I hot topic for discussion in running and athletics in general is the drop out rate in the late teen years to senior ranks. We all know there are probably lot's of reasons like University, finding other sports (so many options these days), gets tough to improve, getting jobs, getting a life some may even say but one reason for sure is those people in clubs that seem to exist just to annoy people.... like traffic wardens. Much like traffic wardens there is a need for them but they always go that extra mile to use that little power they have to annoy the crap out of people.

So take Tuesday night.....

Me and a few other guys are doing a biggish training session of 30x300m with 45seconds recovery. This is not going to be made any easier by the strong winds and hail/rain. Big George is away sunning himself (don't blame him) so as Neath track is closer to some of the guys and I had no problem going there, we also knew that a couple of the Neath Harriers seem to have a problem with us so we agreed to pay when they arrive even though its not their 'booked' track time.

Just to fill you in Neath rugby team book the track 6pm-7pm and then the Harriers 7pm-8pm, so we arrive at 5.30 to warm up and then use the track while the rugby guys use the inside pitch (they have no problem with this and never have) but due to a couple of 'snakes' who don't like this a few of the runners have complained in the past, so to avoid a problem Marc and myself agreed we would pay the runners £3 each after the session when they turn up to avoid a problem....even though it's not their booked time.

So back to the session and while the rugby boys are doing their thing on the field we are knocking out rep after rep and the hail has covered the track making it not only freezing but tricky on the bends. After 5 reps I take off a couple of layers and go down to 3! Skip forward to number 20 and the end is in sight, the legs are hurting from previous weeks and I am just hoping to finish and get back home to warm up. Then the manager walks on to the track and tells us to stop. Flanked by one of the Neath Harrier members (Brian Bramford, Blanford...or something) who is like the school class geek who tells the teacher you swore. The managers tells us a runner has complained about us and we have to stop, I question who's time it is and he says the rugby guys, so I question why a complaint made by a runner is a problem. At this point the manager changes tactic and says we have to pay, I wasn't going to pay him as the rugby boys pay so I asked if we pay them is that good enough...he gives the OK. So I run over to the team manager who tells me he doesnt want our money and to carry on training. I tell the manager who says we have 5minutes to finish and get off...I ask for the 15minutes he just spent fannying around and he then says he wants us off immediately. I let him and the old man (pleased with his nights work of ruining our session) what I think.

It seems some people will go out of their way to stop what is essentially a simple sport. If they are that unhappy about us not paying the rugby team why don't they just turn up at 5.30/6 and do what we do. I remember another one of their members Alan Currie who runs the stone age 'Gwent League' stopping guests running in the races, which is stupid when the numbers continue to drop...he also takes about a year to respond to any enquiry even in an instant world.

I like a lot of people at the club but still not sure why they don't tell this idiot to grow up and just concentrate on his own running. If I found out someone in our group was doing what he is I would tell him to cut it out....the only way I can understand their issue is if we used their track time, other than that it's just 10 year old girl stuff.

I bet he is the same person who moans about the younger generation not being as good or training as hard as them in his day.....is that irony?!

Simx