Using the Track

I've already said how delighted I am that the track at St Peter's is being well used. Not having been based at a track for many years now, the club might benefit from a look at how we used to use a home track. First, we used to have club championships for Seniors as well as for the younger age groups. A confined club championships covering 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 1500m and 5000m was the original format and everyone ran everything. In current parlance. Johnathan and Peter might win the 100, 200 and 400 with Paul Gerry and company being fourth, fifth etc BUT the 1500, 5000 and 10000 would be a straight fight between Gerry , Paul and Ian with Johnathan being lapped three or four times. Latterly we had two championships - the sprints which covered 100, 200 and 400m and the middle distance which covered the 800, 1500 and 5000m. However you cut it, a track championships on our own track would be better supported than a club championship at Scotstoun or Linwood. Why not re-instate the club cham[ionshiops for Semiors? Second, a club championship for the younger athletes such as that organised at present could well benefit from invitations being sent to local schools and youth organisations to participate. Third, we used to help the Scouts, BB's and Guides to do their athletics badges. We could again invite these groups to come along on two or three nights to do their badges and maybe even recruit young athletes. Fourth some clubs have a paarlauf championship - runners in two groups ( one weaker and one stronger) and teams consisting of one from each group. The race is over twelve laps and the runners either go turn about for one lap at a time of they do 200 with a jog across the infield to take over from their team mate until the distance is covered.
There are many ways to maximise use of the track. How about (fifth) a come-and-try day for local youngsters and schools with leaflets to schools and youth organisations and in the 'Clydebank Post'?
Any way you look at it, the track is a source of good practice for all athletes and a focus for recruitment. It would be more useful if it were booked of the club on two nights a week. That would give more flexibility for such activities as club championships: if there were to be a club 5000m or 10000m championship race being held it would make it difficult for those track athletes either not eligible for the event or who see themselves basically as sprinters. It also makes it more accessible for some members who cannot make a Tuesday but can come along on a Thursday. In addition it is appropriate for some athletics disciplines for the athletes to be on a track on Tuesday and Thursday. I have worked with seven runners who have run inside 1:50 for 800 metres and 3:45 for 1500 and even some who have run inside 14:15 for 5000m and all have done two tracak sessions a week. There are several in the club now who would benefit from access to the track twice a week and it would make it easier for club championships to be held without inconveniencing other athletes. the request is for a twice a week booking. We cann afford it, the income from a Tuesday would make it possible or we could do some fund raising for the hire of the track. Not impossible and it would really be a home for the club.