Is Road Running the only events that average runners are catered for in clubs?

Pisco Sour

Bit of a life story here but I am leading on to something I swear...:D

I've been thinking since coming back from watching the Europeans in Barca that I really regret not joining an athletics club as a kid and trying out all the various events. Athletics wasnt part of my upbringing. It is an interest I more or less developed myself. My parents have an interest in it but would have been more from a GAA background.

So unfortunately I never really got much of a chance to do Athletics from a young age. In school (primary and secondary) they would always do "trials" for sprints, high jump and long jump, but they would never teach us the technique or anything. They just told us to jump, and they picked the best people to compete just 2 weeks later! (not much emphasis on athletics in schools in Ireland quite clearly!).

So I always presumed that I was just crap at these events and stopped bothering trying for them after awhile.

I did the Walk in school and managed to qualify for the Leinster Championships in that 2 years running (Came 7th and then 5th) and also did 1500m (MUCH less successful at that). Then just stopped completely until after college, and have been doing a good bit of road running and triathlons since then. Nothing special or anything (45 min 10K, 4:07 Marathon, that sort of level).

I enjoy the road running, its good run and always a challenge to better your PB, do a new distance etc. But for me Athletics is primarily about Track & Field. I've always loved watching all the various events and has been my favourite sport to watch for a long time now. Which is why I'm really regretting not getting moer involved in that aspect of the sport when I was young and had the chance to try it out properly.

So I was wondering are there any clubs in Dublin that would actually cater for people who want to try out various Track & Fielf events such as the Long Jump etc just for fun? Or is this aspect of the sport pretty much closed off to the "general public" for want of a better word? Is Road Running the only aspect of the sport that a 25 year old like myself, with no natural talent, can join a club for? Is it the only aspect of the sport where I wouldnt be out of my depth and there would be plenty others at my level?

I've wondered recently how I could have done at a few of the events if I had got into it from an early age and had been given coaching. Obviously I have no natural talent or anything, but about a month ago I went down to the UCD track for a bit, while I was bored out of my brains studying in the library, and I decided to have a few goes of the Long Jump for the fun. I wasnt dressed properly for it, was wearing tracksuit and crappy runners, but I managed to jump 4.20m. Obviously thats pretty rubbish but considering I've barely jumped a long jump in my life and have no clue about the technique I was pretty chuffed. Similarily a few years ago, one day for nothing more than banter I had a race against a mate on the UCD track over 100m. Zero training, hadnt run in a long time at this point, was wearing jeans and a hoodie, and managed to run about 13 seconds. Hard to tell whether I was under 13 seconds or over 13 seconds but it was around that. Again, pretty rubbish time, but with no training or preparation I was amazed I ran that fast.

So to sum things up, is there any clubs in Dublin in which you can join to do these type of events for "fun" and as a "personal goal", or is it simply a case of only being for the elite, and the only events in which less talented folks like myself have a future is road running?

Pisco Sour

http://www.dublinathletics.com/index.php?option=com_jevents&task=icalrepeat.detail&evid=10&Itemid=28&year=2010&month=08&day=04&title=track-and-field-programme-meeting-no-8&uid=972eec7a9bb7faf86b172cf9c6e2c1af

Have just discovered these Graded Meets. Raging! The last one of the year seems to have been last week, 4th August!!

RoyMcC

Indeed, in Dublin the Graded Meets are the way to go. Pretty much anybody can have a go. Technically I think you need to be a member of a club but, in practice, you'll find they'll probably let you compete if you ask nicely at the desk.

They'll put you in the appropriate heat of any track events. You'll probably find yourself one of only a handful for the field events and there won't be too many superstars.

You'll have to ask around about coaching, but those meetings are a good place to start asking around. It's true that track & field athletes have generally been brought through the age group ranks and have been coached along the way. However the basics aren't rocket science and most clubs would be delighted to have another keen senior in the ranks.

shels4ever

Don't forget the cross country too

robinph

Did a few of the graded meets last year and they were very good. I only did the 800-1mile races which seemed to be the most popular and had the widest standard of speeds, and ages, having a go. They seemed to have a few heats for the likes of the 100's as well, but I never really noticed any of the field events going on as there may have only been a couple of people doing them I think.

I expect they would welcome anyone else having a go though.