It was my 72nd year. I realised some time ago that if I was to maintain my running fitness through my 70’s I would need to focus on more than running. A chance meeting with Strength and Conditioning personal trainer Donovan Blake gave me the motivation to start a weights programme to support my overall training. I can’t say I love weight training but at the end of 2024 with Donovan’s tailored programme I’m running as well as I was ten years ago so guess muscle mass is supported more actively than would otherwise have been the case.
My number one target in 2024 was to attend the World Masters Athletics Championships in Gothenburg to compete in the non-stadia 10k and Cross Country and to dip my feet into track running with a 5000m race. All races leading up to the Championship in August had to support that goal, so races including short and fast through to half marathon were built into my programme. Long slow distance runs were off road to provide variation in terrain and a couple of the Run, Jump, Throw events in Sheffield and London gave me a taste of the track.
The Spring was largely about running well on road. In early May I improved my third placing in the February BMAF 10k in Chichester, 46:34, to win first place and gold medal in the England Representation race, Birmingham in 46:55 minutes.
Stepping up to half marathon during the year I competed at Scunthorpe in torrential rain at the St Patrick’s Day race, 1st W70 in 1:43:05 and consolidated it with a 1:43:26 qualifier for England and first in age in Peterborough In October.
Despite all my hard work and focus I didn’t run as well as I’d have hoped in Gothenburg in the summer. I had to drop the 5000m because it was scheduled for the day prior to the 10k road. Competing against the finest athletes of my age I ran my best and with a more hilly course than normal achieved 47:32 minutes which put me in 3rd place and bronze medal position behind Denmark and Germany. A little disappointed with my performance I then misjudged my timing in the Cross-Country to take 5th place.
With summer racing done I turned my attention to the autumn Cross-Country season. By qualifying for the British and Irish Masters race in second place in Crewe I was able to go to Belfast in November to race in the Home International. My Scottish and Irish counterparts are great runners. I have trailed in behind them over recent years marvelling at their athleticism so it was very satisfying to race to a second place and silver behind Sue Haslam, Scarborough AC and take team gold for England. A win in the SYCC Championships in Graves Park in December topped a good season.
Looking back over the year I made some real progress, including topping the W70 UK ranking in 5 miles at Wombwell, 10 miles at Buntingford and half marathon at Scunthorpe. It culminates in a hop up to third on the overall UK W70 rankings after Sue Haslam and Yuko Gordon.
My appreciation and thanks go unreservedly to John Rothwell, coach, who provides consistent advice and support for all my ventures. Also to Donovan Blake, Strength and Conditioning coach for helping me work muscles I thought were long gone. Also to Sally Fawcett for her weekly rehab sessions focusing on balance, stretch and core strength and to Matt Rimmer at MyracekitNorth for help and advice with footwear and kit.
My stats for the year:
Total days active: 245.
Total distance run: 2,121k
Total elevation: 32,241m
Total hours: 239.
Highest Age Grading:
Parkrun: 100.4%, Hillsborough in 22:32
5k: 95.37%, Brownlee Stadium, Leeds in 22:42
5 miles: 93.23%, Wombwell in 37:40.
10k: 96.27%, Percy Pud, Sheffield in 46:31.
10 miles: 95.77%, BMAF Champs, Buntingford in 1:17:47.
Half Marathon: 95.28%, EA qualifier, Peterborough in 1:43:26.
UK All Time W70 Ranking
3000m: 4th; 5k: 8th; 10k: 5th; 5 miles: 6th; 10
miles: 6th; half marathon: 6th; Parkrun: 8th.
World Masters Athletics Championships, 10k road, Gothenburg 2August 2024. In hot pursuit is Jeannie Rice W75 World Champion.
Dot Kesterton, 6th January 2025.
