This weekend about ten members of my running club travelled to Shropshire to attend two fell races over a weekend, a journey of around 3 hours. One short, steep and fast race on the Saturday and a long, arduous one on the Sunday. We did the same last year and I enjoyed it a lot despite the fact racing in early February can be a bit on the 'fresh' side. I'm a middle of the pack club runner, not the fastest and not the slowest. Last year I finished third female in the short race and was chuffed to receive a box of Roses chocs. I also was given a commemorative mug for finishing both races. This year I finished second female in the short race, and tenth in the long. I didn't get any chocs or a mug. I enjoyed both races, they were well organised and marshalled, took place in beautiful hills in good weather for the time of year, and are good value for money. I did however feel a bit miffed.
Selfish? Materialistic? I don't run for material gain, though if the race organiser cared to know how I felt, I'd say this: I'm a female, which puts me firmly in the minority in fellrunning. Whatever anyone thinks of it, a bit of positive discrimination goes a long way to bringing more women into sport.
The effects of a prize, however nominal, on the mindset of a runner is not to be underestimated. Even getting called up in front of your peers and recognised has worth. It makes hard training worth it, spurs you on to train more and race more, making you more likely to enter more races and contribute to participation in a growing sport. It's the 'bottom up' or 'grassroots' support which forms the base of a pyramid atop which sit the Brownlee brothers, Jo Pavey et al.
I hope to return to beautiful Shropshire next year. I heard that a clubmate chatted to the organiser who is hoping to reintroduce a mug or other souvenir for the weekends racing. Good call, and I hope he's also open to giving a few nods to some of the also-rans :)
Selfish? Materialistic? I don't run for material gain, though if the race organiser cared to know how I felt, I'd say this: I'm a female, which puts me firmly in the minority in fellrunning. Whatever anyone thinks of it, a bit of positive discrimination goes a long way to bringing more women into sport.
The effects of a prize, however nominal, on the mindset of a runner is not to be underestimated. Even getting called up in front of your peers and recognised has worth. It makes hard training worth it, spurs you on to train more and race more, making you more likely to enter more races and contribute to participation in a growing sport. It's the 'bottom up' or 'grassroots' support which forms the base of a pyramid atop which sit the Brownlee brothers, Jo Pavey et al.
