Pick your fucking lane and stick to it!

Have you ever gone back to a hobby that you used to do as a kid? Something you were immersed in for years at a young age, and then you stopped it when you approached adulthood?

I've done just that. 24 years later, I've returned to athletics - something I would do 3 times a week - week in, week out. Hurdles and high jump were my main events. I'd compete for the borough and compete for the county. Being tall was my advantage when it came to high jump, being fast was my advantage when it came for hurdles. But now being 40 is my disadvantage, cos I can't bloody do either!

No, that's not entirely true, I'm getting there with the hurdles. It's painfully slow, but I've now managed to jump over one single hurdle with an 8 stride run up. Doesn't seem like a big deal, but you'd be alarmed at what a confidence knock 24 years away from the track can cause.

Hopefully this time next year I'll be able to do the full 100 meters!

Going back to athletics makes me feel both really happy and a little bit sad. The last time I was here, I had a mum and a dad. I had my twin sister running by my side and my friends to train with.

They're now all gone. (Twin and friends still alive, thank goodness, just busy with life!)

The surroundings are exactly the same though, and that feels really comforting and nostalgic. Adapting to the new version of athletics is fine, and I've come to terms with the changes. Training is harder for me - like I said, I'm not as strong, flexible or as fast as I was back then - I sure took those attributes for granted! But when I'm sprinting down that red rubbery track with my spikes on - the same spikes I wore as a young girl, it feels absolutely fantastic. I hear Chariots Of Fire playing in my head as I bound down my lane. I love hearing the pounding feet from the surrounding runners. Some of the athletes are long distance runners, they run round and round the track like machines. Some of the others are super fast and just sprint solidly for an hour. The sound these runners make together is like the heavy downpour of rain.

In the distant you see the hammer throwers swinging that beast of a ball round and round in the air. I never went near throwing events - having the arm strength of Charles Hawtrey, it just wasn't my thing.

Next to the hurdles is the long jump pit, where athletes effortlessly fly in the air, landing in a pleasure pool of sand. Loadza fun! A popular activity with a fair few people using it at one time.

They tell me there aren't many athletes my age competing in the borough for the hurdles. That hopefully leaves me a good chance to do well in the races. The Eddie The Eagle for Southend Athletics! 😂

That's a year or so away though, for now, I'll continue hopping over my one little hurdle, which hopefully in a matter of weeks will turn into 2!