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The 2008 Melbourne Marathon has been run, and there remain eleven Spartan Legends who have completed all 31 runs.

Jack Gubbins did not start, at least in part, because he had an injury which had been mis-diagnosed. Shirley Young was withdrawn on medical advice at the 33 km mark after falling. Shirley is arguably the most recognisable runner in Victoria and I hope to see her and husband Ron on shorter runs for years to come.

The finishers in race time order were: Wayne Thompson, John Dobson, Bruce Hargreaves, Manny Karageorgiou, Neville Gardner, John Dean, Frank Biviano, Peter Ryan, Roger Weinstein, David Foskey and Peter Battrick.

Another nine (I think) runners completed their 30th.

John Dean as President of the Spartans club did an enormous amount of work for the club and the event, although he took time off during the year to complete the Comrades.

IMG continues to improve the day which is attracting even more participants through the 42.2, 21.1, 10 and 5.5 k distances. 

Some time in 1978 I was in a bar with two mates who were recounting some of their exploits. One had rafted wild rivers and the other had crewed in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. With nothing to offer in the same league, I decided to enter the first Melbourne Marathon to be held later that year.

Bruce Adcock and I went on a vigorous training program and duly completed it. My time was bad and we entered next year.  Once again Bruce finished well in front and my time was even worse. So I entered again, and times started coming down. After a few years, sub 3 hours looked possible so I pursued that for a while. Eventually I ran my one and only sub three (2 hours, 58 minutes 48 seconds since you asked).

By 1987 I was one of 88 who had completed all ten. The Melbourne Marathon Spartans Club was formed with automatic eligibility for all who complete ten Melbourne Marathons. Like most of the others, I protected my record of completing them all. In 1992 the number had dropped to 56 and 35 had run all 20 in 1996. There are now 13 of us who have run 30 with ages ranging from 51 through to 78. Someone will run 40, perhaps 50, but I doubt that it will be me. My times have lengthened and the pride of accomplishment diminishes as I struggle at the rear of the field.

Names of the 13 are: Peter Battrick, Frank Biviano, John Dean (current president of the Spartans), John Dobson, David Foskey, Bruce Hargreaves, Neville Gardner, Jack Gubbins, Manual Karageorgiou, Peter Ryan (past president), Wayne Thompson, Roger Weinstein and Shirley Young. We are officially designated Legends, embarrassing as that is.

Before 2007’s run there were 1014 Spartan males, 52 females and one wheelchair Spartan. More than 100 have completed more than 20 with at least one (Conor McNeice) on 29.

See the web site of the marathon and follow the menu for the Spartan’s site.