What an inspiration this man is, John Clemens.
When I first met John, I was already blown away by his running achievements. Mostly it was the completion of the legendary Bob Graham Round, and other fell running achievements. So I don't mind saying I was somewhat starstruck and properly in awe of what he had done.
As I got to know John more, I became equally in awe of his cycling. He would put massive miles, regularly cycling to his caravan in Spain and back. Or he would rock up in the shop after putting in a vast loop, often in appealing weather.
You would also bump into JC at nearly every local running event where he would volunteer and just help out. He was also helping new and other runners by coaching at his local club, the Stone Master Marathoners.
However, in the last few years, he has taken it to another level.
You see, John is lucky to be alive after being hit by a car while out riding a year or so ago. He was wrecked and had an extended stay in hospital while they tried to piece him back together. So he came out in a wheelchair, and I, for one, thought this would be the start of his demise, Unable to walk unaided and looking so fragile.
Many of us would have given up; it didn't look good. But many of us aren't John. He's has battled back, gone through hours of intensive physio with his friend and old apprentice Ben Gamble, spent hours in the freezing pool so he could run on the underwater treadmill and started riding a bike again (all be it a step-through Belgian shopper).
Today, we had the pleasure of setting up John new Flux 2 Turbo Trainer to build up his cycling muscles riding his kinesis Bike. I have no doubt that John will soon be pushing pedals on the road again, riding where he wants to and putting many of us younger folk to shame.
So when people ask me who I admire most in sport, it's simply this man - JC, what an inspiration.
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