GOLDEN YEARS THEY WERE. Between 1976, when Brendan Foster claimed bronze in the 10,000 metres at the Montreal Olympics, and 1984, when Sebastian Coe retained his gold medal in the 1,500 metres in Los Angeles, British middle-distance runners ruled the world.
Coe, who learned to run in the hills and valleys of the Peak District, led the way. He set nine world records, three within the space of 41 days in the giddy summer of 1979. His rivalry with Steve Ovett was the stuff of legend.
When Ovett pipped his team-mate), Coe was avenged six days later with the first of those two golds at the longer distance. Giants, both.
