Three minutes of pain was nearly over – in sight, the finishing line and another runner! Maybe I won’t be last after all? One last effort - not quite a sprint, but a surge got me a photo finish.
As I caught my breath, Sam came over and congratulated me on smashing 11 seconds off my previous time. Surely some mistake? I’d felt awful, I’d been running through treacle, but no, a quick glance at my watch confirmed it. An 800m Personal Best.
PBs aren’t supposed to feel nice when you are actually doing them! I was buzzing afterwards though, and so was everyone else. Friendly rivalries, personal bests, perhaps even some age-graded PBs, for those who are extending their athletics careers.
Such is the fun and excitement of the club’s middle distance track racing. As we go to press, the 1500m final will have happened. But there is still time to enter the 3000m on 26 September 2024.
Do you need to be fast? - No! All abilities.
I don’t know how to say this in an original way, it really is all about the taking part, wherever you finish and however long it takes. Having said that, there are, not just the fastest overall, but age group medals too.
Could we make it even better? - Yes! More competitors! More spectators even! Come along to cheer, run or become an official timekeeper!