Josh Griffiths: Mr Marathon

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-The ultimate race -

-26 miles, 385 yards.

-A long and challenging race which

-saps energy and tests character.

-April 23, the London Marathon.

-A 23-year-old Welshman...

-..creates the biggest shock

-in the history of the race.

-This is interesting. That's Robbie

-Simpson, who's running very well.

-There's an athlete ahead of him

-wearing 1154...

-..which could well be

-Josh Griffiths.

-This could be a real surprise here.

-There he is.

-What a performance from him.

-That's under 2:15.

-I never in a million years

-thought he'd do something like that.

-He must be an international

-if he's done that time.

-He didn't look out of breath.

-He's done something which thousands

-of athletes would be envious about.

-Josh Griffiths will be competing...

-..in the men's marathon

-at the World Championships.

-The first Welshman to do that.

-It hits you sometimes

-how well he's done.

-When he's on the start line

-wearing the British vest...

-..it'll be a proud moment

-for everyone.

-This is a fairy-tale story.

-Josh ran a marathon

-for the first time...

-..and from nowhere

-became an overnight star.

-Over 40,000 people have registered.

-Will we get a world record

-from our elite men?

-The great thing

-about the London Marathon...

-..is we have the top guys

-at the front.

-Just behind them

-there are always great stories.

-As a commentator, you're looking out

-for somebody having a special day.

-Someone doing something different

-to what they've done before.

-I made the mistake of asking

-a week before London...

-.."What time do you have in mind?"

-He said, "2 hours 16."

-I thought, "Oh, my gosh."

-I didn't sleep that week.

-I felt more nervous than Josh.

-He'd trained well

-and was ready for the race.

-I told him,

-"Show London what you can do."

-He nodded his head and off he went.

-The 37th London Marathon

-gets under way.

-I started

-about one row behind the elite.

-I'd pushed myself towards the front.

-I worked my way through the field

-as the race went on.

-He reached mile 13, halfway.

-By then,

-he'd caught up with the elite.

-He was in amongst them.

-I looked at them

-and thought he was looking good.

-I know all the elite runners...

-..because I like to do my homework

-before a race.

-I knew who they were

-but I didn't expect to race them...

-..just to be in the same race.

-When I started passing them,

-it was surreal.

-He was passing Chris Thompson,

-Andrew Lemoncello, Scott Overall.

-He must've thought he was near

-the front of the British athletes.

-The Kenyans

-were in a group of their own.

-I then waited for the English

-and Australian runners to come...

-..but it was Joshua who came next.

-Only the odd runner comes through,

-not the masses.

-So not a lot of people shout.

-Only three athletes were running,

-and I was the only mother.

-So some of the people around me...

-..starting shouting,

-"Come on, Josh!" because I was too.

-It was at the last second coming

-round the corner of the Mall...

-..I looked out the window and went,

-"Who's that guy there?"

-Swansea vest

-and wearing a normal number.

-This is interesting. That's Robbie

-Simpson, who's running very well.

-There's an athlete ahead of him

-wearing 1154...

-..which could well be

-Josh Griffiths.

-It was a scramble to find out

-who he was as he crossed the line.

-As ever, those stories in London are

-the ones which grab the headlines.

-What a performance from him.

-That's under 2:15.

-He could well be the first

-British athlete across the line.

-When I realized that I was British

-champion, it was a big shock.

-As he finished the race,

-his fingers were up here.

-He looked up at his time

-and went like this.

-I couldn't believe it.

-He didn't look out of breath at all.

-As a father...

-..I'm so proud

-I can't put it into words.

-I never in a million years

-thought he'd do something like that.

-If I go to give him a hug

-after he's finished a race...

-..he's not really cool about it.

-But I got a nice hug

-at the end of that one!

-What Josh did was something

-all club runners dream of doing.

-The gap

-between a very good club runner...

-..and the lower echelons

-of international running...

-..isn't that big,

-but they don't all do what Josh did.

-Though he made his name

-on the streets of London...

-..Josh is certainly a hometown boy.

-This is Gorslas.

-This is where I grew up.

-Dad lives a couple of villages away.

-I live here with my mum,

-stepdad and brother.

-It's a small community.

-Everything you want is around here.

-This is where I run all the time.

-It's a good place

-to run and to live.

-The whole family

-lives in the Gwendraeth Valley.

-They back him

-and are his biggest supporters.

-Alright?

-Where have you been?

-Where have you been?

-

-Training.

-Where did you go?

-Where did you go?

-

-Near the house.

-A flying visit

-to see Mam-gu and Dad-cu. Well done!

-We've been following Joshua

-for many years.

-We'd go here and there on weekends

-in the cold and rain.

-We'd be knee-deep in mud

-when he did cross country!

-He's quiet. He knows his own mind.

-Once he's made a decision,

-no-one will change his mind.

-We've always been so close.

-Having the same interest

-helps us both.

-Llyn Llech Owain parkrun is

-the local weekly community race...

