On Thursday 9th December (evening) the annual Zatopek:10 athletics meeting is on at Olympic Park, and is a big night on the Australian Athletics calendar. The feature events are the women’s and men’s 10,000m races in which the very best of Australia’s runners compete and is a great night of spectating for running fans. Plus there’s a host of other events…the basic timetable is below. 

6:42pm – Men 3000m steeplechase
6:57pm – Women U20 3000m
7:38pm – Men 400m
7:43pm – Men 800m
7:48pm – Women 1500m
7:58pm – Women 10,000m
8:45pm – Women 4x400m relay
8:54pm – Men 4x400m relay
9:03pm – Men 1500m
9:10pm – Men U20 3000m
9:30pm – Men 10,000m 

Plus there are field events including shot put, discus and triple jump, and some kids events to find Victoria’s Fastest Kid in U10 to U13 age groups. 

I’m going because I’m a running purist and love watching these athletes race up close, and it’s a great atmosphere in the back straight grandstand where Melbourne’s distance running community congregates. Tickets are $15 at the gate or pre-purchased via www.athsvic.org.au