Article on Josh Griffiths - Carmarthen Harriers/ Cardiff Met University/Swansea Harriers - inspirational story on how to work hard and succeed - written by Dr Hedydd Davies (Carmarthen Harriers Club President)
__________________________________________________________
Personal best performances to date
800m 2.9.2 (2010); 1500m 3.58.58 (2016); Mile 4.23.8 (2013); 3000m (8.11.98); 5000m 14.46.17 (2016) 10000m 31.22.32 (2016); 2016; 1M 4.22 (2015; 2M 9.22 (2015; 3M 15.13 (15.13)
5K 14.19 (2019); 10 28.41 2019); HM 63.33 (2020); Mar (2.14.25 (2019)
Coaches Carol Jones/ Delyth Brown (-2012); James Thie (2012-2016); 2016- self coached
Competed for GB in the World 2012 U20 MR championship in Italy
Competed for GB in the 2017 IAAF World marathon championship in London
Competed for Wales in the 2018 Commonwealth Games Marathon in Gold Coast Australia
Josh lives in Gorslas which is about 12 miles from the County town of Carmarthen Carmarthenshire. He went to Ammanford Infant and junior schools and Ysgol Gyfun Rhydaman in Ammanford. He obtained a Master’s degree at Cardiff Met University
At secondary school he was encouraged by his teachers to take an active part in sport. In his early secondary school career, he regularly competed in the local Brianne and Dyfed schools’ athletics and cross country competitions
At an early age he joined Carmarthen and District Harriers Athletics Club which is based at the all-weather track in Carmarthen
For six years before he went to university he was helped and coached at Carmarthen by Carol Jones and Delyth Brown, two of Carmarthen Harriers coaches
As a junior athlete he was reasonably successful, winning two Welsh championships and gaining selection to compete for Great Britain in the World Junior MR championships in Italy
At Cardiff Met University (2012-16) he was coached by James Thie and after university he has been self-coached
He was a reliable and consistent performer for the University, but his results were not an indication of what was to come later. Whilst at Cardiff Met University, he won two Welsh titles
In 2016 he decided to enter long distance races and completed two half marathon events
He was asked to compete for West Wales in the Welsh inter regional cross country championships in December 2016. He replied to say that he would not compete (even though he won in 2014) as he was concentrating on the London Marathon in April 2017
The rest is history
The day after the 2017 London Marathon I was at Frankfurt Airport on my return from holiday and bought an English news paper
Headlines
Unknown Swansea Harrier athlete first UK runner in the Virgin London Marathon. How he in his first ever marathon from the non-elite runners start came through to win the 2017 UK marathon championship title and to be selected to compete for GB in the IAAF World marathon championship in London later that year
Josh competed in the 2017 IAAF World Marathon championship and for Wales in the Commonwealth Games marathon in the Gold Coast Australia in 2018
In 2019 he recorded excellent performances on the road and early in 2020 recorded his best time (63.33) in the Barcelona Half Marathon
Josh has worked extremely hard (long mileage) indeed to become a top class marathon runner.
His success is a tribute not only to himself but also to all who have supported him over the years
Josh’s milestones (235 recorded performances on Power of 10) main events
2008 U15 Carmarthen Harriers) (1 performance)
