Update 2006:Today, sees our hero well on the way to being fully bionic, if not yet a cyborg. This is due to the non availability of good compact power packs. After numerous operations, he is now looking forward to a vigorous middle age at the age of 70! He does not do too much tap dancing or organ practice these days - but it is full steam ahead in a bid to burst onto the world of international geriatric epee competition! He must avoid injuries though - but will forget his age from time to time and then needs intensive physiotherapy to repair the damage. 1999 Today we feature Colin Lutman, An athlete who in my estimation can only get better. Young Colin is now a seemingly well preserved 62 year old. His running style suggests at times the easy relaxed flow of an athlete traveling at three times his speed. One is aware that at any moment he will switch to warp drive! I can only sympathize with any handicapper who crosses his path. Colin joined us in the ‘81/82 season at the height of the running boom. He quickly made his mark, winning the ‘82 Winter Handicap in fine style by holding off Ronnie Howe, 2nd claim. Another two followed, the ‘84 and ‘90 10-mile Mercury races. On very rare occasions he has been known to be score in mob matches – which accounted for him being so muddy. A famous victory over Ranelagh away saw him home in 53 minutes plus, the only time he’s ever broken the hour in a seven and a half. A proud moment indeed. Another such moment was completing his first of four London Marathons. His best time was in 1987, clocking 3:31:49secs. His finest achievements, and I had to drag them out of him, was finish a Ten at Welwyn Garden City in 64 : 15 secs and a close second, a valiant but unsuccessful attempt on the four minute/kilometer barrier over a measured distance of 10km.Like a very few of us, he cherishes the memory of being lapped Seb Coe at Vicky Park. The Chingford Road Relays have also had their measure of excitement, if that’s the word. The dreaded Seb Coe struck once again and in another year, Colin was scythed down by Andy Catton (Ilford). As an old judo player, he knows how to fall - so no harm was done. Another occasion saw him completing the Relay in a snow flurry the rest of the field missed! Now, what about this! Do you know anybody stupid enough to do five hours labouring on the morning of the Fifteen? Perhaps he was just greedy - I don’t think he was hard up. Now for a touching moment. The legendary Harold Lee once asked Rosemary, "You will look after him for us. Won’t you?" The answer was in the affirmative and he is still very much with us. Colin proved modest when asked what else he did Orion wise. I did not press. I think he wishes to be remembered for his athletic prowess alone. Now retired he is coming back to fitness and perhaps even more glory. The photo, Carbon dated, and dug up from the mid eighties sees Colin completing an East London half marathon in classic style. He has other photos capturing both feet off the ground. Sickening isn’t it. Once, a much younger runner, out sprinted in a Chigwell Ten, asked - after recovering, ‘Were you trying to kill me’?’ Coming up to date, I caught him up at Victoria Park, accompanied by his loyal minder. When, at last, Colin did finish the race, he was not a happy man (Sorry "Person" - Gender Specific). Minder ‘Rosemary’ suggested his poor performance was due to Friday, a rest day, spent clambering over the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral. Two minutes adrift of his predicted ETA. meant that two scalps were taken instead of a possible four. Over the years his tactics have changed. Firmly affixed to the rear of the field, like some primeval veloceraptor, he prays on the injured and infirm, striking without mercy - ask John Waldrab. Asked what all this effort was in aid of, Colin replied quite seriously, ‘I am training for the '07 Orion over 70’s Championship.’ I suggested that he was a little too old to be sprinting. Colin replied, ‘ I use this race as an annual health check. It tests my cardio-vascular system, gives the lungs a good workout and saves me two hundred and fifty 50 quid. Mark you, it’s not the best place to have a myocardial infraction.’ I left the scene pondering whether the Club could run to a portable defribulator. It was only the following year that he had to have open heart surgery! Colin's Front page Colin's Links Page Colin's Orion Page Orion Harriers Front Page |