Scary eyes and sp8y.

So as two of the RunnersLife athletes got selected this week to compete at the European Indoors I thought I would pay a little tribute to the two of them.

Scary eyes (Draper).

I have only really known Mark since last February when I went to train in Morocco with Stuart Stokes, Phil Sly, Neil Speaight and myself for 3 weeks. I learnt that he smash's out sessions and I mean seriously fast stuff when its Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday and having been back with him since I just don't think he has run as fast as he can going off what I have seen him do on a track in Morocco! He doesn't care for talking about running really, reading, watching or anything to do with it once he has finished his run but that doesn't mean he doesn't give it everything. He has always been good to me and helped me out, I have shared a few beers with him and talk on the phone but although he does look pretty mean he is just a cuddly bear underneath!

Neil Speaight, well I have a lot of mates in running but Neil isn't probably my best mate or anything which he will tell you..... We get on very well though and he has probably helped me more than any other runner I have come across in my time in the sport. I first meet him when I went to Portugal for the European Club Championship and he basically looked after me, I was there with guys like Chris Lambert, Chris Rawlinson, Wade Bennet- Jackson, not to mention eating in the same room as Rui Silva, Francis Obikewlo. I was only running high 14min 5k's and had never used a warm up room before but sp8y talked me through everything and always made sure I was in the conversation or I wasn't left out of anything.

Over the years since he as included me in trips, put me in touch with different people and basically done anything and everything he can do to help not to mention the odd bit of advice on training. Not only is big sp8y a top runner but a top bloke as well he will train as hard as anyone but you can also chill out and have a laugh with him, I have some good stories and only known him about 2 years!

It's great that he is back in the International scene and can't wait to watch the two of them.

simx