Bill Adcocks
{{short description|British long-distance runner}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| headercolor =
| name = Bill Adcocks
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| nationality = British (English)
| birth_date = 11 November 1941
| birth_place = Coventry, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| sport = Athletics
| event = long distance
| club = Coventry Godiva Harriers
| height = 168 cm
| weight =55 kg
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Athletics}}
{{MedalCountry | {{ENG}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|British Empire & Commonwealth Games}}
{{MedalSilver| 1966 Kingston | marathon}}
}}
William Arthur Adcocks (born 11 November 1941) is a British former long-distance runner who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ad/bill-adcocks-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418041516/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ad/bill-adcocks-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |accessdate=17 May 2012}}
Biography
He was introduced to athletics at his primary and secondary schools – at secondary school he competed in both cross-country and track and field.{{Cite web |url=http://www.birminghamccleague.co.uk/index.php/history/cliffs-profiles/30-bill-adcocks |title=Bill Adcocks |last=Holloway |first=Chris |publisher=birminghamccleague.co.uk |access-date=6 June 2016}} He started at school at the age of 12.{{Cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnersclub.org.uk/documents/191_Bill_Adcocks.pdf |title=Interview with Bill Adcocks |last=Aitken |first=Alastair |date=13 March 2010 |website=Road Runners Club Website |publisher=Road Runners Club |access-date=6 June 2016}}
He works as an information officer for UK Athletics.{{Cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/2382749/Olympics-King-of-the-road-recalls-his-Athens-epic.html |title=Olympics: King of the road recalls his Athens epic |last=Lewis |first=Mike |website=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=6 June 2016}}
He wrote a book about his marathon performance in Greece in a book titled "The Road to Athens". ({{ISBN|0954789601}}){{Cite web|url=https://www.marathontalk.com/podcast/episode_217_bill_adcocks_part_two.php |title=Episode 217 – Bill Adcocks (Part Two) – Marathon Talk |date=5 March 2014 |website=Marathon Talk |publisher=Marathon Talk |access-date=6 June 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804010105/https://www.marathontalk.com/podcast/episode_217_bill_adcocks_part_two.php |archive-date=4 August 2016 }} He was invited to start the Athens Classic Marathon in 2002.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/news-and-media/news/2002/10/31/adcocks-in-athens.html|title=ADCOCKS IN ATHENS :: News ::: SCC | EVENTS|website=www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com|access-date=6 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806033840/http://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/news-and-media/news/2002/10/31/adcocks-in-athens.html|archive-date=6 August 2016|url-status=dead}}
Athletics career
He joined the Coventry Godiva Harriers at the age of fourteen.
In 1964, he ran his first marathon, in Port Talbot, finishing second in a time of 2:19:29.
In 1965, he won the Amateur Athletic Association of England title in the marathon, held in Port Talbot, beating nearest rival Brian Kilby by over 40 seconds.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/road.htm |title=British Road Race Championships |publisher=gbrathletics.com |access-date=6 June 2016}}
In 1966, he represented England and won silver medal in the Commonwealth Games marathon, finishing 5 seconds behind Scotland's Jim Alder.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/cg.htm |title=Commonwealth Games Medallists – Athletics (Men) |publisher=gbrathletics.com |access-date=6 June 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/kingston-1966/athletes|title=1966 Athletes|publisher=Team England}}{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/kingston-1966|title=Kingston, Jamaica, 1966 Team|publisher=Team England}}{{cite web|url=https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/39245|title=Athletes and results|publisher=Commonwealth Games Federation|access-date=2 August 2019|archive-date=2 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802100531/https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/39245|url-status=dead}}
