Bill Adcocks

William Arthur Adcocks (born 11 November 1941) is a British former long-distance runner who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics.

Biography He was introduced to athletics at his primary and secondary schools – at secondary school he competed in both cross-country and track and field. He started at school at the age of 12.

He works as an information officer for UK Athletics.

He wrote a book about his marathon performance in Greece in a book titled "The Road to Athens". He was invited to start the Athens Classic Marathon in 2002.

Athletics career He joined the Coventry Godiva Harriers at the age of fourteen.

In 1966, he represented England and won silver medal in the Commonwealth Games marathon, finishing 5 seconds behind Scotland's Jim Alder.

In 1968, he competed in the marathon at the Olympics, finishing in fifth. He also medalled for a second and final time at the AAA Marathon Championships in Cwmbran, losing out on the title by 15 seconds. He is the only Briton to have won the Fukuoka Marathon.

In 1969, he ran in the Athens Classic Marathon, which is run over the same course as the original marathon run by Pheidippides. He set a course record, clocking 2:11:07, which was not broken until 2004, when Stefano Baldini broke the record. He also raced in the CAU (Counties Athletics Union) 20 Miles Championships, winning the title.

In 1970, he won the Midland Counties 10,000 metres title. He also won the Lake Biwa Marathon that year, setting a new course record in 2:13:46. He represented England in the marathon, at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland.

In 1972, he won the CAU 20 Miles Championships again, running 1:39:01, setting a British record.

Adcocks ran 10 marathons under 2:20. In 17 total marathons, he won 5 times and placed second 5 times.