As the seasons move into autumn, in our post covid world, I wanted to write an open letter to all the members of EAC Endurance and beyond.
I make no secret that I am a bit of a cheerleader for all that we do and achieve at EAC. Whilst social media does not work for some, for others it acts as a great yardstick for feedback, support, and recognition. It can also function as a daily check-in for our athletes. When I say our athletes, I mean everyone who participates in whatever form of running that they can as part of our ongoing endeavour to be fit, fast, and have fun.
As I am sure you will remember during the years of pandemic, there were various initiatives to keep members engaged and some worked better for some, and others worked better for others. Unfortunately, some people found it hard to engage at all. And some detached all together. Now that we have re-emerged from that cocoon of quasi-isolation, it is much easier to meet up with people, train and maintain and strengthen our connections with each other over time.
Several years back, when I was making my way back into running after 20 years plus of senior rugby, I started going along to Alex’s Thursday session at the Meadows. As I tried to drag my sixteen stone (102kg) physique round the meadows, for about the first 6 months, running in the slowest group, in every rep of every session, I came last (cue the tiniest violin). Mentally, it was hard because I believed I could somehow unearth a previously lost talent. My lifestyle did not support it as I do not (even now) sleep very well, and at the time, I drank and ate a lot of rubbish.
I was speaking to Bryan Mackie at a Burns Supper organised by Richard Meade in January 2016, and I remarked to him about being slow. Quick as a flash, he very benevolently explained that someone must come last. And right then, it was me. And that is OK. Initially aghast, I was shocked by his frankness but as the cogs turned in my brain, I suddenly started to see the logic of this, and I was no longer so perturbed by my then current lack of progress. Bryan went on to say that, right now it was me, but later it might be someone else. We all have to our find our starting place and strive to improve it.
Social media can also be poisonous for some people because of comparison, because of fear of missing out, because of an overwhelming desire to improve that is not supported by smart training, adequate recovery and looking after yourself. We have all been injured; we have all been ill. I hope that from those experiences, we have all learned lessons about how to get better returns from the physical make-up of our bodies.
The summer is now ending, and track races are now virtually over. Some road races remain, especially in sunnier climes. For many of us at EAC, the cross-country season beckons. I strongly recommend to anyone who is newer to the club or who has not tried cross-country of late, to consider giving it a go this year.
Yes, of course there are some exceptional athletes competing. Some of them are in our club, particularly our ladies. More importantly, it is a very inclusive team-centred discipline, where we all appreciate each individual’s efforts to try to run the best that each of us can. There will always be people who are better than others. That is the way of the world, but Cross-country is hard. There is no question about it. Everybody finds it challenging: the ground, the mud, the grip, the wind, what is coming out of the sky, whether it is roasting hot or bitingly cold. There is usually cake, and people like Shona Adam for example, are determined to make sure we have enough sustenance to revive ourselves, after a few miles battling through the elements. We have our blessed coaches, the set-up crew, the clean-up crew, amateur photographers, and we wish each other the best.
I was reminded of this a couple of years back in October 2022 in Galashiels at the East District 4 x 4k relays. I always say that I am happy to run in an incomplete team. So, if there are not enough runners to make up a quartet, I don’t mind it if our team does not complete the race. Luckily in 2022, that was not a problem I had to face! With an average age of 59.75, a scratch team made up of Eric Stevenson, Brian Howie, Paul McBrien, and yours truly did their absolute best on a difficult course. 4km is not a long way but with 360+ ft of climbing, most of which takes place in the first half of the race, with the resultant downhill taking it out of you on the way back, it is a punishing track to negotiate.
I had volunteered to run the last leg. As Paul came into view in the long uphill twisty wind up to the finish line, I realised that we were in last place. Organisers were starting to pack-up, although they suddenly stopped when they saw me waiting to start my final (glory) leg. For the next painful 20 minutes I ran as hard as I could. I twisted my ankle getting my foot stuck up a hill at one point. A steward helpfully asked me if I was going to be OK. The prospect of stopping and limping back was actually less appealing than carrying on and finishing this humbling course. I soldiered on and as Andrew Latham’s footage and my facial expression shows, towards the end my technique was inefficient, my body was beaten-up, plus I did not see a single other competing athlete on the way! But at the end was a small but loudly encouraging group of EAC athletes, shouting for me to carry on, willing for me to finish, hoping the best for me to do my best.
I am passionate about our club, and I want you to be too. I have always said that I take inspiration from everywhere: Some people doing well, others trying to do well. Some people believing in me, others not believing in me. But I appreciate that not everyone is built like that. Wearing my welfare hat (EAC’s Welfare team is made up of Legendary official Brian Nisbet, Star athlete Bethany Ansell, and lowly old me), going into the winter months, with the weather changing and dark nights and mornings, can you set some reminders in your diary (or whatever works) to check up on each other? So, if you are not involved in cross-country and you are not able to make training due to commitments, illness, injuries etc. try your best to keep in touch. Equally let’s check our contacts list and reach out in the coming weeks to people we haven’t seen so much of. Supporting good mental health and feeling included are just as important as race performances and working hard at being an athlete.
If you are newer to the club, or you have not been in contact with many other EAC people for a while, do not hesitate to reach out to me or to others. As much as volunteers are the lifeblood of the club, we also need our different and diverse characters, who have different opinions, different starting points, and different abilities. As I said earlier, I am a bit of a cheerleader and EAC at grassroots level, is a bit of a “cheer-ocracy.” What I mean by that is that anyone who wants to get involved in encouraging their fellow athletes or organising or administering, baking etc. is welcome to do so. There is no pecking order, and the mental rewards of helping support other athletes is tremendous. It makes those frosty winter months that much more bearable, knowing that you are contributing to something that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Best wishes to you all.
“The true measure of your potential is not the height of the peak you’ve reached. It’s how far you’ve climbed to get there.” Adam Grant, in his book ‘Hidden Potential’
Richard Michael Clark
the Cross Country Videos can be viewed here;
https://youtu.be/ZB0_TzI_rNc?si=cie-3J5N_Gx4Ut27
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