Description
It's Saturday afternoon. Michaelmas term has just come to an end and it will soon be Christmas. The winter evening twilight outside already seems to be descending on South London...
Small crowds are gathering around a club house next to some rugby pitches. This could be any minor local sporting event. But it isn't. There is an air of anticipation for in fact, this is Wimbledon Common and this is the big one. Everyone there knows how much the Blues match means and everyone feels the tension. The scores are close and the ancient rivalry between Cambridge and Oxford burns as strongly as ever. Who will be victorious this year?
Being selected for the Blues is a fantastic achievement. It puts you into the cream of Oxbridge running talent. You will be representing your University at the highest level in one of the oldest racing fixtures in the world (the first Gentlemen's Varsity Match was in 1880). You will, quite literally, be following in the footsteps of great athletes such as Roger Bannister, Chris Brasher, Herb Elliott, Bruce Tulloh, Richard Nerurkar and Stephanie Cooke, to name but a few.
They all ran their hearts out on that course. And what a course. The Ladies' is 4 miles and the Gentlemen's is 7 1/2. Who could forget the water-jump, the toast-rack, the butts? All names that you'll certainly never forget once you've run through them.
No doubt you came through adversity in your preparation. Perhaps you were rocked by frustrating illness or injury. Yet months of training have left you in superb condition or you wouldn't have made it. Now is the time to forget about all of that. It's not about that.
There may be individual scores to settle and you may be awarded a Blue for your performance in the race. But it is not about personal glory either.
On the day it is about racing in it's purest form. It is about racing for Cambridge like there's no tomorrow. Cherish it. There won't be many more opportunities.
And when it's all over, victory secured, more fun begins. There's always a kicking Black Tie dinner and party. This will include a boat race hopefully providing a great opportunity to rub salt into their wounds.
Don't forget: if you are not competing, you are still needed. Go watch and support. It is spectacular.