BMC Vision 2000

By Glen Grant, Chairman
This paper was approved by the National Committee in September 1996.

World Supremacy
In Moscow at the 1980 Olympics a BMC member won the Mens 800m gold medal. Another BMC member won the Men’s 1500m gold medal. Sadly, the women’s middle distance events were won by two Russians.

That was the closest the BMC got to achieving our oft-stated goal of raising the standard of British middle distance to world supremacy - two out of the four middle-distance gold medals.

Our aim, or as we shall call it, our Vision 2000 is:
"to strive to win all four middle-distance gold medals for Britain in the 2000 Olympics and at each successive games"

We have a tall task ahead of us. To make things happen we need to look at what we are doing now, and how we could do it differently or better.

Strategy
The BMC must create an environment whereby athletes can develop from National Schools standard through to the point where the national federation takes over. It is clearly the role of the British Athletic Federation (BAF) to look after the elite athletes within the UK.

The better job that BAF does with this the more that BMC can concentrate on raising the lower levels of ability - the less able that BAF proves to be the more that BMC must concentrate on providing a service right through to world class.

We will consult closely with BAF as to precisely where the dividing line for activity between BAF and BMC should be.

Review of 1996
The success of 1996 really began in January 1995 when the BMC made some major changes. It widened the membership and expanded the race programme. The purpose was to include all the active middle distance runners in the country, and thereby increase the chances of producing athletes of international standard and hence achieving our aims.

By and large, the changes made are proving successful. We have succeeded in raising the profile of the BMC and have gained about 400 new members.

Every new member we gain helps us in our task. The ten pounds membership fee makes a real difference to our ability to put on top class races. The new members have made us sufficiently financially secure to cover operating costs and to provide a secure foundation on which to build.

However, membership fees alone cannot provide prize money, travelling expenses or any other financial support for athletes and other areas of funding must therefore be found for this.

Our 1996 race programme has proved to be of an even higher standard than 1995, particularly over the men's 800m. Table 1 details the increases in the depth of performances at our Elite Level and the Gold Standard Level.

Sadly the "National Squad" races were not quite, as far as the top twenty ranked athletes were concerned, the 'must do' races that we had billed them to be. It was obviously very pleasing to see some new stars emerge at these meetings, but it was rather disappointing that some of the 'names' that were there did not contribute to the pace or lay themselves on the line, apparently preferring merely to run to beat a 'weak' domestic field instead.

By contrast the "Gold Standard" races at Watford and Stretford were unqualified successes and catered not only for athletes ranked 20-100 nationally, but also provided some very special performances. Stretford saw two BMC records fall on July 16th, whilst Watford was the success story of the year growing from nothing to being almost the equal of Stretford.

The BMC Championships were a success and had worthy champions, but came at the wrong time of year to achieve good times. The women once again stayed away, preferring to run as guests in the Loughborough match. The summer Wythenshawe meeting highlighted the demand for high quality domestic competition during major championships, and this is a point that BAF and the BMC must not ignore. For our part we propose to have next year's BMC Championships during the IAAF world championships.

Mike Down's Post Office Counters Grand Prix was a resounding success in its tenth year - it is proposed to extend the idea into a National Grand Prix for 1997. Sponsorship will be required - the Guardian Miles at Barnet Copthall show just what can be achieved with a good prize list.

We held two relay meetings in 1996 at which three world and three national age group records were set. Whilst the meetings are not particularly significant per se, the publicity achieved from setting the world junior records showed a visible return for the young athlete development grant from the Foundation for Sports and the Arts (FSA).

In 1996 we only had one National Squad Meetings after the AAA's - this was because in 1995 some of our events were severely devalued by the close proximity of the BAF promotions and therefore this year we simply could not take the risk - as it was we had to cancel Exeter when the Emsley Carr mile was moved six weeks.

The BMC have made considerable headway in improving relations with BAF over the last few years, but there remains a considerable void between BMC national events and BAF events. Much greater co-operation and co-ordination is needed if athletes are to include both successfully in their race programmes.

