It was a beautiful first day at the Masters Athletics UK Track and Field Championships, filled with camaraderie, competition, and, of course, a few IT gremlins thrown in for good measure. You know, just to keep things interesting. Unfortunately, thanks to those mischievous digital glitches, It took more the 24 hours to discover what my time was for the 400m or where I placed overall. The event was split into an A and B final, and apparently, the results were as elusive as a personal best on a windy day.
But tech issues aside, it was great to catch up with my fellow M60 athletes, Jed Turner, Brett Davis, Mark Kybert, Colin Bates, and Jimson Lee. Always good to share some banter before getting down to business on the track. A special congrats to Neil Vondy for taking the win in our heat. I would have congratulated him in person, but I was too busy trying to figure out what my time was.
The next day would be another chance to redeem myself in the 200m, and after today’s mystery race, I was ready to go all out.
Day 2 and thankfully, things went a bit smoother. I managed to finish first in my heat and second overall, earning myself a shiny silver medal. 🥈 Not a bad way to bounce back after yesterday’s 400m mystery tour.
The racing conditions were great, but the setup? Still a bit of a head-scratcher. Instead of the usual A and B finals where the fastest athletes battle it out face to face, we were back to what felt like time trials. Nothing quite says “head-to-head competition” like running in separate heats and comparing times later. Odd, confusing, and just a touch anticlimactic. But hey, at least the stopwatch worked this time.
Despite the quirky format, I’m delighted with the result and happy to have run a season’s best. Another step forward on the road to Gothenburg for the World Masters Championships in two weeks. If nothing else, I’ll be well-prepared to run in any heat, final, or random time trial they throw my way.
Stuart Lynn - Masters Athlete 