Graham is writing an article to wrap up the first season for the TEES Aged Contingent (just call us the ‘TACS' as in sharp as) and I don't want to steal any of his thunder. I do just want to blog on a bit mainly to thank TEES and Tui in particular but also to add some mandatory end of season motivational hype.

Tui kindly offered to help get me in shape about 12 months ago. After injuries really kept me from doing much for over 6 months I had my first competitive run on 12 November last year.

You folks know I'm an ordinary old bloke, but with help from Tui and dedication to improvement, this season has been a good one. My first 100m time back in November was certainly nothing to write home about for a male sprinter - 13.65. But at least I was out there having a go. I've now shaved 1.18 seconds off that time, down to 12.47 in less than 5 months. I started from a low base but even for an ordinary old bloke like me, good improvements are possible.

Now I know you don't see me at training much. Age has a bit to do with that. My body just doesn't recover as fast as it once did. If I have two really hard track sessions, bits start falling off and it's hard to glue them back on. Then there are family duties and work that also take their toll. What you don't see is that I do a full-on weights session every week. My squats are back up to 90 kgs and I load 280 kgs onto the 45 degree leg press (don't believe what they say about leg press being no help for sprinting - it isolates your quads better than squats and you need them to get a good start). The two weeks, before the Qld Masters championships when I missed Tui's session I didn't take a break. I found other time to do 12 x 80 metre / 100 metre uphill runs / bounds with up to 20kg in a back pack. I didn't worry about the strange looks I got at my local park.

There will be a number of you laughing at my time - go on have a good laugh (till next season!!) - but Masters Athletics does age grading which corrects your time for age and tells you how fast you would have run if you were in your prime. To give you an idea, my time of 12.47 would have been 11:58 for a young fully fit bloke. When I was a school athlete that was about my best time. It has taken me less than 5 months of competition and training free of major injury to get there. I didn't train much as a kid, it seemed like too much hard work. As I look back I wonder what I could have done if I had put in the effort and if I had been lucky enough to have had a coach like Tui. So to you young folks, the talented kids I see most Monday nights - you only live once, TAKE NO PRISONERS! If you feel a bit stale sometimes, why not mix it up - concentrate on something specific and set yourself a challenge. Give it everything so when you're older you don't look back and say ... I wonder. And don't ponder too long if you don't want to see us oldies ripping past you in the outside lane

This is an online registration for nominations for athletes 12-Masters, prices of entry will also depend on if you're an existing QA member and QLAA

Competition contains athletes from United States, New Zealand, the pacific islands, NSW, VIC, WA last years record numbers of 500 competing athletes over the 3 day event from 12-Masters.

Due to the numbers and entries in the heats and field events it is imperative that your entries are lodged on time via Sports Credentials website before July3-5. This is a great competition to test your ability across an international realm in all aspects of track and field events.

Accommodation can be sorted through Southport Caravan park which caters for self-contained cabins or room accommodation. Please note this is the weekend for Gold Coast Marathon, so bookings are essential early if you wish to avoid the trip from Brisbane to Gold Coast for the 3 days.