Page 4 - Unknown

MASTERS ATHLETICS SPRING 2013.
NEWS:
2012 – MY
INCREDIBLE
YEAR!!!!
By Angela Copson –
Just some back ground. I started running late in 2006
when I was just 59 to raise money for heart research at
the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford where my
husband, Harry, had been treated in the cardiac ward,
successfully, a short while before.
My first Marathon was the 2007 London Marathon in
which I completed in 3:57, as a fund raising effort, with
lots of chatting on the way, and I was more than pleased
with the time.
I enjoyed this race so much that I have continued
running regularly since then. I joined my local club,
Rugby & Northampton AC in August 2007 & with
guidance from my good running friends have been lucky
4
enough to make significant progress as a W60 including
setting a number of British, European & World Masters
Road race records.
Even though I had some five years running experience,
as I approached 2012 I felt slightly anxious about going
into my new W65 age category. I should not have had
any doubts because 2012 turned out to be another
exciting year in road races, on the track & cross country.
I am very lucky to have Ian Wilson as my coach, he sets
me realistic training sessions which I can cope with, as
well as a great understanding of just the amount of
training I need to do. I train mostly with my friends from
Brixworth, they are all younger than me but we all get on
very well, have lots of fun & motivate each other. My
track training is done at my club Rugby & Northampton.
My first race in my new age category was the Virgin
London Marathon, April 22nd just two days after my 65th
Birthday. What luck! Ian asked me what time I was
thinking of going for, I ran 3:20 in the autumn at Chester
so I decided to try for 3:20 again. At mile eleven I went
through a bad patch, recovered but had another at
seventeen, losing two minutes from my schedule. My
finishing time was 3:22.29 enough for a W65 British &
World best. It was then just five weeks to the start of my
club Masters T&F League season, so after a few days
rest I went from long distance running to the track. I was
surprised how quickly it all fell into place.
With some good track races done I felt very confident
going into my first European Masters Track & field
Championship. The weather was on the warm side which
I favour, I enjoyed every race 400m 800m 1500m and
5000m four gold medals it was unbelievable. To make it
more exciting I was given a place in the British Masters
W60 4x400m relay team. We all had a good run with near
perfect change overs, we were first and it was a
European Record. I have great memories from Zittau
which will stay with me always.
On the 5th September, Coach Wilson suggested I do the
one hour track race, as a guest, at Leamington Cycling &
Athletic Club Championship. I had never done an event
like this and was pleased to set another British W65 Best
Performance with 14,009m. I don’t know if anyone can
enjoy running round a track for one hour, but it gave me
plenty of time to think about what other races were next
on my list. This included the British Masters ten mile
road race in October and another W65 Best
performance.
September saw the Rugby & Northampton Club Masters
finals, and as I scored top points the club awarded me
Athlete of the year. I was so proud to receive this trophy.
To complete my 2012 year, in November I was offered a
place in the British W65 Cross Country team for the
international cross country race in Belfast. I loved this
race, the atmosphere was amazing. I won the W65 race
and led the British W65 team home in first place.
I thought this was the perfect end to my 2012 season
that was until I heard that I was to be awarded European
Masters Woman Athlete of 2012. I feel honoured to
receive this award and I would like to thank everyone
who voted for me. Since I have been a runner it has
turned my life around and I have met some great people
as well as great athletes.
Thank you Masters Athletics. Best wishes to you all for
2013!
Angi Copson 04.01.2013