Seb Coe congratulates George Gandy on winning the Ron Pickering Memorial Award for Services to Athletics in 2008
MARK SHEARMAN
I’VE BEEN coaching for 52 years. The secret to doing it successfully does not come down to any one particular thing. It occurs from a fortunate combination of high-quality experience, academic and practical knowledge, life-dominating hard work and commitment, relentless persistence, unbreakable optimism, and an enduring prioritisation of best interests, potential and targets with regards to the individual athletes.
I competed as an athlete before getting into coaching. From the age of 12 to 18 years old, I competed over the 880 yards, mile, two miles, three miles, road and cross country, but at around the age of 21 to 24, I picked up a persistent Achilles injury which forced me out of racing. As I got older from the ages of 43 to 48, I started up again, taking part in five-mile road races to half-marathons and even the occasional cross-country race.