ZXC 14.52 12 Brecon Welsh Inter Schools Championships 15 Nov 2008
2009 U17 Carmarthen Harriers (12 performances)
1500 4.29.5 2 Carmarthen Dyfed Schools Championships 13 Jun 2009
1500 4.31.77 5 Cardiff Aviva Welsh Schools Championships 4 Jul 2009
1500 4.33.84 5 Cardiff Welsh U17/20 Championships 7 Jun 2009
ZXC 16.50 4 Oakwood Dyfed Schools Championships 10 Feb 2009
ZXC 20.09 18 Brecon Welsh Schools Championships 28 Feb 2009
2010 U17 Carmarthen Harries (25 Performances)
1500 4.16.4 1 Carmarthen Welsh U17 Championships 10 Jul 2010
1500 4.26.15i 5 Cardiff Welsh U17 Indoor Championships 30 Jan 2010
1500 4.36.4 2 Carmarthen Dyfed Schools Championships 19 Jun 2010
3000 9.16.56 2 Cardiff Welsh Inter Regional Championships 29 Aug 2010
3000 9.27.0 2 Carmarthen Dyfed Schools Championships 18 Jun 2010
3000 9.27.10 3 Brecon Aviva Welsh Schools Championships 3 Jul 2010
ZXC 22.02 29 Brecon Aviva Welsh Schools Championships 27 Feb 2010
2011 U20 Carmarthen Harriers (25 performances)
1500 4.13.57i 3 Cardiff Welsh IndoorU20 Championships 22 Jan 2011
3000 8.58.19 1 Brecon Aviva Welsh Championships 2 Jul 2011
3000 9.07.7 1 Carmarthen Dyfed Schools Championships 18 Jun 2011
3M 15.13 20 London Virgin London Mini Marathon 17 Apr 2011
5K 16.02 1 Bridgend Welsh U20 5K Championship 7 May 2011
7.2KZC 25.20 26 Antrim Home Countries International 26 Mar 2011
ZXC 19.59 3 Brecon Aviva Welsh Schools Championships 19 Mar 2011
ZKC 20.12 2 Northop Welsh National Championships 19 Feb 2011
ZXC 20.41 82 Birmingham Inter Counties Championship 5 Mar 2011
ZKC 23.24 4 Builth Wells Welsh Inter Regional Championship 10 Dec 2011
ZMR 27.56 4 Llanberis British & Irish MR Championship 24 Sept 2011
ZMR 37.49 6 Blackburn UKA World MR Trials 13 Aug 2011
2012 U20 Carmarthen Harriers (17 performances)
3000i 8.58.03 4 Cardiff Celtic Cup 29 Jan 2012
8.8KMRL 50.11 50 Ponti di Legno World MR Championship 2 Sept 2012
ITA
10KMT 34.15 2 Keswick Karrimor Great Trail 17 Jun 2012
ZXC 20.32 7 Brecon Aviva Welsh Schools Championships 25 Feb 2012
ZXC 21.28 1 Builth Wells Welsh Inter Regional Championships 8 Dec 2012
ZXC 21.47 4 St Fagans Welsh Championships 18 Feb 2012
ZMR 38.24 4 Glenridding UK World MR Championship trials 5 August 2012
2013 U23 Swansea Harriers /Cardiff Met University (35 performances)
3000 8.38.15 3 Cardiff Welsh International 31 Jul 2013
3000 8.53.10i 11 Sheffield BUCS Indoor Championships 24 Feb 2013
5000 14.58.15 8 Bedford BUCS Championships 4 May 2013
5000 15.28.05 17 Bedford England U23 Championships 16 Jun 2013
10000 31.53.77 2 Swansea Welsh Senior Championships 22 Jun 2013
10000 32.12.71 15 Bedford BUCS Championships 5 May 2013
10K 30.31 29 Leeds Leeds Abbey Dash 10K 17 Nov 2013
10K 31.14 15 Cardiff Cardiff 10K 8 Sept 2013
10K 31.47 24 London Bupa London 10K 27 May 2013
ZXC 19.33 3 Crickhowell welsh Championships 16 Feb 2013
ZXC 23.52 6 Llandeilo Home Countries International 23 Feb 2013
ZXC 35.14 29 Leeds BUCS Cross Country Championships 2 Feb 2013
ZSXC 36.22 3 Builth Wells Welsh Inter Regional Championships 14 Dec 2013
2014 U23 Swansea Harriers / Cardiff Met University (27 performances)
3000 8.43.78i 7 Sheffield BUCS Indoor Championships 23 Feb 2014
5000 14.54.10 2 Cardiff Welsh Senior Championships 31 May 2014
10000 31.22.75 5 Bedford BUCS Championships 4 May 2014
5K 15.13 2 Rhyl Welsh 5K Championship 29 Jun 2014
7.2KSC 23.49 4 Llandeilo Welsh Cross Country Championship 15 Feb 2014
10K 31.16 6 Cardiff Cardiff 10K 7 Sep 2014
10K 31.44 32 Manchester Bupa Great Manchester 10K 18 May 2014
