Welsh rugby broadcaster Phil Steele will run the Cardiff half-marathon on October 4 at the age of 65, raising money for Shine, a charity supporting people with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Nearly £2,500 has been donated so far.
A personal cause
Steele, the former face of Scrum V's half-time chats, decided to take on the challenge after turning 65 in June. "It was a bit of a bucket list thing," he told WalesOnline. "A bit of a goal for reaching 65 - thanking God for sparing me - so I thought I'd do a half-marathon for charity."
The charity is Shine, which supports adults and children living with spina bifida or hydrocephalus, as well as their families. Steele's 26-year-old nephew, Harry Thomas, has spina bifida. "He lives with the condition really well. He takes part in wheelchair tennis and squash. He's also played age-grade wheelchair basketball for Wales," Steele said. "He's been a bit of an inspiration to me. I've learned a lot about living with disabilities through Harry. I don't see him as my disabled nephew, I see him as just Harry."
Training and tactics
Steele has completed a half-marathon before, in 1985, when he was a 24-year-old PE teacher and finished in one hour 32 minutes. Despite "trouble with my knees, one hip and one ankle", training has been going well.
He joked about advice from long jump gold medallist Lynn Davies: "He said, 'If I were you, Phil, I'd follow this advice. I'd start off slow and then get slower'."
Steele, who is entering his 33rd season as a broadcaster, still works regularly, doing about 50 dinners or speaking events and 20-odd commentaries a year. "I've still got the love for it. It's the next best thing to playing," he said. "I particularly enjoy doing the club scene. I'm president of my local club, Taffs Well."
Welsh rugby's community spirit
Steele noted the apathy among some former players towards the top of the game. "I was saying to one, 'Do you think they ought to go to three or stay at four?' And he said, 'Steeley, they can go to none as far as I'm concerned'," Steele recounted. "And he played first class rugby in the 70s. That's the level of apathy surrounding the game right now, including good rugby people who have been involved in the game all their life."
Despite that, he remains optimistic about the community game. "At Taffs Well, we went down to Division 3 last year. We've lost the first two games and yet the club is really bouncing with everything going on," he said. "The spirit of the club is great and that's often more important than league position."
Steele has his hydration plan prepared for the race, and joked that people still shout "Have a good orange" to him, referencing his famous catchphrase. "I wouldn't be surprised if somebody runs out with an orange for me around the 6.5 mile mark!"
Donations can be made via Steele's JustGiving page.
