I had a wonderful weekend. It was very full and today I am glad of a restful ‘catch up with myself’ day. I had a brilliant yoga /body work session with John http://www.johnstirk.co.uk/ who is helping my body unravel the patterns that are hindering and remember the joy of free running. I then made my way here to Beanzz www.beanzz.co.uk for lovely vegetable soup and then carrot cake and coffee !
On Saturday I drove to Stanmer Park to run in the Southern Championships. I last ran a ‘Southern’ there in 1975 ! At the time, as one of the top teenage athletes in the country, it was hoped I would place in the first three in the race. I set of like a hare out of a trap, the Athletics Weekly magazine reporter wrote ‘Julia Armstrong lead the field in the early stages looking as if she were out to break her 800 metres personal best’! Needless to say I paid the price for the fast start, and as I hit the hill, I lost several places and eventually finished in 8th position. After the race, I found my coach Tim and I remember sitting on the grass having a de brief, crying.
I now wonder if my 52 year old self was hovering nearby , trying to speak to the bereft 15 year old. She would have eased the stress of the young teenager. She would have been able to say to her ‘Don’t worry, you must have fun, run because you love it, run because of how it feels, the pleasure it brings. Run because running is you, it’s all okay – you’ll be back and you’ll understand…’
And on saturday, as I was warming up with my team mate Gail, the junior men raced past us, with one young man in the lead ahead of the pack. I got a thrill of excitement as they raced by. I felt again the feeling of enjoying the privilage of winning a race, because in 1979, four years after my ‘going off too fast’ disappointment, I was fortunate enough to have that experience. I won the Southern Championships in Happy Valley, Coulsdon. It was a memorable day and I can recall now the feeling of ‘flying on land’ as I raced away from the rest of the field.
Last Saturday there was no racing away from the rest of the field!
But I ran really well, and as I ran past Richard Carter my club mate and long time friend, who was marshalling on the course, he called to me ‘You look like you’re enjoying it’ – I was !
I have no idea where I finished, as unlike in ‘my day’, when we were given little ‘dog tags’ with our position on to ‘hand in’, we now we have chips and all is more technical and up to the minute!
And I am further down the field !
But the feeling is the same, and the joy and relaxation is greater, because my 52 year old self has learnt what my 15 year old self needed to hear; perhaps she was listening after all…
On Saturday morning I received an exciting letter from Brighton University awarding me a ‘Talented Sports performer’ membership, to support my training. This allows me free use of the gym and swimming pool at the University sports Centre; this gym has sustained me so well in the past few months of injury and now it is welcoming me in to support the next phase. I was awarded this because I finished the year ranked number 3 in the over 50 marathon rankings and I am hoping for a good year of racing ahead.
So the journey continues, I am glad she listened, the athlete within…
No related posts.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Great report!
Thank you !