England Masters 2024

The annual England Vs. Wales International Half Marathon fixture took place on Sunday 26th May at the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run event. Incredibly 4 STAC's were representing England and it would have been 5 if it wasn't for Shane Grace unfortunately being injured.

Andrew Grinnell, Emma Ballantyne, Dave Parker and David I'Anson were the STAC's who got to don the England vest to represent their country in their respective Masters category against Wales. 

Previous club runners for England Masters events have been Chris Gill, Shane Grace and Dave Parker. But never have we had so many in one race, and believe Emma is the first ever STAC lady to do so.

Andrew, Emma and Dave have all written about their incredible and unique experience.

“Have you seen Dave yet?” Emma Ballantyne asked me. Minutes earlier we had both completed the Great Manchester Run half marathon. This was no ordinary run for both of us. It was the first time we’d competed in an England Masters vest. The Dave she was referring too was Dave Parker who was competing for the second time at this level. Last September, I’d qualified alongside Dave and Shane Grace at the Humber Coastal half marathon. Having got the necessary time earlier in the year, I needed to finish in the top 3 in my category to represent England. I managed 2nd. Emma secured her place at one of the 5 other qualifying races. In Manchester we were also joined by a recent STAC recruit, David I’Anson. As Dave P says, ‘5 England Masters qualifiers is not bad for a little club from East Leeds.’

I joined STAC at the end of the third COVID lockdown in April 2021. I had spent most of the previous 12 months working online and was desperate to be around people in real life. I toyed with joining a cricket club as that was the sport I played as a youngster. However, I had been enjoying running for a few years and thought I’d give STAC a go.

The first time I went to training I remember meeting everyone at the Co-op thinking ‘why am I doing this? Everyone is going to be way faster than me. I will be the one they are all waiting for.’ Those early weeks it was like entering a new world. I had no idea what the difference between a trail and a fell race was. There was a whole new language to get to grips with. When people talked about tempo, threshold, and cadence I wondered if they were talking about music, ballet or dating apps. And who knew that there were so many different kinds of running shoe? Yet, my ignorance didn’t seem to matter. What mattered was that I liked the people I was running alongside. They encouraged me, they were interested in me, and they were bonkers enough to carry on training even when it was chucking it down.

One of the things I also saw were people dedicated to getting better and helping others to do the same. I joined just before Tempo Tuesday became a thing. It was at one of those early sessions that I met Shane for the first time. He epitomised, and continues to epitomise, the dedication to improve. After a few TTs I figured out that tempo was basically running on the verge of a breakdown for what seemed like an eternity. Shane was running the same sessions as an easy run within his training schedule, and I remember wondering if he was from another planet. Qualifying alongside him for England Masters was a real highlight of last year. I was gutted that his latest injury meant he couldn’t take up his place in Manchester but without his inspiration and support I’m sure I wouldn’t have made it there.

Fast forward three years and I’m on the start line at Manchester dressed in an England Masters kit with shorts so short that even 1970s footballers would blush. The imposter syndrome was becoming my friend again. Somehow Dave P had recovered enough from breaking a bone 5 weeks earlier to take his place alongside me on the start line. His presence filled me with a little more confidence in a way that only he can do. After what seemed like a lifetime waiting, Brendan Foster got the race underway.

Another thing STAC has shown me is the power of 10 website. Having been sent the starting line up a few weeks earlier, I used it to research all the other runners in my category. There was one guy from Sheffield who was in a different league to me and, although there were others with better PBs, I wondered if I might sneak a place on the podium. At Masters races you run with your age category on your back, so you know who you are racing against. As we got to the 4th mile there were about 3 other M50s running around me. I’d seen another one disappear in front of us in the first couple of miles and I assumed that it was the Sheffielder. Finally, at mile 10 I managed to drop the other 3. I was feeling quite strong but thought I’d have to settle for 2nd place. Then, as we turned a corner and onto the straight road back towards the city centre, I spotted the other one. He seemed to be coming back towards me and I thought if I judged it right, I might catch him just before the end and try to out sprint him. The plan seemed to work as I committed to it with 400 metres to go and managed to get past. As I crossed the finish line, I thought I’d won it only to discover that the youngest looking 50-year-old from Sheffield had crossed the line 21 seconds earlier. Still 2nd place wasn't bad.

