January and February have seen a group of Striders competing indoors in Sheffield, Cardiff and Manchester, with a number of new age group track and field club records being set.
24th January saw another excellent Run Jump Throw event in Sheffield plus the British Master 3000m championship in Cardiff.
Lucy Broom reports on the Sheffield event
RJT would be the first event of my 2026 Track and Field Campaign. I’ve dabbled in track, and cross country, over recent years, but the dates often clash with road races, or don’t mix well with distance training. So, after a double marathon year, I decided that this would be the year to work on speed – namely track, cross country, and a handful of road 5Ks. It was by wonderful coincidence that Chris and his team of helpers chose this year to categorise the T&F records, giving added motivation to my endeavour.
I was already somewhat on the back foot, having missed the first two RJTs, and more crucially, not setting foot on a track since early October, due to my autumn marathon, and various niggles and issues which took me out for a couple of months. Coming back to hard sessions has left me with tight hamstrings, so I knew I wasn’t on form, but would put down some ‘markers for the season’ and use the indoor season to train for the outdoor.
RJT is a brilliant event. Athletes come from across the country, and we are so lucky to have EIS on our doorstep. It is both exciting and daunting to watch the youngsters fly around the track; and as one of the older minority, you have to leave your ego at the door!
For me, this event was all about learning, and adjusting to the indoors. It was a long day with a lot of waiting around for our delayed evening 800. With multiple events over 4 hours, keeping warm and primed is tricky (trickier for Kate who was also officiating). I had a scratchy throat from the indoor air and constantly felt like I was falling inwards on the banked track!
It was great to share the event with track experts, Kate and Jed. Kate and I cheered each other’s 400 and 200, which left us both with heavy legs for the 800. Jed sensibly opted to focus on the 800, which saw all three of us in the same masters race. For me, both races felt slow and laboured and I was considerably slower than my last 800 in the summer. Jed had a similar experience – he told me he didn’t feel great going into it and ran a good few seconds slower than his most recent outing. Kate mirrored her 400 time from her last RJT, but with only 4 heats between her 400 and 800, she ran a couple of seconds slower in her 800 this time. Kate is looking to get back under 3 minutes, and I have no doubt she will; having also decided to focus on track this year and push herself into events away from the marathon. As Kate said – it’s hard to sustain the required training at both ends of the spectrum!
The absolute highlight of my day was the shot put, and to be honest, the running was secondary! I had thrown one single shot back in 2019 for the vet club record, and bar a quick recent youtube video, had little clue what to do. So, I watched the other (much younger) competitors, asked questions, and happily accepted all offers of advice. I loved the event and it makes a nice change to compete without the self imposed expectations.
My first throw was a small pb (huzzah!) followed by a couple of mediocre throws and a ‘no throw’ (for letting the shot leave my neck too early). And then, out of nowhere, a throw over 6 metres. I jumped around like I had won the event! The beauty of these track meets is that you can try something new that you never imagined you would, and perhaps go on to learn a new skill. And, it turns out I am currently top of this year’s FV50 Yorkshire shot put rankings….just don’t ask me how many people that’s out of 😜.
Lucy’s Shot Putt and 200 metre performances were both new Striders club records.
British Masters Championship in Cardiff
On the same day I took M65 silver in the British Masters 3000m championship in 11.43.74
Winter indoor series Manchester – 8th February
Kate Scott popped across the Pennines to take on some new events in her build-up to her indoor Pentathlon. She clocked 13.95 in the 60m hurdles and 2.04 in the 600m, both of which are new club records.
Kate reports:
I went to try a new track venue, to push me out of my comfort zone and two new events, the 60mH and 600m! Loved the hurdles – what a thrill! Just mis-stepped the 2nd hurdle but then next x3 led with right foot to slam into a sprint to the finish line – a TT as usual as I was coupled with a Masters male and x2 U15B! I’d messaged the Chief Organiser to ensure I could run the correct hurdle height for F60, 68.6cm, and they obliged – good prep important and settled my mind!
After the RJT on Wednesday there is only x1 more 400m race at EIS on March 14th and then off to Torun, Poland as my first attempt at the European Masters T and F Champs with Chris and Jed Masters to keep me right – SO excited for the opportunity and GB 
kit all ready!!
Run Jump Throw – Sheffield – 11th February
Another wet evening in Sheffield for the last of the indoor Run Jump Throw events. Kate and Lucy opted for a number of events, with Lucy looking to perfect her shot putt technique. We all took part in the last event of the evening, the 800 metres, which felt like it was held long after we should all have been tucked up in bed with our cocoa. Highlight of the night was a new world M60 800m record by Andrew Ridley in a staggering 2.07 – Andrew had travelled up from Brighton just to do this event. Lucy improved her own F50 200m club record in the 200m with 34.10.
For anyone interested in going for a new club record the outdoor series of Run Jump Throw events will start again in May, although they may be taking place in Rotherham or Doncaster due to the poor state of the Woodbourne Road facilities.
Preparations now starts for the British indoor champs in a couple of weeks, and the European indoor champs in Poland at the end of March.
Striders Results
| RJT – 24th Jan |
|
|
| 200m |
|
|
| Lucy Broom |
35.15 (PB) |
F50 |
| 400m |
|
|
| Kate Scott |
77.91 |
F60 |
| 800m |
|
|
| Jed Turner |
2.31.16 |
M65 |
| Lucy Broom |
2.56.03 |
F50 |
| Kate Scott |
3.02.91 |
F60 |
| Shot Putt |
|
|
| Lucy Broom |
6.21 (PB) |
F50 |
|
|
|
| BMAF 3000m Championship 24th Jan |
|
|
| Chris Ireland |
11.43.74 |
M65 (2nd) |
|
|
|
| Winter indoors Manchester – 8th Feb |
|
|
| 60m Hurdles |
|
|
| Kate Scott |
13.95 (PB) |
F60 |
| 600metres |
|
|
| Kate Scott |
2.04.09 (PB) |
F60 |
|
|
|
| RJT – 11th Feb |
|
|
| 200m |
|
|
| Lucy Broom |
34.10 (PB) |
F50 |
| 400m |
|
|
| Kate Scott |
77.56 |
F60 |
| 800m |
|
|
| Jed Turner |
2.29.81 |
M65 |
| Chris Ireland |
2.41.45 |
M65 |
| Lucy Broom |
2.54.69 |
F50 |
| Kate Scott |
2.58.54 |
F60 |
| Shot Putt |
|
|
| Lucy Broom |
6.06 |
F50 |
Full results:
RJT – 24th January –
hereManchester Winter indoors –
hereRJT – 11th February –
here
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