Midlands Vets T&F League

Fixture 1 – Worcester 

Wednesday 10th May

Report – David Jones

This season’s Vets league got underway in pleasant conditions at the Nunnery Wood Sports Complex. 

Our Vets team got off to a flying start with our 100m sprinters, who enjoyed three 1st place finishes, two placed 2nd and 5 placed 3rd, meaning our sprinters contributed over 25% of our total points tally on the night.

There were wins for Mark Illingworth (15.0), Elaine Ledden (15.5) both winning by almost a second and Paula Williams (14.0), winning by 1.6 seconds.  The second place finishers were David Jones (17.8) and Simon Curran (13.9), although Simon ran the same time as the athlete adjudged winner of his race. Kate Sergent, (23.6) Kelly Milner (15.6), both having run the London Marathon a couple of weeks previous and Kelly making her debut, Clare Goodwin  (17.7) and Dave Battersby (13.3) finished in 3rd place. Dave emulated that position in his 400m race (58.9). Alistair Webb (13.7) picked up a valuable 4 points in his 100m.

Our race walkers had another successful night with a 2nd place finish for Paul Hawkins (14:01.0), 3rd place finishes for Kate Sergent (14.26. 0) and Gemma Smith (14.18.7), with Peter Sugden (15.18) picking up a valuable 4 points for finishing 5th. Peter would possibly be the first to admit that racewalking is not exactly playing to his strength and he went on to finish 3rd in his 400m (64.8) race, a distance that saw Elaine Ledden (79.2) destroy the field in her race, winning by a margin of 9.4 seconds. 

Kim Lee having only returned form the World Triathlon Championships in Ibiza a couple of days earlier, finished 4th in her 400m (88.2) and 3rd (6:57.2) in the mile. Richard Gubby, the senior members Most Improved Athlete of the Year was also making his Vets T&F debut, finishing 6th in the 400m (63.8).

In the M35 mile Ben Kruze (4:35.7) looked to have a race on his hands for the first 3 laps. It turned out that was not the case. Having run nip and tuck with the runner from Halesowen for the first 1200m, he finished with an astonishing turn of speed over the last couple of hundred metres to win by a comfortable margin of almost 6 seconds. Matt Burdus-Cook (4:57.0) also won his M40 mile race by 6 seconds. Clare Goodwin (6:44.6) finished 2nd in her mile race, with team captain Hannah Osbourne (6:56.7) finishing in 4th in her W35 category. Ian Hill, the final debutant of the night, managed 4th place in both the M60 mile (7:40.9) and long jump (3.33m).

The 4×200 m relays saw our ladies finish in 2nd place and our men 3rd.

In the field events there were victories for Paula Williams in long jump (4.40m) and high jump, (1.25), 2nd place finishes for Andy List (1.30) and Dave Battersby (1.45) in the high jump and 3rd place finishes for Elaine Ledden (1.10), also in the high jump, Mark Illingworth (21.17) in the discus and David Jones  (2.37) in the long jump. Mark was 7th in the hammer (13.32)

There were 4th place finishes for Elaine Ledden (11.53) in the discus, Liz Crabtree, making a welcome return, in the hammer (16.13) and Kate Sergent (1.41)in the long jump.

The final results for the night placed us 2nd overall with 242.5 points, just 20.5 points behind Worcester but over 60 points clear of 3rd placed Bromsgrove and Redditch. Our men’s team finished on 117.5 points, 9.5 behind Worcester and our ladies were also 2nd with 125 points, 11 behind Worcester.

Huge thanks are due to our officials on the night, without who we could well have suffered points deduction and without who the fixture could not have gone ahead.

The next fixture is on 14th June and we will be hosting it at the Stratford track. Why not come along and support us if you’re not competing ?

Rabia’s Visually Impaired 10k Challenge
 

Report – Rabia Abdul-Hakim

The third annual Visually Impaired (VI) 10k Challenge – the UK’s first dedicated race for blind and partially sighted runners – took place at the  AJ Bell Great Bristol Run on 14th May.

I decided to participate with Maliha as my guide runner. This was especially significant as Maliha is my only child, out of six, who is currently diagnosed with the same eye condition that I have, though her condition is not advanced.

I was 28 years old when I was diagnosed with Keratoconus – a genetic condition that affects the cornea causing severe blurred vision and sensitivity to light and glare and by 2015, I was using a white cane.

Though I later had bilateral corneal transplants, I was only able to recover some of my vision.

But I was determined to maintain my fitness. So last year, Maliha and I started running, participating in several races and marathons, including Shakespeare, Dubai and the London Marathon.

And last Sunday’s VI 10k Challenge in Bristol did not disappoint. 

