"Cheddleton Christmas Pudding Run"

It's usual at this time of the season to have trouble keeping on your feet whilst racing, but that's because it's cross country season, however it proved just as difficult yesterday at the annual Cheddleton 10k road race. With the temperature never getting above minus 1c it was a brave person who opted for racing flats without a second thought. Having said that the three x 2 mile hilly country lap was reasonably forgiving and I didn't see too many slip ups.

Although only a local race set up in the Staffordshire Moorlands, the race attracts some really quick action at the front. I could only manage a 45.15 which is 49 seconds down on last year. I went out more conservatively on the first lap this year (14.30 for two miles, compared to 14.00 last year) hoping to finish stronger, but the biting headwinds and long climbs meant I could only hold my pace and not pick it up. Otherwise it was a good race, all the better for the christmas pudding that all finishers receive! The photo shows the 12th Century St Edwards Parish Church which sits at the heart of the village with its first covering of snow showing that winter has come really early this year and me trying to hold it on the final lap!

Todays ninety minutes in the hills really rounded the week off well. Again temperatures hovered around zero, but with a clear blue sky and little wind it was a great day to be out and the views were fantastic.

Weekly mileage 32. Annual mileage 1207. Race total in 2010 - 32.

"Sherdley Park"

Week three of November and today was race three of the month, the tough and hilly course of Sherdley Park. Usually known for its mud, for once it was fairly dry leading to faster times than normal.

This was my first run out in the Manchester League this season and was a chance to see the current fitness of my nearest rivals, in particular Jack from Manchester Harriers. Raced over three laps (9.3Km in total) I went off reasonably steady and ended up having a good run beating a couple of my club mates but being passed half way round the second lap by Jack (times still to be confirmed). With laps of 15.21/16.06/16.00 I finished with a strong burst in 47.28.


The other highlight of the week was a great ninety minutes on the bike yesterday over Rainow and Kerridge. On a cool late Autumn but bright day it felt good to stretch the legs out on some of the tracks that are starting to break up with all the recent rain and some of the easier climbs (see photo of Oakenbank Lane in Rainow) were a real challenge. All in all a fantastic cross training session.



Weekly mileage - 27. Annual mileage - 1175. Races for 2010 - 31.

"Stafford Common"

It's a race a week throughout November and last Saturday it was the third round of the North Staffs Cross Country League at Stafford Common. This tough undulating course is for some reason one of the least favoured ones on the circuit and given it isn't a counter in the club champs I found myself as the only Harrier turning out!

This year the course was surprisingly dry and on a cold but clear day I was looking forward to a good four laps of this 10k race. However after a good steady start it soon became obvious that it wasn't going to be a good day and by as early as the second lap I really began to struggle to maintain a rhythm (see photo for the proof, the eyes are closed in prayer for the pain to end!) and eventually finished well down the field averaging over a mile a minute slower than the first round of the league three weeks ago. Just shows how courses can take their toll. Let's write this one off and look forward to the next round of the Manchester League next weekend.

The day after I went out for a great ninety minute recovery run around Kerridge including an ascent up White Nancy which put me in a better mood!

Weekly mileage 25. Annual mileage 1147.

"The Langley 7"

After several decades of racing and competition you would think that if I had learnt one thing it would be pace judgement. Wrong! Yesterday's Langley 7, hosted by my home club Macclesfield Harriers proved the point perfectly. It is a tough seven mile road race with a flattish couple of early miles but over 1000ft of ascent between miles three and five. My first mile of 6.22 in effect put paid to a good run and I finished over 90 seconds down on last years's time with a 52.25. The mile splits tell the whole sorry story - 6.22/7.23/9.14/10.04/6.27/6.32/6.20.

Despite this it was still a fantastic day (I helped set up the finish area and did race entries before I put on my vest, jogged outside and raced), there wasn't a cloud in the sky and the Macclesfield Forest and Wildboarclough views were fantastic. Must remember though not to go off that quick unless it is in a cross country race!.

I rested the legs today by going out for an easy ninety minutes on the bike which rounded off a good week of training.

The image is the label off the bottle of beer that all finishers received, brewed specially for the race. Needless to say it tasted great!

Weekly mileage 30. Annual mileage 1120.

"Central Park"

I have just returned from a fantastic week with the family in New York which included a couple of great early morning runs in Central Park.

Although I was out at 6.30am each day I was amazed at how busy the Park was with runners and cyclists. What made it more interesting was that I appeared to be running in the opposite direction to everyone else! I covered most of the lower and mid areas of the Park including the track around the Reservoir and took in the fantastic views back to the midtown skyscrapers.

The last couple of miles of each run covered those of the NYC Marathon which is run this coming weekend, and I'm interested to see how they cope with what is definitely not a flat run in to the finish. They certainly tested me and I love the hills!

The photo shows the family enjoying kite flying in Sheep Meadow on a day when the temperatures went into the lower 70's, which is definitely much warmer than it should be at this time in the year.


Weekly mileage 27. Annual mileage 1090.