"Better By Half"

After months of waiting and following a tough five mile "Rainow Hill Race" in midweek the day finally dawned cool and misty for the long awaited White Peak Swift Half Marathon set on the High Peak Trail in the wonderful Peak National Park.

As well as running what must be one of the most picturesque half marathons around, it was also the chance to meet some of the UK's podcast community who provide many hours of listening and on line viewing to the worldwide running community. It was a great opportunity before the start to say thanks to the runners who put in many hours of work in addition to their normal busy lives to help promote the sport of running.

The photo shows -

Phil Moneypenny the mastermind behind http://www.runcast.tv/ (where you can also find a video of the race as it happened)

Steve Chopper http://amilewithme.podbean.com/

Petra http://petraruns.blogspot.com/

Gary Wall

The person missing is Toni Harvey http://www.drusy.blogspot.com/ host of and regular host/contributor/organiser of the excellent http://runnersroundtable.com/ I think Toni was off warming up. Which is something we should all have been doing!

I think everyone had a good race, the weather held, although at times there was a strong headwind. I ran 1.35.30 (7.18 miling) which is over a minute quicker than earlier in the season at Wilmslow and for a non distance runner these days one I am happy with. I think everyone else was also pleased with their performances, which after negotiating a predominantly uphill first 8 miles you were rewarded some extremely fast downhill miles towards the end. The only person to miss the large arrow sign pointing to the finish with only a mile to go was Steve who added an extra mile to his race and "popped" out of the crowd fifty metres from the finish having taken the unofficial route in!

All in all the second excellent race of the week, well organised and friendly. It is clear why this race fills up so quickly every year. It's now back to the fells for the final two races of the month after which the track takes over for the rest of the summer.

Weekly mileage 26. Annual mileage 505

"Bollington Festival 3 Peaks Race"

May always seems to be the busiest racing month of the year and again this year is no exception. On a glorious but windy afternoon with the Bollington Festival parade
completed, this six mile hill race kicked off a month of local arts & cultural celebrations.

This was my first fell race of the year and although it was only a low key village race (limited to 100 runners) I knew it was going to be a competitive afternoon when the first two athletes I saw signing up in the beer tent were both English international fell and mountain runners! (not that I was going to trouble them though!). Comprising the three highest "peaks" in the area, Kerridge Ridge, White Nancy and Nab Head (the latter two pictured, although I didn't have any time to sight see!) the race climbed over 1200 feet without giving any respite with all the ups being straight up and the downs straight down!

For most of the race the body was pretty much on the red line, something that rarely happens for me in any other form of running apart from cross country and 800m on the track. It was also great to race over the same routes as I regularly train, having run an eleven miler earlier in the week to get a look at most of the course, but even I discovered some new routes off the hills I didn't know existed. I finished in 56.12 which gives you a flavour of how tough the course was and I am still waiting to see what position I finished. A great afternoon's racing and a fantastic finishing crowd welcoming the runners back. Perfect!

Next weekend it's the High Peak Swift Half but before that I am hoping the legs recover in time for Wednesday evening to run the "Rainow 5" one of my favourite annual races covering part of todays hilly course but offering its own challenges!

Weekly mileage 27.

Annual mileage 479.

"Satan's Hollow"

Nigel may "run from the reaper" but my non running highlight of the week has to be my son Matt's rock band's biggest gig to date over the Bank Holiday weekend as a support act at an all day music fest in the centre of Manchester. Rocking a crowd with the satan figure over the mixing desk really added to the atmosphere! It's great to see young people perform with confidence and Matt on the drums had a solid aerobic workout which is just as well as he was meant to be pole vaulting for Macclesfield Harriers in Sheffield! But I let him off in the pursuit of rock greatness. I'm sure Nigel would approve!

Back on the running front with five races coming up in the month of May it was time to get in a solid mixture of track speedwork (inc 6 x 800 with 2 minutes recovery), a 3 mile threshold run and a solid seven mile hill run through langley, interspersed with a couple of recovery runs. All in all in terms of quality it was one of the best training weeks of the year so far.

Next weekend sees race one of the five all of which are off road (including the High Peak Swift Half), a tough hilly five mile hill race around the fringes of the Peak District as an opener to the month long Bollington Festival.

Weekly mileage 26
Annual mileage 452

"Spring Track Open Meet"

For the second week in succession the sun shined on the first real challenge of the spring, the club's (Macclesfield Harriers & AC) annual track & field "Open Meet". Although we have had one league track event already this is seen as the first real chance for athletes to sharpen open for the summer season ahead. Attracting clubs from all over the north west of England it promised to be a great afternoon of sport.

The afternoon was also special because Sarah my daughter was also competing (and cheering me on even when I was getting lapped!). I ran the 3k in a season's best time whilst she won the Under 11 girl's javelin event in a pb 14.32m. following that with a pb of 2.08.09 in the 600m. A local photographer was on hand to capture our performances!

Another excellent week of running including track session (5x 1k, 1 min recovery + 4 x 22m, 1 min recovery) & some general hill running.

Weekly mileage @ 25 miles. Annual mileage 426

"Back On Track"

It's a warm and sunny early spring afternoon. it's the opening day of the much awaited track and field season. For once the two come together and the opening Cheshire League track and field meet at Woodbank Park in Stockport leaves athletes digging out their sunscreen along with their spikes on a glorious afternoon with an opportunity to really start the season in fine style.

The men's team manager started the season as he means to go on and i was "encouraged " to run the 3000m, the 800m and with my arm up my back the opening leg of the 4x100m relay!! They were run in that order with increasing tiredness as the afternoon progressed being matched with the increased speed required for each successive event! I led the club's charge in the 3k (not saying a lot!) but had to take second fiddle to the younger "senior " men who are only 17 years old (I am 49) in the 800m but opened the relay by holding my own against the swift sprinters of Trafford AC, one of the top clubs in the country. All in all a great start to the season.

Mileage for the year to date 401

"Shutlingsloe"

Despite yet another week that conspired against running (work, family, cold & chest infection)the week was rounded off with a fantastic run up through Macclesfield Forest & on to Shutlingsloe, the highest point in Cheshire. After a few days battling a cold and dropping out of the weekly track session as the pace picked up (must have been ill!) a few recovery runs prepared me for a 6.30am start on my most favourite run of all.

Starting in Langley it's a steady climb up through the forest until you appear out onto open moorland with a fantastic climb up to Shutlinsloe. The day was perfect with the sun coming up and the forest and moor all to myself. A steady climb is rewarded with fantastic views of the Cheshire Plain to one side and the rolling hills of the Peak District on the other. After all the climbing (and the wonderful views) its a rapid descent back into Langley and breakfast! Catch a short video of the run I shot http://www.runcast.tv/video/my-time-to-run-video-1

Next week it's back on the flat as the track and field season finally commences.

"Spring"

Another varied week with running time being in direct competition with starting a new job! Despite this I got in around 25 miles which can contribute to the "Running From The Reaper" team in the buckeye podcast challenge!.

My efforts did get some reward however at the annual Macclesfield Harriers awards evening, where for the 2008 season I took third place in the club's senior men's track and field championships, winning the vets series and also finishing third in the vets for cross country!

Finally, I did get one great longer run in the hills this week (pictured) which really made it feel that Spring has finally arrived & will help when the Swift Half in the Peak District in May comes round. Before that the track and field season opens in just over a weeks time so its time to get to the track and get some reps in!