We only went and flippin’ won 😃

[RunBrianRun]

England Masters Inter Area Indoor Championship’s at the Lee Valley athletics centre.

First “serious” race for me in the vets and masters tournaments. I got selected for the men’s 60+ 200 metre team based on a 100m and a 400m run I did last year in the southern vets league.

With just 4 weeks notice pressure was certainly on as I’d never run a 200 or on an indoor track before. It’s very disconcerting running on a tight bend with a camber and I stumbled a little on the final bend but held it together thankfully.

We got off to a fabulous start. The first leg runner has just returned from the Indoor European championships with a 60m gold medal so we got off to a great start!

I was put on leg 3 so my chances of dropping the baton were double 😬 and with seven other teams vying for position I was glad we were in the lead at the exchange. Anyway I put those baton dropping thoughts out of my head, took the baton safely, and just ran my heart out.

I was really surprised how good I felt and managed to maintain my speed for most of the leg only tiring slightly on the hand over. There’s definitely more there. Can’t wait for the outdoor season now.

I ran my split in 28,0 dead and was really happy with that time. It was the second fastest on the team too.

It was a long way to drive for 30 seconds of running but it was really worth it. I’m hoping to get selected for an individual event soon. That’s my target anyway. For now it’s back to the gym and track for more training. I can do this!

Well done to all you runners out there today. You’re all fab 👍💪💥

[Katnap Marathon]

🎉 onwards again! No pressure 🤣

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Katnap]

Thanks Katnap . 👍 I have a serious love hate relationship with pressure. 😬😂

[Katnap Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

Right. Sometimes a bit of nervous energy helps fire those fast twitch muscles 💥

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Wow! And don’t you all look professional in your kit? Who’d have thought that c25k could lead to you running for UK? Good luck with this new adventure Brian.

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy5 It was exhilarating, I’m not yet racing for the GB team. This race was the England Area teams, I’m targeting the GB Team at the Gothenburg world championship in 2024. Everything crossed that my training and health are good. 👍

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to RunBrianRun]

Excellent. Do you know, I have been wondering over the last few days what your old forum name was. Got it now! 🤣🤣

[RunWillie Marathon]

Amazing! RunBrianRun 😍

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Thank you RunWillie 😊

[buzzards]

Inspiring stuff, which also sounds fun. 👌👏

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to buzzards]

buzzards thank you 😊

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Absolutely epic Brian, all of you. Seeing your training on Strava left me in no doubt that if your team mates were half as speedy as you, you’d win this weekend. You didn’t disappoint! 🏆🎉

I bet you’re totally buzzing. Really well done! 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

☺️ aww thank you cheekychipmunks 😊 Definitely still buzzing and feeling brill! 😃😁

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😍😍😍

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Thank you roseabi . The Brighton sea front wind is a great resistance trainer 😂 Embrace that headwind 😃😂👍

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

I'll bear that in mind... 😂

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Fantastic!!!!

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you Oldfloss 😊

[Windoze Half Marathon]

Whoop ! Omg that's so good! Well done you 👏 👍 🥳

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Windoze]

Windoze thank you so much 😊

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Whoop whoop 👏👏💪 congratulations and very well done Brian and rest of team! That’s amazing. I’d love to have seen that. Did anyone take a video?

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you Irishprincess 😊 There was a live stream I believe and a few others were recording events. I’d love to see it too 😂 so if I find anything I’ll let you know. 👍😊

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

Ooh yes please!

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Hi IP I’ve managed to find one decent photo. I look a bit demonic mind 😂

Action

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

That’s a brilliant action shot Brian! Look at that determination!

[R4inbow Ultramarathon]

Amazing stuff, well done Brian!

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to R4inbow]

Thank you R4inbow 👍

[Cmoi Marathon]

Fantantandabbydabbydoozy RunBrianRun - many congratulations! Didn't drop baton, picked up medai instead! 🥇

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

😂 Yes! Thank you Cmoi 👍 Your faith in me was well placed 😂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Wow!!! Just amazing, awesome!!! Huge congratulations

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thank you linda9389 😊

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon]

I have just found out it was a Championship Best Performance 🤩

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

Wooooooooh!!!! 🥳🥳🥳

[misswobble Marathon]

Wow! Check you out in your Nike Alpha Fly’s! Way to go man 💪😀🏅🎉👏👊✊

Great work there. You must be really pleased with yourselves. What an absolute blast. Well done 🌪🔥💥🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Thank you misswobble it was a lot of fun mixed in with a lot of adrenaline 😂👍

[misswobble Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

I bet it was!

