Cardiff medical student Simon Lawson is self-coached

It is 25 years since Welsh runner Steve Jones won the London Marathon. But a young Welsh medical student is hopeful he could one day emulate the feat.

Simon Lawson, 20, is not a typical long-distance runner.

A silver medallist in the 10,000 metres at the European Junior Championships last year, he is making his debut in the London marathon this weekend with one eye on a fast time and the other on the 2012 London Olympics.

Unlike the vast majority of runners looking for a time below two hours and 20 minutes, he will not have a coach hoping that the detailed plans of several month's work can be put into action on race day.

Lawson is different because he does it all alone. From the hard miles of training to the details of preparation, the Welsh medical student is a throwback to amateur days.

BRITISH MEN'S MARATHON BESTS 1. Steve Jones - 2:08:16 (1985) 2. Charlie Spedding - 2:08:33 (1985) 3. Richard Nerurkar - 2:08:36 (1997) 4. Paul Evans - 2:08:52 (1996) 5. Geoff Smith - 2:09:08 (1983) link text here

And he admits his approach has "ruffled a few feathers".

Six weeks ago he told Athletics Weekly magazine he was disillusioned with the sport and was planning to quit.

But he is now looking forward to the future.

He says: "What I do isn't normal and I think that is what has wound people up in the past.

"I always like to train harder than anyone else and I don't feel the need to have a coach.

"I'd rather get up and do my run when I want to do it rather than meeting at a set time."

Lawson can run between 140 and 200 miles a week when in hard training and it is this approach to racing, putting in a lot of miles at a relatively young age, that has caused consternation in some running circles.

"I didn't like doing a couple of miles. I'd rather do 10 if I am going to do two," he says.

He says he knows his own body and feels the cautious British approach is never going to be able to compete with African or American athletes.

Steve Jones wins in 1985 - in a time not bettered since by a Briton

Lawson holds the British record for the fastest half marathon time for a junior athlete and won last year's Cardiff half marathon in a time of one hour, five minutes.

He was aiming for below two hours and 15 minutes for the London marathon but an injury suffered after a fall is making him more realistic.

He adds: "I was looking at getting senior GB selection, but with four or five months out injured I am going into it thinking the benchmark is two hours 20 minutes.

"On the day if I'm feeling good, anything quicker than that would be great."

He stumbled into athletics, as a way to help his football training. He played at under-15 level for Manchester United, but has swapped a team sport for the loneliness of the long-distance runner.

"I've never really followed athletics or been particularly interested in it," he says.

"I started running to help with my football and got hooked on it," he explains.

He has clashed with the athletics community in Wales and complained that Welsh Athletics would not meet his £2,000 medical bills connected to two ankle fractures sustained last year.

Welsh Athletics rejected the criticism, saying they had tried to convince Lawson to take part in the UK Athletics Futures programme, where he would receive medical insurance.

But again Lawson chose to go it alone and turned down the offer.

With his running built around his medical studies, he says he has a great fall back option.

He says: "My goal is 2012, to get a good marathon time, and do a couple more marathons before next year.

"Ten, 15, 20 years ago British guys were running sub two hours 10 minutes so I don't see there's any reason why I can't get to that level.

"And in a championship race I think that's a time that's going to be competitive for the top few places."

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