Running Rant

Scarcely a week goes by without hearing of some new government initiative to get people (especially kids) off their sofas and away from their Playstations, to get some exercise. Horrifying stories of the percentage of overweightees which occupy our country, and that said country is sinking into the sea as a result (kidding....but only about that last bit). As a result, we see the latest numtee minister for health being photographed biking about 100 yards along Downing Street before hopping into his chauffeur driven Mercedes to go home, while vowing never to be sat on 'peasant transport' ever again.
So here's me; insane plan in head, with one of the few silver linings to the cloud of nuttiness being the sure belief that there will not be a shortage of places in which to exercise; at one of the very few times where the governments beliefs match my own, it can't go wrong................yeeeeeeeeah right........
As you know, I have been debating as to the best place to train for the fast approaching runs; the aim being to do much of it on proper athletics tracks. With knees which are a bit tricky at the best of times - and weight which is still not quite conducive to long runs - I need a cushioned surface, and the synthetic track is perfect. Doing my research I narrowed down the list to three tracks. The first, in Bury; about four miles away. Lovely track and an ideal distance away. The second, in Bolton, still a nice track but a bit of a drive (25 minutes). The final track, a non-synthetic shayle (shail? shale?) type surface; not ideal, but again, very local. Surely one of these will fit the bill.......???.........


Bury........
On further investigation, I discovered that Bury Athletics Club have a 'jogging group' which runs there on a Tuesday and Thursday night from 7pm to 8pm. With work the way it is  - and badminton commitments - I can't commit to that; plus, the plan is to be running for much longer than an hour in the nearish future. I also confess that although I am a social animal (growl!) I like my running to be solitary; a chance to mentally digest 'stuff' while working up a sweat. The idea of 'having a chat' as we jog around is not my idea of a jolly time. 'Not to worry' I thought; 'there must be other opportunities to run on the track'.............
........see this dotted line?........you can guess what it means can't you?.......correct........there aren't; no chance, nope, nada, nowt. The chances of diddly have never been so squat. So to summarise, Bury have this lovely, stunning looking athletics track, which - with the exception of professional athletes and the jogging group - sits there day after day, unused; when there is - I would imagine - no shortage of people wanting to use it. So......scratch that plan and move on.......

Bolton.......
For those of you who have been paying attention.....(YOU........yes YOU AT THE BACK.......STOP DAYDREAMING AND FACE THE BLACKBOARD!!!)......this is the track which I did actually use.....the once.... Although I only had half an hour on it before the Bolton Harriers Athletics Club took over, it was quite enjoyable; and more importantly something which I believed was feasible to do on a regular basis.
To avoid making the same mistake of arriving on the same night as a club trains, I called ahead to ensure I went on an evening which was free of clubs, to be told that Bolton Harriers meet there on a Tuesday......and Wednesday.......and a Thursday; oh, and another club meets there on Monday; leaving me Friday (when I play social badminton, or a match) or the weekend (when I will be doing the Parkrun); basically the parts of the week that noone else wants. Sensing my annoyance, the guy even had the cheek to say 'you can always come during the day midweek?!!'  'Oh sure', I said, with patience ebbing from my voice; 'it's only an HOUR AND A HALF round trip to take during my lunch HOUR'. On a positive note, if I ever lose my job; I can use the track all daytime from Monday to Friday.
Two down......one to go.......

Marl Pits Leisure Centre.......
RING-RING!.......RING-RING!
'Marl Pits Leisure Centre, can I help you?'
'Hello there, I would like to enquire as to the use of the athletics track which is on your site; can you help me please?'
'Well, I will help as much as I can; but we don't have any connection with the track I'm afraid'
'The track which is on your premises?!!'
'That's correct'
'Oh, okay; so who do I need to talk to about running on it?'
'It's run by Rossendale Council so you could call them, alternatively you could call Rossendale Harriers; they train on it once a week. To be honest you could just show up and run; there is a groundsman on site, but he won't mind'
'Great! I'll do that, because I am looking for a place to run a couple of times during the week after work. Thanks for your help'
'No problem sir'
'Just to check, I am assuming that the track will be lit during the evening?'
'Only when the Rossendale Harriers are training'
'So, if I want to come over and run after work, and am not a member of the Rossendale Harriers, then I will have to run in the pitch dark?'
'Errrrrrrr......yes'
CLICK!.......BURRRRRRRRRRRRR......

So, unless I am prepared to scale a twenty foot fence, quit my job or run with a torch; I'm stymied enough to have to let go of the romantic idea of track running. I've never been one to go on about tax payers money; but I do find it monumentally unfair that these facilities funded by the people and for the people, are hardly ever available TO the people (at least, not to all of them). It would not be difficult to open these tracks to anyone that wants to run on them would it? Could we limit the evenings when athletics clubs can take over, or maybe even leave the outside lane of the track free for the public to use? I have sent my suggestions in to Bury, Bolton and Rossendale Councils; and you will be staggered to discover they have not come back to me. Frustrating and 'wrong' though it may be, I do not have the time or the inclination to fight for this cause; it will be filed in the 'it is what it is, so get on with it' slot. It's now down to me, and the FFG!