ATHLETE PROFILE:
Richard Kennedy-Joyce
formerly
Richard Joyce
Richard Kennedy-Joyce
formerly
Richard Joyce
Richard Joyce, born in Leeds first ran during Sports Days at Iveson Primary School and was the Fitness Bleep Test Record holder in 1995 and 1996. Richard also ran on and off during his time at Abbey Grange High School where he finished 2nd on Sports Day in the 400m sprint in 1997.
In 1999 Richard became a two time 1500m Sports Day champion after victory in 1998 and 1999 while also winning the Team Sports Day Championship the same year. Also during high school, Richard competed in the Leeds High School Championships Finals after winning the Abbey Grange 1500m trials. Richard failed to stick to his game plan and lost his first 1500m race finishing a disappointing 4th.
Richard briefly started training with Leeds City AC in his high school years but sadly lost interest after a month. In 2002 when Richard was 17 he competed for Abbey Grange Sixth Form in the Leeds Cross Country Championships U19s race.
After an absence of five years out of Athletics, Richard took part in the Leeds Half Marathon in 2007 and has competed in the event every year since, even running injured. His current PB on this particular course is 1:22:45 in 2014.
Richard made the effort to run two to four big races a year until November 2011 when the decision was made to join his local Leeds club Kirkstall Harriers Running Club aged 26. Since then Richard has gone from strength to strength as an open age amateur club runner.
Check out Richard's major PB's below:
Marathon: 2:57:29 (London Marathon 2014)
Twenty Miles: 2:14:13 (East Hull 20 2016)
Half Marathon: 1:22:45 (Leeds Half Marathon 2014)
Ten Miles: 1:04:36 (Eccup 10 2012)
10K: 36:11 (Abbey Dash 10K 2013)
5K: 17:43 (John Carr 5k Race Series 2015)
One Mile: 5:02 (Leeds Golden Mile Track Event 2013)
Bragging Rights:
Richard is a current #Lucozade Sport Elite Top10Percent athlete, a six time 'Good For Age' Marathon runner, a one time Leeds Golden Mile Heat (7) winner and a two time 5K race winner.
General Timeline:
2007 Richard runs his first half marathon aged 22.
2007 Richard runs his first 5k, winning the Leeds Tree-Athlon.
2008 Richard runs his first Parkrun, the Hyde Park 5k in Leeds.
2009 Richard runs his first 10k aged 24.
2011 Richard joins Kirkstall Harriers running club in October/November aged 26.
2012 Richard runs his first marathon.
2012 Richard runs his first track event since high school, winning heat 7 of Leeds Golden Mile.
2013 Richard officially retires from all 'major' cross-country championships (Northerns & Nationals).
2014 Richard runs his first sub 3 hour marathon at London Marathon in a time of 2:57:29.
2015 Richard runs his first PB as a 30 year old athlete, 2:15:04 for twenty miles.
2016 Richard runs a new twenty miles PB of 2:14:13 at East Hull 20 at the age of 31.
2016 Richard runs his fifth London Marathon in five years and his seventh marathon.
2016 Richard becomes a five-time 'Good For Age' marathon runner.
2016 Richard questions whether he wants to continue running the full marathon after a disappointing performance at London.
2016 Richard runs his testimonial 10th Leeds Half Marathon in 10 years.
2017 Richard runs the Leeds Half Marathon, his first official race after a full year of inactivity, with limited training and carrying an Achilles injury, Richard runs his worst half marathon time for 7 years and 15 minutes slower than his PB.
2017 Richard runs the Kirkstall Abbey 7 Mile Trail Race dressed as the 'Mad Monk' for the 5th time, a race hosted by his running club Kirkstall Harriers.
2017 Richard enters and is accepted to race the London Marathon 2018 on a 'Good For Age' Qualification place after deferring entry for 2017.
2018 Richard makes a comeback in the marathon after 2 years off
2018 Richard runs his last London Marathon in his worst time ever aged 33
2018 Richard announces his retirement from the marathon distance.
2018 Richard reaches milestone of 20 half marathon races after Liversedge Half Marathon
2018 Richard announces 14 year plan to reach milestone of 50 half marathon races
2018 Richard announces he is semi-retiring from competitive running
2019 Richard announces he is entering the RAYP 25 Mile Running Challenges
2019 Richard runs his first Sheffield Half Marathon and marathon season as Fun Runs
Best Run Britain Ranking Handicap: 3.1 in May 2014
RJ SPORTS = @rjsports1 (twitter) @joycinho (twitter personal)
YOU TUBE = http://www.youtube.com/rjworldsportsnews
INSTAGRAM = @joycinho
Checkout Richard's personal sports blog website at:
www.joycinho.weebly.com