Weekend at the 'G

I spent the weekend competing in and watching the Victorian Athletics Championships at the MCG. This event was used as a dress rehearsal for the Commonwalth Games.

It was good to be out on the track and having a run. I've been at Aus. and Vic. championships before but this was different. The procedure of warming up at the outside track (Olympic Park), having to be in the call room in the bowels of the MCG 30 minutes before your race, using the 50m track that has been built in the car park under the Great Southern Stand, having your spikes checked by officials, patiently waiting in seated rows according to your lane draw, being led out onto the MCG all added up to a unique experience.

There were four rounds in the 100m, the first round had 20 heats comprised of nearly 150 athletes from all over Australia and quite a few from surrounding countries. The goal was to make it through to the 2nd round (48 athletes left) as a miracle would be required to proceed further. Mission accomplished. I didn't make it through to the semis (last 16) and only three Victorians made it to the final. But I did 'win' one thing. My coach told me that I had the fastest reaction time out of the blocks in all the 100m races. I found that very hard to believe, so I went to the results and checked the reaction times. It was true. In my round one race. And it was a legal reaction time. Not bad for a 36 year old. I'll hang my hat on that one.