Attitude Reflects Leadership

I always give 100% for Belgrave and try and turn out when ever I can, I have respect for the team Captain (Sp8y or last year Sharpy) for the other runners on the team who put in as much effort and time as I do and for the Manager who is the leader. Alan Mead, much like other team managers around (Bob Smith at Newham for example) put in so much time and effort for the love of it and it is inspirational. In his personal life he is involved with a tougher fight than the cross relays but still he gives his weekend up to help the team when he could quite easily have stayed at home.

Alan put me in the 'B' team for the 6 stage relays because he felt it was the best interest of the team (which it was) and because he is so honest and clear I have no problem with that. So of course I turned up to run for the 'B' team, in the end because an athlete became ill I moved up to the 'A' team and I gave everything I had.

It's clear to see the Bedford team have a top team manager as well who got a great little quartet out on the weekend, Matt Janes ran a Marathon a few weeks ago which didn't go to plan and he has since turned out twice at relays not in the best form and probably with extremely heavy legs but has given everything....he even manages to get Mark Draper out at relays which is shall we say 'impressive'!

The worst team manager I ever had was so unless I would rather quit than run for him again. In one word he was and still is a 'prat'. I remember my first and only experience with him he turned up after I did (when I team manager should be there first there) as Alan does in case I cant find the hotel or I need some help. He booked the dinner so late it may as well have been breakfast then on race day it was a classic! He wouldn't stay in one spot at the start so I went for a jog and he disappeared and couldn't find him to put my top in, then when I finally did he took my top along with others and met up with a friend while we ran our legs off! The best bit was after not giving anyone a shout while he chatted with a mate he forgot to go to the finish, I was standing in the freezing cold mid November and when he did decide to turn up he had lost my jumper!! You can't make this up and the best bit he is still involved.....just remember Paul Brooks....'Power wears out those who don't have it'.

Thanks Alan

Simx