-..where a fairy-tale story

-can emerge from the grassroots.

-Llyn Llech Owain parkrun

-is the one closest to my home.

-I've done it a few times

-and I really like it.

-It's quite a tough course

-but it's a beautiful one too.

-It's nice to run with people

-who enjoy running.

-Good morning.

-Welcome to Llyn Llech Owain parkrun.

-Three, two, one, go.

-Josh isn't racing today...

-..but the new local hero is here to

-start the race and to support Dad.

-He's been training hard,

-even if he doesn't say so himself.

-I think he went flat out

-for the camera! No, he ran well.

-It's hot!

-Well done.

-Is there something in the genes?

-Is there something in the genes?

-

-There must be.

-Everyone in the family

-likes to do something...

-..whether that be running,

-playing rugby, cycling and so on.

-I don't think anyone enjoys

-sitting in the house doing nothing.

-We'd rather be out doing something

-and competing.

-That's in Josh, no doubt about it.

-Well done.

-Yes, running is in the genes.

-I think it started

-when he was in school.

-One thing I noticed

-when he played football...

-..was he could run all game.

-His stamina was evident early on.

-When he was 11 or 12, he was always

-the last boy in Year 7.

-He carried a bit more weight.

-Puppy fat, I suppose.

-By Year 9 into Year 10...

-..he'd finish in the top three

-in the schools race.

-The next step

-was joining Carmarthen Harriers.

-Keep it up. Well done.

-To this very day, Sharon, Josh

-and his brother Trystan...

-..still train on the same track

-every week.

-After I crossed the London Marathon

-finish line, everything changed.

-It was all strange to begin with.

-I wasn't used to it at all.

-I'm a bit more used to it now,

-but it's still a bit strange...

-..to be driving round

-with a camera in the car.

-The Welsh Athletics Championships.

-Lending his support as a VIP

-is the new star of Welsh athletics.

-It's a bit crazy

-that people are recognizing me now.

-You get used to it over time.

-You kind of enjoy it a bit too.

-It's what you dream of

-as an amateur runner.

-There too are a few legends...

-..including the hero for

-every marathon runner, Steve Jones.

-Jones sees

-he's got 200 metres to go.

-He's going to smash the UK

-All-Comers record out of sight.

-The Newport Harrier became

-the fastest man in the world...

-..over the marathon

-in Chicago last October.

-The first marathon he'd finished.

-What a run he's produced today.

-Absolutely magnificent.

-Steve

-still holds the British record.

-He's very generous with his time

-and in giving advice.

-I coached myself

-between '84 and '86.

-That's when I had

-my most marathon successes.

-But it's tough.

-In the early days, I would've

-stayed home, stayed with my coach...

-..and stuck to what worked

-for London.

-These next three years

-could be the difference...

-..in finding a real job

-or staying with the running.

-Like the young Steve Jones,

-Josh coaches himself too.

-To coach yourself, you've got to be

-mature and listen to your body.

-I have a master's degree

-in sports coaching.

-I hope I know what I'm doing!

-I follow my own programme.

-I create the programme

-by looking at YouTube videos.

-When he was at university...

-..he trained

-with the group they had up there.

-But I think he was happier

-when he was by himself.

-He knew what he was doing. He wasn't

-following what others were doing.

-He now runs 120 miles a week.

-Some days,

-I wake up and everything hurts.

-I can't move but I know I have

-to run about 20 miles that day.

-There's no choice -

-I just have to do it.

-In the past, I've said no

-to going out with my mates...

-..but I don't mind because

-I want to give running my best shot.

-Whatever the outcome, I want to look

-back and know I've given my all.

-Running is a lonely existence.

-So, sometimes,

-it's nice to have Dad's company.

-I can't run the same times as Josh

-or at his pace...

-..but we sometimes

-do a long run together.

-We start at the same time and Josh

-will do a couple of extra miles....

-..but we finish at the same time.

-We can chat about training and we

-keep each other company in doing it.

-What's on the menu?

-Butternut squash and salmon

-is my lunch today.

-A snack

-before going for another run later.

-I eat quite a lot.

-I try to look after myself

-but Dad does most of the cooking.

-Keep the food simple.

-There are no masterchefs

-in this house!

-When he comes back, the bills

-are massive! It more than doubles.

-All he says to me is

-"I want a lot."

-What I find difficult

-is I have to shop almost every day.

-I saw a man in the Co-op yesterday

-and he said, "Here again?"

-I said, "Yes!"

-I'm always shopping for food

-and it all goes.

-With six weeks

-until the World Championships...

-..and with support from Welsh

-Athletics and British Athletics...

-..Josh has been invited

-to run in the Hamburg half marathon.

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-With the World Championships

-in London getting closer...

-..Josh has been invited to Hamburg

-to run in a half marathon race.

-I've come to Hamburg because

-it's a really good standard race.

-It's a chance to run fast...

-..but it'll also give me experience

-of running against a strong field.

