PETE’S POST – APRIL 2024
April is a lovely month; the days are longer and warmer, Spring is in the air, and there’s that feeling of a fresh start. In athletic terms, April means; the London Marathon, the start of the outdoor track season, the first race in the Arkwright Summer 5k League, the National Road Relays, and our own Cambourne 10k.
Before all that though, I want to say a few words about C&C club stalwart, Keith Davidson, who died quite suddenly, last week.
Keith was an official for C&C for many years. He quietly and efficiently went about his job. Always cheerful, always calm, he was the sort of person that every club needs, he made you feel that everything would be OK, simply because he was there.
Keith was immensely dedicated to the club, and to athletics. He gave others the opportunity to compete, and enjoy their sport, while he, and his team, worked away in the background.
He will be greatly missed, and we think very much about his family at this time.
Keith would want us to get on with things, and just do our best for the club, as he always did. And so, we should do that.
For many, April means “London”, the culminating of months of training. However, in addition to London, C&C have members running marathons in Brighton, Manchester, Boston, Riga, Milton Keynes, and Edinburgh in the next couple of months. Very best of luck to all of our marathon runners!
April also sees the first race in the popular Arkwright 5k summer League Series. The first race this year is at Impington on 25th. Last year C&C had massive turnouts at these races, which are excellent for all standards. If you haven’t done them before, join the team! You will be very welcome, just turn up with your C&C vest!
For others, April is the start of the outdoor Track and Field season. C&C will again be entering teams into the Southern Athletics League (SAL), the Eastern Young Athletes League (EYAL), the East Anglian League (EAL), and the Eastern Masters (EMAC) League.
Last year we had a great season. Just to mention a couple of highlights, we won promotion, as Champions, in the SAL, and the Ladies Masters Team not only qualified for the final, but also won bronze medals on that final day too.
Another exciting season awaits, we need big team turnouts in order to do as well as possible. If this is new to you, speak to your coaches and find out more. These are the events that we train for, to put on that C&C vest and do the very best that you can to help win points for the team.
Please think about this as well, if you consider yourself a longer distant road runner, why not try a 5,000m, 3,000m, or even 1,500m track race? It’s a different athletic experience, you would be helping the team, and track running can give you that extra top gear of speed to provide a boost to your road running. Why not give it a go, you would be very welcome!
Our own event, the Cambourne 10k, takes place on 14th April. Thank for very much to everyone that has volunteered to help out both for the preparations on the Saturday, and on the day of the race itself. There are still places for more runners, it would be great to see a good club turn-out here too.
Many of you have asked about Callum Elson since his so unfortunate injury at the World Indoor Championships. He has a damaged achillies and has undergone an operation on it, which appears to have gone well. Callum won’t be running for several months, but is managing to keep his fitness levels ticking over by using a Ski Erg and exercise bike. He’ll be back!
Finally, congratulations to Tom Keen on winning his first senior G.B. vest! By the time you read this Tom may have already run for the G.B. mixed relay team at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade. Well done, and good luck, Tom!
Also congratulations to the C&C team (pictured) that came 2nd in the Southern 12 stage Road Relays. Now it’s on to the National Road Relays on 6th April. Very best of luck for that!
Have a wonderful and exciting April! Grab every opportunity that is there for you.