British Masters Athletic Federation Championships. Moorways Stadium, Derby Sunday 22nd July 2012
9:30 M45 3000m Steeplechase
With the alarm having gone off at 5:45 I arrived at the stadium 30 minutes prior to the 8:30 Registration and Declaration deadlines. From previous experience I did not want to risk getting to them too close!
I then went for a steady 15minute jog followed by a stretching session to get the car journey out of my legs. Whilst stretching I got chatting to a M50 competitor who was breathing a sigh of relief having arrived at Registration / Declaration just on time but still getting the spiel about not being allowed to compete if he had missed the deadline.
Having placed my kit bag in the Call room I went for another run being 1 mile at a quicker pace followed by a few 80m strides before heading back to the call room and reporting for my race.
10 minutes later and we are led out onto the track where we are checked for or numbers being on both our front and back and then a couple of 50m fast strides and took on one barrier as a feeler for the 35 to come.
We were called up to the mark only for the starter to abort due to him finding himself stood too close! After his adjustment we are called again and we're off. I tend to take the early stages of a chase at a conservative pace because where as in flat races, if you go off too fast you tend to die steadily over a period of time. With the chase which really is a 'Man killer' if you get the pace wrong and die its within just a few strides and not only have you got to drag yourself around the track but also you have to haul yourself over the remaining 3'0” high solid barriers.
With the recent drought, previous steeplechases this Season have been run 'dry' and this showed as the field went through the first water jump and with a lot of hesitation and cutting of strides due to lack of practise. By the time I was there, I found I was putting the breaks on in mid air as I faced a number of backs not travelling forward as fast as normal. Any way landing with both feet in the water caused a bigger splash and with the sun shining this was quite refreshing.
Prior to the water jump on the 3rd lap I sensed 2 of my rivals ahead of me beginning to slow so entering the water jump I put in an effort and came out of it in 1st place and after passing the lap marker with 3 laps to go and having entered the bend I looked back to see what damage I had done and was relieved to see a comfortable gap had opened up. From then on I began to push on to the finish full of confidence that I was going to win.
Which I did to become a British Champion.
Having done a 1 mile warm down I then went in search of my Gold medal and was informed that the lady with the medals was not due to arrive until 10:30. When she arrived at her table she asked for my name checked on her result sheet picked a medal out of a small cardboard box, handed it over with a shake of the hand and a hearty “Congratulations”.
Andrew
Up & Running, Aylesbury
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