We normally received excellent coverage in the local press so it is disapponting to see just a very brief mention that Keith is competing in the World Cross in Peter McElroy's Chit Chat column which is shame for what is such a historic occasion both for Isle of Man sport and athletics in particular. Quite rightly there is extensive information on the three local riders competing nin th World Cycling Championships but no equivalent right up on the World Cross. Certainly the "man in the street" will be unaware this event is on and that a local runner is taking part.
The National Press are no better. I guess in a way this reflects Britain's prospects which is bit unfair considering Paula Radcliffe has won the title twice in recent years.
When I was running tonight I was thinking about some of the performances of British teams in the past. The one that came to mind was 20 years ago when Tim Hutchings finished 2nd to the great John Ngugi in the Norwegian snow in Stavanger and runners like Gary Staines, Dave Clarke and Dave Lewis were all in or around the top 20. I think Britain were second in the team race. Only Jon Brown of British men has really challenged in recent years.
It is such a competitive race - often referred to as the hardest race to win in endurance running. It is such a simple sport that little in the way of equipment is required - look out for the barefooted Africans. Last year in Edinburgh I was lucky to be watch the race and the speed is beliveable, especially in the early stages. I guess this year's course will be even faster!
I doubt if any of the GB teams will be in the medals but if they can come away with some running above expectations and the overall feeling that things are on the up then that will be a success.
If you want to see it on TV then you will need to press the red button on BBC for BBCi coverage from 11.15 - 14.30 on Saturday.
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Monday, 23 March 2009
Look out Jordan
I refer of course to the country, not the model!
This weekend sees what is arguably the hardest to win endurance race in the World - the World Cross Country Championships to be held this year in Amman, Jordan. Amongst those competing will be Keith Gerrard, making his debut for Great Britain. Hopefully it will not be too hot and Keith has been preparing well at the GB team camp in Aldershot. With the East Africans so dominant in recent years and weather conditions more suited to those from warmer climates it is going to be tough but a great experience for Keith. There is no reason why this team cannot put in the best performance by a British mens team for a few years.
I will try and put a few posts in the lead up to Sunday.
With three cyclists competing in the same week in the World Track Championships, it is exciting times for Manx sport.
I will hold over my thoughts on the strcture of the local season for a few days.
This weekend sees what is arguably the hardest to win endurance race in the World - the World Cross Country Championships to be held this year in Amman, Jordan. Amongst those competing will be Keith Gerrard, making his debut for Great Britain. Hopefully it will not be too hot and Keith has been preparing well at the GB team camp in Aldershot. With the East Africans so dominant in recent years and weather conditions more suited to those from warmer climates it is going to be tough but a great experience for Keith. There is no reason why this team cannot put in the best performance by a British mens team for a few years.
I will try and put a few posts in the lead up to Sunday.
With three cyclists competing in the same week in the World Track Championships, it is exciting times for Manx sport.
I will hold over my thoughts on the strcture of the local season for a few days.
Thursday, 12 March 2009
What a week!
Highlight of the past week has been Keith Gerrard's great run in the Inter Counties and subsequent selection for the World Cross County. We hear lots about athletes from other sports doing well on the international stage so it is great to see a runner having the chance to take on the best in the World too. Keith looked really good in the race on a course that was pehaps not totally suited to his style. He has raced sparingly this winter and his own words "keeping the powder dry" has worked well.
Fingers crossed for a smooth run through to the Champs now which are just over two weeks away. It would be great to go to watch but I don't think a weekend trip to Jordan is very practical! I see the GB team training camp has been moved from Cyprus to Aldershot so if the weather is hot on the day it could make the going even tougher.
The transition from junior to senior can be a difficult one and hopefully Keith will now start to make his mark as a regular in the GB team.
Kevin Loundes seemed to pay the price for a quick start. However, he can be pleased with his winter and has made great progress. He is a good learner and will no doubt benefit from the experience over the coming months.
