Steve Way

Steve Way (born 6 July 1974) is a British long-distance runner. He is the holder of the British 100 km record, after winning the 2014 British Championship in a time of 6:19:20 at the age of 39. He only began running seriously in 2007 to overcome lifestyle-related health issues, when he weighed over 100 kg. As of 2014, he has run the London Marathon in under 2:20 four times, breaking the Commonwealth Games qualifying time of 2:17 for the first time in 2014. He represented England at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, coming in 10th overall, first for England, setting a new British veterans record with a personal best of 2:15:16. Following his 2014 performances, the media has lauded him as the 100 kg, 20-a-day man turned elite athlete.

Not to be confused with Steve Way (actor).

Steve Way
Steve Way - 2010 London Marathon
Personal information
NationalityBritish
Born (1974-07-06) 6 July 1974[1]
Spouse(s)Sarah[2]
Sport
CountryGreat Britain
SportRunning
RankUK 1st (100k)
Event(s)Marathon, Ultra distance
ClubBournemouth AC
Achievements and titles
National finals2014 British Athletics 100K Championship: First
Personal best(s)
  • 3000 m: 8:39.02 (2012)
  • 5000 m: 14:41.92 (2012)
  • Half marathon: 1:06:10 (2010)
  • Marathon: 2:15:16 (2014)
  • 50 km: 2:53:41 (2012)
  • 100 km: 6:19:20 (2014, NR)
[1]
Updated on 2 December 2014.

Running career

Way entered his first marathon in 2006 and with only three weeks' training, finished in 3:07:08. He did not run again until 2007, when he started running in order to get fit, having weighed over 100 kg, smoked 20 cigarettes a day and subsisting on a diet of high-fat and high-sugar junk food.[2]

In order to make time for his training, running 130 miles a week, Way gave up a lucrative career in IT with long hours at Barclays Bank for a 9-5 clerical role.[3][4]

Following a 24-week training programme, Way ran the 2008 London Marathon with the goal of breaking 3 hours. He finished 100th in a time of 2:35:12. He began training with a running club and entered the 2009 London Marathon, this time finishing in 2:25:00. In 2010 he ran it in under 2:20 for the first time,[2] repeating the achievement in 2011 and 2012.[1] Injury prevented him from competing in 2013.[2]

On 13 April 2014 Way came 15th in the 2014 London Marathon with a race time of 2:16:27, having started some way behind the elite field in the sub-2 hours 45 minutes group. He was the third-best British runner in the competition, behind Olympic athletes Mo Farah and Chris Thompson, achieving the qualifying standard for the Commonwealth Games with 33 seconds to spare. He had not intended to race, instead planning to use the event as preparation for the 100 km British Championship in May.[2][3] After the initial busy stages, he caught up with the 2:15 official pacer and settled in behind him, running under 32 minutes for the first and second 10 kilometres, reaching the halfway point in 67:21.[5]

In the 2014 Commonwealth Games marathon in Glasgow, Way finished 10th overall, first for England, just behind Derek Hawkins of Scotland. He ran a personal best time of 2:15:16 and also broke the previous British veterans record.[6]

At the 2014 British Athletics National 100 km championship in May, Way completed the course in 6:19:20, coming in first place and setting a new British record.[2] However, representing Great Britain at the 100 km World Championships in Qatar in November, Way was unable to repeat his form due to a stomach bug. Nevertheless, despite stopping repeatedly to use the toilets, he finished 13th out of a field of 200 runners, in 6:57:23 and helped Great Britain to Bronze in the men's team event.[7]

In 2016, Way ran 63.75 km to win the Cambridge race that was part of the Wings For Life World Run.[8]

In 2017, Way competed in the South African Comrades Marathon and, at his first attempt, finished 9th winning a gold medal for coming in the top 10 and being the first novice (first timer) over the line. Way became the first male British runner since Mick Orton, who won the race in 1972, to win a Comrades gold medal.

In 2018 Way won a string of races including: 50k Anglo Celtic Plate Home International @ British 100K Championships (2:58:03), Barry Track 40 (4:13:24), Dorchester Marathon (2:28:19), North Dorset Village Marathon (2:30:48), BHF Bournemouth Bay Half Marathon (70:32) & Bournemouth 10 (55:30). He then returned to the Comrades Marathon and, at his second attempt, finished 3rd in a time of 5:35:26 and won a second gold medal for coming in the top 10.

References
  1. "Athlete Profile". Thepowerof10.info. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  2. Ingle, Sean (31 May 2014). "Meet Steve Way - England's unlikeliest athlete for the Commonwealth Games". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  3. Ben Dirs. "BBC Sport - Steve Way: From cigarettes and alcohol to marathon man". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  4. White, Jim (3 August 2014). "Running tips from 'fat bloke' Steve Way". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 3 August 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  5. Cording, Steve (16 April 2014). "London Marathon: Former 16.5 stone smoker Steve Way qualifies for Commonwealth Games". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  6. "Glasgow 2014 marathon: Shelley & Cheyech win gold medals". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  7. Payne, Ned (21 November 2014). "Running: Illness wrecks Bournemouth athlete Steve Way's world 100k gold medal bid". Bournemouth Daily Echo. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  8. "Wings for Life World Run 2016 – Official Results - Wings for Life World Run". Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.

Steve Way at World Athletics

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