Milestones......

Due to a wrist injury, which I don't want to fall on again just yet, I've little fresh to blog about.  So I've been reminiscing about some racing milestones.  My running career began rather late in life, a month before my 54th birthday in 1986, so there was a lot of catching up to do.  But mainly due to encouragement from a chap called Alan Taylor who took a jogging class at Huddersfield Sports Centre, I caught up rather fast. 

That wrist  (Click to enlarge pictures)

It was Alan who first recognized my racing potential, both physically and mentally, and soon had me running with a number pinned to my vest. The first milestone came quite unexpectedly a year later in July, 1987.  With hardly any training I'd optimistically entered the Pennine Marathon, a local event with 2,000ft of ascent along its undulating route. 

The Chippendale Trophy for 1st MV55 in the Pennine Marathon

It was a scorching July day and runners suffering from heat exhaustion, cramp or dehydration were dropping like flies by the roadside.  I plodded on and was amazed to learn I'd won the MV55 category with my time of 3.30.04.  I left the field with a silver cup, a voucher for £25 and a bath towel donated by the Sponsors, Ellis & Booth.
 Life was never the same again..
The following year I set a new MV55 course record of 3.05.47.

That meaningless London medal

A Sikh called Ajit Singh, who finished 2nd to me in the Pennine, was responsible for my MV60 milestone in 1992. "You really should run London, you'll beat them all (meaning the MV60's) and be a world champion" he said.  Being out of work I couldn't really afford to go to London but Ajit was insistent.  "You can stay with me and my friends, it wont cost you anything but the coach fare".  I was persuaded.  And Ajit was right.  I did beat all the MV60's to win the British Championship and was told I'd the fastest MV60 time in the world that year with my 2.54.18.  My medal arrived weeks later with an explanatory note from Alan Storey but no engraving to say what it was for, i.e. 1st MV60.   I was pretty disgusted with that... However, just one week after that London Victory I ran the Three Peaks of Yorkshire (24 miles/4,500ft ascent) - against all advice - and took the MV60 title in that too.  My 'Peaks' medal, appropriately engraved, is a prized possession.
At the other end of the scale, 1st MV60 in the Leeds Abbey Dash in 37.28 was another notable achievement of my 60th year.

 Northern Veterans 10,000m record holders
Can't find the trophy!

As an MV65 I ran quite a lot of Track races and was rarely beaten in my category.  Some of my best times were: 100m in 14.9, 200m in 30.8, 400m in 67.1 and a memorable 800m at Don Valley Stadium in 2.28.1.

Still friends.  With the late Eric Smith 

But one that sticks im my mind most was a Northern Veteran's 10,000m Track Championship at Leverhulme Park, Bolton in October 1997.  A friend of mine, Eric Smith of Otley A.C. (sadly, now deceased), had held the record for 10 years and I was determined to take it off him.  I knocked ½ minute off it with a time of 39.31.  I believe that record still stands.

Fell Runners Association MV70  Championship medal

Between December 1999 and February 2004 I only raced once, a 10K road race at Wesham where I won the MV70 category in 45.54.  So, when the Fell Runner's Association announced they were going to include an MV70 category into their series of Championship races I wasn't sure whether I'd be fit enough for the challenge.  The winner would be the one with most points after four races.  I decided to give it a go.

..and the reverse side

I won the first two - the 9 mile Noonstone Fell Race and 4 mile Buckden Pike - but suffered a severe calf injury with 2 miles still to run in the 12 mile Kentmere Horseshoe race in Cumbria. I limped on to finish 2nd and in doing so amassed enough points to win the Championship without having to run the last race.
I didn't race again for 12 months.

MV70 trophy - except I was 75 that very day

With my 75th birthday looming I searched through the racing calendar for an event that actually took place on my birthday.  A flat 10K road race at Kings Lynn in Norfolk, The Great East Anglia Run, seemed to fit the bill.  I got there to find prizes were only being awarded in 10 year age categories.  There was no MV75 category.  Oh well, I hadn't driven all that way for nothing.  I'd just have to beat all the MV70's.  And that's exactly what I did, blazing through the Finish in 45.32.
Weeks later I was 1st MV75 in the British Masters Athletic Federation 5K Road Championships at Chorley with a time of 22.24
Then Gold medallist in the British Masters Athletic Federation 800m Championship at Alexander Stadium, Birmingham in 2.46.11
No-one can say I'm not versatile!

Running into my 80's in the Ilkley Trail race
finishing far from last

Reaching my 80th birthday was in itself a milestone!  I was beginning to lose interest in racing because it was a bit embarrassing being awarded 1st prize in a category in which I hadn't actually beaten anybody!  But I was still a force to be reckoned with as many, much younger than me, found out as they trailed in my wake - like in the 7 miles and 700ft of the Ilkley trail race where I finished 165th of 219 runners in 67.27.

2012 MV80 Track & Field rankings

Racing on the Track at least meant I'd a little competition so I'd one final fling at the Yorkshire Veterans Track & Field Championships and finished up topping the British Rankings at three distances.

A favourite little trophy

In a hilly 10K road race, the Bentham Beagles Bash, I finished in the top half of the field in 54.31, an MV80 Course Record.
All in all, I ran 20 races as an MV80, then called it a day.  There's a slim possibility I might do a 5K Parkrun if only to add another course record to my collection.   But then again.....