I saw that Lancashire finished 2nd in the mens' team race but was disappointed that two reserves had been drafted in neither of whom had competed in the county champs - see my earlier post about a level playing field.
There were mixed fortunes for the Astin sisters - good to see Sarah starting to compete again and surely not too far off from the front of the field. The enforced break may prove a blessing in disguise in the long term.
Locally we had the final round of the Manx Gas League at Nobles Park. I tend to agree with Michael George's comments that it was a slight anti climax to the season after the Championship events. Those who competed worked hard but greater numbers would clearly have enhanced the event. I have some more ideas and thoughts about how we should end our season and will try and follow these up next time. One positive was a number of newcomers making their mark.
I had hoped to run in Sunday but my calf had not healed and was still giving problems. This is still the case and a trip to the physio beckons.
Fingers crossed for a smooth run through to the Champs now which are just over two weeks away. It would be great to go to watch but I don't think a weekend trip to Jordan is very practical! I see the GB team training camp has been moved from Cyprus to Aldershot so if the weather is hot on the day it could make the going even tougher.
The transition from junior to senior can be a difficult one and hopefully Keith will now start to make his mark as a regular in the GB team.
Kevin Loundes seemed to pay the price for a quick start. However, he can be pleased with his winter and has made great progress. He is a good learner and will no doubt benefit from the experience over the coming months.
I saw that Lancashire finished 2nd in the mens' team race but was disappointed that two reserves had been drafted in neither of whom had competed in the county champs - see my earlier post about a level playing field.
There were mixed fortunes for the Astin sisters - good to see Sarah starting to compete again and surely not too far off from the front of the field. The enforced break may prove a blessing in disguise in the long term.
Locally we had the final round of the Manx Gas League at Nobles Park. I tend to agree with Michael George's comments that it was a slight anti climax to the season after the Championship events. Those who competed worked hard but greater numbers would clearly have enhanced the event. I have some more ideas and thoughts about how we should end our season and will try and follow these up next time. One positive was a number of newcomers making their mark.
I had hoped to run in Sunday but my calf had not healed and was still giving problems. This is still the case and a trip to the physio beckons.
Friday, 6 March 2009
Action packed weekend ahead
We have an exciting weekend ahead. First of all, on Saturday it is the Inter Counties at Nottingham with four local athletes in action. First off will be Gemma Astin in the U17 race followed by her sister Sarah in the U15 event. Gemma is at the top end of the age group and will be aiming to improve on her 32nd from last year whilst Sarah has had a really tough couple of years with injury so, no doubt, she will just be pleased to be on the start line. I am sure she will run her usual determined race.
The final race of the day is the Senior Mens race and includes Keith Gerrard and Kevin Loundes. As it is also the trial for the World Cross we can expect a high standard race. Keith is an old hand now at this level and will be determined to prove his run at the National was just a blip. I am sure we will see him placed prominently in the main bunch to give himself every chance of a top placing. For Kevin, it is his first time at this event. However, he is making great progress and should do very well. To approach his position of 62nd in the National would be a great achievement with the Scotish, Welsh and Northern Irish included this time.
Sky Sports 3 are covering the action.
However, Sky will not be at Nobles Park on Sunday for the final round of the Manx Gas League. With plenty of rain recently we can expect quite a lot of mud. Despite the above being absent we can expect some close racing. Hopefully there will still be some good sized fields in what is the last chance to gain points to complete the league.
I had been planning to run but things look 50;50 at the moment as my left calf has been sore all week and restricted training since Tuesday to some work in the gym.
The final race of the day is the Senior Mens race and includes Keith Gerrard and Kevin Loundes. As it is also the trial for the World Cross we can expect a high standard race. Keith is an old hand now at this level and will be determined to prove his run at the National was just a blip. I am sure we will see him placed prominently in the main bunch to give himself every chance of a top placing. For Kevin, it is his first time at this event. However, he is making great progress and should do very well. To approach his position of 62nd in the National would be a great achievement with the Scotish, Welsh and Northern Irish included this time.
