• Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home European Athletics

Brexit shadow looms in Belgrade, Considering the victories of Laura Muir and Richard Kilty at the European Indoor Champs, by J. Stuart Weir

Stuart Weirby Stuart Weir
March 4, 2017
0
0 0
0
SHARES
3
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Oh, Stuart Weir has to bring up Brexit. Truth be told, when I heard about Brexit, I knew then that the US presideny sweepstakes was about to get truly bizarre. And, well, it did.

So here’s how Stuart and I work. If we are in the same city, same stadium, he drops by, and discusses an idea for ten to thirty seconds. That is about as long as my attention span goes, and then, I am off on some social media tangent.

RelatedPosts

Six Meets to watch for FREE this week (Streaming), thanks to European Athletics!

Paris Diamond League delivers

The 2025 European Athletics Team Championships, Division 1, Final Results: Italy are the champions once again!

0022_000341.jpgLaura Muir running 1,500m heats, photo courtesy of Getty Images/European Athletics

How to appreciate Mr. Weir?

Kind of like me eating haggis in Glasgow for sixteen straight days at the Doghouse, a small, but influential tavern near the ehotels that I like to frequent (August 2014). After sixteen days of haggis, different bits each day mind you, I had a revelation. I could eat anything. Also, I told some Scottish media that I was single handedly going to get the U.S. back into the Commonwealth, because I love the Commonwealth Games. One believed me.

So, what am I saying?

Is reading Mr. Weir’s stories like eathing haggis? Well, yes, in this way. Your taste buds are opened to new tastes and ideas, and you see the humor in all of life. Truth is, Stuart is a gentle spirit who has come to realize that there is humor, joy and beauty in all of our lives, including sport. He makes me smile even after I have watched CNN for fifteen minutes.

Oh, and I came up with the title.

Time for some haggis.

Brexit shadow looms in Belgrade
There is a sub-plot or two within the 34th European Indoor Athletics Championships. One of them is Brexit. With Prime Minister, Theresa May, apparently poised to trigger Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon – presumably the first 49 articles have already been triggered – to take the United Kingdom out of the European Community, Brexit is on everyone’s mind. Two years ago GB gained more medals that France and Germany – and every other European country for that matter. We need to repeat that this year to be able to negotiate Brexit from a position of strength!
The quest for the 9 medals that Performance Director, Neil Black, almost said was the target continued on Day 2. The performance of the day was Laura Muir’s win in the 1500 metres in a championship record time of 4:02.39, almost 3 seconds faster than her previous PR. It also broke the Kelly Holmes’ longstanding British record. Laura did it with a brilliant and courageous piece of front running to win by 2 clear seconds from Konstanze Klosterhalfen of Germany. (Were you watching Mrs Merkel?)
A delighted, Muir said afterwards: “I was actually quite relaxed because I knew what I had to do and I knew that I was stronger than a lot of the girls – I knew that if I got out pretty early then I’d be fine. I didn’t expect someone to be on my shoulder with 300m to go, but I just put the welly in* and managed to come away with the win”.
(*a quaint Scottish expression which is easier to understand than to define. Unconvinced readers can try googling it.)
But Laura Muir is not just a great athlete but also a lovely person and a most approachable athlete. What is more, she is a full-time veterinary student – and don’t think sports scholarship – she is normal student with all the normal course obligations.
I remember seeing her run in the Stockholm Diamond League last summer – she had just discovered the previous week that she had passed her 4th year university exams . She celebrated by breaking the Scottish mile record!
On fitting all her training and competition into a busy university course, she admitted to me:
“It has been tough. There have been a lot of times when I wished I could have been recovering but I have had to study instead. But I have had great support from my coach and Vet School as well. They have worked well together to get a programme that works for me. It involves a lot of hard work but I am fortunate to have the support around me”.
What happened following the race was almost as good as the race itself. Muir was stopped from having a lap of honour by an officious official who told her there was no time for it. Muir side-stepped her and took off – if the cream of Europe’s middle distance runners could not catch her – what hope for a middle-aged official?
Other athletes appreciated the moment with Eilidh Doyle, tweeting “My favourite moment from the Europeans (well joint with Andrew Pozzi winning!) Laura dodging the official to do her lap of honour!!” and Eilish McColgan: “Laura sliding past the official is the funniest thing I’ve seen all year! Good on her and well deserved!” Laura herself added: “For my first medal I’m not going to lose out on my lap of honour. Well, I knew she would not catch me.”
Spikesmag suggests that the moment will go down in history as doing a Muir!
Richard Kilty successfully defended his 60m European crown winning in 6.54 – but not before the runners were sent to their marks and told to stand up twice and then the race lost GB’s Andrew Robertson to a yet another false start.
GB finishes day 2 with three medals but all of them gold.
It was great to see Ivana Spanovic producing a World Leading jump of 7.03 – albeit in the qualifying stage – in the women’s long-jump to give the home crowd a reason to cheer – and cheer they did!
Deep thoughts…
Incidentally, I was Intrigued to note that Larry Eder’s spellchecker wants to call the new high jump champion, Airine PalÅ¡yte, “Airline” – well she certainly flew over the bar.
Tomorrow presents team GB with a number of medal chances with 3 athletes in the women’s 3000 – including a certain Laura Muir, two in the women’s long jump and the men’s high jump as well as representation in the heptathlon, women’s 100 women’s 800 and the women’s relay

Author

  • Stuart Weir

    Since 2015, Stuart Weir has written for RunBlogRun. He attends about 20 events a year including all most global championships and Diamond Leagues. He enjoys finding the quirky and obscure story.

