Elliot Slade was introduced to Donore Harriers by John Travers about 3 or 4 years ago. The Wales international athlete made an immediate impact with his friendly personality and front running racing style. He quickly became a key member of the club’s national track and field league team, taking the reins in the 800m and 4 x 400m relay.
Elliot began running as a 14 years-old lad doing Cardiff parkruns with his father Stephen. He quickly established himself as a talented runner in schools’ competitions. He won the Welsh Schools U/15 800m in 2009, came 3rd in the U/17 800m in 2010, and then won the U/17 800m in 2011. Elsewhere, his athletic endeavours included victories in the Welsh Schools cross-country championships in 2009, the Wales Junior Cup 800m final in 2010, and the Welsh Schools XC and Celtic Games 800m at Antrim in 2011.
Elliot also competed in the World Youth Games at Lille, France in 2011, finishing 5th in the semi-final.
Elliot had a break-through season in 2012. He won the Wales U/20 indoor championship in the 1,500m; came 2nd in the 800m in the Schools indoor International at Cardiff, before winning the Welsh U/20 championship over 800m in 1.52.36. Soon after, he won the Wales national schools 800m in 1.51.66. He also went sub-1.50 four times, including a 1.49.85 and a 1.49.14 at BMC Meets at Watford and Solihull respectively. To cap a fine season, he ran a 49.09 to win the 400m at a Cardiff Open Meeting.
The talented young Welsh athlete began 2013 with 3rd place in the 1,500m at the Vienna Indoor Classic in 3.52.39 and then came 5th in the Gugl Indoor Meet at Linz in 1.50.11. He lowered his 800m PB to 1.48.93 at the Solihull BMC Meet, but then ran a disappointing 7th in the qualifying round of the European U/20 Championships at Rieti, Italy.
In 2014, Elliot won the Antwerp Athletiek Gala 800m in 1.50.61, and came 2nd in the Welsh International Meet at Cardiff in 1.50.32. His 2015 season centred around the USA Big-East championships when he took up a sports scholarship at Villanova University. His best performances came when winning indoors at New York in 1.48.91 and in the Larry Ellis Invitational at Princeton in 1.49.75.
Elliot began 2016 by representing Wales in the Edinburgh International XC in the mixed relay, before returning to focus on the Big-East championships. He won the Big-East 1,000m indoors in 2.26.65 and also recorded wins in the Villanova Invitational indoors 800m in 1.49.90 and in the Hurricane Alumni Invitational 1,500m in Florida in a time of 3.48.91. He ran 3 races in Ireland in the summer of 2016, winning the Morton Games 800m A race in 1.47.70.
Elliot represented Wales at the 2017 Edinburgh Cross Meet relay, and ran 8.25.75 indoors when winning the 3,000m at a Grand Prix Meet at Cardiff. He won the Welsh 800m senior championship in 2018 in 1.50.48 – and ran 1.49.41 in the colours of Donore Harriers when winning a National League match in Belfast.
Elliot was part of the Donore Harriers 4 x 400m team that set a club record 3.18.92 at the National Championships in July 2019. Last autumn he teamed up with Louis O’Loughlin, Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan and Abdel Laadjel in what proved a failed attempt to break the club’s 4 x 1-Mile relay record.
Elliot is presently based at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
STANDARD QUESTIONS
PLACE AND YEAR OF BIRTH? The ‘Diff (Cardiff) 1994. 5th of November which is great because everyone celebrates my Birthday with fireworks in the UK.
<<NOTE: Guy Fawkes Night is annually held on November 5. It is sometimes known as Bonfire Night and marks the anniversary of the discovery of a plot organized by Catholic conspirators to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London in 1605. Many people light bonfires and set off fireworks>>
WHERE WERE/ARE YOU BEING EDUCATED? I’ve been all over the place, I was ‘educated’ in Bishop Of Llandaff High school but I don’t think Educated is a good word as I learnt absolutely NOTHING due to never studying and wanting to play Mass Effect 2, Dark Souls and have a good time.
Then, after resitting my A Levels I made it to the prestigious VILLANOVA. The ol’ Irish pipeline where I lasted 3 and a half years before getting kicked off the team… – a long story! I managed to get my degree in Political Science.
Now I am at Academy Of Art in San Francisco with a fantastic team, coach and environment doing my masters in Screenwriting + Directing – a big flip from Political Science, I know!
