Mick Bond

   Date of birth: 31/12/1959
Date started running/competing: 1972

Distances competed in: Sprints when I was younger but now the odd 10k

Short biog: I joined the club when I was 12. Had won the district sports at junior school and wanted to do better and race more. I trained with Paul Brown initialy doing Cross county from the clubhouse in the winter and interval sessions at Charlton park in the summer. When I was 14 I was selected to run for London at the English Schools Champs and came 6th in the 100m running the heats and semi finals on a grass track ! When I was 15 I started training with Malcolm Coomber and the following year I ran 11.0 and finished 3rd in the English Schools. the next year I ran 10.5 to win the Schools and set a new Championship record. I ran at two of the Televised meetings at C Palace before an ankle injury put me out for 4 years. Orthotics in my shoes enabled me to sprint again though they changed the mechanics of my feet and my best time after that was 10.9.

At age 32 I retired from competitve track running and started coaching. Intially I worked with some good Javelin throwers - Hayley Martin! , Adam Green before moving more into Sprints and hurdles - Xanine Powell, Louise O'Callagan, Adam Rogers, Vernicha James plus my current group.

I now work in the sport as well managing the Lee Valley Athleics Centre in North London and am also married to fellow member Christine (nee Jewett) so am a bit of an athletics nut

Who has been your biggest inspiration? My coach Malcolm Coomber

Personal bests: 100m -10.5200m 21.1400m About 52.5 (never liked them)10k 45 mins

Favourite race and why: My all time favourite was running against Olympic 200m champion Don Quarrie in 1978 at Crystal Palace(he beat me) 

Career highlights:As above

Injuries: Ankle, arch, calf, hamstring, knee, back, shoulder.....

Career ambition: To keep running 10ks in less minutes than my age. To help others enjoy the sport with as much passion as I have. to see the club thrive and do well whilst retaining it family and friendly nature