"Discovering Bollington"

Since returning from the south of France the last week has seen me running back in more familiar surroundings including the track (racing in the 3K and 1500m at the Cheshire Track & Field League, both performances I intend won't be age bests!) Macclesfield Forest (including the Forest 5 trail plus Shutlingsloe on a cold, wet and misty early Sunday morning) but best of all a five mile mid-week run around Bollington (whilst Matt was rehersing with Bollington Brass Band) with the aim of following paths and alleyways that I have never used before.

So on a warm breezy evening I set off along the main street, climbed up through Kerridge before the short but sharp lunge bursting ascent up to White Nancy then back into the village picking out many undiscovered features of Bollington's industrial past. That's the great thing about running, you can pretty much go where you want when you want, and if you really try, experience new sights every time you run. This is certainly something I will do more often!

Annual mileage 687

"Le Tour de France @ 50"

Last weekend saw me turn 50 so all races will be new age bests! But that was far from my mind as the family took me away on a mystery weekend. It wasn't until we left Nice airport that I discovered that I was going to spend the weekend in Monte Carlo and watch the time trial and start the next day of the world's greatest bike race (and in my opinion see the fittest sportsmen on the planet in action) the Tour De France! Thanks must go to my wife Deborah for organising such a fantastic surprise that gave me the best birthday ever.

For two days I was able to soak up the atmosphere of this major event and see how quick these riders go. If that wasn't enough on the last morning I got up early for what is likely to be one of my most memorable runs ever around the streets of Monte Carlo and taking in the famous sites of the Casino and Cafe de Paris. It is a run (following much of the famous grand prix course) that I will remember for ever. What a birthday surprise! The photos show the family Wheelton in the gardens of Casino square and the riders including the yellow jersey rolling through the square where the start of this famous three week race started moments later.

Annual mileage 645

"15 x 4 + 1 my three favourite numbers"

It's been a few weeks since my last update and a lot has been happening on many fronts but the three numbers 15, 4, & 1 are still clear in my mind. They formed the key session of the week at the end of June in my run up to the club champs. On a night where temperatures were up around 27C the coach threw at us one of the season's annual toughies namely 15 times 400m with one minute recovery! I completed the session but was in a total state of exhaustion! You would think that running just one 400m at the end of the week would be no problem. Wrong! At the annual champs I was aiming to beat my son Matt's time of 66 seconds dead set the previous week. He was away in Italy on a school orchestra tour so couldn't run against me and at 350 metres in the 400 I wished I was in Italy as well! I had gone off far too quickly and was holding up well over the first 200 m with a sub 53 second junior to keep pace with but from the bend in to the 300 the wheels starting to come off, time caught up with me and I was in danger of not finishing. However I just held it together in front of a cheering crowd and crossed the line in exactly 66 seconds! Maybe getting the exact same time was meant to be, but the banter with Matt will undoubtably continue. As the first Macclesfield Harrier home however I took gold (although it was a club champs this was an open meet so other clubs could compete).

Sarah also had a good afternoon winning the club champs in the U/11 javelin and long jump so we proudly posed with our medals.

This was my last event as a V45 and 50 is just around the corner!