We've all (just about) been here quite a long time now... so let's get all misty eyed...
My competitive career fizzled out with some a fell race, some orienteering and a mountain marathon in the late 1980s. Can't remember if it was 88, 89 or 90.
At the beginning of the new millennium, I realised I needed to get a bit fitter.. and entered a 10K race in 2003 (a bit of running and MTB happened). Unfortunately, this was cancelled and then I changed jobs.
Then I got a wee bit too fat so started to get a grip in 2006/2007, and entered my first 10k in March 2008 (had done a little charity fun run before hand, but no pressure there).
I was extremely worried about being embarrassingly slow, and wasting everyone's time ("what is he doing?"). I had worked out that a 50 minute time might not be too slow, and was probably achievable, so that was the goal. Except I was struggling to hit 8 min/mile 5min/km pace on the training runs.
So I was very apprehensive.
Of course, it all worked out well in the end, especially the realisation that there are no embarrassing times, and people are generally quite happy to wait around for the slowest to finish
Since then, my weight has constantly (just about) been lower than my lightest weight in 30s/early 40s, and I've managed to do a few different things across a variety of endurance sports.
Still not done an Ironman though. I had thought this year (and last) would move me closer to that; but it's actually pushed it back a fair bit, if anything.
But, that first race seems like a long time ago, and I'm quite a different person now
What are you memories?