"New Year's Eve Run"

 

Last run of the year into Bollington and along the Middlewood Way, a great way to finish 2013!

Annual mileage 1304. 
Sessions 249. 
Races 49.

"Bollington CAFOD Fun Run"

It was great to be competing with Sarah as she won the one mile event at this local fun run. Definitely one to return to in 2013!

"Harrier's Boxing Day Handicap

Back for the "naked" running of the club's annual Boxing Day race. Based on estimated finishing time of the tough and hilly four miler through Macclesfield Forest with fast finish by the reservoirs (pictured) this is one for those that can pace themselves as you have to run without a watch. Despite a steady start and great finish I ran 29.48 and 49 seconds over my 28.59 predicted time. All in all another great event.

"Review Of 2012"

It's that time of year to look back and see if those well intentioned armchair targets have been meet!  So here goes-

 

• To run a fast 5k time - base line sub 21 minutes - stretch target sub 20. I only ran one at 22.02 at Parkrun back in January!
• To complete the marathon talk Jantastic spring event. Yes and have registered again  for 2013!
• To enter some Staffordshire Moorlands races. Again no
• Quality hill and speed work sessions.  Not as much as I should have done and track work stopped after the summer leading to a real drop in some race times
• Cross train including bike and swim. Not enough.
• More miles and new races. Yes 48 races compared to 31 and achieved the club challenge award for competing all the club's main championships of road, track,fell and cross country
• Stretch and remain injury free.Yes and I had a reasonably injury free year
• Project 142 - to drop to this weight from 152lbs. No
• Put running first. Mixed result!
• Pb in the Cooper 12 minute endurance test (currently 2985 metres from 20th February 2007). No didn't get anywhere near.

All in all a poor year for achieving targets set BUT I did run and race much more than 2011. I got to new club V50 records in the 400 m (70 secs) and discuss (11.13)!  More importantly I am still enjoying running and competing and am looking forward to 2013.

"The Sweetie Tree"

For the first time in 15 years I had a crack at the annual club fell handicap over Shutlingsloe, Cat and Fiddle, Shining Tor and Teggs Nose. Fourteen miles, 4,000 ft of ascent and I was out for 3 hours and 5 minutes. I even found the sweetie tree down in the Goyt in very misty conditions! It took about a week to fully recover!

Week 50. Weekly mileage 32. Annual mileage 1242. Sessions  239. Races 47.

"Mixed Team Christmas Track Relay "

The weather held for the first cross club event, a 50 minute track relay with mixed teams meant some tough 400 and 800 m reps!

"Cross training and work at the same time!"

This week I got the chance to meet and work with world class GB triathlete Jodie Stimpson at the reopen inch of one of our fitness suites. As well as being on the world tour she eas also a really nice person and was happy to talk running and talk about her ambitions for 2016 in Rio. I also had to keep the rest of the staff amused by trying out some of the new Matrix equipment!

"Leek Cross Country"

Cross country races are coming thick and fast at the moment, last week it was the flattest course of the season at Wythenshawe Park and this week the toughest one with three ascents of the legendary (well in these parts!) of Killer Hill. Times for most runs this season are holding up well against last year despite the wet weather, the continuance of which over the next few weeks will mean mud baths come championship time in the new year!

"Shuffalong Lane at the Cheddleton Pudding 10k"

Another year another Christmas pudding 10k. As always the weather didn't disappoint with high wind and driving freezing rain!

Week 47. Weekly mileage 32. Annual mileage 1155. Sessions 224. Races 43

"Stafford Common"

They say a picture is worth a thousand words so here are two thousand!

"Sherdley Park XC"

It might have been a bright and sunny day but it was an absolute mud bath for the first Manchester XC fixture of the season!

"Langley 7 Sweeper"

One of the best ways to volunteer and get involved in a race is to be the "sweeper", the person with the responsibility to make sure every runner gets to run safely, particularly when roads are still open, and then gets the last runner over the line. The Langley 7 last Saturday was a perfect race, great weather and just under 300 runners. Although the last runner came in at around eighty minutes you really get to hear their stories as the struggle along to finish and get huge satisfaction from watching them cross the line. Sign me up for the job next year!

Week 43. Weekly mileage 24. Annual mileage 1050. Sessions 203. Races 40.

"More Paralympic Celebrations"

Another great night of paralympic celebration, this time with Craig Maclean and Anthony Kappes gold medal winners of the team sprint in london.

"An Evening with VP!"

"It’s alright guys, I’ll escort Victoria back to her car!” from last night's 2012 celebration event with Victoria Pendleton

"Heaton Park Cross Country"

"Celebrating the Paralympics 2"

 

 

Another great 2012 paralympic celebration last night, this time with cycling superstars Sarah & Barney Storey

"Sandbach 10K"

 It was once again a glorious early autumn morning for the running of one of my favourite races the Sandbach Super 6, a 10k run partly off road including the first and last mile (which was this year more like cross country with racing flats disappearing into ankle deep mud!) . As always for this one I really went full out and was more than happy with a 44.59, which although being twenty seconds slower than last year was mainly as a result of wide detours across the fields to avoid lakes and mudbaths!. I finished 40th out of 187 finishers and sixth V50.

