Second race,second place for Shelley

However,twelve months ago Shelley,a half-marathon and 10K runner almost quit the sport after stress fractures put a spoke in his wheel. He also had his name taken off the scholarship programme of the Australian Institute of Sport. Hours of training away from the glare,a painful and laborious recovery,words of inspiration from his coach Dick Telford helped him make a comeback. He decided to turn to marathon,but never expected to win a medal in only his second race.

This is a fantastic finish for me. I never really expected to win in New Delhi. What is satisfying is that I not only won a silver but also managed to beat a Kenyan runner with whom I was fighting for every inch. It is not everyday that someone gets ahead of a Kenyan for a podium finish, Shelley said just after celebrating.

Shelley was sixth at the 21-kilometre stage but found the heart and strength to surge ahead and go neck and neck with Matui. I knew that if I could just find that extra something I could get ahead of Matui, Shelley said while trying to catch his breath.

There were hardly any spectators to cheer his effort,but it didnt matter to the Aussie on Thursday morning. So pleased was Shelley with his performance that he found the extra energy to do a round of high-fives with members of the Australian squad after he came in second.

Australias Lisa Weightman finished behind the two Kenyans Kosgei and Kemunto Irene Mogake. Weightman was 33rd in the Beijing Olympics but would have been a touch disappointed with the bronze in an event in which Australian women have won four of the five previous CWG titles.

Local flavour

For Indias marathon runners namely Ram Singh Yadav and Bining Lyngkhoi trampling upon asphalt filled roads is as much a passion as it is a means to earn a livelihood. These subedars of the Indian army hail from modest farming families and use the prize money at events to make both ends meet. Yadav finished eighth while Lyngkhoi was ninth. Now,they will aim to run a sub-two hours and 18 minutes in an effort to qualify for the London Games. Thursdays performance was nothing to write home about for the two Indian men. Yadav stopped the clock at 2:21.24 while Lyngkhoi followed at 2:23.01.

This wasnt my best performance. In the 2009 edition of the Mumbai marathon I finished the course in 2:18.03,my personal best, Yadav,a 10,000m runner who started running marathons in 2007,said.

Yadav is much happier running marathons,he admitted. I have a huge family to look after. In Babiyav village my family owns an acre of land but we dont earn enough from farming to sustain ourselves. One of my brothers is a blacksmith in Mumbai while I have to support my second brother. By running marathons I can earn up to Rs 4 lakh a year if I do really well. Running marathons has made a big difference to my life, Yadav,who trains at the Army Sports Institute in Pune,said.

Lyngkhoi has three brothers and four sisters and the large family welcomes any extra money he can sent home. In Sakwang in Meghalaya,Lyngkhois family tills two acres of land but often they depend on the cash prize Lynghoi wins after competing in marathons to see through a month.

I always wanted to be an athlete. Now,I am passionate about running marathons. It does help that the cash prize often helps me sustain my big family back home, Lynghoi added.

We dont get any sponsors but the army does support us. Marathon running is only picking up in India. I did not run well today,so there is no point in expecting sponsors to queue up. But once I start winning regularly I am sure support will pour in, Yadav said.