Saturday 4 March 2006

It doesn't get any easier

Posted by speedygeoff on Saturday, March 04, 2006 with
On CJ's 45th birthday, I have news for all Veteran athletes who are looking forward to changing age groups. It doesn't get any easier!

Why? Because as achievable as the times seem that older people are running, when you get there yourself, it's darned difficult to do anywhere near as well, let alone better.

Here's proof. On Thursday night at track, Merv Collins ran the 100m, 400m, and 800m races in new ACT records. The 800m was a record by 63 seconds. He ran 3:44 for the 800m, 91 for the 400m, and 19 for the 100m . Merv is a new M80. He was nowhere near last in each race.

Fifteen years ago I eyed the M50 and M55 records, thinking "I will break those". Ten to fifteen years later, the records are faster, and I am much slower.

My new plan is to wait until I am 85. But the problem is, Merv gets there first.

Thinks. "Merv was a 300m hurdler ten years ago." Hmmm.

What do you think of those times? You can say what you like; no-one of Merv's age would ever read this blog. Surely?