Matform’s Great Run!

Atrocious weather may have hijacked the 2007 BUPA Great South Run, but failed to dampen the spirits of Matform’s Sales Director, Paul Down, who stayed the course and raised nearly £500 for charity.

Paul (54) finished Europe’s biggest 10-mile race in a respectable time of 1hr 45min. In a record field of 18,500 entries he finished in 9,207th position.
With torrential rain and strong winds from the start of the event, Paul knew he was always going to struggle to beat last year’s time of 1hr 35min.

But he was philosophical after the race around the streets of Portsmouth and Southsea. “The atmosphere was absolutely fantastic with crowds of people lining the route.

“But about two miles out from the finish with winds whipping off the Solent the temperature seemed to drop by about 10 degrees and the winds almost brought us to a standstill.

“But the main thing is that I finished”, he said, adding that he had been nursing a sore Achilles tendon prior to the race, but not wanting to put it forward as an excuse.

Paul, a keen middle-distance runner who endeavours to put in between 15-20 miles training a week plus associated gym work, has competed in the Great South Run more than 10 times.

“I ran every year through the Nineties and I’ve got all my t-shirts to prove it!” he commented.

Over the years he estimated that he has raised about £3,000 in sponsorship from friends and work colleagues for his chosen charity, Dreams Come True, the Midhurst-based national children’s charity.

Through this fundraising he is helping to support the work of making dreams come true for terminally and seriously ill youngsters.

Paul, who was back at his desk the following day, said that the hassle of getting back home to Nyetimber, near Bognor Regis, was almost more gruelling than the race itself.

Network Rail’s re-signalling work meant that trains in and out of Portsmouth were replaced by buses. This resulted in more competitors and spectators driving to the event, and some roads becoming gridlocked with motorists reportedly taking more than two hours to get out of Southsea.

“It took me longer to get home than to complete the race – but when I did I opened a nice bottle of red wine and relaxed gracefully!” he revealed.