    View all posts
Previous Post

Nafissatou Thiam takes gold in the pentathlon in Belgrade!

Next Post

Laura Muir runs away with European Indoor 1500m title!

Stuart Weir

Stuart Weir

Since 2015, Stuart Weir has written for RunBlogRun. He attends about 20 events a year including all most global championships and Diamond Leagues. He enjoys finding the quirky and obscure story.

Similar Post

Monaco Herculis Diamond League Meeting, the intro
Diamond League

Monaco always delivers

July 15, 2025
Denise Lewis is the new President of  UK Athletics
Interviews

Hannah England on commentary

July 15, 2025
Donavan Brazier’s Long Way Back to running Fast
Cross Country

2025 Summer Mileage Program, July 14, 2025, Week Two , Day One, some thoughts on Donavan Brazier

July 15, 2025
FARAH SAYS SUNDAY’S LONDON MARATHON WILL BE HIS LAST
Athletic History

This Day in Track & Field History, July 13, Jim Thorpe Wins Olympic Decathlon (3 Day event), 1912, Dave Bedford breaks 10,000m WR (1973), written and compiled by Walt Murphy

July 14, 2025
Ten Questions to Eilidh Doyle…(from the RBR Archives 2021)
Interviews

Ten Questions to Eilidh Doyle…(from the RBR Archives 2021)

July 14, 2025
Eilidh Doyle-Passing the Baton, A Documentary Film Edited and Filmed by Urbane Media for Scottish Athletics
Interviews

Eilidh Doyle-Passing the Baton, A Documentary Film Edited and Filmed by Urbane Media for Scottish Athletics

July 14, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to RunBlogRun's Global News Feed

Wake up to RunBlogRun’s news in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll keep you informed about the Sport you love.

*we hate spam as much as you do

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

April 5, 2023
2023 Nike Pre Classic: Two Amazing Days of Track & Field!

Noah Lyles, The Clock Doesn’t Lie

March 7, 2024
Grand Slam Track’s Kingston Slam Comes to a Close with 12 Slam Champions

2025 Spring Racing/Training Program, April 11, 2025, week 4, day 5, fourth week of year, Friday is an easy day!

April 12, 2025
USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

February 6, 2025
Mondo Duplantis and the Jump that made him the greatest of all time

Mondo Duplantis and the Jump that made him the greatest of all time

8
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

7
My Five Biggest Takeaways from the Men’s Olympic Trials Marathon, by Oliver Hinson

My Five Biggest Takeaways from the Men’s Olympic Trials Marathon, by Oliver Hinson

7
Asafa Powell, Considering Longevity in Sprinting

The RunBlogrun Interview: Asafa Powell

5
Monaco Herculis Diamond League Meeting, the intro

Monaco always delivers

July 15, 2025
Denise Lewis is the new President of  UK Athletics

Hannah England on commentary

July 15, 2025
Donavan Brazier’s Long Way Back to running Fast

2025 Summer Mileage Program, July 14, 2025, Week Two , Day One, some thoughts on Donavan Brazier

July 15, 2025
FARAH SAYS SUNDAY’S LONDON MARATHON WILL BE HIS LAST

This Day in Track & Field History, July 13, Jim Thorpe Wins Olympic Decathlon (3 Day event), 1912, Dave Bedford breaks 10,000m WR (1973), written and compiled by Walt Murphy

July 14, 2025

Popular Stories

  • Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

    Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Noah Lyles, The Clock Doesn’t Lie

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 2025 Spring Racing/Training Program, April 11, 2025, week 4, day 5, fourth week of year, Friday is an easy day!

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • An epic pole vault competition

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Monaco Herculis Diamond League Meeting, the intro
Diamond League

Monaco always delivers

July 15, 2025
Denise Lewis is the new President of  UK Athletics
Interviews

Hannah England on commentary

July 15, 2025
Donavan Brazier’s Long Way Back to running Fast
Cross Country

2025 Summer Mileage Program, July 14, 2025, Week Two , Day One, some thoughts on Donavan Brazier

July 15, 2025
FARAH SAYS SUNDAY’S LONDON MARATHON WILL BE HIS LAST
Athletic History

This Day in Track & Field History, July 13, Jim Thorpe Wins Olympic Decathlon (3 Day event), 1912, Dave Bedford breaks 10,000m WR (1973), written and compiled by Walt Murphy

July 14, 2025

Recent Tweets

Next Post

Laura Muir runs away with European Indoor 1500m title!

runblogrun

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. @runblogrun

Browse by Category

Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

Select a password for yourself. (minimum length of 8)

Paste here the user biography.

Provide here the twitter screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the instagram screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the facebook profile URL. i.e. http://www.facebook.com/RunBlogRun

Provide here the linkedin profile URL. i.e. https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-eder-5497253

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved