Charlie Spedding
Encyclopedia
Charles Spedding (born May 19, 1952 in Bishop Auckland
, County Durham
) is an English
former long-distance runner. He was fourth in the 10,000m at the 1982 Commonwealth Games
in Brisbane
and was England’s Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) 10,000m champion in 1983 in a time of 28:08.12. His first marathon was the Houston Marathon
in 1984, which he won by "the thickness of a vest".
Spedding followed this up by winning the London Marathon
in 1984 and the bronze medal for Great Britain
in the marathon
at the 1984 Summer Olympics
held in Los Angeles
, United States
, finishing just 2 seconds behind silver medallist John Treacy
. Although it was the first British Olympic marathon medal for 20 years, and the last won by Britain (male or female), the performance was one of 16 British medals in athletics that year, and it possibly didn't get the recognition it deserved.
In 1985 he set a PB and English Marathon record of 2:08.33 when he finished second behind Steve Jones
in the London Marathon
. He remains the second fastest British marathon runner after Jones. In 1987, he finished 8th in the London Marathon in 2:10.32. He also competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul, South Korea, finishing 6th. He is a pharmacist by trade. In September 2009, he published an autobiography of his running career called From Last to First.
Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland is a market town and civil parish in County Durham in north east England. It is located about northwest of Darlington and southwest of Durham at the confluence of the River Wear with its tributary the River Gaunless...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former long-distance runner. He was fourth in the 10,000m at the 1982 Commonwealth Games
1982 Commonwealth Games
The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 30 September–9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium , in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the venue which was used for the athletics and archery competitions during the...
in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
and was England’s Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) 10,000m champion in 1983 in a time of 28:08.12. His first marathon was the Houston Marathon
Houston Marathon
The Houston Marathon is an annual marathon held every January in Houston, Texas. With thousands of runners and spectators, it is the largest single day sporting event in the city. It is run concurrently with a half marathon and a 5 km race...
in 1984, which he won by "the thickness of a vest".
Spedding followed this up by winning the London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
in 1984 and the bronze medal for Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in the marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics
At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, 41 events in athletics were contested, 24 events by men and 17 by women. There were a total number of 1273 participating athletes from 124 countries.-Men's events:-Women's events:...
held in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, finishing just 2 seconds behind silver medallist John Treacy
John Treacy
John Treacy is a former Irish athlete and Olympic medalist, who represented Ireland at four Olympic Games between 1980 and 1992.- Career :...
. Although it was the first British Olympic marathon medal for 20 years, and the last won by Britain (male or female), the performance was one of 16 British medals in athletics that year, and it possibly didn't get the recognition it deserved.
In 1985 he set a PB and English Marathon record of 2:08.33 when he finished second behind Steve Jones
Steve Jones (athlete)
Steve Jones is a Welsh athlete and former world marathon record holder.Steve Jones was born in St James' Hospital Tredegar and grew up in the neighbouring town of Ebbw Vale, Wales, Jones began his career as an aircraft technician in the Royal Air Force...
in the London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
. He remains the second fastest British marathon runner after Jones. In 1987, he finished 8th in the London Marathon in 2:10.32. He also competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul, South Korea, finishing 6th. He is a pharmacist by trade. In September 2009, he published an autobiography of his running career called From Last to First.
Achievements
| Representing | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Houston Marathon Houston Marathon The Houston Marathon is an annual marathon held every January in Houston, Texas. With thousands of runners and spectators, it is the largest single day sporting event in the city. It is run concurrently with a half marathon and a 5 km race... |
Houston, United States Houston, Texas Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ... |
1st | Marathon | 2:11:54 | |
| London Marathon London Marathon The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,... |
London, United Kingdom | 1st | Marathon | 2:09:57 | ||
| Olympic Games Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, 41 events in athletics were contested, 24 events by men and 17 by women. There were a total number of 1273 participating athletes from 124 countries.-Men's events:-Women's events:... |
Los Angeles, United States Los Angeles, California Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California... |
3rd | Marathon | 2:09:58 | ||
| 1985 | London Marathon London Marathon The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,... |
London, United Kingdom | 2nd | Marathon | 2:08:33 | |
| 1986 | Chicago Marathon Chicago Marathon The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a major marathon held yearly in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Alongside the Boston, New York, London and Berlin Marathons, it is one of the five World Marathon Majors. Thus, it is also an IAAF Gold Label race... |
Chicago, United States | 3rd | Marathon | 2:10:13 | |
| 1987 | London Marathon London Marathon The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,... |
London, United Kingdom | 8th | Marathon | 2:10:32 | |
| 1988 | Olympic Games Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul a total number of 42 events in athletics were contested: 24 by men and 18 by women. There were a total number of 1617 participating athletes from 149 countries.-Men's events:... |
Seoul, South Korea | 6th | Marathon | 2:12:19 | |
External links
- Article from 2001 in The Northern EchoThe Northern EchoThe Northern Echo is a leading daily regional morning newspaper, serving the North East of England. The paper is based in Priestgate, Darlington. Its covers national as well as regional news. It is one of the UK's most famous provincial newspaper titles....
- Article from 2003 in the Evening ChronicleEvening ChronicleThe Evening Chronicle is a daily, evening newspaper produced in Newcastle upon Tyne, covering Tyne and Wear, southern Northumberland and northern County Durham. It was founded in 1885 by Joseph Cowen...
- From Last to First
- Sunday Times article 25 April, 2010
- Account of the finish of the 1984 Houston Marathon
- Power of 10 UK Men's Marathon Rankings
- Power of 10 Profile: Charlie Spedding