-This will be my first race

-as a professional.

-I'm looking forward to it.

-It's his opportunity to test himself

-against elite African athletes.

-It's great to be

-in the same race as Kenyans.

-It'll be great to mix with them,

-see how they do things...

-..and try and beat

-one or two of them.

-I see it as an honour

-to come out here...

-..because not many people

-get the chance to do it.

-I want to show I deserve

-to be on the start line.

-His last race before London.

-I really get in the zone

-when I start to warm up.

-He needs

-a confidence-boosting performance.

-When I put on my race shoes...

-..a switch flicks in my head

-saying, "I have to run hard now."

-The course was harder than expected

-with the trees. It was hot.

-How was it racing

-against the Kenyans?

-You have patches where you feel good

-and patches where you struggle.

-They don't care how you feel,

-you've just got to go.

-As expected,

-the Kenyan runners led the way...

-..and Josh was happy

-to finish as the first European.

-I'm very happy with the position.

-I've come out of the race

-with my second quickest time.

-It's always nice to be the first

-from Europe and the first white man.

-I wanted to run a bit quicker,

-but I've finished the race healthy.

-I have another six weeks.

-This was never the goal.

-I've learnt

-that you have to be tough.

-I'm getting there,

-but there's still work to be done.

-The trip to Germany

-proved worthwhile.

-Back in Gorslas...

-..the weekly hydrotherapy sessions

-help to prevent injuries.

-I trained hard this morning.

-I come here to make sure I recover

-after a hard session.

-I stretch after the session and then

-go straight into the cold pool.

-It's about 3 degrees,

-so it's really, really cold.

-Every time I come here, I dread it.

-It hurts, especially the feet.

-This is the hardest session

-I'll do today.

-You feel better after coming out.

-It'll help me

-to be able to train hard tomorrow.

-Are you glad it's over?

-Yes, it's freezing.

-From the freezing cold pool

-to the heat of Portugal.

-As a professional runner...

-..he can take advantage

-of the best facilities.

-Nothing is discounted to ensure

-he's ready for the big race.

-I've been in Portugal for two days

-and everything is great.

-The facilities are great,

-it's a nice track...

-..and it's nice to run in the sun.

-It's really good to train in.

-I've just done a long 28-mile run

-in 30 degree heat.

-I hope now, whatever the weather

-will be in London...

-..that I've prepared properly.

-In the last week,

-I've run over 120 miles.

-It's just over four weeks to go

-until the Champs on 6 August.

-I'm really excited and there's

-enough time to get more training in.

-Just counting down the days now.

-I'm looking forward.

-Back home, the hard work continues,

-mile after mile.

-# Day after day

-# Thoughts vanish in an instant

-# Time after time #

-I'm looking forward. I've

-trained hard since the marathon.

-I feel

-I can run very well in London.

-# Day after day

-# One after another #

-I had one day off

-after the London Marathon.

-Before then, I didn't have a day off

-for over a year.

-On Christmas Day, I ran twice.

-It was a hard day.

-The meal was nice when I had it.

-Just three weeks

-before the World Championships...

-..Josh is back in Cardiff

-for another special day.

-He's here to receive his Masters

-of Science in Sports Coaching.

-Joshua Griffiths.

-On Sunday morning in London, he'll

-step onto a much bigger stage...

-..with a worldwide audience

-watching.

-When he went to university,

-we gave him a poster.

-On the poster, it said

-"Follow your dreams."

-I think the time has come.

-The dream has come true.

-For most athletes, that chance

-to pull on a British vest...

-..in a World Championships

-is an incredible thing to do.

-Most never ever

-get that in their career.

-He's done something which thousands

-of athletes will be envious about.

-There's more pressure now

-because people have heard of him...

-..but I don't think

-he sees it as pressure.

-He's looking forward to it.

-He's getting the opportunity to run.

-All he wants to do

-is finish in a good time...

-..as part of the British team.

-He must know there's more there.

-I hope he doesn't go over the top

-and try to double it.

-Just carry on doing what he's doing.

-A natural progression.

-Expectation will be there...

-..perhaps from those who don't

-understand what he's going into.

-The World Championships

-is the best people in the world.

-If he finishes in the top 30,

-he will have done incredibly well.

-It's sinking in how well he's done.

-When he's on the start line

-wearing the British vest...

-..it'll be a proud moment

-for everyone.

-Whatever he does

-at the World Championships...

-..it's been a fabulous story,

-but I'm sure it won't end there.

-When you get a little lick

-of the ice cream...

-..you want more

-once you've tasted it.

-Wearing the British vest

-will be really special...

-..but it's not just

-a British vest...

-..I'll be wearing a Gorslas,

-Ysgol Dyffryn Aman...

-..Carmarthen Harriers,

-Swansea Harriers and Wales vest.

-I've come from the bottom

-and I've worked my way up...

-..and now I'm on the big stage.

-It'll be a special moment for me.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

-.