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| during our warmup - discussing how many times we'd be lapped in the 3000m [photo:dani] |
My decision to run was very last minute and after rushing home from work and getting changed, I hit the road with the rest of team7t heading towards Bromley (via Richey's house because I had offered to pick up his forgotten running shoes).
The running events on offer at this meet were the 400 metres and the 3000 metres. I met up with the club chairman, Tony and was registered to run both events for the Dartford Harriers B Team (Dartford B) under number H4. The B team are in division 2 of the league. I would be running in the B String. This was my first-ever time running at a track event so some of the terms were alien to me, but it all started to fall into place as the evening went on.
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| getting in place for the start of the 400m [photo:dani] |
The clubs in the league are;
Ashford
Bromley Veterans
Bexley
Ashford
Bromley Veterans
Bexley
Cambridge Harriers
Dartford Harriers
Invicta East Kent
Medway and Maidstone
Paddock Wood
Paddock Wood
Sevenoaks
Swanley
Swanley
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| starter with starting pistol at the ready [photo:dani] |
My first race was the 400m for which I was assigned lane 2. I haven't actually done that much running on track and I certainly have never specifically trained for such a short race. Anyway, I was there and really excited to get going. Then I heard the legendary words 'on your marks....'
The pause seemed to last forever, but then the starting pistol was fired and the race was on. Straight away it was clear that the runner in lane 1 was travelling at a much quicker pace than everyone else and I watched helplessly as he sailed past me by the time we reached the back straight. I kept my pace as strong as possible and managed to finish in second position in an official time of 67.5 seconds.
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| finishing the 400m [photo:dani] |
For the record, the 400 metre event really gets to you deep inside your lungs - mine were still feeling that ache a good 30 minutes later, but after a little more rest I started to feel my usual self again. Before I knew it it was almost time to head across to the back straight to the 3000 metre race start line. 3000m takes place over 7.5 laps - hence the start being on the back straight.
The division one runners went out first and when they were done the division two runners were called over to take their places. The race official called out our individual numbers and assigned us spots on the curved 3000m start line. Then the starter gave his orders and we were off.
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| getting ready for the start of the 3000m event [photo:dani] |
The field went out pretty fast and I got dragged along with them. As this was my first evening racing on track and my first 3000m race it was destined to be a great learning curve for me. According to my Garmin data I ran the first kilometre in around 3.26 - At the moment that is simply not a pace I could sustain for three kilometres.
So by the time I was about half-way into the race, I started to feel that I was fading. And there wasn't really anything that I could do about it. I found it extra difficult as there were no other runners around me to latch onto, so I just maintained the best pace I could and hoped it'd produce a half-decent result.
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| part way through the 3000m [photo:dani] |
One very big bonus was the support coming from the sidelines - Dani was there with Matilda, who screamed her heart out every time I went past, and one of my SLGR team mates, Angela, had also come down to cheer us all on. Thank you.
My 3000m finish time was 11.26.8 which was roughly around where I thought I'd be but I could probably have been a touch faster if I had got the pacing right during the first few laps. It's definitely something that I'd like to work on over the next few months, so hopefully I can better that time as the season progresses.
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| post 3000m with richey [photo:dani] |
The full results for the SCVAC Kent Divisions - Men Division 2 can be found here.
