Adrian Royle
Encyclopedia
Adrian Royle is a retired English
long distance runner born in Manchester
. He is notable for running exceptional times on difficult courses, making race organizers think the course had been mis-measured.
as a child and took up running as an 11 year-old at Wintringham School
, joining Grimsby Harriers as a 17 year old. He then moved back to Manchester and joined Manchester Harriers & AC whilst working as a clerk in a rubber factory. In 1980, aged 21, he moved to the United States to attend the College of Southern Idaho
and he enjoyed most of his success in America. He easily won the US Junior College Championship later that year.
, in 1981 he shocked much better known athletes like Alberto Salazar
, Steve Scott, Henry Rono
and countrymate Nick Rose
by winning the TAC National Cross Country Championships. His time for the 10,000 metre course was over 2 seconds faster than the listed World Record for the distance on the track (set by Rono).
A few weeks later he ran the Lasse Viren Finnish Invitational
, an elite 20 km cross country race on hills and dirt trails. His time of 58:38 also surpassed the standing World Record for the distance on a flat course. It was not beaten until 1994 His time still stands as the British 20 km road record. The following year, he also set the British 12 km record.
Nearly three decades after his peak athletic years, he is still ranked number 16 on the British all-time list for 10,000m. The time was set in his first attempt at the distance on the track on a rainy day in Eugene, Oregon
running behind a stirring duel between Salazar and Rono that exacted revenge for the previous defeat. The picture of the three competitors graced the cover of the May 1982 issue of Track and Field News. A mystery illness, probably Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, struck in October 1983 and lasted for 18 months. He returned to the UK in 1983 where he joined Charnwood AC and ran a sub 48 minute 10 mile in 1987 before retiring the next year.
Royle now lives in Louth, Lincolnshire
England and has been a prolific photographer.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
long distance runner born in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. He is notable for running exceptional times on difficult courses, making race organizers think the course had been mis-measured.
Early life
Royle moved to GrimsbyGrimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
as a child and took up running as an 11 year-old at Wintringham School
Wintringham School
Oasis Academy Wintringham is a secondary school on Weelsby Avenue in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, England. It is just the A16 Peaks Parkway just south-west of the A46 crossroads next to the Lisle Marsden CE in Wellow and on the Grimsby/Cleethorpes boundary...
, joining Grimsby Harriers as a 17 year old. He then moved back to Manchester and joined Manchester Harriers & AC whilst working as a clerk in a rubber factory. In 1980, aged 21, he moved to the United States to attend the College of Southern Idaho
College of Southern Idaho
College of Southern Idaho is an American public community college. Its main campus is in Twin Falls, Idaho, with outreach programs in Boise, Hailey, Burley and Gooding....
and he enjoyed most of his success in America. He easily won the US Junior College Championship later that year.
Athletic career
Matriculating to the University of Nevada, RenoUniversity of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
, in 1981 he shocked much better known athletes like Alberto Salazar
Alberto Salazar
Alberto Salazar is an American marathon runner of the 1980s. Born in Cuba, Salazar emigrated to the United States with his family. They ultimately moved to Wayland, Massachusetts, where Salazar competed in track and field in high school...
, Steve Scott, Henry Rono
Henry Rono
Henry Rono is a Kenyan former athlete.-Biography:Rono was born in Nandi Hills, Kenya, into the Nandi tribe. He started running while at primary school. Starting in 1976 he attended the Washington State University, along with his compatriot Samson Kimobwa, who broke the 10,000 meter world record in...
and countrymate Nick Rose
Nick Rose
Nicholas Henry Rose is a former British international track and field athlete. He competed in a variety of middle distance and long distance track events. He is the current European record holder in the 10 kilometre road race, and British record holder in the 4×1 mile relay event. He...
by winning the TAC National Cross Country Championships. His time for the 10,000 metre course was over 2 seconds faster than the listed World Record for the distance on the track (set by Rono).
A few weeks later he ran the Lasse Viren Finnish Invitational
Lasse Viren Finnish Invitational
The Lasse Viren Finnish Invitational, frequently shortened to Viren or the Viren 20K, is a 20 kilometre running race held annually on the trails of Big Sycamore Canyon, part of the Point Mugu State Park near Malibu, California.-History:...
, an elite 20 km cross country race on hills and dirt trails. His time of 58:38 also surpassed the standing World Record for the distance on a flat course. It was not beaten until 1994 His time still stands as the British 20 km road record. The following year, he also set the British 12 km record.
Nearly three decades after his peak athletic years, he is still ranked number 16 on the British all-time list for 10,000m. The time was set in his first attempt at the distance on the track on a rainy day in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
running behind a stirring duel between Salazar and Rono that exacted revenge for the previous defeat. The picture of the three competitors graced the cover of the May 1982 issue of Track and Field News. A mystery illness, probably Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, struck in October 1983 and lasted for 18 months. He returned to the UK in 1983 where he joined Charnwood AC and ran a sub 48 minute 10 mile in 1987 before retiring the next year.
Royle now lives in Louth, Lincolnshire
Louth, Lincolnshire
Louth is a market town and civil parish within the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England.-Geography:Known as the "capital of the Lincolnshire Wolds", it is situated where the ancient trackway Barton Street crosses the River Lud, and has a total resident population of 15,930.The Greenwich...
England and has been a prolific photographer.