Competeing in middle/long distance track events?

Running Bing

Potentially silly question here but Im wondering how do you actually go about competing in these events?

I'd be a long way off the standard required to compete on the track at the moment but I'd love to experience racing on a track someday and Id also like to try a few of the shorter distances like 800m and 1500m that are'nt catered for on the road.


So what would be the minimum standard to race on the track and what way do you go about it? Thanks.

Koroibos

Two organisations that have track races are Dublin County Board (need to be in a club) and the BHAA (no club needed).
http://www.dublinathletics.com/
http://ww.bhaa.ie
The BHAA races are more entry level. There are also races thoughout the winter at the ALSAA track near the airport, think only over 3000m but used to have mile races too.

Joining a club would a good way to go but if you don't want to do that try the BHAA. If you want to join a club contact Athletics Ireland www.athleticsireland.ie to see what ones are in your area. Being in a club will open up more options plus advise on now to train for shorter events (not as much online help for shorter events).

cfitz

Babybing wrote: »

I'd be a long way off the standard required to compete on the track at the moment but I'd love to experience racing on a track someday and Id also like to try a few of the shorter distances like 800m and 1500m that are'nt catered for on the road.


So what would be the minimum standard to race on the track and what way do you go about it? Thanks.

Well for most track races there wouldn't be a required minimum standard. But lets suppose you wanted to not be too far behind. At the Dublin Graded Meets held every summer the Grade D 800m races would generally be won in approximately 2:15, so if you ran 2:30 no-one is likely to look at you funny. In the Grade D 1500m I'd say you could easily get away with running about 5:00. In the Grade C 3000m, about 12 minutes would probably be acceptable. I'm not sure about those times but you could check past results on http://www.dublinathletics.com. In the BHAA track races at the end of the summer, the standard is much lower and anyone could just jump in without worrying about the standard.

Running Bing

cfitz wrote: »

Well for most track races there wouldn't be a required minimum standard. But lets suppose you wanted to not be too far behind. At the Dublin Graded Meets held every summer the Grade D 800m races would generally be won in approximately 2:15, so if you ran 2:30 no-one is likely to look at you funny. In the Grade D 1500m I'd say you could easily get away with running about 5:00. In the Grade C 3000m, about 12 minutes would probably be acceptable. I'm not sure about those times but you could check past results on http://www.dublinathletics.com. In the BHAA track races at the end of the summer, the standard is much lower and anyone could just jump in without worrying about the standard.

Cheers lads,

Thats just what I was looking for cfitz. Im a fair bit off the graded meet standards yet but Ill probably give a few BHAA races a go and maybe next year I could try some of the graded meets.

shels4ever

Babybing wrote: »

Cheers lads,

Thats just what I was looking for cfitz. Im a fair bit off the graded meet standards yet but Ill probably give a few BHAA races a go and maybe next year I could try some of the graded meets.

+1 the Bhaa events are not soo bad 2 mile, 3k and 1 mile , Good mix of standards . Maybe not enough events on the track ..

The Graded meets are also great will be a higher standard if i remember correctly but fingers crossed i may get a 800m/1500m in this summer.