11KSC 35.20 ` 16 Stirling BUCS Cross Country Championships 1 Feb 2014
HM 66.28 11 Cardiff Cardiff Half Marathon 5 Oct 2014
ZXC 26.44 15 Wollaton Park Home Countries International 22 March 2014
ZXC 36.55 1 Builth Wells Welsh Inter Regional Championship 13 Dec 2014
ZFL 51.05 12 Sedbergh BA World Championships Trial (uphill) 9 Aug 2014
2015 U23 Swansea/ Cardiff Met University (21 performances)
3000 8.44.67i 10 Sheffield BUCS Indoor Championships 22 Feb 2015
5000 15.17.16 3 Cardiff Welsh Senior Championships 28 Jun 2015
Harriers/ Cardiff Met University
10000 31.22.32 7 Bedford BUCS Championships 1 May 2015
10K 29.49 13 Leeds Leeds Abbey Dash 10K 6 Nov 2015
10K 30.43 6 Cardiff Cardiff 10K 11 Sept 2015
10KXC 36.01 34 Antrim Home Countries International 14 Mar 2015
HM 70.16 3 Swansea Swansea Half Marathon 14 June 2015
25KMT 2.00.01 1 Saint Gelvert Trail de Gueriedan 25K 23 May 2015
FRA
ZXC 42.13 47 Brighton BUCS Cross Country Championships 21 Jan 2015
2016 SEN Swansea Harriers/ Cardiff Met University (24 performances)
5000 15.08.87 1 Cardiff Welsh Senior Championships 11 Jun 2016
10000 31.22.32 7 Bedford BUCS Championships 1 May 2016
10K 29.49 13 Leeds Leeds Abbey Dash 10K 6 Nov 2016
10K 30.43 6 Cardiff Cardiff 10K 11 Sep 2016
KZC 33.25 53 Gloucester BUCS Cross Country Championships 6 Feb 2016
HM 66.43 12 Cardiff Cardiff Half Marathon 2 Oct 2016
HM 68.44 3 Swansea Swansea Half Marathon 25 Jun 2016
HM 69.48 1 Llanelli Llanelli Half Marathon 13 Mar 2016
2017 SEN Swansea Harriers (11 performances)
5K 14.19 15 Armagh Armagh International Road Races 18 Feb 2017
10K 30.08 1 Cwmavon Richard Burton 10K 5 Nov 2017
HM 65.18 1 Llanelli Llanelli Waterside Half Marathon 12 Mar 2017
HM 65.38 15 Cardiff Cardiff Half Marathon 1 Oct 2017
HM 65.53 13 Hamburg GER Hella Hamburg halbmarathon 25 Jun 2017
Mar 2.14.49 13 London Virgin London Marathon 23 Apr 2017
Mar 2.20.06 39 London IAAF World Championships Marathon 6 Aug 2017
2018 SEN Swansea Harriers (16 performances)
10K 29.28 5 Telford Telford 10K 7 Jan 2018
10K 29.31 17 Houelles FRA Corrida de Houelles 30 Dec 2018
10K 30.20 9 London Vitality London 10000 28 May 2018
10K 30.26 4 Westminster British 10K 15 Jul 2018
hm 65.05 18 Cardiff Cardiff HALF Marathon 4 Mar 2018
HM 65.18 7 Greenwich The Big Half Marathon 4 Mar 2018
HM 66.11 2 Swansea JCP Swansea Half Marathon 24 Jun 2018
HM 67.19 7 Ceske Ceske BudeJovice Half Marathon 2 Jun 2018
Budejovice CZE
Mar 2.16.09 7 Dublin IRE SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon 28 Oct 2018
Mar 2.37.10 15 Gold Coast AUS Commonwealth Games 15 Apr 2018
2019 SEN Swansea Harriers
10K 28.41 19 Houelles Fra Corrida Internationale de Houelles 29 Dec 2019
10K 28.57 5 Telford Telford 10 8 Dec 2019
10K 29.47 1 London ASICS London 10K 21 Jun 2019
10K 29.33 3 Cardiff Brecon Carreg Bay 10K 31 Mar 2019
10K 29.58 19 London Vitality London 10000 27 May 2019
HM 64.23 5 Nad Labern CZE Nad Labern Half Marathon 21 Sep 2019
HM 64.54 24 Barcelona ESP Barcelona Half Marathon 10 Feb 2019
HM 65.36 11 Greenwich Vitality Big Half Marathon 10 Mar 2019
HM 66.27 2 Swansea JCP Swansea Half Marathon 23 Jun 2019
Mar 2.14.25 21 London Virgin London Marathon 28 Apr 2019
Mar 2.15.20 13 Toronto CAN Scotsbank Toronto Waterfront Mar 20 Oct 2019
2020 SEN Swansea Harriers
HM 63.33 29 Barcelona ESP Barcelona Half Marathon 16 Feb 2020 Half Marathon
HM 63.57 8
Greenwich Vitality Big Half Marathon 1 Mar 2020
Thanks to Dr Hedydd Davies (Carmarthen Harriers Club President) for putting together this article.