"Sting in the Tail"

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I have just back from running the Congleton Half with the emphasis on "run" not race,and am really happy to have got a 1.43 without a watch to give me any idea of how I was doing! I also feel reasonably fresh which was what I was hoping for. Even with a steady/easy run, the near vertical climb at mile 12 (the Sting) was still painful!





Week 40. Weekly mileage 31. Annual mileage 984. Sessions 191. Races 37

"Celebrating the Paralympics"

It's a great part of my job that I get to meet elite athletes both Olympian and Paralympian and part of the post games celebrating this has given me the opportunity to meet  up with some of them and welcome them back to their home towns. Pictured is paralympian Niki Burrell from High Legh who won a bronze in the skud sailing

"Back Over The Country"

It's only a week since the last track action of the season (and yes I won the vet's category in the club's track championship!), but today saw the first cross country fixture of the season at Knight's Grange in Winsford. Run over a challenging but fast six mile course the going wasn't too bad considering that it has been the wettest month for years. The main issue was that due to race clashes I was the only senior man to run! Great to have maximum points in the club champs but very difficult to maintain focus when your usual rivals aren't around you. Having said that I had a very good run and maintained a reasonable pace over the four laps. I would love to know the time but my watch gave up in midweek and hasn't been replaced yet!

Update - Finishing time was 54.02 and I was 160th out of 211.

Week 39. Weekly mileage 27. Annual mileage 953. Sessions 186. Races 36.

"Stockport Magic Mile"

 Without much specific training over the last few weeks I turned up at Woodbank Park in  Stockport for the Marathon Talk "Magic Mile". Organised as part of the Moday evening Stockport Harriers track session this turned out to be a really great night. I had aimed for sub six (last year 5.58) and joined the sub seven minute mile race but soon found myself in no man's land with the five minute runners burning away and the slower ones dropping behind me. I still managed a 6.04 which I am still really happy with and after only a minute's recovery we set off again with the over seven minute milers and U/11s group for their mile. it was great to run with the younger ones and you could really feel their sense of achievement having gone "through the bell" they really all made a great effort on the last lap. A big thanks must go to the local club for making everyone feel so welcome and I'm sure it will be repaeated next year.

 Week 37. Weekly mileage 23. Annual mileage 901. Sessions 175. Races 34.

"Nine Acre Field"

Bright sun welcolmed my first run of the Gawsworth 10k. A well organised and friendly off road event, for once I decided not to race but to just enjoy the great Cheshire countryside and not bother as my usual rivals went flying past at the start! I finished in around 48 minutes feeling fresh as a daisy and ready for the Magic Mile the day after. Oh and yes we also got a medal, my first for a long time!

"Park Eirias - Colwyn Bay"

The last track and field meet of the season saw a trip to the fantastic stadium at Eirias in North Wales. Recently upgraded it was a great way to end the summer, running a 3k, 1500m and to round it off the anchor leg of the 4x100m!

"Last Days of Summer"

It may have been the wettest summer on record, but last night I took the chance for one of those late summer evening mid week runs thinking that it may be the last one before the seasons change. Through Bollington and up Kerridge Ridge to White Nancy with the setting sun illuminating Rainow Village. Magic!

"Rufford Abbey"

It's often those runs that you start off not knowing where you are going in a place you haven't visited before that turn out to be the ones you really remember. That happened this week during a family stay in Sherwood Forest where an early morning run through a country park led straight into the courtyard of what turned out to be Rufford Abbey a13th century monastry. After that first run the remainder of the holiday was made up of sessions in and through the woods which were fantastic!

"Sale Sizzler 2 - The Olympian 5k"

A second run at this race in three weeks but this time only managing a 21.59. A great opportunity to see some  former Olympians including Ron Hill.(pictured at the start in the red and white hooped vest).

"London 2012"

What a fantastic two weeks of sport! We spent eight days there including "Super Saturday" with Jess, Mo and Greg,.Unbelievable!

"Clockhouse Wood"

 It's probably been the most varied running week this year including speed work, a leisurely hill race and a flat out 5k all of which has really boosted my running mojo. The week finished off this morning with a glorious six miler through the woods and hillsides around Alderely Edge, made famous by the novels of Alan Garner and including The Weirdstone of Brasingaman.

 Week 29. Sessions 130. Weekly mileage 27. Annual mileage 689. Races 28.

"Sale Sizzler"

Although I am used to visiting Wythenshawe Park it's usually in the middle of winter for cross country and definitely not on a warm summer evening for a fast, flat 5k that is the Sale Sizzler. Known as one of the fastest courses in the country I was really pleased with a season's best by 35 seconds of 21.29.

That followed on another memorable event earlier in the day when I got the chance through work to say goodbye and good  luck to Arnold from team Vanuatu as he made his way to the Olympic village. He and the team have been training with a consortium I am involved with including MMU Crewe. Arnold is running the 800m and iIam going to watch. Go Arnold!

