by The Shoe AddictsReposted April 18, 2018
This interview was done in May 2017, prior to the Highgate 10k or Night of 10,000m PBs. We are grateful to Sir David Bedford for his thoughtfullness and commentary on the sport. Mr. Bedford loves the sport of athletics and was instrumental in building the global reputation of the Virgin Money London Marathon. We are thankful for his time and sense of humor.
Originally posted June 6 2018
David Bedford has been an iconic fixture in the sport since his heralded running days in the late 1960s and 1970s. David Bedford ran with spirit and fearless abandon. Bedford’s hard training, no, scratch that, really hard training. 200 mile weeks got one into shape and also got one injured. Bedford danced that magic line between increadible fitness and painful injuries throughout his career. On June 11, 1973, David Bedford set the World record for the 10,000 meters, running 27:30.8. In that race, Bedford had surpassed the WR of his hero, Ron Clarke, the former WR holder and the current world record of one Lasse Viren. Chopping eight seconds off those iconic times, David Bedford had nearly reached the sun.
David Bedford holding some of the track from famous White City, photo by RunBlogRun
The late 1960s and early 1970s were an amazing time in British Athletics. David Bedford, Ian Stewart, Brendan Foster, Alan Pascoe, were some of the shining lights, and quotable and colorful characters of British sport at the time. Fans loved them because they gave their all in their races, training and their lives.
A unique mustache, a wry sense of humor, red socks and his amazing racing ability made him a favorite of European athletic fans for his entire career. His love of the sport, his respect for the sport, and his understanding of what the sport should stand for, has shaped the past three decades of gloal marathon running.
Worlds Records Holder Plaque, 10,000m for David Bedford, photo by RunBlogRun
After a few years out of the sport, David Bedford became involved in the London Marathon. From 1999 to 2014, David was the Executive Director of the Virgin Money London Marathon. In the late 2000s, I would enjoy David Bedford always welcoming the media and industry players to the “Greatest Marathon in the world”. Hugh Brasher, the son of the late Chris Brasher, one of the founders of the London Marathon, is now the Executive Race Director.
David Bedford holding some of the track from famous White City, photo by RunBlogRun
David Bedford is now the Elite Athlete Coordinator of the Virgin Money London Marathon. We sat down with David on May 21, to do a long interview on many aspects of his career and to guage his opinions on the sport of athletics.
We thank David Bedford for his time and generosity. This is the first part of this interview. In this segment, David explains his red socks, some of his first experiences in running, and some fine stories about a glorious time in British athletics. We hope you enjoy the behind the scenes stories on the Virgin Money London Marathon, and British athletics.