I’m just trying to ride the NCAA scholarship wave and prove a few things to a few people. The hermit of the NCAA.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR CAREER PATH? Careers wise it’s been absolutely wacky. I got my first job in Digital Marketing with absolutely zero experience as I blagged my way through the interview. I managed to then pick-up valuable and incredible skills over the year, going to seminars across the country and even to Texas to an exclusive marketing conference. From these skills I feel fully capable in the Digital Marketing field and have worked mostly freelance, consulting with small/big businesses and helping build that digital profile. During this I have picked up Videography and Photography to add to my arsenal where I do events, locations and more.
Ultimately though, this means very little to me as I want to make movies. Which I try to do in my spare time. I feel this field of work is very helpful as I have full creative control, which translates well to filmmaking and especially Directing.
In 2020 I was also teaching kids Youtube/Filmmaking across the country during Covid-19. I have NO idea how I was allowed to do it, but it was incredible to help the youth of today get some creative education during the hard times.
IN WHAT YEAR DID YOU JOIN DONORE HARRIERS? Long ago now! I have no idea of the date, but it must be about 4 years at least.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE DONORE HARRIERS? You can thank your man John Travers for that. We met at a race in Sligo and became really good friends. I have stayed with John on many occasions for extended periods of time where we would train with Jerry Kiernan and mope around Dublin/Sligo.
Then, John introduced me to Iain and the club, and the rest was history. I was soon familiar with all the lads and absolutely loved the atmosphere, kindness, and authenticity of the club. A club that promotes everything I love.
WERE YOU A MEMBER OF ANY OTHER CLUB BEFORE JOINING DONORE HARRIERS? Cardiff AAC in the UK – None other in Ireland.
DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN ANY OTHER SPORT? Absolutely not, I’m the least talented athlete you’d ever meet. I’d probably fall over and die if I did anything else.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ATHLETICS EVENT? The 4 x 400m, nothing better than RIPPING a fast leg with the lads.
WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT ROLE(S) AT THE CLUB? I’m an athlete at the club. I live in Ireland most months, when I’m not in America, and compete for them when I can.
WHO WERE/ARE YOUR SPORTING INSPIRATIONS/INFLUENCES? Jerry Kiernan.
SOCIAL QUESTIONS
WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ? I’m currently smashing Hyperion by Dan Simmons. A great Sci Fi about a group of people going to see what’s up on a planet with an Alien lifeform that can grant wishes but also destroy everything it encounters.
WHAT WAS THE LAST CONCERT YOU ATTENDED? My last concert was Saint Motel in San Francisco, an absolute BELTER of a show. It was an all-ages concert and there were kids and mothers at the front, but you bet I was yelling louder than any of them. They are a performative band that tell self-contained stories in their songs, they crowd surfed in a plastic rocket, made a dance floor and belted every last tune. The most I’ve ever sweat. San Francisco shut down a week later due to Covid-19.
WHAT ARE YOUR 3 FAVOURITE FILMS?
1. Through A Glass Darkly (Bergman)
2. Manchester By The Sea (Lonergan)
3. Ikiru (Kurosawa)
Honourable mentions: Assassination Of Jesse James; Interstellar; Anything Paul Thomas Anderson and The Before Trilogy, and Everybody Wants Some by Richard Linklater.
FAVOURITE COUNTRY VISITED? The USA hands down. The most generous, compassionate, and loving people I have ever met. Apart from the glaring issues, the USA has an atmosphere like no other place on Earth.
WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER INTERESTS AWAY FROM ATHLETICS/SPORT? Filmmaking. Photography. Music Discovery. Meeting People. All of these things factor into my life more than running. I am constantly trying to write new material to shoot, find people to collaborate with and develop my technical skills with Photography.
My day centres around planning each of these things alongside my athletics. Therefore school can sometimes suffer because that can take a back seat for me.
IF DISERT ISLAND DISCS ASKED YOU TO PLAY 3 SONGS, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?
- Sleep Forever – Portugal The Man
- Pink Floyd – Shine On You Crazy Diamond
- Goodbye – Bleachers
ATHLETICS QUESTIONS
WHO IS/ARE YOUR COACH(ES)? I’ve had many and continue to work with different ones. The late Jerry Kiernan was one of my most regular coaches and would train me in Ireland and help me improve in every single way.
Darrel Maynard coached me for years before and during Villanova when I was back. He helped bring out the best in my skill set and made me want to stay in the sport.
Matt Elias in Cardiff took me under his wing when I was back in Wales, a new way of training which is paying off.
