I ran two back to back 100m races at the Worthing Open on Tuesday this week and the next day I ran another 100m race at the Sussex Masters League in Eastbourne.
This was a pretty tough ask as most of you know, I was coming back from a heavy dose of covid that wiped me out and just wouldn’t clear off. I really didn’t think I would run any races at all as I had tried to run a gentle 5k on the Saturday the week before and it was ok but my heart rate was really high for what was only a 40 minute jeff. That made me think I’d be silly to run at all in June.
Anyway, as usual I rarely listen to my body 😅 and did two gym and track workouts (although at much lower volume) and felt surprisingly ok and decided I might as well try the Worthing open as I’d paid for it. More of a “let’s see where I am after covid” trial run.
I’d also spoilt myself with yet another pair of magnificent adidas spike shoes which conveniently arrived on the Monday before Worthing! Had to give them a run out didn’t I? 😊
The Worthing Open is a fantastic event. Slick organisation, laser timing, and a lovely atmosphere. It’s for all ages and there was a a good mix of runners in every race including a couple of Great Britain sprinters. Weather was amazing too! Sola reminded me that this was her old leisure centre and she has also run on this track! Sweet 😊
My first race was at 7pm. There were 7 heats, fastest to slowest runners, based on season’s best performances. This made the races much more competitive of course. It also meant that I was in the last heat as one of the slowest runners but also the oldest by some 35 years and, in other cases, 45 years or more 😅😂. These events are all about times and not places, so it really didn’t matter at all. It just helps to have others in the race of similar speed as you to drive you on to a faster time.
The first race of the evening saw me crossing the line in 12.76 which is a HUGE improvement on my PB (13.01). To say I was happy was a massive understatement!
The second race was an hour later after the 800m runners. I didn’t bother with a long warmup at all as I was still pretty tired and legs were a bit sore. I took an ibuprofen which helped me as my back was a bit sore too. The first heat was super quick and a new track record was set of 10.43 by a Worthing Harriers runner. Soon it was my turn to race. I was in the last heat again this time in lane 4 and I felt totally relaxed and confident after my first race.
I set my blocks up on the track and tried a test run out and all seemed good to go. We were then under starter orders (so no mucking about allowed 😅) and he called us to our marks which basically means get into your blocks and settle down. He then calls “set” but only after every athlete is motionless in their marks position. At this point I lift my butt and tense hard pushing back into the blocks waiting for the gun. It’s all about focus on the race ahead and executing the start with a huge shove and drive, bringing the hips forward and swinging the arms into action, staying low with short steps driving as hard as you can to accelerate as quickly as possible.
I got a great start this time and anticipated the gun perfectly! My drive was a little short and I popped upright too soon but it was too late to do anything about it. The young lad on my inside had got ahead of me at this point and I started to chase him down. I felt super strong in the last 40 meters and overtook him and the 35 year old to win the race in another PB of 12.74 which, if ratified, makes me currently number two in the UK for 100m! I don’t know where this extra boost came from at 60m but I think the shoes definitely helped 😊. Good, as now I have an excuse to buy a back up pair. 😂
Bolstered by my fine form I decided I’d like to pop along to the Sussex Masters League event in Eastbourne the following day to represent my club in the league. It’s altogether a much more relaxed occasion than the Worthing open and only uses hand timings which I hate now as they are inaccurate and cannot be relied on for a true time. Anyway, as I was a late entrant they put me down an age group to race with the 50 year old youngsters which I was very happy about as my arch nemesis was there!! Yes, the chap who kicked my butt in my first ever 100 event and every race since then. I didn’t care about times as there was a pretty stiff headwind. I had my eyes and mind on beating him!! As there were 8 runners, we were split into two races, the final positions being decided on time. Pure luck meant nemesis was in my race! By the way I should say here that he’s a lovely chap and we get on really well. He’s also a world 800 metre champion from 2019 so not really a sprinter. But he is 10 years younger than me. 😅
Anyway I got off to another flying start and the race was underway! I was behind a really fast runner who I’d met in Worthing and he was off and away. I stuck with him for about 30 metres but then I got left in his wake. Anyway, I put my head down, relaxed my arms and shoulders and got on with beating the man. I crossed the line and looked back and to my joy and surprise I had beaten him, and by a good margin! I also came 2nd out of the 8 runners! Not bad for an old boy 😅😂
So Mr Covid you didn’t get me! I was forced into resting and, despite feeling dreadful, it actually helped me. Who would have thought it?
I have a couple of photos that I’d like to post. One from Worthing and the other from Eastbourne showing me crossing the line ahead of nemesis.
Sorry it’s a long post and well done if you made it this far!
