The Welshman Who Helped Get A Nation Running

John Disley – the Welshman who helped get a nation running – has died after a short illness. He was 87.

The Corris-born runner was a fine athlete in his own right and won steeplechase bronze at the 1952 Olympic Games in Sydney.

He also set world and British records over the steeplechase and two miles during his career.

But it is as a co-founder of the London Marathon with fellow athlete Chris Brasher that Disley will forever be remembered.

The duo were inspired to organise a race in the capital after a visit to the New York Marathon in 1979 and it was Disley that created the original route using the Thames as a ‘handrail’.

Over 7,000 runners stood on the start line of the first London Marathon on 29 March 1981.

Now seen as one of the biggest mass participation races in the world – this April’s race will see the one millionth finisher – the course has mainly stayed true to his original concept.

North Walian Disley said of the event: “In this race, they all win, and every runner is regarded as important. That applies as much to Joe Jogger as to the elite.

“The London Marathon has become an institution in a country where it usually takes centuries rather than decades to become a tradition….The police and the politicians can’t stop it now and that’s because of these magnificent masses.”

Disley remained an active member of the London Marathon family and presented Paula Radcliffe with her lifetime achievement award, named after him, after her final appearance in the 2015 race.

His wife, Sylvia Cheeseman who won a medal on the same day in Helsinki with bronze in the 4x100m relay, said in 2012: “I think John has done more to get people running and on their feet than anybody in the country.

“The London Marathon has raised millions for charity. He never let the grass grow under his feet and didn’t see why it should grow under anybody else’s either!”