In today's spotlight we have Peter Blackaller. In 2010 Peter became the clubs Race volunteer manager and has been expertly organising marshals out our races since then. Peter also organised both Olympic park relays in 2012 and 2018. And when he has some spare time from doing all of that he also helps race direct at Parkrun 😀. Peter was the 2014 Striders volunteer of the year.
Peter Blackaller (aka marshals@)
Age
61 years young
Occupation
Now retired. Previously Business Development Manager for Trimble Real Estate and Workplace Solutions. Studied Civil Engineering at the Polytechnic of Central London but in the early 80’s construction in the UK was going through a hard time, there were very few jobs available, so decided to switch to computing. Joined the Honeywell Information Systems graduate entry scheme and remained in IT for the rest of my career.
Reason you started running?
I have always been keen on playing sport and as we all know running is a good way to keep fit. While in the Scouts I got into orienteering which obviously involves running. At school I was one of the few that didn’t mind the cross country but I always tried to make sure that I wasn’t quite fast enough to make the school team. But it wasn’t until I went to Poly that I really started to train regularly. I had played a bit of rugby at school, and it was when I joined the Rugby Club at Poly that my running training really started, not to enter races, but to optimise my fitness for rugby.
When I left Poly I joined Beckenham Rugby Club and so my running continued. After I retired from playing rugby, I joined a London based mountaineering club, The Rockhoppers MC, as rock climbing and mountain walking was something else, I enjoyed while in the Scouts. I was an active member for about 15 years, spending three years as President and going on and organising numerous trips. As far a big trips abroad are concerned, I only got as far as the Alps, but I did do a few multi-day big routes. Again, when not in the hills I used running as a prime way of keeping fit and building stamina.
Favourite race distance?
To be honest I don’t really enjoy racing that much, so as short as possible, so probably 5K.
Favourite running route / race?
I much prefer off road running to road running, in the same way that I prefer off-piste to on-piste skiing and mountain biking to road biking. One of each of those pairs is fun while the other is exercise. Over the years I haven’t done that many races, as I have said I am not that keen on racing, but the one I have done the most is the Ridgeway, I think it is six times now so that must be my favourite.
I really enjoy mountain biking and there used to be an off-road duathlon The Hairy Legs that was run out of Goring in Berkshire. This was quite a tough route with some serious off road and I competed 5 times and so earned a place in their Legends Squad. It hasn’t been run for a few years as someone complained to the Council and they couldn’t get permission to run it any more. This is a real shame as there aren’t that many off road duathlons these days and it was a charity event that over the years raised tens of thousands for local charities.
I also really enjoy parkrun, again compared to some people I haven’t done that many, 83 so far, which as I did my first one back in July 2010 is not that many. I have run at 24 different events including two on the other side of the world in New Zealand – Western Springs and Cornwall Park. I have also volunteered 81 times, mostly RD at St Albans, which again compared to some is not that many. But I was there at the start of St Albans parkrun as I helped Doug Bates set it up.
Running goals?
I don’t really have any running goals at the moment other than to keep running. I would like to get my age grading back to where it was before my knee operation, so up above 70% would be nice.
How often do you train?
I try and train reasonably regularly, I try and run two times a week and get out on my bike twice. I have also, since retirement, taken up yoga and Pilates and I have found this really helps with core strength and to reduce injuries.
What motivates you?
Just having fun and keeping fit.
Volunteering
I have been the Race Volunteers Manager for Striders for 10 years now having taken over for the old St Albans 10K in May 2010. Looking back, I can’t believe it has been that long but it is a job that I really enjoy. I joined Striders is 2003 and had helped out at a few races and I remember one Tuesday evening Sally Onn, the then Chair, came up to me and asked if I would be interested in taking over the job, I foolishly said yes and now its 10 years later. Now I have retired and I have managed at all the races we do many times; I think I know what I am doing and it doesn’t take as long to prepare. On the day is great fun, it is all the preparation that takes the time – but I have lots of that now, so I am not planning on hanging up my clip boards soon. I have also found that this role has kept me in touch with Striders during the periods when I was barely running at all.
Other than volunteering at parkrun I am also a local Ranger for Sustrans – the sustainable transport network charity. This involves regularly cycling the local routs of the National Cycle Network, so that would be 6, 61, 12 and 57 and reporting any problems and if minor and I make sure I properly consider H&S, fixing them myself. This usually means cutting back a bit of vegetation or replacing or repointing in the right direction one of the signs. I have also joined a few working parties where more work is needed. Again, it is all good fun and my fellow volunteers are a great crowd. We are looking to change the route of 6 through St Albans, as we all know the centre of town is busy, so if anyone has any ideas?
Who inspires you?
Anyone who is more dedicated that me.
Most memorable run/race?
I don’t really have a most memorable race. The runs that really stick out are the two Olympic relays that I helped organise. The big group of Striders that came together on the day to run all the way to Olympic park really showed a true sense of teamwork and what a fantastic club we have.
Injuries?
I had a knee operation in late 2012 and although I am fully recovered now it did take a long time. I think I may have come back to too soon and too hard as for many years afterwards I had problems with both calves. I saw a few different physios and it would go away only to come back again. This really curtailed my running for quite a few years and twice I took the best part of a year off. But touch wood, now I am doing yoga and pilaties, and doing deep ankle/calf stretches every morning for at least 10 minutes and keeping the mileage down it seems to have gone away and not come back for over 18 months.
Other hobbies?
My other hobbies are really biking and dogs.
I think I am much more of a cyclist than I runner. I have done a few sportives, Ride London twice for example, triathlons and duathlons and also some week long mountain biking tours oversees in Morocco, Ethiopia and China. All were memorable in different ways. China for the totally different culture and not eating anything but Chinese for 10 days, except for the one time when we were back in Beijing when I think for the only time, I was pleased to see the McD’s Golden Arches. Ethiopia was tough, long days and we got to over 4,000m at one point, so breathing was really hard that high. Morocco was probably the best; we did a six-day traverse of the High Atlas, getting up to 2,700m. This one was camping, we were supported by a mini bus, (as were the others) so we didn’t have to carry any gear. The scenery was spectacular and it was so well organised by Discover Adventure.
I grew up always having dogs and we now have four living with us. We foster for a number of rescues having had over 70 or so come to stay over the years. I used to run regularly with Nellie our collie cross and took part in a few canicross races. She like the lump on the other end of the lead, is getting on a bit, so I don’t run with her anymore. One of our fun claims to fame is Nellie and I are part of the Crufts winning canicross relay team, The Barking Mad Canicross Trailrunners. We are still reigning champions as Crufts haven’t featured canicross as race since.
Guilty pleasures?
I guess I have two – Real Ale and Skiing.
Not being able to go to the pub and sample a pint or two, (or sometimes more) of England’s finest brews was one of things I missed the most during lockdown. I don’t think you can beat a pint of well hopped microbrew, blonds or goldens are my favourites.
If I don’t get my skiing fix every year, I become very grumpy, I have probably done well over 60 weeks and have skied in seven countries including numerous trips to the US and Canadian Rockies. I was lucky that my first trip this year was in January so I got to go, as my second, (as a few other Striders will know) was cancelled. We were due to be going to Val d’Isere in mid-March and our trip was cancelled at 10:30pm the night before we due to fly at 6am the next day. Not sure what will happen next year as socially distancing in cable cars is very difficult.
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