Off the track
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What a great result (SEAA 6 Stage)
28 September 2008, 22:42
Just wanted to say a massive well done to you Alan and the boys, what a great result. We are certainly not dead and buried!!
Catch you soon
Neil
Thanks Doc
28 September 2008, 13:52
Hi,
I was overtaken by Phil Wicks as he was warming down after a hill session the day after the Aldershot Relays (he ran rather faster than I had done in the Vets race!) and he was kind enough to answer a flurry of questions, while we ran, about his training before our ways parted. I much appreciated his kindness and didn’t get the chance to wish him a great season over the country. I’d be grateful if you could pass on these comments and wish Belgrave all the best in the National Road relays.
Yours,
Dr Scott Smith-Bannister
Reading Road Runners
Belgrave Harriers
19 September 2008, 18:15
Just like in the football world players have clubs, so do athletes, but unlike football you can join any club you like as you don’t have to get picked. Most people stay with one or two clubs throughout their life sometimes just because its less hassle, sometimes because they want to help their home town club which is fine, but not me. I’m what you might call the ‘Anelka’ of running, If I’m not happy or believe that for whatever reason I need to move on to better myself (better competition for places, challenging for medals, better management etc..) then I will have no problem moving in a heart beat.
I have been a member of Cornelly Striders, Bridgend AC, Swansea Harriers, Cardiff AAC, and now Belgrave Harriers.
I’m currently at the best club for myself for a number of reasons but I get a lot more than what I joined for. One of the great things I like about the club is how wanted I feel, and the extra mile they will go to help me with things even if it’s outside of running. For example when I was going to America with my brother a good man called Brian Pritchard gave us a lift from a hotel in London to Gatwick early in the morning (his lovely wife will almost always make me sandwiches for races as well). Alan Mead is a great team manager who will always do his best for me unlike some team managers over the years, even making me Sunday roast at his house (well, his wife Pat did the cooking). I could go on for a while talking about others at the club like Bill Laws but won't bore you too much.
The best thing about the actual team of runners (the road team which I joined for) is how well we all get on even though we live so far apart. The older guys like Neil Speaight and Steve Sharp have been really helpful in the few years I have been there. And the National Relays are one of the best times of the year when we all meet up to try and be the best team in the country…..the 6 stage relay is not far away (October 18th). We are current champions and I hope to win again … and again ….. and again.
You should never say never, but I can’t see me leaving any time soon.
Simx
Restored from the club's earlier website, belgraveharriers.com, and published here as originally written.