In 1968, he competed in the marathon at the Olympics, finishing in fifth.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1968/ATH/mens-marathon.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417173747/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1968/ATH/mens-marathon.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 April 2020 |title=Athletics at the 1968 Ciudad de México Summer Games: Men's Marathon |website=Olympics at Sports-Reference.com |access-date=6 June 2016}} He also medalled for a second and final time at the AAA Marathon Championships in Cwmbran, losing out on the title by 15 seconds. Later that year he ran his personal best for the marathon distance while winning at the Fukuoka Marathon, running 2:10:48, a time which was just a minute outside the world record (which had been set on the same course a year previously) at the time, and was a new European record.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fukuoka-marathon.com/results/index.php |title=福岡国際マラソン | 大会結果・記録|website=www.fukuoka-marathon.com|access-date=6 June 2016}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.mansfieldharriers.co.uk/component/attachments/download/50 |title=Bill Adcocks Marathon Career Summary |date=11 December 2013 |website=Mansfield Harriers & AC Website |publisher=Mansfield Harriers & AC |access-date=6 June 2016}} He is the only Briton to have won the Fukuoka Marathon.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bm/road.htm |title=British Medallists/Placings in World and European Road Race Championships/Cups |publisher=gbrathletics.com |access-date=6 June 2016}}
In 1969, he ran in the Athens Classic Marathon, which is run over the same course as the original marathon run by Pheidippides.{{Cite web |url=http://www.athensguide.com/marathon/index.htm |title=The Athens Marathon |publisher=athensguide.com |access-date=6 June 2016}} He set a course record, clocking 2:11:07, which was not broken until 2004, when Stefano Baldini broke the record.{{Cite web |url=http://mcs.open.ac.uk/mkac/billadcocks.htm |title=My Marathon training and career by Bill Adcocks – Clubhouse on Tuesday 21 November at 8:15 pm |website=mcs.open.ac.uk |access-date=6 June 2016}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.activetrainingworld.co.uk/news/2014/04/11/bill_adcocks_speaks_honestly |title=Bill Adcocks Speaks Honestly |website=Active Training World |access-date=6 June 2016}} He also raced in the CAU (Counties Athletics Union) 20 Miles Championships, winning the title.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/cauo.htm |title=CAU (Inter-Counties) Championships (Other) |publisher=gbrathletics.com |access-date=6 June 2016}}
In 1970, he won the Midland Counties 10,000 metres title.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/mcaa.htm |title=Midland Counties Championships |publisher=gbrathletics.com |access-date=6 June 2016}} He also won the Lake Biwa Marathon that year, setting a new course record in 2:13:46.{{Cite web |url=http://www.lakebiwa-marathon.com/history_e.cgi?winners |title=Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon : Former Champions |publisher=lakebiwa-marathon.com |access-date=6 June 2016}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/mar.htm |title=International Marathons |publisher=gbrathletics.com |access-date=6 June 2016}} He represented England in the marathon, at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland.{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/edinburgh-1970/athletes|title=1970 Athletes|publisher=Team England}}{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/edinburgh-1970|title=Edinburgh, 1970 Team|publisher=Team England}}
In 1972, he won the CAU 20 Miles Championships again, running 1:39:01, setting a British record. He currently holds the 20 miles British National, British Domestic and British All-Comers record for times set during a race over that distance, although faster intermediate marks have been set in races over longer distances.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/uk/mc99.htm |title=UK All-Time Lists: Men – Distance, Road and Ultra |publisher=gbrathletics.com |access-date=6 June 2016}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/uk/gballcom.htm |title=UK All-Comers Records and Best Performances |publisher=gbrathletics.com |access-date=6 June 2016}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/uk/gbnatrec.htm |title=UK National Records and Best Performances |publisher=gbrathletics.com |access-date=6 June 2016}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/uk/gbdomrec.htm |title=UK Domestic Records |publisher=gbrathletics.com |access-date=6 June 2016}}
Adcocks ran 10 marathons under 2:20. In 17 total marathons, he won 5 times and placed second 5 times.
References
- {{Power of 10 name|38942}}
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Footer Fukuoka Marathon Champions Men}}
{{Footer WBYP Marathon Men}}
{{Japan Championships in Athletics men's marathon champions}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adcocks, Bill}}
Category:English male marathon runners
Category:British male marathon runners
Category:Olympic male marathon runners
Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1968 Summer Olympics
Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for England
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games
Category:Japan Championships in Athletics winners
Category:Medallists at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games