Tuesday 30th July was a significant evening all round for C&C. Not only did we witness some magnificent performances in the Masters track league in Peterborough, it was also the end of an era for one of our longer serving athletes.
John Morley ran his last 800m race before taking the difficult decision to step away and hang up his spikes. John joined C&C in 2000 as a 21 year old, moving to Cambridge and leaving behind his old athletics club, Hull Springhead Harriers. For the best part of 25 years John represented C&C over middle distance on the track and (reluctantly) cross-country and the occasional road race. In 2004 at a Southern Men’s league race in Brighton, John ran his 800m PB of 1.58.8, a moment an athlete never forgets! As family commitments took over, and a brief interlude from running, John came back after lockdown as a Master’s athlete. The pandemic initially hindering racing, finally lifting in 2021. John’s first Masters league race was in that year over 800m at Sandy. Much to his surprise he ran 2:09.3, some of the old speed returning. The bigger surprise in that year, having accumulated some endurance, was running 9:34 over 3K and 4:48 for the Mile. As we all know, age is no friend of an athlete and so having battled hard over recent years, John has decided to step away. We share this news not as a “sad” story, but as a positive reflection of many happy years running. It also showcases as a club we should talk about life after running and celebrate success. All too often athletes are forced out due to illness and injury, step away from the club never to be seen again. It doesn’t give the opportunity for recognition or reflection. It was important to John to bow out on his terms, full of running and injury free. We hope this goes some small way in highlighting there is a positive way to step back. John will still be seen running the pavements of Cambridgeshire, heading to Parkruns and the occasional session at the track, but for now it is au revoir to competitive track racing.
John, thanks for your support over the years and for sharing the photographs below.
Full results of John’s last match can be found here
John training during lockdown