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!