Obituary
Martin Hyman
O
lympian, GB international and British Record holder, coaching guru, stalwart volunteer, a legend of our sport, a public institution who changed so many people’s lives for the better. Just some of the descriptions and tributes which were paid following the sad news of the passing of Martin Hyman. All of the above, and many more, are fitting and apt for a man who was among our Honorary Life Members and will be a huge loss to the sport of athletics and running in Scotland. He was 87. Everyone at scottishathletics sends our deepest condolences to Martin’s family and many friends across the sport. Trying to pull together some of the achievements and accolades is a tall order for someone with such a rich life as Martin – but it is well worth the effort for someone who so often went the extra mile for others. Let’s start with a few reflections from Alex Jackson, who worked with Martin on so many Road Running and Cross Country Commission events and meetings. ‘Martin moved to Scotland from England to teach at Livingston in 1979 and duly joined Livingston and District AAC,’ recalled Alex. ‘In his time here his contribution to staging events, coaching, training sessions is huge and cuts across a number of disciplines of athletics including road, cross and hills.
‘Martin didn’t care what level you were at – he just wanted to help’ Martin was there to time these, in winter with starting in 2002 after a major fall-out his head-torch – like his passion for the sport between the hill running community and – burning brightly. SAL,’ said our current Convenor, Hugh Buchanan. ‘As a coach, Martin would give as much time and enthusiasm to an International athlete as ‘This led to the en-bloc resignation of the he would to a beginner. That dedication was previous Commission. In that role, Martin reflected and acknowledged in 2007 when was then very influential in getting the he became an Honorary Life Member of relationship between hill running and SAL scottishathletics. back onto an even keel. ‘Above all, he was a modest man who seldom mentioned his own achievements in ‘I would add to Ted’s contribution that Martin the sport.’ was very committed to being a mentor to athletes and event organisers, drawing on Those achievements were considerable his educational approach as a teacher. He and included a 10,000m appearance at the also took a holistic view of athletes and 1960 Olympics in Rome, a British Record would support them in many aspects of their over six miles on the roads, and England lives beyond athletics.’ appearances at the Commonwealth Games. He is said to have considered himself weaker at cross country than on the track or Hill running former World Champion, Angela Mudge, also benefitted from his experience the roads – yet he finished third in a World Cross. and wisdom. Ted Finch of Lothian RC paid tribute to his friend’s huge commitment to grassroots sport: ‘Martin’s whole coaching philosophy was that it should be ‘athlete centred’ by giving athletes the information they needed and advice based on his experience. But the choice of activity was then up to the runner who could then reflect on and learn from that experience.
‘On road running, he devised the National Road Relay laps at Livingston Murieston in 1988. When that venue became difficult because of traffic issues, he came up with a new venue at Livingston Almondvale in 1998. ‘He was a founding member of Lothian That venue then became the long-standing Running Club and made a huge contribution home of the highly-popular National Road over many years. Relays. ‘Whether it was racing, team management ‘On cross country, he led on many East or event organisation, Martin’s preparations Championship and League meetings at were meticulous and he expected everyone Livingston and Broxburn. else to be as organised as he always was. ‘On the hills, he was the course designer for the 1995 World Mountain Running Championships at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh and also organised many hill races around the country. Over the years he organised numerous Junior Hill Running training weekends. ‘His Meadows Intervals training sessions in Edinburgh on a Tuesday night are legendary. Just about every Tuesday night since the early 1980s
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‘Martin didn’t care what level you were at he just wanted to help. He was famous in Edinburgh for his Meadows session every Tuesday night starting at 7.55pm on the dot. He was probably at Lothian sessions seven days a week.’ Martin Hyman was originally from Jersey, the Second World War prompting a hasty retreat to mainland Britain. His upbringing cannot have been easy as he attended 10 different schools. ‘I learned some things twice,’ he once recalled. ‘And missed out other things altogether.’
It’s abundantly clear that so many who crossed his radar will now reflect: we ‘Outside of athletics Martin also made significant contributions to the coaching of learned plenty. British Elite Orienteers. Martin (right) celebrates third at the World International Cross The Tuesday Meadows session was initiated as part of that coaching programme.’ In keeping with his many volunteer roles, Martin also somehow found time to serve on our Hill Running Commission. ‘Martin was convenor of the Hill Running Commission for a period
