another challenge. He chose the lure of the great event – the marathon in order to fulfil his next achievement and set off on the long road to the ancient event. Dublin was to be the chosen arena for his challenge.

As will be noted from the story linked here, James has several difficulties that for him make the 26.2 miles an even more arduous and exacting proposition than for the rest of us. His constant need for drinks due to his body’s inability to create its own saliva being just one of them. May I ask you to try and consider that difficulty for just one moment?

The challenge of the marathon is one that many in the past three decades have risen to. The boom in running arising from interest in the States back in the 1970s’ has travelled full circle and back over that that time. Along the way it has encouraged and allowed a lot of people to experience and understand exactly how it feels to suffer the discomfort, pain, joy, anguish and sheer naked achievement of the classic distance. Indeed, one of the reasons that I was drawn so to James’ story is the common bond that we forged as pals via the Hibees Bounce through an interest in the marathon, I myself having competed in three such events. Like most other runners, after having felt all the emotions and feelings surrounding the marathon, I was pleased to be able to talk about those things with James. It was strictly a two-way deal however. I think I learned far more from James during those long, typed-out conversations than he from I.

James – not content with completing the distance the easy way, will be taking around six or seven hours over walking the 26.2 miles of the streets of Dublin where his marathon is to be held. Make no mistake this is no mean achievement. Imagine the pain endured in the marathon and then doubling that discomfort over such a duration. It should also be noted that when James walks, he walks more quickly than most are ever likely to run!

There was a further poignant turn in my chats with James. Recently another old running friend of my own named Les Skinner passed away after a brave fight with cancer and leukaemia. When I mentioned this to James he assured me that Les’ name would be commemorated on his purple ‘survivor’ tee-shirt towards the end of the race. Les’ widow was extremely moved to hear that her ex-husband would be appearing in one last race.

As I write, James Murtha is now in Ireland, the country of his heritage, preparing himself ready for his big day on October 31. I am perfectly sure he will be excited and waiting impatiently for the day of the marathon to come around – a bundle of nerves in fact as every other marathon entrant I’ve known has been. These are his salad days, the days he has trained long and hard for. All the sweat, toil and pain that every marathoner knows will be in his mind and overtaking all his thoughts. The sound of the starter’s gun will have played through his mind countless times.

A man or woman can truly find themselves - out there alone, whether it’s on the country lanes, on the beach, through the forests as in the county I live in or negotiating a busy city street intersection. Alone in one’s thoughts, and in the challenge lying ahead. Never giving in and never to yield. Rain, wind, storms, pain, injury – when your body wants to say ‘no more’ – but you don’t allow it to. Indeed there is something about that notion that endears me to the soul of Hibernian FC, the football club that we all follow. A doggedness and determination to overcome almost impossible odds. In James Murtha we have a man amongst us who exemplifies those qualities.

Please may I end this tribute to James by asking that you support him and his cause on his date with destiny in Dublin’s fair city? For if anyone ever deserved our support it, it is he.

James Murtha, a lion and a survivor

Stu

Dundalk FC 'The Lilywhites'

Postscript: James completed the Dublin City Marathon in 7hrs and 11mins - well done James!