"Teggs Nose"

It's been three weeks since the last post, but since then and helped by some excellent weather I have managed to get in five quality sessions a week, including a good mix of speed, endurance and distance. I have just found out that after twenty five years working in Macclesfield my base is about to change to Sandbach about forty minutes drive away. This has prompted me to start visiting all the key places that I have used for my midday runs over the years, including The Hollins, 108 Steps, Victoria Park, Swan's Pool and those fast intervals along the Macclesfield Canal. Whilst I will miss these runs (I can still do them at the weekend!) it will give me a great opportunity to search out some new trails.

I have also tried to start to get in a least one longer run a week and yesterday I got up early and ran eleven miles over the local hills including the quarried area of Teggs Nose (pictured). What a great way to start the weekend. Today I helped in the running of the Macclesfield Half Marathon and Fun Run both of which were great events and it's good to put something back into the sport for a change.

The next run will be the Oxford "Dream Inspires" run in a fortnights time and after that it's straight into the cross country season.

Annual mileage 924

"The End Of Summer"

I'm sat here after the final track and field meeting of the season and the rain has begun to belt down (again!). I have just returned from the Stanney Oaks Athletics Track in Ellesmere Port having run a season's best 11.39 in the 3k (by19 seconds!). Compared to the Northern League the Cheshire T&F League is not nearly as sharp, particularly in the middle orders and I was able to draw on a couple of rivals from Crewe and Nantwich AC to what for me was a perfectly paced race and a great end to the season.

All in all it has been a great week of running involving speed, distance and racing. In addition to the track meet early in the week I ran a couple of good tempo sessions. But the key run of the week was yesterday's 11 miler across the Kerridge and Rainow hills. For once I managed an early (6.30am) start and in an hour and forty covered a mix of good climbing, steady descending and slow sight seeing to get a flavour of the areas industrial past. This included a run through Ingersley Vale Mill built as a cotton mill in 1792 and only closed about ten years ago when it was ravaged by fire. It reminded me that sometimes when we are out running we forget what is around us and even in the middle of the countryside the industrial past is never far away.

There will be a break in racing now for a couple of weeks which will give me the chance to do some quality longer track, tempo and hill sessions in preparation for the cross country season. I'm also looking forward to the World Wide Festival of Races "Dream Inspires" run in Oxford in early October.

Annual mileage - 846

"Whinfell Forest"

Last week saw the end of the summer holidays, and as usual we spent a weekend up in the Lake District with another couple of families. It was a great opportunity for some early morning runs around Whinfell Forest with the mist still hanging over the fells and with the sun just clearing the horizon. It was also good to discover some new trails as well as running some familiar ones.

The week was also important as Matt got his GCSE results and we were all really pleased he got the passes needed to go on to do A Levels.

With the track coach away tonight but with the session set I went to the local cemetery and ran a great set of 6 x 1k with a minutes recovery. It's a great place to train when you get used to your surroundings!

This coming weekend sees the final track and field fixture of the summer, so it's a last opportunity to end the summer with some good times.

Annual mileage - 822