Around the world I searched for you ...

Imagine running more than three times around the world!

I’ll get to that in a moment.

John Dwyer (pictured here in the middle) and a few friends recently celebrated his 50th year in running over a quiet beer or two. I have never known why people talk about “having a few quiet ones”.

There was nothing quite about these beers. John had gathered up a lavish supply of exotic beers, and set them before us. We (Hugh, Bill, Tyrell, Bruce, big Ray, small Ray, Murray and myself), like boys in the candy shop, selected beers which probed the very limits of alcoholic intensity. John regaled us with stories of his 50 year running career.

John commenced his running exploits with the North Otago in the halcyon days of the late fifties. He moved from there to Canterbury University (1961), Wellington Harriers (1965), New Plymouth (1966), Auckland University (1971) and finally Calliope by 1974. Calliope has been over the years, of course, the natural goal for many a talented athlete.

Having had already been in the club for 10 years by 1974, I remember well John’s first appearance and the exhilaration that rippled through the ranks.

John is a quintessential historian, and the records he has kept, down to the most minute detail prove this. He tells us he has, up until 28/09/2009, covered 123,896 km, over 12,081 days for an average of 10.25 km per running day.

Now folks, almost 124 thousand kilometres is a long way! It bespeaks a certain level of addictive propensity to running!

Some facts I have calculated for John:

3.1 times around the globe.


One year and 2 months of actual running.


Weight loss of 1208 kg (1.2 tonne)

John has posted some pretty useful times over these 50 years:

220yd 24.5s 1964,   440yd 53.9s 1967,   880yd 1m 59.7s 1969,   1 mile 4m 21.9s 1968,   3 miles 14m 59.4s 1968,   5000m 15m 37s 1970,   6 miles 31m 36s 1969,   10,000m 33m 31s 1976 (Calliope Champs – lapping none other than the illustrious Rod Barker, and renowned track coach, Jack Ralston),   10 miles 52m 47s 1967,   Half Marathon 1hr 13m 48s 1968,   Marathon 2hr 42m 32s 1968.

For a more comprehensive account of John’s efforts : A fuller record of John’s achievements

Though John won't see 65 again, he is contemplating yet greater running exploits. Another short spin around the globe John?