A few minutes later Emma says, ‘have you seen Dave yet?’ I thought there was no chance we will see him for at least 20 minutes. No ordinary person runs a half marathon 5 weeks after breaking a bone and does it in less than 1 hour 45 minutes. Fortunately, I kept that thought to myself. As I looked back towards the finish, I saw the unmistakable figure of Dave coming up towards the line. ‘He's there’, I said to Emma and instinctively we ran towards him. The next few moments including finding David I’anson and discovering he had finished 3rd in his category, sum up not only the experience of the day, but what it means to be STAC for me. The determination to make the most of every opportunity. The brilliance of club members. The reality that our victories and our defeats are best experienced when we share them together. The belief that when one person succeeds, we all succeed. Thank you STAC for teaching me about the life of running and how best to run life!

I was looking for a half marathon to give me something to focus on and had heard about the England Masters qualification races so thought I might as well give the Four Villages half a go! I never thought I would ever represent England so I was quite shocked to qualify. 

Preparation for the race was going well until I had a week of annual leave and thought I'd try to fit an extra track session in. I think I just over did it and ended up injuring my hamstring. Initially I was gutted but after a few days of feeling sorry for myself & motivation from friends and family I started strengthening exercises. I started building slowly and went for a longer run with Sarah & Jane one Sunday. Their reassurance and support helped me feel more positive that I would get to the start line. Luckily I managed to build back up enough to feel reasonably fit going into the Manchester half marathon. I didn’t put any pressure on myself & just aimed to enjoy it and get round in a similar time to my qualification race. 

Race day arrived and after getting a lift to central Manchester I stood feeling rather nervous outside the England Athletics tent before going to the bag drop. I was relieved to see Andrew when I returned and the two Dave’s shortly afterwards. I immediately felt more at ease and the encouragement from them all was amazing. Dave P suffered a nasty foot injury prior to the race and it was so inspirational to see him ready to race. Lisa ( Dave P’s wife) took a photo of us all and shortly afterwards we made our way to the start line.

I haven’t done a big city race for a while and forgot how busy it is and how long the loo queue’s are haha! I ended up doing a very limited warm up so thought this might impact me. I was stood waiting to start when I heard a shout and Jack, Mum and Dad appeared with a “Go Mummy sign” and big smiles on their faces. I aimed to set off at 6:30’s but the atmosphere was fantastic and I did my first mile in 6:11 which I thought I might pay for. I felt a bit sluggish the first few miles and there were a few inclines but as the race went on I felt better and loved the atmosphere. Matt had run out along the course & cheered me on which helped motivate me. I also heard someone shouting “Go little Em” which I’m still unsure who it was however I was very grateful. 

I was so shocked to see my finish time as 1:23:02. Andrew was at the finish and I was so pleased to hear about his position and PB. Shortly afterwards Dave P arrived in an amazing time given his injury before the race. Unfortunately I missed the other Dave however he did equally as well finishing 3rd in his age category. It was such an amazing experience to run in an England vest with such inspirational people. I also want to thank everyone who sent messages of encouragement along the way. Lucky to be part of a great sport and club!

Well it’s two days after and I’m sat with my feet up, feeling like an idiot for battering my poor ankle round Manchester Half, just because it meant I got to wear a silly England vest. 

I didn’t even get in the top three which I’d been training for before I got injured, so I’ve no idea why I thought it was a good idea to run as fast as could. Silly old fool.

To be fair it was only in the last week or so when I’d been out for a nice slow pain free jog that I had a rush of blood to the head, got all giddy and decided to race.

Selling it to Mrs P was easy. I just told her I was going to Support Andrew and Emma anyway, I’d already paid for my entry, so why not just get to wear the kit and have a day out. When I say selling it, I think she just weighed up the alternative of me sulking round the house for a month, another month, and lost the will to live.

Anyway, I did get to spend the day with our fantastic team of England age group runners. It was an absolute privilege to see them performing so well at the top level and share with them and their families the pride and atmosphere of the occasion. It really is a reflection of the strength in depth of STAC, at all disciplines and distances, that week after week we are applauding these amazing achievements. A great deal of credit needs to go to the coaching, admin, and LIRF team who give up their time so selflessly to give us the freedom to just turn up and run week after week.

I was only joking about the top bit, I loved every minute of it. Can’t beat a bit of “teaching it a lesson”, I’m pretty sure it’s in all the training manuals?

Cheers all 

Dave P