Sky Sports 3 are covering the action.
However, Sky will not be at Nobles Park on Sunday for the final round of the Manx Gas League. With plenty of rain recently we can expect quite a lot of mud. Despite the above being absent we can expect some close racing. Hopefully there will still be some good sized fields in what is the last chance to gain points to complete the league.
I had been planning to run but things look 50;50 at the moment as my left calf has been sore all week and restricted training since Tuesday to some work in the gym.
Monday, 2 March 2009
Inter Counties selection - a level playing field?
Picture the scene this coming Wednesday evening……………. Darren Gray sits at home perhaps pondering over West Brom’s future in the Premier League when the phone rings “Hi Darren, Lancs Team Manager here……..fancy a run in the Inter Counties on Saturday?” Don’t bet against it happening – it would not be the first time such calls have been made.
As hard working and well meaning as they are, my experience is that Lancs team management do not fully understand what Isle of Man runners have to do to compete at a decent level. Take selection for this weekend’s Inter Counties. The policy is to select the first five senior men in the County Champs with four discretionery places held for others. Whilst that seems fair enough on the face of it, the reality is that with little opportunity to prove themselves in other events, it is more or less a case of finish in the top five or miss out on selection as other, more known, runners will be chosen instead. This often includes runners who have not competed in the County Champs so how can you measure their form against those who do compete in the County Champs? Recent selections indicate our runners have one bite at the cherry.
So let’s look at those selected ahead of Darren, who finished 7th in the county event. Incidentally, Darren has competed in the senior County Champs race every year at least since 2002.
One runner competed in Edinburgh on the day of the country champs – ok, good to gain experience at that level and no doubt one of the best runners in the county, but given that Keith Gerrard raced up at Blackburn why couldn’t others do the same? A second runner is a former county champion but has dropped out of the last two Inter Counties races. A third runner, whilst in great condition for his age will be a Vet 45 this year – hardly planning for the future. The fourth discretionary place goes to a runner who I cannot ever remember competing in the County Champs at senior level (or at junior level for that matter) who finished behind 5 IOM runners in last week’s National Cross Country.
Whilst all may have pedigree, one way or the other, the unfair situation is that they were unwilling to put themselves to the test against others at the county event when their form could be fairly measured. It is also doing a disservice to the county Champs as the best runners are not encouraged to compete. Lancs could strive to make their event one of “the” races of the county champs weekend, up there with the likes of Yorkshire and Middlesex and set themselves up really well for the county champs – everyone would know that this really was the best Lancs could produce.
I have used Darren as a example, no doubt there are others too but the main point is that we have one chance to impress and if you don’t make the top 5, that is it (other than the last minute call up), whilst others can pick and chose and point to other events to demonstrate their form.
I realise that an effort has been made to produce the best team for the day but sometimes you need to look at the bigger picture – what is best for the development of the sport as a whole and what is fair?
As hard working and well meaning as they are, my experience is that Lancs team management do not fully understand what Isle of Man runners have to do to compete at a decent level. Take selection for this weekend’s Inter Counties. The policy is to select the first five senior men in the County Champs with four discretionery places held for others. Whilst that seems fair enough on the face of it, the reality is that with little opportunity to prove themselves in other events, it is more or less a case of finish in the top five or miss out on selection as other, more known, runners will be chosen instead. This often includes runners who have not competed in the County Champs so how can you measure their form against those who do compete in the County Champs? Recent selections indicate our runners have one bite at the cherry.
So let’s look at those selected ahead of Darren, who finished 7th in the county event. Incidentally, Darren has competed in the senior County Champs race every year at least since 2002.
One runner competed in Edinburgh on the day of the country champs – ok, good to gain experience at that level and no doubt one of the best runners in the county, but given that Keith Gerrard raced up at Blackburn why couldn’t others do the same? A second runner is a former county champion but has dropped out of the last two Inter Counties races. A third runner, whilst in great condition for his age will be a Vet 45 this year – hardly planning for the future. The fourth discretionary place goes to a runner who I cannot ever remember competing in the County Champs at senior level (or at junior level for that matter) who finished behind 5 IOM runners in last week’s National Cross Country.
