Harry’s in a hurry!

  The photo finish showing Harry Gravelsons crossing the line with a big 6 seconds PB in his 400m heat at The Pringles Stadium in Nuneaton. This week the big news has been that we're back at our own track - well the juniors have been anyway and it seems to have been an extremely successful and enjoyable return. I must admit that from a personal perspective it's been really enjoyable coaching groups of youngsters in bubble of 5 although it must have been a logistical nightmare for the two Pauls. On Monday, Rob Minton also resumed his sessions for our senior endurance runners, this time at the Sports Club with a session of 800m intervals. Talking of being back at the track, Harry Gravelsons' was the sole club member competing at the second of the Nuneaton Pilot Events, where he knocked 6 seconds off his 400m PB. There are a couple more of these events coming up on 2nd and 16th August and several club members have been quick enough off the mark to get places. I for one am looking forward to a couple of 800m races. Finally, Sarah Bland gives us her thoughts on club life under lockdown. I know many of us have been massively grateful to her for her efforts regarding the various virtual Shakespeare Race initiatives. Take care Best Wishes David Jones Harry Gravelsons. Nuneaton Pilot Event Take II Report - Brian Gravelsons The second pilot event at Nuneaton – an U15/17 open event – gave one particular Stratford AC athlete a chance to see what all the hard work during lockdown would translate to. In late March, Harry Gravelsons, with no GCSEs to focus on, turned all his energy into athletics training. With a solid routine during lockdown and then a transition back to the track as things started to open up again, Harry knew he was in good form but unsure as to exactly what that really meant. The day of the event brought warm sunshine and windless conditions, the ideal recipe for a good 400m. The event was very well organised, safe and secure and actually had a real athletics meeting feel to it, although there was, unusually, only one Stratford AC athlete taking part. Harry was pleased to be in the third heat of five. This was due to cheekily putting forward his unofficial personal best of 58.0s rather than his 2019 season’s and official personal best of 62.7s. All of his competition were around the 58s mark, so it promised to be a competitive race. Harry drew lane 6, an ideal position enabling a great start with the athlete in lane 8 in his sights. Harry powered out of the blocks, using his first energy system well and hit the 100m mark in 13.9s, broadly in line with his target. The back straight was over before he knew it and he was up with the athlete in lane eight, enabling Harry to focus on the athlete on his inside…