[namllihs]

Berry Hill Park, Mansfield hosted the 2006 National Cross Country Relays today.
The light was pretty dim so shooting at ISO 800/1600. images have been run through Neat Image.

[Fangman]

Made me tired just looking at that hill! Took part in the Nationals at Birkenhead Park and Parlimentary Hill Fields London back in the late 50's - about 100yard wide start all funnelling in for a gateway about half a mile on as far as I can remember and a few beers to drown sorrows or celebrate after - can't see the modern training allowing that!

Thanks for posting!

[namllihs]

Cheers Fangman, I ran in the national Champs 6 times in the 80s, if I remember correctly the Parliament hil fields course started uphill, nowadays it takes me all my time to run a bath.

[skipper954]

The obvious thing to me is that these women are NOT having fun.

skip

[Fangman]

I was running in the late 50's and got down to about 4.04 for the mile and 1.58 for the half - other than steeplechase meters hadn't been invented! All on cinder tracks and the odd fag and pint after to celebrate! Things are far more serious now.

[skipper954]

Wow - a nearly 4 minute mile!!! Did you used to be Roger Bannister?

That is seriously impressive. I used to do 10k's in the '80's, but I was way sloooooow.

Do you do any running now, or like the rest of us old f---s, just walk faster?

skip

[namllihs]

4:04 for the mile impressive. 4:53 was my best although on tartan track, only ran on cinders once in a 3000m steeplechase. I prefered loger distances 10 miles to marathon.

[Fangman]

If I jogged there would be too much to joggle. Cross country and 3000 -5000 steplechase were my best efforts. Came in just as juniors started real repition training and us youngsters started beating the seniors as up to then it was the 25yr old plus that did the middle and long distances but within a couple of years the 20 -21yr was the time many were at their best. Got offers from Eastern US colleges but had my place at Guys Hospital in London - my dream and all for free in those days!

[IanHoughton]

Originally Posted by skipper954

Wow - a nearly 4 minute mile!!! Did you used to be Roger Bannister?

That is seriously impressive. I used to do 10k's in the '80's, but I was way sloooooow.

Do you do any running now, or like the rest of us old f---s, just walk faster?

skip

My brother took part in the Florida Ironman last year, 4 mile swim followed by 112 mile bike ride, followed by 26 mile marathon....

and I can't even run to the pub !!!

[Fangman]

As I always say - you know when you have a cold - your nose runs faster than the rest of you. Brave man. . . had the greatest respect fro tri - hept and pentathletes.

marathons only happened in Commonweatlth and Olimpic Games in my day - ten or twelve mile road runs were common and I did the 54 miles of the London to Brighton a couple of times. Tower Bridge down to the pier at Brightn in pre motorway days as well as the "Brighton overnight stroll" with the london Medical Schools. Managed to get a beer at Redhill before closing time which at the time was the record! Have a picture somewhere of four of us celebrating a win in the Brighton 4x1mile relay along the prom - all with the cup but a pint in our hand and a fag on the go! Can't see that as part of modern training routines - just another swig of ion balanced plasma matching fluid!