"Summer Heights"

Although due to work and family commitments (running my son around with his drum kit to gigs and other things), it's still generally been another good athletics week. On Wednesday Sarah came 3rd in the inter schools athletics 600m, whilst today Matt turned out in the Premier Division of the Young Athletes League for Macclesfield Harriers in the pole vault (something he enjoys and is very good at) and the 400m to score club points, (something he doesn't!). I had a great afternoon officiating on the track and it's great to see all the athletes, as the future of the sport, giving it their all and excelling.

For me it's been a fairly light running week apart from some steady sessions and a couple of excellent tempo runs which I really needed as the club's annual track and field championships are now only a week away. As my fiftieth birthday approaches rapidly I have for some time had a challenge out to Matt that I am still faster than him over a track distance of his choosing! His response has been to challenge me at polevault or trampoline, both of which he knows I have never done. However his 400m today in 66 seconds has set me a challenge, and although he is off to Italy with the school to play a series of concerts and will miss the championships it is my opportunity to see if I can run faster and settle the discussion once and for all! So the pressure is now really on!

Weekly mileage 15. Annual mileage 606

"Back With A Bump "

After a month of great training and racing my running came to a grinding halt for the first week of June with a painful bout of "runners knee" aggravated by the all out assault at the Wincle Trout Race. After a few days rest I'm not sure which was most painful, missing the Tuesday track session or lying upstairs on the treatment bed in the clubhouse watching the session having the knee attacked by the physio! But it must have helped for a couple of easy runs after this and it appears to be on the road to recovery.

The last week has included a return to the track including sets of 300's and 600's with 100m jog recoveries. the fastest in 54 seconds (for the 3's!) and the remainder sub 60 seconds, which whilst not being as quick as I would like for this time of the year when compared to the previous week at least I am running again! The aim will be to pick this speedwork up in the next few weeks as the annual club track & field champs are just around the corner.

Things were rounded off with a great early Sunday morning seventy five minute run over the local trails around Rainow & Kerridge. The perfect end to the week!

Weekly mileage 29. Annual mileage 591

"Running For Your Supper!"

The second race of the week was the annual "Wincle Trout Race", held as part of the annual Rose Queen Fete. A tough, hilly 6 mile course including river crossing, this is only the second time I have run this race in over twelve years due to previously breaking my collar bone and collecting nine stitches over my eye whilst descending off the highest part of the course! This is an increasingly popular race with a limit of 300 runners being reached well before the day and the prize is also rather different, namely a fresh trout from the local trout farm!

A fast start took the race through the grounds of the trout farm and down into the Dane Valley where the river crossing came far to early to cool off the field, who for once had temperatures rising to the mid twenties. An undulating river valley is followed by a long slow ascent out past Lud's Church and onto the open moorland.

A rapid descent over Hanging Stone (scene of my former collision with a dry stone wall!) and a long hands on knees climb to the finish in a time of 55.13 and 120th place. All in all a tough but great race and one I hope to run again next year.

The only downside is that following a slow eleven mile hill run earlier in the week, pain appeared in my right kneecap & whilst there was no problem during the race, the following day gave way to a very painful "runner's knee". Two days later the pain is still present so it's a trip to the physio at the track tomorrow and possibly a lay off whilst it settles down and is rehabilitated. Never mind, it's been a great month of running and racing. so whilst painful (literally!) a short recovery period isn't a problem and I'm sure there will be plenty more good running before the summer is out.

Weekly mileage 23.
Annual mileage 542