Written by
RunBrianRun
Half Marathon
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Cheers Katnap 👍I was quite surprised when I saw the video. Time to reset my target now. There are a few contenders for sure, but mostly it just gives me motivation.
Thank you Dexy5 . The rest was definitely a help. I must be over training but I had no idea. I will try to be more aware in future for sure. I’ll get a picture of the new shoes as they are rather special!
I so enjoyed reading that Brian, if I'd known what time it was I'd have come to cheer you on. COVID obviously hasn't left any lingering unfitness and the new shoes were definitely worth getting.
Thank you again o61 😀😊 Sports commentary would be great fun and why not. I might try doing something for masters athletics. To be fair I enjoy writing them but only because I know that they are appreciated on here. I love that you loved that video of me running. I could post the one from Eastbourne as I had a friend video it
Brilliant running Brian!! At this rate the stewards will calling you Sir Brian! Sounds as though your Covid experience was a bit like mine; knocked you for six, but once the recovery started it was pretty quick. Here’s to a rest from niggles / illness for a while!
😂 I doubt they’ll ever call me that, but I have got to know the starter quite well. 👍😬 Glad you also had a swift recovery from covid too. It’s all those poor folk with long covid that I feel sorry for. I really don’t know how I’d cope if I had that.
Yes, let’s hope we can have a niggle free time for a good long while.
I don’t know how they cope with long Covid either; a few days off with painful ribs and I am whinging for England ! Glad you have made peace with the starter; it sounds as though you have got your timing spot on….starters are not people to upset I would guess…not that they would call you deliberately but I suspect you are dealing with fine margins.
Awww thanks IP. 😊 Glad you enjoyed the write up. I do enjoy writing them I must admit. I’m super pleased with my latest form and, as you say, having an enforced rest has actually helped me. I shall now hopefully return to my plan for a tough burst of training into mid/late august before tapering into best form for the UK champs in early September and hopefully the European championship later that month in Italy.
Thank you couchpotato. That’s very kind of you. I am my worst enemy when it comes to feeling proud of myself as I always strive for a better version of me than the current version. It’s hard being me 😂🤣
Thanks Cheeky. That’s very sweet of you. I’ll keep posting the race reports as I enjoy writing them. I’m not sure there’ll be many more though as I’m heading into an intensive training period now which will involve lots of gym and track work.
“number two in the UK for 100m” is just simply awesome.
And that picture is brilliant. You really look like you are focussed only on winning! Love zooming in and look at all you runner’s faces! Some look surprised, some not trying, some desperate. But you look certainly like you’re set on smashing that goal! 💥
Glad that you enjoyed the picture CBDB, I do look rather focused, don’t I? I thought I was relaxed when I was running 🤷♂️ It’s something I’ve been working on in training. Obviously need to keep working on it I reckon as I do look rather tense and intense there.
Hm, not sure if you look tense. Your hands are certainly relaxed. Your eyes, however, focused ahead. But there is so much in this picture!
Now 239 on your left does look a bit too relaxed, as if he is not quite trying. (I’m sure he was, but he does look like he is there just for the enjoyment 🤣🤣)
93 looks surprised. And definitely not relaxed.
65 and 235 look desperate, but giving their all! Well done, lads!
I’d frame that picture if I were you. It’s a brilliant one!
Thanks Run46 , I used to run longer distances and I enjoyed them at the time. I’ll be honest, the actual running is much less exhausting than before. It’s training that hurts much more 😅
Hi John_W , good questions 😄 I’ll try to keep it short and not go on too much as I’m really really into it 😅😅😅
I started at school where I used to be a sprinter but stopped at age 15 when other distractions took priority.
I started back running with c25k never intending to return to sprinting at age 57 I think it was. I was very happy just plodding along through the program. Once I’d graduated I turned to park running and loved that. I joined a local running club who took part in vets league running and needed someone to help cover for a 100m race in Lewes. I never looked back from that point. I was still quick and loved the challenge. I decided more or less there and then to transfer to masters athletics and here I am two seasons into it.
Amazing! Only just spotted your post after such a hectic week that I have fallen behind with my running reading .So exciting. Congratulations on your brilliant races. So pleased that your covid recovery was just in time!Really looking forward to the next installment.
Aww thanks Week7, that’s very kind of you. I’ll post up another instalment as soon as I have another race. Nothing planned at the moment. Just looking further ahead to the BIG ones in September 😬 😱
They are super uncomfortable after about 10 minutes. The plate on the sole is absolutely solid and will not bend at all. Definitely not good for dog walking. 😅
Thank you misswobble It’s exactly as you say, really hard work in training and at the gym but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I want to be still doing this stuff for many years yet.
I’m hovering over the buy it button for a second pair, but I must sell some of my other shoes first to clear my conscience. 😬😂
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Race report mid sussex marathon