The Northern XC Championships Pontefract Racecourse"

For once not a photo of me but of the leaders in the Northern XC at Pontefract including Olympic Triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee who lapped me just a the start of my final lap! It was a tough and fairly muddy seven miles run in 63.30.

Week 4. Weekly mileage 22. Annual mileage 88. Sessions 18. Races 4.

"Lambs Longer Leg"

After an overnight snow fall actually getting to this race up in Hayfield was a challenge! What greeted us though was a perfectly clear, sunny and windless day. Although this race is only 3.5 miles it includes a ascent of nearly 1,000 feet so in the snow and ice was still a tough challenge. I finished well down the field in 44.58 but was extremely happy on what had turned out to be a glorious day.

Week 3. Weekly mileage 19. Annual mileage 66. Sessions 14. Races 3.

"Harriers Winter Track Relay"

A cold frost covered track but with bags of sunshine welcomed runners to the Harriers annual track relay. In nine teams of five we spent an hour racing 400m laps to see who could go furthest. The winning team, for once with me in it (!), achieved 38. A great event bringing different sections of the club and runners of different abilities together.

"Howling Heaton Park"

After suffering a chesty cold for the preceding week I definitely wasn't looking forward to returning to Heaton Park for the next round of the Manchester XC league. Adding to the trepidation was gale force bitingly cold winds meaning this was going to be even more tough than usual! Despite not being fully fit I was still happy to get round the six miles in a reasonable 53.21 even managing a solid uphill finish on the run in.

Week 2. Weekly mileage 24. Annual mileage 47. sessions 9. Races 1.

"Jantastic 2015"

Yes it's that time again when I kick start my training by setting weekly and monthly goals. This time for January I have been more realistic than normal and set a target of four runs a week. having set up a Macclesfield Harriers team with thirty six runners there is going to be plenty of interest over the next few months.