The Future
Making Things Happen
The BMC's aim has always been "to improve British middle distance running",

Firstly,
"by improving the standard of coaching knowledge so that athletes train and prepare for competition in a logical and structured manner"
We have consistently achieved this over the years by providing an internationally respected magazine to all members, coaches and athletes, that is up to date with all the best knowledge and advice. We run regular training days and BMC coaches stand ready to advise any coach or athlete on his/her way to success,

Secondly,
"by providing competition opportunities for athletes so that they can progress to the next level of achievement"
For three years we have provided well over 150 races per year and athletes have been rewarded with an unparalleled number of personal bests. However this is proving insufficient on its own to raise standards to the desired level, and we now find that we must add:

Thirdly,
"by ensuring that all the best British athletes compete regularly against each other at the edge of their ability in order for champions to emerge"
This we are now doing and we are starting to see positive results from the emerging generation. Statistics show that when a country develops great depth, then is the time that a true champion emerges. When you have to struggle that bit harder to be the best in your country, international competition becomes less difficult.

In providing a plan for how the BMC intends to conduct business, it is important to realise that the BMC cannot operate in isolation. BMC will continue to support the plans and ideals of BAF, the National Coaches and the National Event Coaches. They have the task of supporting the best athletes and the BMC must reinforce their efforts, filling in the gaps wherever possible.

The aim must be a seamless transition from club athlete to international with maximum support at every level. As they improve, the second tier of athletes must also play their part in helping the elite. They must expect to pacemake for the internationals and for each other, and to play their part in producing fast and aggressive races. Only in this way will athletes benefit fully from the collective ability of the BMC.

BMC Athlete Development
Athletics is all about people. Winning Championships is also about endeavour and success or possibly even years of injury or failure. It is vital that the coaches and athletes who are doing the work and who give up so much of their lives are given maximum support by their specialist club. Structures, bureaucracy and races are insufficient on their own, they need to be focused where they can do most good. We aim to do this.

In the past the BMC concentrated upon those athletes who actually joined the club as juniors. We intend now to start earlier and look at all athletes whether they join initially or not. The BMC will target the athletes who show the most ability and who show the greatest sense of purpose when they mature. The aim would be to support the athlete and his/her coach as much as possible until the athlete either succeeds or proves himself incapable of further improvement.

For funding we would use the grant money available from the FSA and from any other source to assist with travel and other expenses provided that the athlete continued to race competitively in the high grade races provided for him/her.

It will be insufficient for an athlete just to run in a BMC race. The athlete must race aggressively and often, against his peers and betters.

Where the athlete has a coach inexperienced in coaching internationals, the BMC would be on hand to encourage a correct balance of training, and will also provide a backup of advice and support by telephone, letter and attendance at training days.

As we are advocating support of possibly more than 8 years for each athlete, the BMC would try to nominate a "Mentor" for each coach. We would be available to help the coach draw up long term plans and advise on schools, universities, possible training venues and competitions for the athlete. Most importantly we would try to help athletes through the difficult periods of injury, exam and starting employment.

It is fundamental that the BMC must never take over from the all important coach / athlete relationship, but must serve to strengthen and support that team at all times, especially where the coach himself is new and learning the trade.

BMC Race Programme
BMC Races are designed to be a development tool for members to improve their personal best times, to practice tactics under fast conditions, to stretch their limits without fear of reprisals or mockery, and to race against their peers to become the Best.

It is vitally important that BMC races are of a consistently high standard and that athletes continue to associate "BMC" with hard races and fast times. More than this, the best athletes will want quality races in the right location and at the times that they need them. If they do not get this then they will vote by their absence.

Producing a customer driven race programme goes hand in hand with increasing the depth of athletes in meetings. If the races are what is wanted, then more athletes will appear to race.

To help athletes gain the necessary aerobic conditioning to cope with heats and finals of major championships we will be encouraging them to race longer distances and cross-country during the winter.

For the majority of the developing athletes the BMC Regional races, normally held in conjunction with a local open meeting, are ideal, providing both the amount and quality of competition necessary to progress. We will not neglect these athletes, they are the backbone of the BMC, and without them the BMC would not exist.

Overseas Competition
The best athletes are always seeking international competition, much of which is necessarily overseas. They do this through BAF or by employing an agent - their hopes are not always fulfilled.