Steve Fuelling is my coach in America who is fantastic. He’s going to help me run my fastest whilst I am here.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR BEST ATHLETICS ACHIEVEMENT? Probably my PB race in Santry <<a win in 1.47.70 PB>>. I had no idea what was going on and ran a respectable time. Was an absolute blast to see my PB on the clock and am still chasing that feeling to this day!
WHAT ARE YOUR BEST TIMES (PBs)? Hah. I hate bragging.
<<NOTE: from research – 400m – 49.09; 800m – 1.47.70; 1,000m – 2.26.65 indoors; 1,500m – 3.48.26, 3,000m – 8.25.75 indoors>>
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COACHED SESSION? One that absolutely SMASHES my legs and puts me in a hole. 800m paced sessions usually do the trick. I absolutely LOVE the gym though, could be in there every day if need be.
DESCRIBE THE MOST DIFFICULT SESSION THAT YOU HAVE DONE? 3 x 400m with 5 minutes recovery in 49/50. I threw up and couldn’t think straight for days.
WHAT IS YOUR TYPICAL WEEKLY TRAINING PLAN? About 20 – 25 miles a week with 3 training sessions (4, 8, 5k) with the Gym 3 times a week lifting heavy. Slow running after or on the off days. Anything over 40 minutes makes me want to quit running all together, so I try to focus on short and sweet.
DO YOU HAVE A FUNNY STORY RELATED TO ATHLETICS/THE CLUB? My funniest story is having the Irish flag next to my name in the Morton Games IMC because I had been there for so long and couldn’t get rid of me.
WHAT ONE CHANGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AT DONORE HARRIERS? Nothing! Keep it up!
WHO ARE YOUR TOP 4 IRISH SPORTSPERSONS OF ALL TIME?
- Jerry Kiernan
- John Travers
- Cillian Kirwan
Special mention – Frank O’Mara
WHO ARE YOUR TOP 3 WELSH SPORTSPERSONS OF ALL TIME?
- Sam Gordon <<sprinter>>
- Sam Gordon
- Sam Gordon
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
WHERE DID YOUR INTEREST IN ATHLETICS STEM FROM? When I kept losing XC races then my dad made me run with him and I started winning. From this it gave me a lot of respect, I don’t have interest much in the sport itself, but I love what it can give to people and the self-improvement.
DID YOU COMPETE AS A SCHOOLBOY OR YOUTH ATHLETE? Yeah, I was one of those really good kidsthat struggle to get back to those times as a senior. I think it’s because I really didn’t care at all back then and just ran without the fear of pain because I wanted to get home and eat cake or watch Naruto.
IS IT TRUE THAT YOU WERE ORIGINALLY DOING PARKRUNS BEFORE CONCENTRATING TO MIDDLE DISTANCE? I think Parkruns were vital in my development. Basically a 20-minute tempo run every Saturday. I used to do them with my dad.
HAVE YOU WON ANY WELSH OR U.K. CHAMPIONSHIPS MEDALS? I have won a few Welsh Champs and I think I got top 3 in the UK twice. It’s been a long time as I’ve been away from the UK for so long!
TELL US ABOUT THE FIRST TIME YOU GOT TO REPRESENT WALES? Funny thing is that I competed for GB before I did Wales. I was never selected for a Welsh vest because I was a nobody. I then went and smashed some good times at a British Milers Club meet and ended up at the World Youth Champs. You best believe my Welsh kit arrived then!
But, for Wales! I think it was Vienna indoors with my best mates Sam Gordon, Joe Thomas and Dewi Hammond. It was absolutely hilarious! Sam, Dewi and I caused havoc, had a laugh and did stupid stuff the entire time but the coaches couldn’t be mad because we still ran extremely well. Sam Gordon overdosed on caffeine and couldn’t sleep / almost died. We played darts in the dark and had late night snacks at the McCafe. Those were the days!
YOU COMPETED IN THE WORLD YOUTH GAMES IN LILLE, FRANCE IN 2011. HOW WAS THAT EXPERIENCE? It was fun. I was just some kid who had absolutely no experience in sport. I just ran. Everyone else was already a young superstar and knew what to do, so a lot of it was just having a laugh with a few of the athletes and not thinking about the race. It was a lot of laughs and jokes. I remember trying to sneak out with the sprinters because we weren’t allowed out to get food. So, we dressed up trying to look ‘French’ and leave. We got caught and sent back instantly.
