Monday 3rd August, '09
Track Team
Mark Allen
So it was the British track league on the weekend, and it's never quite the same as meeting up with the road team for relay or 10k somewhere. There is an obvious divide with the distance runners with Sprinters and then the throwers and Jumpers, even at the dinner the night before you can see the different groups sitting at tables.
Team spirit at a road relay is great, everyone is mates, everyone cheers each other on, and everyone is in it together whether you win or lose. With the track though it never feels like that, I remember my first experience of it going to Portugal and while I would go down to the track to cheer others on some (usually sprinters) would sit in the stand playing a PS2.
Again when I got to the hotel this weekend we went for dinner and one of the sprinters was ordering food and has an attitude that he is better than the barman, when knowing what runners get the barman probably gets paid much better! Anyway after asking what lettuce was in the salad he asked for a drink to which the barman said "What do you fancy?"...now if I go for a drink I would know i.e. a coke, or an orange juice but no, he replied with "what have you got?" (Did he want the barman to list every drink?!). I walked off thinking what a plonker.
The throwers are always good lads though to be fair, big cuddly bears. Take our new hammer thrower Matthew, he came up to the road relays to watch the guys and is the softest guy you will meet. Another couple of good lads are James Everard and Mark Allen, Mark was the trainer for the recent Gladiators and a big spurs fan and we had a cup of tea and a catch up in the stadium while I waited for the 5k....I remember Mick Jones once coming up to me to ask about my training and how I was doing that summer one year, you would be lucky if you got a smile out of the sprinters! (Sharman excluded).
To be honest I don't even get the whole league thing, when we won a few years ago I didn't even get a medal or something to say we had won. It's as if it doesn't really matter but I will always turn out for our team managers (which like all the other managers of teams) who put in a lot of time, effort and money which goes unnoticed most of the time.
Simx
Comments On "Monday 3rd August, '09"
Sim, u r funny xx
sharpness Posted on August 6th, 2009Athlete personalities!
Simx
Spectator Posted on August 4th, 2009Have to agree with your observations about arrogant sprinters who have a particular attitude and show off personalities. Experts may argue that its their tough competitive image that needs to be developed in order to become a sprint king.
Distance guys are more approachable and have a greater team spirit approach to athletics. Sprinters are out for themselves to be the best and fastest- its in their blood and developed by their coaches.
Field guys are quiet, reserved and just get on with it!
Well done for speaking out and highlighting the basic facts of athletes!
Hi Pratt,
simx Posted on August 4th, 2009I am not quite sure how asking someone to tell you every drink at the bar is a good test to see if they can write.
I am being honest in what I think, of course I could be politically correct and say how great everyone in the team is but then people like yourself would also not feature on the site then....
Cheers
simx
Way to go slagging off your team mates Simon. You probably wont put this up on your site because its not exactly politically correct but how about celebrating the fact that you and your team have just been promoted rather than slagging off the sprinters in your team.
Pratt Posted on August 4th, 2009I often go up to the bar and ask the bar tender to read out loud every drink on the bar. It's a good test to see whether he can read and write, and then when he's read it all outloud i ask him to repeat it again whilst patting his head and rubbing his stomach. They love it up north my good lad.
Alright mate,
Simx Posted on August 4th, 2009Il be at Neath Thursday to take part but not 'racing' ripped a nasty blister under my foot Saturday and anything other than big comfy trainers hurts quite a bit.
Il chat wednesday but as it stands I am working thursday...cheers for the offer hopefully we can sort it out.
See you wednesday mate...bring the jaffa cak
es?
Simx
p.s you doing prague 10k?
Running in wales on thursday
Hi Simon,
Matt Janes Posted on August 3rd, 2009Im doing the Welsh champs 10000m on wednesday in Neath and staying at my Nans that evening so will be in the wonderful land of Wales thursday. I've got 90 mins easy/steady planned and while i have a few routes around the backstreets of Ponty that i can do, it does'nt really add up to a fun longish run. So my question to you is, are you about in the morning (anytime) and do you fancy meeting for a run which may be a bit more scenic?
Let me know if you fancy it.
Cheers Matt