"Last days of Summer"

I always think that the end of the summer running season is marked by the last track and field meet. As always this was a Cheshire League fixture and is one where it is "all hands to the pump" to score as many points as possible to keep the club in the top three in the table. Held again this year at the windy and exposed Ellesmere Port track, home of West Cheshire AC I ended up running every one of the four senior mens races, the 3k, the 200m, the 1500m and finishing up in the last event of the season the 4x1oom relay! Amazingly given the wind conditions I ran season's bests in both the 3k (11.58) and 200m (27.5 from Lane 1, not easy when you are six foot plus! ) but the best that can be said of the relay is that at least we got the baton round!

This has been the first week in several months that I have managed to take on a full track session and survive alongside the faster "money men" in the squad (those that win prize money in local races). Consisting of 5 x 1200m (800 fast/30 secs recovery/400 fast/ 2 mins recovery) I really held it together and am once again looking forward to getting in these regular sessions as preparation for the forthcoming cross country season.

I have also started to get in some regular longer runs, including over two hours yesterday over the Gritstone Trail including a tough ascent of Saddlers Way at around ten miles (an ancient bridleway with some great views if you stop!)

Weekly mileage 28. Annual mileage 921.