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Member Profiles
This Weeks Member Profile
Our most senior, enigmatic and most inspirational member - Tom
Wildman
What do you for a living?
I am retired
Why do you run?
I ran for pleasure but now I cannot due to Osteo Arthritis in
both knees. Now in triathlons, I walk fast!
What do you like about the WDAC?
Like most sports clubs, the members are friendly. Our club
particularly so!
What type of race do you prefer?
Off road with the more mud and water the better. As all men I
am still a big kid. It is, of course, much better for the joints
on soft ground.
What is you’re favourite race?
The Wadenhoe Winter Series of Run/Bike/Run all off road and
technical. In every race I fell from my bike but I still won my
age group. Why? I’m the only daft bugger my age to enter
What is your least favourite
race?
I loved all the running races, but now I have gone back to
cycle time trialling and I hate riding in strong winds when all
the effort I put in results in a lousy time. Anyway it has made me
used to coming last which I never did while running.
What would you say were your
career highlights?
My first race ever was the London Marathon in 1981 when I
finished in 4 hours and a bit. Timing then was from the gun not
crossing the line and with 6,000 entrants it took a while.
What has been your biggest
achievement?
My daughter Ruth, number 5 child, wanted to run so I took ger
out. The first time we did about 400 metres of which she ran about
100. We ran the club 5 then the Bedford 10 miles at the end of
which she blubbed.
This I thought was the end of her ambition but we ran the
Leicester Marathon then she did Snowdon. In July this year she
completed the Frankfurt Ironman Triathlon, 2.4 miles swim, 112
miles bike, 26.2 miles run. More tears as well as elation!
Me? The Centurion 100k in 11.46.27 Position 26th out of 39.
What are you’re targets for the
future?
To continue racing in some form until I am 80!
What inspires you?
Other wrinklies still competing.
W hat do you think
is the future for the WDAC?
Think laterally. Tri is now the flavour of the month so start a
tri section? Keep encouraging youngsters and new runners as is now
happening very successfully.
Ensure that the new members are welcomed by all members, not just
the officials, and the club will go from strength to strength
providing more people that are prepared to help with the more
mundane jobs,
Favourite food?
The snag with eating is the once I start it is difficult to
stop. The only things I cannot face are snails, the rest is great!
What is your most Embarrasing
moment?
The Bedford Tri run goes along the river embankment and on the
way out a large flock of Canada Geese were on the grass at the
side of the path. On the return however they were all on the path
so I shouted at them to move. My bottom false teeth flew out
breaking in two.
One piece I found easily, t’other was lost, so I decided to finish
the race and return to search more. Later as I wandered up and
down an old couple sitting on a bench nearby suggested that If I
told them what I was looking for they would help. My face was red.
Luckily I found the piece before they did.
Moral. Glue the bloody things in.
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