It was a terrible shock to hear that our good friend and ultrarunning legend John Kynaston had passed away a few weeks ago.
Like a huge number of people I was privileged to know John and call him a friend although we only met occasionally at races.
John touched a lot of people's lives through his blog and podcasts and by pure dint of being so friendly and upbeat. He was always reaching out to people and it didn't matter if you were an elite ultramarathoner or back of the field jogger. He would chat to you and inspire you no matter who you were.
I remember during the 2018 Ring O Fire Race. At the end of each day when most people just concentrated on getting fed and rested, John would be filming and recording his impressions of the day for the benefit of his blog readers.
I often found that after a race in which John had taken part that by the time we had driven home and had some food John's race report would already be on the internet sometimes with an apology that he had not yet had time to edit his race video. He loved to plan and always had goals set for his running year and prepared numerous spreadsheets. Everything was tabulated and recorded and he would have a guess my time competition for big races with good prizes for those closest to his actual time.
It was John who inspired me to achieve a sub twenty hour West Highland Way Race; I saw that he had done it through solid and methodical training and knew that his race times were not dissimilar to mine.
The last time I saw John I ran with him for a short distance of the Devil o the Highlands Race on a blisteringly hot day in 2019. I was just spectating , he was running the race. He had not long completed the Dragon's Back; an epic multi day race across the mountains of Wales. He recommended it to me saying it was the sort of race I would enjoy. I lamented that I (though 8 years his junior) no longer had the fitness for a race like that. Advancing years did not seem to phase John, if anything his running plans became more ambitious although he was slower than at his peak. If it wasn't for the pandemic John would have been running the Spine Race this January which is a continuous race over the 270 miles of the Pennine Way and must be one of the toughest ultraraces in the UK if not the world.
However superb a runner he may have been, without a doubt what people will remember John for is his unfailing cheeriness his ever present smile, and his generosity of spirit.
It is unbelievable that someone with such a huge and giving heart should have suffered a heart attack and not whilst completing an epic ultramarathon, but in the early hours of the morning .
Rest In Peace John , We will miss you.
