Small acts of kindness

The world seems to have gone a bit mad, but there is a place somewhere of honesty, respect and generally people being nice to each other.

At the World Athletic Championships.

Here's a few bit and bobs of loveliness.

There was a weather warning in Tokyo. It was announced just before the evening session that included the men's 10000 metres. The marathons went off early doors as they do, but it was still painfully hot and humid. The runners passed water bottles and ice packs around, runners from different countries checking in to make sure everyone was okay. Lots of wee thumbs up as they passed each other on opposite sides of the road. In competition, but looking out for each other.

My sister was in Tokyo at the time and said that about 5 pm, it suddenly became hard to breath, the heat and humidity rocketed. The roof tops bars and restaurants were closed. 

In a 3000m metre steeplechase heat one runner saw another one falter, struggling to get over a barrier. (They are brutal races, don't understand it. If you really want to steeplechase, use a horse!). Belgian runner Tim Van de Velde saw that fellow runner Carlos San Martin was really in trouble, injured, tired, dehydrated. His 'legs had gone'. So what did the Belgian do? He jogged back, picked the other guy up,  half lifted, half dragged him over the line- to massive applause from the crowd.

Many athletes collapsed on the track after crossing the line, and a few before. The commentators were questioning that the medics weren't quite quick enough to move from trackside to track. The water station was at the bottom of the steps- many athletes couldn't even get that far after leaving all their energy on the home straight. So those who were able picked up some bottles and took them back down to the track, to finish line to where it was needed. Some delaying their own victory celebrations to do so.

22 year old gold medallist from the Paris Olympics, Letsile Tebogo false started and was DQ'd in the 100 metres. He simply nodded and walked off- no protest, no recriminations. Quiet, dignified off he went. He did it because the runners had been out on the track for long enough and he didn't want to delay them any further. Runners from other countries hugged him, consoled him. Some even shared a prayer on the track.  We wish him luck in the 200.

One pole vaulter (not American) had her poles delayed/lost/misplaced on their way to the stadium. A rival from the US gave her a spare as it was the same weight and flex that the other vaulter used- she qualified for the final.

In the longer races, it became a trial of adversity; runners lapped, everywhere on the track. The crowd, and the other athletes who weren't on the ground gasping for breath, cheered every single one home, especially the one who crossed the line last.

One of my favourite moment was the winner of a heat going back to help the runner who had finished behind him. The second placed runner had collapsed on the track with terrible cramp in his hamstring. The winner of the heat went over and lifted his legs in the air and giving him a stretch, as of to say 'Been there, it's awful'

The entire stadium stayed behind at night to watch 'Mondo' Du Plantis break the world record again - he vaulted  6.30 metres!  All the other pole vaulters waited, gave advice, support and hugged and kissed him when he got over it on the 3rd attempt.

And what about Gout Gout? The young Australian is faster than Usian Bolt was at 18 years old, not phased by anything. I think he's through to 200m final. 

The men's marathon had the closet finish of any championship race- 0.03 sec, by Tanzania’s Alphonce Felix Simbu  who out dipped Germany’s Amanal Petros. Me, I think they should have shared the medal after 26 .2 miles, probably 25 of them were torture.

The woman's marathon was close, but nobody will forget the 3rd place - a debut runner from Uruguay, who father is a professor at Cambridge Uni. She  had no idea that she got third as there was nobody else on the track in the stadium. How many had passed her? Who was in front of her? Who was behind? There was no flag for her to take a lap of honour so somebody gave her a white thermo, and she did the lap of honour with that! Just google Julia Paternain on the net and you'll see her run in, asking an official, is this the finish, do I stop here? Oh, Where are all the rest? I was third??? Oh my god!!!

Great to see.

The Glasgow half marathon is back next year. I'm tempted. The Half is the  most horrible of races and there an expectation of a time. The  marathon is easier because it's you against the distance -  and en mass, the runners almost as one entity. If they could harness the feel good factor, the empathy across countries, the big picture of it all,  then the world would be a better place.

Caro