World standards are rising and accordingly we are setting our targets higher. We expect the athletes to set their targets higher as well. However, Britain's best athletes still travel abroad to get times of 'only' 1:47/3:39/2:04/4:15. These times were achieved in BMC races this year, but frankly they are simply not fast enough for athletes with world class aspirations.

We have been organising our "National Squad" races for three years now, specifically designed to be a useful stepping stone for the elite athletes. For many athletes these are the best races they get outside of the national championships each year, but they have to be significantly faster than they are now to make a difference at an international level, and to make this happen we have to get the top athletes to the line, prepared to commit themselves. If our best athletes do not have the wherewithal to achieve international times in our races, then these athletes must concede that they are not fast enough to go to major championships anyway.

However, we maintain that there is sufficient talent in the UK to produce fast times and it will be an objective that athletes should only need to go abroad for international races of 1:44/3:34/1:59/4:05 standard, and it is these sorts of times that the BMC will expect athletes to strive for in our National Squad races in future.

In the past there has never been a requirement for BMC to concern itself with finding athletes international competition. However, as world standards rise, many British athletes are becoming classed as "fringe" athletes. If BAF cannot support athletes to the level required then the BMC may have to become involved with one or more commercial organisations to help direct and manage these athletes' needs, improving access to fast overseas races.

This is a major step and not one to be taken lightly. The BMC have identified the level of services we would require from BAF and/or a commercial organisation and have been talking to one organisation in particular. We hope to make an announcement in the new year.

Summary
The BMC Committee has set ambitious targets for itself and the club members for the future. It is well aware that it is the athletes and coaches that do the real work, and in the championships it is the athletes alone who must win.

All the efforts of the BMC must therefore be focused towards those athletes and coaches who are striving to succeed.

To this end the club intends to provide the most comprehensive network of races that it can, and within the constraints of limited finance, provide the maximum support for successful athletes and their coaches that it can.

The athletes will be asked to contribute in a simple fashion: by training intelligently and hard, and by racing to the utmost limits of their ability.

It is a long hard road towards our Vision 2000 and it will take a great deal of commitment, hard work, and sometimes pain and grief from athletes, coaches and club officers to succeed.

What the BMC offers is enthusiasm and a belief in our members. We believe our goal of four gold medals is possible and that our current athletes have the talent and the ability to succeed.

Do you have the courage to join us on this journey?

Appendix 1
BMC Race Programme
Our formal proposals are:

• A Three Tier Racing Programme, National Squad Grand Prix, Gold Standard Races at Stretford and Watford, and Regional Races covering all areas throughout the country.
• The BMC Championships will take place during the World Championships, using a heats and finals format.
• The National Squad Grand Prix will take place at four venues on week-day evenings throughout the summer. Distances run will be 800m and 1,500m. Athletes' best performances will count and will be scored according to time and position. There will also be Grand Prix II meetings where extra points can be scored.
• The "Grand Prix Final Mile" will be by invitation only (the Top 20 in the Grand Prix) and will be included within a major meeting such as the Guardian Cup Final.
• Events at Loughborough University will provide quality 5k races, Stretford and Watford will provide quality 3k races. All members should aim to do at least one of these longer races.
• Gold Standard Races and Regional Races to take place as per 1996.
• Relay meetings will take place at Watford (early season) and Oxford.

Appendix 2
BMC Athletes' Support
The level of service required in a contract with a commercial organisation are:

• Support will be provided to those athletes who are in the BMC Top 20 Merit Rankings. Support will be continued during periods of injury.
• A general support package will be provided including kit sponsor, medical and physiological testing, and access to selective European races, working closely with the BAF Promotions Agency.
• The organisation will be expected to work closely with athletes and coaches in devising a structured racing plan for each athlete. This will include no more than 9 races, which will cover the AAA's and the BMC championships, 1 or 2 European races and participation in the BMC Grand Prix, but will remain sufficiently flexible to react to athletes' needs or special invitations.
• The organisation will support the BMC in its objectives of raising the standard of British Middle Distance running, and will develop sponsorship of the BMC Senior Race Programme.
• Athletes will be expected to pacemake a maximum of two races per season, both at home and abroad, and run above and below distance races.