Northern Vets – Track & Field – Cleckheaton

Wednesday 18^th April 2007

Organisation: 10 1^st class – my first Track event for a number of years and I was really impressed with how smoothly everything went. (It was all over in about an hour!)

Value: 10 £3 to enter and I did 3 races!

Beginner Friendly: 10 Didn’t know a soul there apart from Gary and Alex, but everyone was very friendly and supportive.

Met Gary Pendlebury and Alex Rowe at The Fairfield at 5. Hit a spot of traffic on the M62, but still arrived on time.

1^st race – 800 metres

I had intended to just do the longest race, (the 3,000) but Gary and Alex were doing the 800, so I thought ‘in for a penny, in for a pound’, I’ll give it a go, especially when Gary said we could treat it as a warm up.

The starter was a right Yorkshire character and it was worth going just to listen to the banter between him and Gary! The start was a bit of a shock to the system and I didn’t want to go crazy with the main event for me being the 3,000 – but I don’t think I could have run any faster, (there was only one runner behind me and I think he was a few years older than me!)

Alex was 3^rd in 2:15-2

Gary was 4^th in 2:27-2

And I was 8^th in 2:38-2

2^nd race – 3,000 metres

As there were a few of us, the starter divided us up into 2 groups – the Ladies, 40’s and 60’s (Men) (I think) went off 1^st, much to the annoyance of one of our group – but not sure if he was joking. Alex, Gary and I jogged round the opposite way till it was our turn.

Initially, I thought I’ll be happy if I don’t get lapped, but as the race started I felt fairly comfortable and never let Gary get too far in front. I overtook a guy with about 600 metres to go and wasn’t sure if I’d gone too early, but it spurred me on to go faster as I could hear him trying to get back to me.

Alex was 2^nd in 9:43.0

Gary 4^th again in 10:35-0

And I was 5^th – 10:43-9 (a PB) (my only ever 3,000!)

3^rd race – 1500 metres

I thought the 3,000 was our last, but Gary and Alex wanted to do the 1500 as a “warm down”. I knew their warm downs and mine were very different, but I thought I’ve come all this way; I’ll give it a go. Gary and I hadn’t a clue where each race started, but Alex guided us to the start line of each one! Times were shouted out after each lap, but they didn’t really mean much to me. This race was only 3 ¾ laps, but I found myself lapping a couple of runners. I felt good on this one and managed to overtake two runners on the last lap.

Alex was 3^rd in 4:44-0

Gary was 4^th! – 5:04.03

And I was 6^th 5:16-2 (another PB!)

Gary and I went for a real warm down and thanked as may officials as we could see. I really enjoyed it. I went for a shower and had a brew and a butty and chatted to a Rotherham steeple chaser who told me I lapped him on the 3,000.

Had a couple of pints at The Fairfield and I picked up a curry on the way home as Michaela was staying overnight with Colin Laidlaw in Loughborough.

N.B.

It’s only £8 to join the Northern Vets see: http://www.nvac.co.uk/4.html

P.S.

I would just like to thank Gary for leaving a pile of currants all over the back seat of my otherwise spotless car – what were you eating????

Written by: Martin Bates

Submitted: 19^th April 2007

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor