I started competing in track and field in 1970, age 12. I finally won a Victorian Championship title last weekend. Hmmm. Only took me 35 years. I must be a late developer.
OK, it was a 40-plus title, in the 3000 metres walk (an event I came to specialise in over the years) but a title nevertheless.
The guy who came second is a retired surgeon who has moved to the country to run an olive tree farm. He resumed race-walking some years ago after finishing in the 1970s. He specialises in longer distances and is world best for his age over 30,000 metres.
On the presentation dais (in front of a very small crowd at Olympic Park in Melbourne, 10pm on a Friday) the guy who came third and I were chatting about dinner - he was having a vegetable curry and I was looking forward to a fish curry. It was late and we were hungry. The retired surgeon had already eaten earlier.
Yes, track and field is a very genteel sport at our age.
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