"Cheddleton Christmas Pudding 10K"

Another mixed week of running finished off with one of my favourite running races of the year in Cheddleton, high up in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Although being unseasonably mild (usually there is snow and ice at this time of year) the race was blessed with gusting headwinds which just happened to be blowing down the tough climb which must be worked up three times in this multilap race.

Although I ran an even pace I ended up with a very disappointing 47 minutes which is over and minute and forty five seconds down on last year. Maybe I just didin't pray hard enough in the beautiful 12th century parish church of St Edward which I nipped into for a bit of peace and quiet before the race. It is a very tough 10k but not that tough! This is indicative of my total lack of quality track and speed work over the last few months, something that I will definitely have to put right.

Weekly mileage 36. Annual mileage 1184. Races 27.

"Sherdley Park / Old Dog New Trcks / Stafford Common"

Another up and down fortnight with a couple of good runs at Sherdley Park in the Manchester XC League last weekend and yesterday in the North Staff XC League at Stafford Common but with injury from the track in the middle!

On a warm bright day Sherdley Park was uncharacteristically firm and dry underfoot which led to a much quicker run there than normal. Over six miles (three laps) with constant climb and descent there is little or no time to recovery. Although I was last Harrier in (first time for a while) I did hold off Jack my closest adversary for a second successive race.

Following a track session on Tuesday it was doubtful that I would be racing yesterday at Stafford Common. After the usual two mile warm up and drills coach Sue decided to drop in something new in the terms of plyometrics, namely leg hops. A series of twelve on each leg put my lower back into spasm and after only one 800 metre rep I retired upstairs to the pavilion with the words "I suppose you can't teach an old dog new tricks" ringing in my ears from Sue! where fortunately the club physio was in residence! However some quick work from the physio & more stretching over the next few days and I was ready to get back into action at Stafford.

The photo shows Stafford Common at its most interesting! Four laps (total seven miles) of clumpy grass, cow pats and a few undulating fields is as good as it gets. With the thoughts of the injury at the back of my mind I went off steadily for a change and ran probably my best xc race of the season to date to come home as a scorer for the team in 47.11.

Weekly mileage 24. Annual mileage 1148. Races 26.

"Gritstone Trail"

With the first real frost of the season still on the ground but in glorious sunshine today's run was definitely the best one of the year. Over two and a quarter hours in the hills along the Gritstone Trail it was one of those days where everything dropped into place and at times you simply forgot you were running, a real "runner's high".

It definitely made up for the rest of the week which saw no running at all after a full ninety minutes of football on Monday night left me with a niggled hamstring. Definitely not worth repeating if asked!

Weekly mileage 20. Annual mileage 1099. Races 24.