Whilst all may have pedigree, one way or the other, the unfair situation is that they were unwilling to put themselves to the test against others at the county event when their form could be fairly measured. It is also doing a disservice to the county Champs as the best runners are not encouraged to compete. Lancs could strive to make their event one of “the” races of the county champs weekend, up there with the likes of Yorkshire and Middlesex and set themselves up really well for the county champs – everyone would know that this really was the best Lancs could produce.
I have used Darren as a example, no doubt there are others too but the main point is that we have one chance to impress and if you don’t make the top 5, that is it (other than the last minute call up), whilst others can pick and chose and point to other events to demonstrate their form.
I realise that an effort has been made to produce the best team for the day but sometimes you need to look at the bigger picture – what is best for the development of the sport as a whole and what is fair?
Thursday, 26 February 2009
National reflections
I was disapponted to miss the trip to the National in London last weekend but having injured my calf/achilles the wek after the Lancs Champs I knew it was unlikely I could make it.
Although Keith Gerrard was the first IOM runner, pride of place went to Kevin Loundes. To finish in the top 5% after just three years of running was a great achievement. Keith will be disappointed with his run and hopefully he can rectify things quickly in next weekend's Inter Counties/World Cross trial.
The course looked to be very muddy but it was good to see the largest field for around a decade - hopefully this trend will continue. The best way to measure your performance from one National to the next is to take your position as a percentage of the number of finishers - 300th from 1400 is better than 300th from 1000 finishers - so even those whose position is constant are still improving!
Gail Griffiths continued her improvement in the women's race and it would be great to have a women's team at some point in the future.
Next year the event is at Roundhay Park, Leeds so it should be more accessible for many. Indeed it should - just about - be possible to do in a day, weather permitting. It was a common Northern venue for the National in the 1970's, 80' and 90's but has not been used since 1998. I remember running there that year - the course was quite firm but features Hill 60 - a lung bursting 250 hill something like Crellins Hill!
Next weekend we have the Inter Counties/World Cross trial at Nottingham on Saturday and locally the last round of the Manx Gas League at Nobles Park on Sunday. The last round can be a bit of an anti climax as people start to concentrate on their own goals for later in the year i.e. Manx Mountain Marathon, London Marathon, track season etc plus some already have enough races completed to finish the league. Still, Nobles Park is our spiritual home of cross country so it would be good to see a decent turn-out.
I hope to make the start line myself. I managed my longest run for about three months last weekend covering around 11-12 miles. After only managing about 9 runs in each of December and January I have done much better in February. Most of my training is just steady running but I managed some intervals on the cross trainer on Monday. I hope it stays dry over the next 10 days so it is not too muddy!
Next time I will say a bit more on next week's events including my thoughts on Inter Counties selections - suffice to say, I don't think they always give our runners a fair hearing when making selections.
Although Keith Gerrard was the first IOM runner, pride of place went to Kevin Loundes. To finish in the top 5% after just three years of running was a great achievement. Keith will be disappointed with his run and hopefully he can rectify things quickly in next weekend's Inter Counties/World Cross trial.
The course looked to be very muddy but it was good to see the largest field for around a decade - hopefully this trend will continue. The best way to measure your performance from one National to the next is to take your position as a percentage of the number of finishers - 300th from 1400 is better than 300th from 1000 finishers - so even those whose position is constant are still improving!
Gail Griffiths continued her improvement in the women's race and it would be great to have a women's team at some point in the future.
Next year the event is at Roundhay Park, Leeds so it should be more accessible for many. Indeed it should - just about - be possible to do in a day, weather permitting. It was a common Northern venue for the National in the 1970's, 80' and 90's but has not been used since 1998. I remember running there that year - the course was quite firm but features Hill 60 - a lung bursting 250 hill something like Crellins Hill!
