Friday, 19th March – 37 days to go

I wrote a letter a couple of weeks ago to the VLM Race Director pointing out that the “good for age” qualification is unfair to older runners. David Bedford has replied, so in my best Hugh Dennis Mock the Week style I’ll try and interpret his weasel words.

“Our Good For Age categories have had little change since they were introduced by Chris Brasher in the 1980s and over the years have been well received”. We’ve not changed them in the past so why should we change them now? Someone else set the system up so don’t blame me. Almost all the feedback is from runners who have made the times and they’re all happy.

“If we created times on a “1 year” Good for Age basis it is likely that we would have too many runners”. Any fool with a spreadsheet could design a fair system in less than two hours but I’m going to make it sound complicated.

“If we were forced down this route it is more likely that we would just do away with this category”. I’m aware there’s been some age discrimination legislation recently and I strongly suspect that we don’t comply with it. If challenged I’ll take my bat and ball home rather than change the system.

“If we discriminate against anyone ….. it is probably against slower runners rather than older runners”. I’m going to leave you wondering whether I’m taking the mick out of you or whether I’m as thick as two short planks.

Oh well. I’ve written to VLM about my concerns and that’s about all I can do. I can now moan about their appalling good for age policy with a clear conscience!

I use my strength and conditioning session with Tony to get my hamstrings massaged while Liz concentrates on her shoulder again. Although the hamstring feels a lot looser at the end of the session, Tony advises rest over the weekend, but I decide to run easy. Hope it goes OK or I’ll have to live with guilt as well as disappointment.