"Year's End"

I was rather looking forward to finishing the year off with a race  on New Year's Eve around Lyme Park and the Bowstones, but a rather heavy head cold (the first and last of the year) put a stop to that idea! It did give me the chance however to reflect on this year's running targets listed below and only a few of which I have achieved.

 Return to regular track sessions (no)

Cross train (no)

V50 3,000m record currently 11.55.8 (no)

Set V55 track records (yes...hurrah!)
Finish a 3000m steeplechase (no)

Learn to map read! (yes)

Target  - 50 races (45)
Target - 1350 miles (1175)

 Having said that I have been really happy to have a fairly injury (and illness!) free year, which is actually far more important than having and achieving targets. i ran some new races, particularly over the fells and even managed to run faster in a couple of races than in previous years. So for next year the aim is to just keep running, racing and enjoying it!

"CAFOD Fun Run"

On a gloriously sunny but icy morning it was great to get out for this annual fun run along the canal and Middlewood Way in Bollington. As a charity event enthusiasm is always much in evidence and being low key is so much more fun than the commercial large scale ones.

With heavy legs after yesterday's handicap and running the longer 4.5 mile course I was more than happy with a time of 33.50, and to have not have slipped and injured myself on the ice!

"Boxing Day Handicap Race"

We were very lucky today as the rain, snow and ice all held off to give perfect conditions for the annual Macclesfield Harriers Boxing Day Handicap run over the hilly four mile route around Macclesfield forest. The format this year was once again to predict your own finish time, to run without a watch and the winner was the person who was closest. I was delighted to be miles out of my predicted time of 29.59 to run the best time in years at 28.13 over a minute and half quicker than last year!

"Club Fell Handicap 2014"

Very cold, icy and misty weather made life on the annual Harriers Club Fell Handicap lots of fun! Fourteen miles and over 4,000 feet of climbing makes for plenty of chances to fall over which I did spectacularly on the track to the Cat & Fiddle. This took the edge of my day and despite finishing quite strongly ended up over five minutes down on last year's time at 3.07.

Week 50. Weekly mileage 29. Annual mileage 1130. Sessions 219. Races 43.

"Boggart Hole Clough"

Despite very heavy ground conditions I had a really good run out at boggart hole Clough finishing the 5.6 mile course in 47.36.

Week 49. Weekly mileage 20. Annual mileage 1101. Sessions 215. Races 42.

"Where's The Sweetie Tree!"

 Despite the mist and low cloud it was a great morning out recceing the fell handicap route and in particular the "sweetie tree" in Shooters Clough. Out for two hours and forty, covering ten miles.

Week 48. Weekly mileage 27. Annual mileage 1081. sessions 211. Races 41.

"Cheddleton Pudding Race"

Back for another year at the fantastic Cheddleton 10k Pudding Race. Although I don't really like road races much these days this one is always fun with three tough laps and a fast run into the finish. I think I actually ran faster than two years ago coming in 116th (out of 390) in 46.40.

"Parkhall Mist"

Another visit to Parkhall Country Park outside Stoke on a grey and murky November afternoon. Fortunately for once my running was much better than the weather and I held a good steady pace on the three 2 mile laps, even scoring for the vets team! I came in 216th with a time of 51.44.( 6.3 miles . 8.13 miling).

Week 46. Weekly mileage  28. Annual mileage 1035. Sessions 203. Races 40.

"Sherdley Park XC"

Back to Sherdley Park for the Manchester League, and despite torrential downpours during the week the course was surprisingly relatively mud free compared to the usual conditions. After a steady start I had a really good run, finishing the six plus miles in 48.10 at 7.58 miling.

Week 45. Weekly mileage 25. Annual mileage1007. Sessions 199. Races 39.

"Back at the Langley 7"

Back again as "sweeper" at Langley and despite early torrential rain the sun shone and kept us warm, which is a good job as we were out there much longer than the front runners!

"Milano"

 A long weekend in Milan with some very flat but really fun runs through the city centre and its parks at first light.

"Stake Side & Foxglow Edge"

 Another steady week of running including some tough Wednesday night hill reps in macclesfield Forest with the fell group. The week finished off with a long run back in the goyt over some new routes.

Week 42. Weekly mileage 15. annual mileage 941. Sessions 186. Races 37.

"Harwood Memorial 7 Tops"

 Top Number 1 - Shutlingsloe with the morning mist forming a blanket in the valley below.

Distance	Time	Avg Pace		Elevation Gain
16.04 miles	3:49:17	14:17		2,548

Despite heavy legs from the XC the day before I really enjoyed the following day's run with around twenty other club members in memory of former Harrier Craig Harwood. On a glorious clear and sunny Sunday morning whilst I was never going to complete the twenty one miles and all seven seven tops of East Cheshire I did manage sixteen (3hrs 48) and all bar Shining Tor. Running out of liquid and food I peeled off at Charleshead, dropped into Rainow and managed to get a lift back into town! All in all a fabulous morning in the hills.

Week 41. Weekly mileage 30. Annual mileage 926. Sessions 182. Races 37.

"Manchester XC At Woodland Park"

It was a great turnout at the first Manchester XC fixture in Woodbank Park and at least we had a full team out this time! Again unseasonably warm weather made for dry and fast conditions and  although well down the field I managed to finish the six mile course in 51.12.

"The Roaches & Luds Church"

Brilliant early autumn Sunday morning fell running with the club. From Blaze Farm to Wincle, the Roaches to Lud's Church, and Gradbach visiting familiar sites by new routes. Wonderful!

"Congleton Parkrun"

Congleton parkrun results for event #94.

Your time was 00:21:54.

Congratulations on completing your 5th parkrun and your 2nd at Congleton parkrun today. You finished in 17th place and were the 17th male out of a field of 113 parkrunners and you came 1st in your age category VM55-59.  Your PB at Congleton parkrun remains 00:21:48. Congratulations on your fastest time this year.

You achieved an age-graded score of 70.17%. What it doesn't say is gale force winds and rain!  Didn't realise that I was that close to a course pb so I will be back again! Week 40. Weekly mileage 28. Annual mileage 894. Sessions 178. Races 36.