John Tarrant Ghostrunner

Sad shadow of the ghost runner still stalks the track as olympic fever mounts a new biography recalls the incredible story of tarrant the man british athletics tried to forget.

John tarrant ghostrunner. I finished reading the ghost runner by bill jones which was released on the 7th july. John tarrant 1932 1975 was an english long distance runner nicknamed the ghost runner for his habit of gatecrashing races from which he was barred due to his non amateur status acquired during a brief career as a teenage prize fighter. In 1950 at the age of 18 he took up boxing and earned 17 pounds at prize fights at a local town hall. The book is about john tarrant his life his very very understanding wife and brother and his ups and downs from the 50s through to the early 70s.

Tarrant grew up in wartime london and as the bombing intensified he and his brother a lifelong compadre and supporter of john s ambitions were shipped out to a care home. At one point he held the 100 mile world record the 40 mile world record and won many marathons and road runs during the 60 s and early 70 s. When he discovered that he had talents running he dreamed of running the marathon in the olympics and gave up boxing. Tarrant accepting a boxing donation.

The man who evaded the authorities rallied against apartheid and earned himself the shadowy sobriquet the ghost runner sporting stars often spring from humble beginnings. Last updated on october 31 2015. John tarrant 1932 1975 was born in london england. John tarrant s tragic story defies belief nowadays.

The ghost runner is the simultaneously inspiring and tragic tale of an athlete who fights to overcome a series of difficulties that stand in the way of his dreams. Exceptionally tough single minded and stubborn john tarrant is the definition of a dedicated athlete. There s a certain never say die attitude in working class athletes that allows them more often than not to supersede their silver spooned competitors. The ghost runner by bill jones tells us about the life and career of john tarrant and just how idiotic the bodies which ran amateur athletics were.

If you think jim thorpe got screwed over by avery brundage then john tarrant is another person to add to that list.