The cool, spring air was buzzing with excitement as we were directed to the front of the start area with thousands of runners corralled behind us.

For the first time, I experienced how the elites must feel – the rush of adrenaline as the gun went off and we were the first out. 

The crowds screamed our names as we streamed through Bristol city centre with our feet slamming to the beat of drummers lining the streets. 

As race marshals bellowed instructions to guide runners, I stayed focused – eyes forward, listening intently to Maliha as she simultaneously warned me about the terrain underfoot and coached me on my pace. 

I was hoping to place in the VI top three female category, but I was struggling by the time we reached the 8km mark. 

My mind was racing. My fuelling must be off. Maybe I’m dehydrated. 

All the while we could hear another VI female and her guide right behind us, calling out commands, “Come on Jacqui, lift your feet up!”

Right then, Maliha ripped open a gel with her teeth. “Take this! Now, come on. You’ve got this, Mummy!” she said, egging me on. 

I gulped the gel down, thinking, Dig deep. Finish strong.

As the finish line loomed in front of us, the crowd cheered to blaring music, but I could still hear my other two daughters screaming from behind the barriers, “Come on, Mommy!”

I was so proud to be 2nd female in the VI 10k Challenge with 57:22 – a PB of 2 minutes. 

But do you know the best thing about that day?

It was knowing that I was inspiring my children, and other people, to think beyond “normal” possibilities and to triumph regardless of what life throws at you. 

Medals are great, but having mental toughness to overcome adversity is priceless!

Report – Phil Brennan

I’m beginning to think that Half marathons and me should agree to disagree.

I started the Bristol Half Marathon (one of the biggest events I’ve done in recent years) reasonably hopeful of a SB but slightly concerned that I have a history of not doing well in the early season heat.

It also might not have been a brilliant idea to have a covid vaccination 24 hours earlier.

And so it came to pass. After two miles, I was looking for the shady side of the road. At the turn point, a combination of heat and humidity, blisters and strange pains brought me to a stop. I decide to jog to the finish, fully in the expectation of having to quit for assistance.

The last three miles, twisting and turning in no more than half a square mile in the city centre, would have been more of a nightmare except for the amazing enthusiasm of the spectators.

I had stopped so often, I had no idea of time. At 2hr 13, I was unsurprised to be 2nd of 2 M80s. What was surprising and if I had checked beforehand I could have saved myself a lot of grief, was that I was 17minutes inside the EA masters qualifying time and provisionally on my way to another vest.

But hang on a minute, that means I’ve got to do another one at some time. I really didn’t think this through.

Lake 62 Spring Aquathlon.

Report – Adam Linforth
 

On Saturday 13th May, I travelled down to the beautiful Cotswold Water Park to compete in the Sprint Aquathlon At The Lake 62 Spring Event. The event consisted of Triathlon, Aquabike, Duathalon. The Aquathlon I competed in was held over a 750m swim and a 6k run.

The morning was a little overcast but not too cold for the first event in open water of the season. Wave 1 duly set off with those athletes in the triathlon events, to be followed by all other events setting off in wave 2, 15 minutes later.

The nerves of people were evident on the start line and as we entered the water we were met with a chilly 16 degree lake.  I set off, but was unable to get in to my rhythm for the first 150 meters as I just couldn’t catch my breath due to the temperature of the water.

In order just to get round I did my best head up swimming until I could swim properly. Sure enough I reached the first buoy and I could finally swim properly, so I made a start on reeling people back in and made my way to the exit of the lake in a time of 11:42.

Somehow I managed to press all the wrong buttons on my Garmin too and only registered a 6 yard swim! A quick dash in to transition and with no bike, helmet etc to worry about it was then off out on to the run.

I was on to my favourite part, which consisted of 4 laps (6k) of the stunning lake on a cross country course. It took about a lap for my feet to feel back to normal and actually be able to even feel them again. Not knowing who was ahead of me from the swim I set about chasing people down I could see ahead of me. Some of these were from other events and also after the first lap were on different laps to me, but gave me something to aim for and keep me motivated.

I crossed the line in 24:12 for the run and a total time of 38:02, not knowing what position I had finished in. Paranoid I hadn’t completed enough laps I quickly checked Strava to confirm I had run the 4 laps required. Phew. The next person came in nearly 5 minutes behind me, confirming I had finished in first place.. Not bad for a Saturday mornings work.. 

The event was organised by LPS Events and they hold a series throughout the season with popular mid week evening events too at Duathalon, Triathlon, Aquabike and Aquathlon taking place.

Quite handy being so close to home and definitely one to be recommended, albeit when the water is a bit warmer!