Hello again readers, although a little late, it is time for my next blog entry!
As you've probably gathered from my previous entries, track season is not my favourite time of the year... (the least said on that, the better!) but I'm approaching my 16th birthday (24 days and counting!) and this means that I am at the higher end of the U17 men's age group. This means that I am against athletes that are supposedly less well built than I am, and this, supposedly, gives me an advantage. Have you seen me? I'm small and undeveloped and so the fact that I am older than those tanks in the years below me, is of no significance whatsoever! (I really should make a claim to the IAAF, or whoever, to change the way that races are run; instead of ages it should be done on height!) Anyways...
Track season has been going very well, including a couple of PBs in a new event for me, the 3000m and also my old "buddy" the 1500m. This year has also allowed me to experience the wonder of Woodford AC's open meetings and I have also had the misfortune (did I say misfortune? I meant fortune...) of some really tough track training, cheers Ian! (my coach).
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| A tough workout on the track! |
So the season kicked off at Chelmsford for the Essex Champs and I was about to compete in my first ever 3000m track race. It was tough going and I had to run it on my own (as everyone else was miles quicker!), but I finished in a time of 10:17. I was very happy with that, but I had set myself a goal of sub 10minutes by the end of the season and so this was just a starting block!
Next up was Woodford Green AC's open meeting where they have a great system of putting you up against people of all ages and the races are segregated into different speeds. If that's not clear, then let me give you an example: the 1500m was divided into 4 races. The first race included people of 5:30 and over and the last of the four races was those wanting to achieve a sub 5minute time. The 3000m was done as just the one race as there were not enough to divide into races and there was no need in reality. I finished in a time of 10:12, just outside the 80second 400m splits I was planning on, to reach the 10 minute goal. Nonetheless, it was a PB by 5 seconds and I was very pleased with that! Although, was running on my own again and I knew that if I could just get dragged round for a little, then maybe I could bring myself closer, or under, that 10 minute barrier! Unfortunately, my assault on the 3000m would have to wait as at the next track meeting, at Chelmsford again, I was going to be running the 1500m.
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| Eddy after his 3000m PB |
The day came and nerves were in the air (and in my stomach and head!) as I prepared to run the 1500m. Why was I doing the 1500m instead of the 3000m? Because this would enable me to pick up some speed and get my body used to running at a sub 10 minute 3000m pace. I was running in a quick race and I set off at a comfortable, yet fast pace. I was running towards the back with an athlete from Braintree and as we entered the 800m mark I was feeling strong and I went through it in a time of 2:31. This put me a second out of where I wanted to be - at 4:45 pace. I finished strongly with a brisk last lap, overtaking 3/4 people to finish in a time of 4:46 in 5th place. I was ecstatic because I knew that I had stuck to my plan and had had a good run, especially my last 400m (in 67 seconds).
Overall, these past few months have been hard, but strong in my running and as I wait anxiously for results day (21st of August) and the grades to the future, I shall be training hard and running fast, hopefully!
Keep running and reading, guys and girls!
Eddy
P.S on a non-running note, I would just like to mention how I achieved the Graham Palmer Memorial Shield (the referee of the year award) after running the line at Roots Hall (Southend United's football ground) in a youth cup final. This is an award dedicated to a good referee and one that is sorely missed from the refereeing community.
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| Graham Palmer memorial shield |
