We’re in the midst of the World Championships- not the Ultra MultiEvents World Championships, but the geniune one; where athletes pick one or at a push, two events in which to compete with some level of competence.

Needless to say, I am binge-watching; both on TV and IRL. There has been a disappointing lack of new World Records so far; so instead, I’ve been looking at age-category records, particularly as a way to guage my own progress.

In my best event, 100m, I could have been beaten by both 8 year old Lauren Williams and 61 year old Karle Del Grande, who would both cross the line in 13.63. According to Power Of Ten rankings, this year, 149 British girls under-13 could have beaten me. Take that, child #150.

However, if we were to look at one of my weaker events, things look more miserable still. Let’s take 1500m. 5 year old Yasmin Lopez would have finished over 40 seconds ahead of me. I can take consolation in having a far better race with 75 year old, Elfriede Hodapp- who would still have won by 5 seconds.

Perhaps my best shot at a World Record would be to hang for another couple of decades, to claim the mysteriously missing (at least from Wikipedia) V50 record for 400m hurdles.

World youth records
World masters records

“Have you been trying to lose weight?” asked the nurse.
“I’ve been trying to run fast.”

I recently sat down with the multi-events calculator and last year’s results, to begin setting myself goals for each event in this year’s World Championships, in just under 100 days time. I charted last year’s results; what I thought I could comfortably assume I would achieve this season; and stretch-goals, which I might achieve in my wildest dreams with a lot of work.

I then travelled down to compete in the first Southern Athletics League meet of the season- and in my first event, 400m hurdles, took 6 seconds off last year’s time, trouncing my stretch-goal. Gosh.

I certainly didn’t start training for a tetradecathlon to lose weight, but it just so happened that around that time, Arron bought digital scales. I’d set an arbitrary target- a happy half-way between my weight then, and my weight as an acrobatic flyer.

For the first year of athletics training, the scales stayed firm, until the beginning of this year when things started to take a tumble. This month I hit that arbitrary target.

Perhaps I’m just bad at gauging where to place those goals.

The promise: “Athletics will be revolutionised.”

Created by Athletics Australia, Nitro presents a new style of team competition, mixing up track & field events including races such as mixed medley relays and seeded para-sprints. It’s all wrapped up with a very matey-feeling bow, with irksome live commentary from on the track played not only to TV-viewers, but also those in the stadium.

Looking at the schedule, I could not be more intrigued. Though I’m not a fan of the categories (is javelin not a power event?) I looked forward to an afternoon of such varied events.

I enjoy the non-traditional distances, which means there’s a greater mix of styles and tactics in the race. I had similar thoughts about last year’s Great City Games. In the Newcastle edition, the headline act was a 500m road race- with a supposed head-to-head between 400m specialist Martin Rooney, and 800m specialist, David Rudisha. Rooney strode out with confidence in the first 250m, but after 30 seconds seemed to stall, and lost it in the last 100m with both Rudisha and Mark English overtaking him and pulling away to first & second places respectively.

Back to Nitro in Melbourne, where the races began. The 6 teams are: Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, England (not team GB- though I’m sure they pine for Laura Muir in the 3 minute challenge & elimination mile) and “Bolt’s All-Stars”- curiously made up not of athletes only from the 191  countries without a team in Nitro- but also those pilfered from the 5 competing nations.

As Australia strode to victory in the first event, the mixed medley relay, one couldn’t help but feel that they have the massive advantage of being the home team. England’s team, led by Christine Ohuruogu, had barely another household name in it; seeming to use the new competition as experience for some less seasoned athletes. This meant some slightly odd draws, including 400m runner Hannah Williams sprinting in the 60m. I was, however, pleased to see Jo Blair compete in javelin. I had competed against her in my first javelin competition, which was probably the second time I had picked up the implement. Jo was disappointed to get just 45m. I was delighted to get 11m.

Live commentary was constant and dreadful. Presenters wandered freely on the track, repeatedly asking athletes about the ‘trash talk’ that had been going on. On Jarrion Lawson’s long jump, the presenters talked about his failure to win gold in Rio, as he stood preparing on the runway. He was clearly distracted by the commentary run through the loudspeakers, and signalled for it to stop. His gesture was ignored, and the commentator called to the crowd- “do we want to see 8m?” He continues to prepare. “25 seconds to go- he needs to take off.” He again tried to gather himself. “Wiggle. Wiggle. Wiggle- and launch.” Lawson fouled.

