Allan Lawrence

Al's sayings: "Come here, you're going to get into trouble, where have you been?" You've got to modify mate." "Humidity is the silent killer." "Sticky beak, tend to your own knitting." "Go on, get into it." "How did it go mate?" "Good on you." "Are you going to go fill your gut with us?"

Heartfelt condolences are extended to your family at this difficult time. Seek the love and support God provides to help you cope during this time - Psalms 29:11

My guide to lead me to run as fast and far as possible. Friend. 'Living life well' adviser. Encourager. Groomsman in my wedding. Most significant non-family person in my life so far. It was a wonderful 20 plus years of comradeship and many temporarily uncomfortable work-outs. Was praying for Al after our last visit and breakfast.

There were two great coaches in my early running career that had an influence on my training. Coach Herman Goldberg was one and Coach Al Lawrence was the other. I've known coach Al since I was 12 years old. I am now 64 and I still run and compete. I will always remember Coach Al's ability to remember historical stats on individual runners and his willingness to encourage and instill a work ethic for training with very few words. What a great honor to have know him.

I just found out about Allan's death. I got to know him at Memorial Park, although I used to see him back in the eighties when he trained people at the Lamar track. He read my book, and I read his biography, so we had a kind of bond in that respect. I suppose it was about three months ago that I went to the park to say hello, I usually doing my workouts early in the morning. That was when I found out about having some of his pancreas removed. Rest in peace, mate.