Next weekend we have the Inter Counties/World Cross trial at Nottingham on Saturday and locally the last round of the Manx Gas League at Nobles Park on Sunday. The last round can be a bit of an anti climax as people start to concentrate on their own goals for later in the year i.e. Manx Mountain Marathon, London Marathon, track season etc plus some already have enough races completed to finish the league. Still, Nobles Park is our spiritual home of cross country so it would be good to see a decent turn-out.
I hope to make the start line myself. I managed my longest run for about three months last weekend covering around 11-12 miles. After only managing about 9 runs in each of December and January I have done much better in February. Most of my training is just steady running but I managed some intervals on the cross trainer on Monday. I hope it stays dry over the next 10 days so it is not too muddy!
Next time I will say a bit more on next week's events including my thoughts on Inter Counties selections - suffice to say, I don't think they always give our runners a fair hearing when making selections.
Monday, 16 February 2009
Catching up
Apologies for the absence of recent updates - a combination of holiday, working late and laziness!
Since my last update we have had the IOM Cross Country Champs and Merseyside Schools. This coming weekend we have what for many club runners is the highlight of the season - the English National - this year being held in what for many is the spritual home of cross country, Parliament Hill Fields on Hampstead Heath. There will be good local representation through a large Manx Hariers party. This is one race everyone should do at least once in their career.
Since a separate trial for the World Champs was set up around 20 years ago, the National has tended to lose it status and the fields are around half of their 2500 records of the late 1980s. At one time you needed to be a World Class athlete to win the race. These days some will skip it to save thmeselves for the trial. However, it is still the biggest race of the winter in terms of numbers and the winner will follow a great list of previous winners.
It was at Parliament Hill that Keith Gerrard made a big breakthrough in 2003 when he finished 2nd in the Under 17 race. This time he will be in the senior race and, I would think looking for a top 10 placing at least. It is usually muddy so should suit him well. He has raced quite sparingly with just a run out in the Lancs Champs since the Euro Cross in mid December. I will also be interesting to see how recent IOM Champion continues his improvement having been around 130th last year.
A problem with my calf/achilles put paid to my own aspirations of making the trip and as a result things have gone a bit flat. I am easing back into training but need to set a clearer goal to help build some momentum to my training. It would be nice to run in the final round of the Manx Gas at Nobles Park on 8th March - we will see. That will be the last of the local events but there is, of course big events such as the English Schools and World Cross still to come - hopefully we will have local representation in both events.
Since my last update we have had the IOM Cross Country Champs and Merseyside Schools. This coming weekend we have what for many club runners is the highlight of the season - the English National - this year being held in what for many is the spritual home of cross country, Parliament Hill Fields on Hampstead Heath. There will be good local representation through a large Manx Hariers party. This is one race everyone should do at least once in their career.
Since a separate trial for the World Champs was set up around 20 years ago, the National has tended to lose it status and the fields are around half of their 2500 records of the late 1980s. At one time you needed to be a World Class athlete to win the race. These days some will skip it to save thmeselves for the trial. However, it is still the biggest race of the winter in terms of numbers and the winner will follow a great list of previous winners.
It was at Parliament Hill that Keith Gerrard made a big breakthrough in 2003 when he finished 2nd in the Under 17 race. This time he will be in the senior race and, I would think looking for a top 10 placing at least. It is usually muddy so should suit him well. He has raced quite sparingly with just a run out in the Lancs Champs since the Euro Cross in mid December. I will also be interesting to see how recent IOM Champion continues his improvement having been around 130th last year.
A problem with my calf/achilles put paid to my own aspirations of making the trip and as a result things have gone a bit flat. I am easing back into training but need to set a clearer goal to help build some momentum to my training. It would be nice to run in the final round of the Manx Gas at Nobles Park on 8th March - we will see. That will be the last of the local events but there is, of course big events such as the English Schools and World Cross still to come - hopefully we will have local representation in both events.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
