What a fantastic start to this year’s Sportlink Grand Prix Series with some amazing fast times through the field in both the men’s and women’s races, including the age categories at The Reedham Ten mile road race. 

Both the men’s winner, Logan Smith (49:53) and Emily Ruane (57:27) smashed the old race records.

On a personal level, I was also made up for Callum Bowen Jones with his runner-up spot and super time of 51:19. Cal is stepping up in distance this year with his own serious intentions towards running the longer distances and hopefully his first marathon in the autumn.

Whilst a lot of attention has been paid to last Sunday’s 10-mile race, it has also been brought to my notice (thanks to Mark Thorpe), about the brilliant indoor performances by Norfolk athletes at the BMC Indoor Meeting in Sheffield last weekend.

Firstly, with Tobias Cheesbrough and Will Percival, both City of Norwich AC, in the 800m races with times of 1:54.10 and 1:56.04 respectively. Then in the 1500m races Henry Jonas with an awesome 3:44.39 and young Zach Dunne 3:54.41(both also City of Norwich AC), followed by Tyler Bilyard of Great Yarmouth AC in the 3,000 metres who produced a super-fast 7:53.03.

I think it is fair to say it will be a case of ‘watch this space’ with all of them during the rest of this year.

Earlier this week, whilst in general conversation with one of Norfolk’s all-time greats, Guy Amos, he asked me if I thought getting older is much harder and frustrating for athletes and sports people who were full on during their younger years.

My reply was without a doubt it can be. When you have dedicated your peak years to your sport or indeed anything else which is perhaps governed by way of being at your very best when younger, coming to terms with decline can be very difficult. Particularly for those in the professional ranks.

Hence lots of top sports people who, during the last few years, have opened up about their suffering with severe depression.

Needless to say, not everyone, but it is important to find something else to channel the rest of your life towards if and when you decide it is time to hang your race shoes, boots or gloves up. Look at how many former sports stars go on to work within the media where they can still feel part of the sport they love.

Whilst I was never ever at the very elite level myself, I still devoted a huge part of my life to running. As mentioned before though, I have been very lucky as running certainly opened up many other doors for me. Sportlink being at the top of the list but also becoming heavily involved with professional football and boxing during my mid-30s. Then of course during the last few years the writing of my weekly EDP column plus of course being able to devote a lot more time to the love for my dogs and work with animals.

I would be a liar though if I didn’t say that I do still miss the getting up every day knowing that my day was going to revolve around my running be it training or racing. Even more so if I was training for a marathon overseas and of course on the few occasions when representing England or GB. Coaching Callum Bowen Jones (plus a few others) also gives me a buzz and at times I do think I am even more competitive than he is such is the banter between the both of us.

Going back to Guy, whilst he openly admits he struggled through personal reasons as a youngster and certainly did not get on well at school, it was a gentleman by the name of Alan Williams, also known for his work and role/s at the Norfolk FA, who recognised Guy’s flair for football.

“I had zero confidence at the time, but my natural fitness and ability to run helped me reach a good level as a footballer,” he told me. At this point I will say that Guy was a superb footballer scoring many goals when playing for Horsford in the Anglian Combination Premier Division and for his Sunday side. However, it was after breaking his leg, aged 25, when he turned his attention to running where he went on to do some very special things with some amazing PBs.

“Representing my country was the icing on the cake for me, but once old Father Time started to take its toll, I very much struggled to come to terms with decline and to be honest I still do to this very day,” he said.

Like me though, Guy still has the discipline to work out each day and as I said to him, decline it might be, but how great it is that he can look back at all the amazing achievements he recorded during what were his better days. With an 800m PB of 1:51.3 through to a 5,000m best time on the track of 13:56.44 and Half Marathon of 64:46 (48:45 through 10 miles), I think all will agree that he really does have something to look back on.

However, I will leave Guy with the final words to wrap up this week’s column: “While I do find it a struggle with not being able to do the things which back in the day was a breeze, my fight goes on and in some ways, it is that fight which keeps me going.”