"Sweeper"

For the first time ever this week I volunteered to be sweeper in one of my favourite summer races the Forest 5 and it turned out to be a fantastic experience! Running with a couple of back markers we really enjoyed the views, had a great chat and it is certainly an evening that we will all remember!

Kerridge Ridge via Alderley Edge"

Yesterday saw me running my local annual Rainow Village Fete "Kerridge Climb" for what I think is my 32nd year.Over that time I have always dreamed of firstly winning the race (no chance) and secondly being the first veteran home (slightly better chance) but once again yesterday out of a very small field of runners (30ish) half of which we under elevens we still managed to get a couple of top vet fell racers AND a junior international hill racer! Run over a lung bursting but short one and a half mile course, which is basically uphill and straight back downdown i managed 13.08 which will being twenty seconds quicker than last year was miles behind the winning time of 8.45 which to be honest is an insane time.

I also had a great run out at the midweek Wizard 5 over the hills and trails of Alderley Edge and again was quicker than last year in 37.51..

Week 28. Weekly mileage 20. Annual mileage 662. Sessions 125. races 26.

"Olympic Dream"

It was the wettest June on record and July is going the same way but in an indifferent couple of weeks of running I did manage to put in three track races, one really good  and two really poor ones.

In the cold and pouring rain at a home.Northern T&F track meet last weekend I ran the best 1500m for years (5.31) whilst today on a warmer less windy afternoon I could only manage 12.38 in the 3k and 2.49 in the 800m. The former was over 36 seconds slower than a few weeks ago!!

The 800m was definitely the highlight though as I got to race with Arnold guesting at the meet from Vanuata and on his way to the Olympic Games the session for which I have a ticket! Spot Arnold in the picture!

Week 27 Annual mileage 642. Sessions 120. Races 24.

"Langley Fete fell race"

It's not often I find myself towards the back of a race field (unless its a 1500m on the track where I can be last!) but at today's Langley race and although there were only 25 entries that where I found myself. It was the first time that I had run this race although with its climb straight up and over Tegg's Nose it covered a route I am very familiar with. As always it was a friendly atmosphere as part of a great fete for which there was warm sun! At just under three miles in length I came in at 27.25.The other great thing was that the race was started by Anne Brightwell or Packer as she was known when in Tokyo in 1964 she took gold in the 800m at the Olympic Games.

This was only my second outing of the week due to work but hopefully next week I will be back to a more regular training pattern.

Week 25. Weekly mileage 10! Annual mileage 596. Sessions 111. races 21

"Kettleshulme Fell Race"

Only two weeks after the last race, starting again  up in the hills above Kettleshulme but the temperature had dropped fifteen degrees, the wind had got up and the mist came down!  But once again I got to run a great and friendly mid week fell race. Six miles and a lot of climbing and I was only one second slower than a fortnight ago this time coming in at one hour and 41 seconds!

Week 24. Weekly mileage 20. Annual mileage 586. Sessions 109. Races 20.

"Lamaload"

From glorious sunshine to torrential rain this was still a good week of running. From a long run/walk around Lamaload Reservoir, to an eleven miler around Rainow, to a season's best 3k (12.02) and 1500m (5.44) on a rain soaked and wind buffeted track in Bury.

Week 23. Weekly mileage 29. Annual mileage 566. Sessions 105. races 19.

"Wincle Trout Run"

Back to the fantastic Wincle Fell Race for a tough six miler and 1000ft of climb. As always I made hard work out things finishing in 57 minutes dead. As was I!

Annual mileage 537 (week 22). Races 17. Sessions 100.

"Olympic Torch Relay"

After twelve months of planning the Torch Relay finally visits east Cheshire,.cheered on by crowds of upwards of 70,000. More importantly, I finally get to hold a torch at the photo call in Tatton Park!

"Vanessa Chappell"

It was glorious weather with temperatures in the low twenties for my first running since the late nineties of the Vanessa Chappell Fell race . Six miles and 1300 ft of climb this ever popular race had perfect conditions for a mid week run out in the hills above Lyme Park. There were fantastic views off the top from the ancient Bow Stones looking down to the shimmering lake made famous by Mr Darcy swimming in it!

Despite a slow start hampered by waiting at various stiles (good for getting your breath back!) i was reasonably happy with a time of 1 hour & 40 seconds

"Melchett Mere - Tatton Park

A real week of two halves. the first four days being dominated by work, headache and virus, and the second with some great running including discovering new trails over Kerridge where I have been running for decades (its amazing what you miss by sticking to regular routes and don't look around you).

The week has been topped off by a stunning five mile run around the rolling acres of Tatton Park where I have been finalising arrangements to welcome the Olympic Torch Relay in twelve days time, with a mixture of dance, mass choirs and a youth sports festival. At one section I ran through a herd of the famous Tatton deer and at that point had a number of them actually running along with me for a couple of hundred metres. Fantastic feeling!

Weekly mileage 19. Annual mileage 499 (week 20). Races 15. Sessions 93.