"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!