YOU GOT A SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP TO VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY. TELL US ABOUT THAT? PERHAPS LIST THE POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES – AND PLEASE GIVE US AN INSIGHT INTO COMPETING IN THE ‘BIG EAST’ CHAMPIONSHIPS?
This is a tasty one. I will try to make it brief and in two parts.
I did get a scholarship to Villanova and stayed to complete my degree. I reached out to them, worked to re-sit my exams and eventually got in. I was 20. It’s no secret that it did not go well for me. The coach and I did not get on at all toward the end due to injury, hobbies and social life.
A lot of it came to mindset. I was young, naive and unsure of myself going in. The environment, when I arrived, contained a lot of homophobia, bigotry and racism which thrust me into a really negative headspace that took a toll on every aspect of my life.
Regardless of that it was still the best experience of my life. I made some fantastic friends. I had some incredible experiences, and it changed my life for the better. I wouldn’t be who I am today without the experience. The racing was great. You’d get solid competition every time. However, if you run bad a few times – prepare to get slaughtered…
I will make a general statement about the pros and cons, in my experience, of the D1 experience. This may have changed but is my perspective.
I should preface that I am a social person with many interests outside of athletics. I like to explore, create, and do a lot of things outside of sport which is not even in my mind when I’m not training or competing.
PROS –
- A team. You will make lifelong friends and have a rare bond with people that is hard to find anywhere else.
- Racing. You will be racing absolute beasts pretty much every race.
- Social Life. You can make it as fun as you want. If you like parties, they are there. You can meet so many different and wonderful people.
- Easy life. Everything is catered for you. Apartment, food and training – You don’t really live as an adult, but everything is streamlined and simple for you.
- Access to facilities and training rooms.
CONS –
- Cookie cutter training. Often not individualised, so if you don’t respond well to the training you’re screwed- and the blame will be placed on you.
- Injury danger. You have a big meet coming up and are injured? You might be forced into racing to further damage yourself.
- Less individual focus. Your other passions/hobbies will get pushed/ discouraged if you are on scholarship. You are seen as a business interaction at times which can take hold of your whole life.
I could list 100,000 of each but ultimately: It was great if you were a distance runner who wanted to run well and focus SOLELY on that. The training was extremely catered toward building that aerobic base by using lactate testing in most sessions. If you are interested in being more social, pursuing other hobbies alongside running fast and living a more independent life then I don’t think this would be the right option for you.
YOU ARE NOW BACK IN THE UNITED STATES AT THE ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY. MAYBE TELL US ABOUT YOUR NORMAL DAY WITHIN THAT ENVIRONMENT? I love the Academy Of ART. It’s not a traditional campus and we live in the city of San Francisco. You feel like an adult, balancing your time between training and any other hobbies you have. You are encouraged to be creative and take running/training seriously. All of the training is individualised.
The coaches are extremely communicative and support you on and off the track, but they still expect you to do your absolute best for the team, which is what I always want.
A normal day: I wake up and eat my Marmite on toast about 9am and then get to catching up on news. Reading or writing a screenplay, then we take a bus and mosey over to practice where the entire team meets, and we do our separate sessions. We finish around 2 or 3 o’clock, and I either go proactive roller-skating at 6th Avenue in Golden Gate Park or go home and sleep/write/watch a movie. In the evenings I get up to all sorts of adventures exploring the city or planning my next day. We also have classes, so I attend those on Zoom at the moment.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE EVENT WHILST COMPETING FOR DONORE HARRIERS? 4 x 400m at the Nationals where we won.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE TRIP ASSOCIATED WITH ATHLETICS/THE CLUB? AND WHY? In athletics it was after the Miami meet where me and the lads took an Uber to Miami city, had a great night out, and went for a long run at 3am in the Miami heat. We ended up in a huge hotel, took the elevator to the top floor, and ended up at a wedding reception in our short shorts. We took some food and high tailed it out of there.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING YOUNG ATHLETES? There is no right way to do it. Don’t be afraid to prepare and act yourself at any time. There is such a weird culture in athletics where being serious is the right way to be. SCRAP THAT. The sport is whatever you want it to be, you can make it many different ways. Don’t feel like you have to fit in or be anyone else just be you and remember – Nothing really matters until you’re a senior athlete anyway so don’t sacrifice too much as a kid, it’s the only time you can be goofy, have no expectations of the world and grow as a person so don’t stunt that by overwhelming yourself with one thing.
You only get those years once in your life so go out and have fun, train hard and win easy.