Perhaps the most interesting event was the elimination mile. Similar to elimination races in cycling, at the end of each 400m lap, the last competitor is eliminated. It is fantastic to watch but must be horrendous to run.

I looked eagerly to see what weird and wonderful events next week’s Nitro fixtures (9th & 10th Feb) would hold- and was disappointed to see that the events are almost the same. The para race is 200m instead of 100; there is a 4 x 400m instead of the medley; and the genders change on the field events and hurdles. I understand the desire to have fewer events to keep the pace going for TV- but why not change it up? Where is the hurdle shuttle-relay? 100m sprint with a shot-put at the end?

Nitro Athletics has been developed to increase the global profile of international athletic competitions. In addition to more traditional events, I’m sure it will do- though I certainly hope it won’t replace coverage of regular championships. I can’t help but feel that what I disdain about Nitro- the commentary, the bluster, the spin- is what they feel will attract a new audience to athletics. The irony is- I am a new audience.

I’ll be fascinated to see how Nitro pans out- with its ambition to become a brand of athletics meets which travels the globe to rival the Diamond League, pulling athletics out of the musty and corrupt closet- but I suspect the novelty may be over by this time next week.

Today came the first enjoyable sprint session since… 2016.

As I approached the dark track, I wondered ‘have I got the right day?’ The floodlights were off, and I couldn’t see anyone running. With feet already sodden from the walk in, I stepped on the track and realised there was a good inch of slush covering it. I trudged a very slow and careful lap in an attempt to warm up, but quickly retreated to the gym to do drills.

The session was to be 400m, 300m, 250m, 200m, 150m, 100m.

Last time I did a full lap, besides warming up, was in the one-hour decathlon back in September; but once outside in the cold, we were more than keen to begin quickly. We were 3 pairs: Jaime & Jeremy out front; Giulia & Jenna, who joined us this week; Gocke & I at the back, with Mark following (then overtaking)   us.

Now- Jenna is much younger than I, and sprinted a lot as a teenager. However- I suddenly felt extremely competitive for the first time in months. I would not be beaten by somebody on her first sprint session here. Starting a second behind her, I stayed on Jenna’s heels through the first 200m. Around the second bend, I eased to her right- something I am absolutely not accustomed to doing- and accelerated through the finishing straight. I found it curiously satisfying to run the full lap with 3 women, much closer to my ability than in previous 400m races (when I’ve been running my own slow-race). Suddenly almost understood the enjoyment of the longer sprints- or at least the tactics involved.

With the 400m done, the back of the session was broken; and with each sprint getting shorter, I felt able to push myself in each run without worrying about simply finishing the session, as I have done every week since the autumn break.

For the final 100m, we ran a men’s and a women’s race, so the 4 of us ran together. It was really exciting to feel the thrill of a 100m race after 4 months. Form, I am sure, went out the window as I scrapped with Giulia to what would have been a photo-finish.

Back into the gym for a flask of tea, dry socks and a stretch- happy days.
It’s back on.

We’re now in the depths of winter training. Or at least, I hope we are.

I’ve just read a blog post from Elise Downing, who ran 5000 miles around the coast of the UK with her kit on her back. When she got to Swansea heading North, she decided she would cycle, rather than run the coast of Scotland.

I feel like I’m in Swansea.

I guess it’s been a slightly more emotional time than average. My job finished (I was maternity covering); a family friend died;  and I’ve decided to move out of London- the city I’ve called home for all of my adult life. But all the same, I’m not sure how normal it is to be doubled over, weeping on the track, after a few 200m reps.

Every session, the distances get longer and reps get more. Any small gains in fitness are quashed by the struggle to keep up with the pace of change, and the pace of the group. Mark tells me over and over to left my knees and flex my feet, but in the struggle to keep moving, I’m just not able to lift them any more.

But Elise Downing passed Gretna Green and she kept running; and so I will too. Not 5000 miles, mind- but I’ll keep putting one foot in front of the other.