New RT blogger: 800m Runner Edward Vining

G’day Guys,

As my first update I thought I’d tell you all a little about myself.

I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa where I lived for 13 years before immigrating to Australia with the rest of my family. I was never really interested in Track and Field, mainly because rugby was a way of life back home but I soon found myself becoming a member of a Little Athletics Club when I found out that AFL wasn’t for me after struggling to grasp the concept of bouncing a ball while running.

I joined Nunawading Little Athletics Club where I started my career in becoming the next Usain Bolt focusing on only the sprints as they required the least amount of training and gave more time to socialise during Saturday morning competitions; and I still wonder why I wasn’t picked for any relay teams.

After I reached the highest age group in Little Athletics I moved to Doncaster Athletics Club to continue my illustrious career in becoming a sprinter. Under the watchful eye of Tom Kelly I began taking my running more seriously, training once a week where everything was done in spikes, including my warm up drills; again I wondered why no relay team selection.

As a spare of the moment thought I attempted an 800m race at a weekly shield comp where my main ambition was to beat a fellow teammate; in the end I ran 2:02. I then entered the Victorian Junior Championships going on this result, where I narrowly won in 1:55. Heading over to the National Junior Championships I was finally put into my place coming last in the final to the newly crowned Australian National Champion, James Kaan, where he broke the National Junior record in 1:49 at that time.

Since then my major achievements include:

·         PBs - 800m: 1:50.00 & 400m: 48.85

·         4 Victorian State 800m titles including the Open Mens title in 2010

·         2^nd at NSW Championships behind Matty “Finger” Hammond in 2011
      

I’m currently in my third year of an Electrical Engineering degree which doesn’t leave much time for training, but I’ve improved from when I was young, trying to keep an active lifestyle; where I work as a swimming instructor for Nunawading Swimming Club, play mixed Netball for those social benefits, and now train 5-6 days a week averaging about 50km including several days at the gym.

I’m hoping for a better performance during the 2011/12 season where I hope to break that illusive 1:50 barrier and join the boys at the start line of finals of the 2012 Australian National Championships. With the help of “Team Kelly” and my new sponsors Saucony, Runnerstribe & Team SIS hopefully my next update will be a better read.

Keep Running!

Cheers