Exhilarating stuff 😀🏃‍♂️

[Frenc Half Marathon]

How brill! Many congratulations 🥳, and what a great photo.

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Frenc]

Frenc thank you 😊

[TailChaser Marathon]

You sure can Brian!! Congratulations 🥳 to you all! Here’s to the start of something amazing!

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

Thank you TailChaser 😊 I hope so. I’ll keep the training up for sure as it’s great fun. I’ve never used a gym before. 😂😬

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

Wow, never? Welcome to the instruments of torture! Actually, they are very useful for strength and cross training. Good luck 👍

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

I have used gyms in hotels before but this time I’ve joined an actual gym and I’m paying membership. I had my induction 2 weeks ago and it was really hard work but I know I need to build up my strength to stay fit and healthy and to stay in shape for running. I’m actually enjoying it so far 😬

It’s also in the sports complex where the track is, so it works really well as I can follow the gym with some track work or vice versa.

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

That sounds really good Brian 👍

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

I've never used a gym either TailChaser and have absolutely no intention of ever doing so! But there again I'm nowhere near RunBrianRun 's standard, nor do I have your level of commitment. 😀

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

You’re just amazing Cmoi, I could only dream of having your level of strength and fitness to get up those hills.

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

Thanks TailChaser 🙏 As I've always run hills I just accept them as normal!

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Yes you’rea hill slayer Cmoi 👍

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

Ooh I like this RunBrianRun , I could (and almost certainly will) shout as I run through the forest, "Make way for the hillslayer!"

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

😂😂😂👍

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

That really is awesome Brian, well done to all of you

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you SueAppleRun it was one of those special days I shall remember for a long time. 😊

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon]

Wow! Amazing result there Brian. Seems your well on your way to Gothenburg.

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to SkiMonday]

Hey thanks SkiMonday 👍 I really hope so. Lots and lots of work to be done between now and then but it’s nice to have a goal 😊👍

[Blackberrypie Half Marathon]

Fantastic work, well done you (and the rest of the team of course!)

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Blackberrypie]

Thank you Blackberrypie they all did a fantastic job! We beat the old Championship record by over 4 seconds. 😊

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon]

Brilliant! Just red some of your old posts! So wow! And many other wows! What a journey! (I think that you are 2nd from the left) Fantastic! 🎉👏💪🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️I am shaking my head in wonderment!!!!! 😊

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

☺️ that’s such a lovely reply 😊 thank you so much for that, it’s very much appreciated. I’m just off to “the hill” for more intervals. Your encouraging words will spur me on!

I’m third from the left in that picture. The chap on my right is the current European 60m champion! He’s SO fast!

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

One of your posts that I read suggested that your brother running with you helped, if I remember correctly, a new parkrun PB. Is your brother still running? I have never been that good at faces! Just wondering if being shorter, implying shorter legs puts you at a disadvantage for speedy running. Clearly you do brilliantly what ever your height! 😊🏃🏻‍♂️

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

My brother is my inspiration. He’s been through hell and back with cancer and still he keeps on running. He’s currently suffering with a bad bout of covid but is still hoping to make the Brighton Marathon in April. It’ll be his 10th Marathon.

He got me started and believing in myself. I love running with him but our training paths are very different now so we don’t run together as often as we might. In fact just writing this now makes me think we ought to go for a Parkrun together when he is fully recovered.

I think having shorter legs is actually a bonus for sprinters as it lowers the centre of gravity. Many sprinters have short legs and longer backs. Being short certainly doesn’t seem to matter too much either. I really don’t know. Food for thought though. 🤔

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

I really don't claim to have any knowledge at all in such matters. I have not given a thought to my centre of gravity recently if ever!! My husband tells me that Ussain Bolt was unusual in terms of a sprinter's build. I have just realised that I had my left and right confused when I described your position initially!!! Oh dear! 65 and can not reliably look at a photo and describe a person's position. So the European 60m champion is the shorter runner, with the muscular legs and long black socks.

Your brother sounds truly amazing. I hope that he is soon over Covid. People seem to vary so much as to how poorly they are and even what symptoms they have with Covid.

Happy injury free running to you. 😊🏃🏻‍♂️

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Yes, thank you and happy running to you too. 👍😊