The site commenced late in 2000 and
the first major database, the Parish Walk records, was
published just a few hours before the year end.
The site was originally written using
NetObjects Fusion. I commenced a complete re-design
In November 2001 using, what I judged to be, a much better software application,
Namo WebEditor, although I still use a later version
of NetObjects for another site.
When
I started the first re-design, I publicly thanked the
significant contributors during the first year.
Bridget Kaneen, Steve Partington, Graham Davies, Stan
Hall, Peter Cooper, Chris Quine, Caroline Brand and Richie
Stevenson are all still prolific contributors but there
are so many others now that I cannot mention them all
on this page. So thanks to everyone and a special mention
to Steve Taylor who at one point was sending me several
emails a day.
The
number of regular visitors to the site has increased
dramatically and some people appear to check for updates
several times a day. People with specialist interests
log in from Britain, Ireland and around the world and
if you are reading this whilst visiting for the first
time, welcome.
The
site is still largely compiled in Namo WebEditor but
I use Acrobat Pdf files significantly so you should
visit www.adobe.com
and ensure that you have the most up to date version
of Acrobat Reader (it's free).
Although
the www.manxathletics.com
domain name does the trick of finding the homepage,
the pages that are linked are stored
on a number of different computers around the world.
Initially
the www.manxathletics.com
domain name pointed your browser to a sub domain of
another of my sites, www.murrayandmarie.com
and many more of the files were stored on www.geocities.com
but in 2002 I bought another package and lots of the
pages are stored under the domain name www.manxathletics.info
The dispersal of the files, although done on cost
grounds, makes it difficult to use a search engine within
the whole www.manxathletics.com
concept but over time I hope to improve your search
for information even more.
As
a start, in
December 2003 I started yet another re-organisation
and since then all new files have been published
directly under the www.manxathletics.com
domain but old files still remain where they were.
In
2001 I registered the www.parishwalk.com
domain name and created a separate website, although
it is closely linked to the main project.
A
few months later I registered the www.manxharriers.com
domain with the hope of training someone else to take
on the site on behalf of that club. I'm still hoping
that this will happen in 2004!
Furthermore
the www.iomaa.co.uk
domain has been registered by me on behalf of the Isle
of Man Athletics Association. Although Graham
Davies has experienced some teething problems, it
is hoped that the IOMAA will have their own website
before too long.
Needless
to say, when someone is as willing and enthusiastic
to run an independent website there is less pressure
on the clubs to do so. I've always said however that
I do not envisage spending as much time as I do now
in front of a computer screen for the rest of my life
and it is therefore important that others start to develop
their own sites in readiness for the day I stop.
The
recent addition of Western AC's website has therefore
been hugely welcomed adding to the Isle of Man Veteran
Athletes' Club site which was the first club site
on the Island.
One
useful development during 2003 has been the addition
of a picture
site by Anthony Brand
and now Steve Partington has developed a similar
site. As the number of digital cameras in use has increased
dramatically I hope that more people will consider their
own sites like this.
The
purchase of my own digital camera (a Hewlett Package
photosmart 715) in March 2002 was one of the major steps
forward for the site and I've now taken about 16,000
pictures.
We've
almost reached the point where a few athletes in the
Isle of Man will have there own websites and expect
Commonwealth Games High Jumper Martin Aram to be the
first to reach this height shortly.
I've
tried not to duplicate the work of the club sites where
they exist and you will find a links to club sites on
the navigation bars on all of
the main pages.
Fell
Running has the most straightforward programme of events
and this enabled me to build a site within a site in
2002 with a page for each of their events. This has
remained popular judging by the number of hits and the
Manx Mountain Marathon Organisation now have their own
site at www.manxmountainmarathon.co.uk
to promote their prestigious event.
One
of the things I have taken great pride in during the
past 3 years and more has been to provide the results
and pictures extremely quickly, sometimes with most
of the coverage completed before the last person has
finished. It is still a little frustrating therefore
that some event promoters do not either send me the
results or provide a link to their own website.
During
2003 the forum's use increased. If you have some
views, or you would like someone else to provide
you with information, please use the forum. It
adds to the benefits that others gain from the site
without creating any extra work for me. Although
I do my best to forward messages, I cannot take
responsibility for emails I receive on club or organisational
matters.
I continue
to welcome contributions of all sorts. I make a judgement
as to whether to publish the contributions straightaway
or keep something up my sleeve for another day but I
publish 99% of what I receive with many thanks.
I've
never enjoyed the sport as much overall, despite my athletic
performances declining, and the friendly atmosphere improves
all the time. If I have helped you through this
site gain as much enjoyment from the sport as I have
done, then my work will have been worthwhile.
Murray
Lambden
11 March 2004
MANXATHLETICS.COM
END TO END WALK
COVERAGE
On 17 June I announced that, due to a number of personal circumstances,
daily updates to manxathletics.com would cease with immediate
effect.
As previously stated, the site will remain online for databases,
historical information and links to other sites,
including the photo sites on the left hand navigation
bar. Use the google search facility at the
foot of this page to find information.
For up to date news, and comment, access the
manxathletics.com forum. Better still, add your
own comments.
Eventually I hope to contribute
directly to the site again but to revert to my original
intention of working on it at times that suit me
that can be fitted around my other commitments rather
than allowing (due my enthusiasm) the site to dictate
the time that remains for the other things in my
life. There will, therefore, be no more daily updates,
but the focus will be on information and databases
and, if required, to use the site as a portal to
other Manx Athletics links.
I have agreed to provide the results service
for the End to End Walk on 26 September and so inevitably
I will be publishing entry lists and results, together
with some pictures, online. I'm looking forward
to it.
Murray Lambden, 12 August 2004
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