"Cheddleton Christmas Pudding 10K"

Another mixed week of running finished off with one of my favourite running races of the year in Cheddleton, high up in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Although being unseasonably mild (usually there is snow and ice at this time of year) the race was blessed with gusting headwinds which just happened to be blowing down the tough climb which must be worked up three times in this multilap race.

Although I ran an even pace I ended up with a very disappointing 47 minutes which is over and minute and forty five seconds down on last year. Maybe I just didin't pray hard enough in the beautiful 12th century parish church of St Edward which I nipped into for a bit of peace and quiet before the race. It is a very tough 10k but not that tough! This is indicative of my total lack of quality track and speed work over the last few months, something that I will definitely have to put right.

Weekly mileage 36. Annual mileage 1184. Races 27.

"Sherdley Park / Old Dog New Trcks / Stafford Common"

Another up and down fortnight with a couple of good runs at Sherdley Park in the Manchester XC League last weekend and yesterday in the North Staff XC League at Stafford Common but with injury from the track in the middle!

On a warm bright day Sherdley Park was uncharacteristically firm and dry underfoot which led to a much quicker run there than normal. Over six miles (three laps) with constant climb and descent there is little or no time to recovery. Although I was last Harrier in (first time for a while) I did hold off Jack my closest adversary for a second successive race.

Following a track session on Tuesday it was doubtful that I would be racing yesterday at Stafford Common. After the usual two mile warm up and drills coach Sue decided to drop in something new in the terms of plyometrics, namely leg hops. A series of twelve on each leg put my lower back into spasm and after only one 800 metre rep I retired upstairs to the pavilion with the words "I suppose you can't teach an old dog new tricks" ringing in my ears from Sue! where fortunately the club physio was in residence! However some quick work from the physio & more stretching over the next few days and I was ready to get back into action at Stafford.

The photo shows Stafford Common at its most interesting! Four laps (total seven miles) of clumpy grass, cow pats and a few undulating fields is as good as it gets. With the thoughts of the injury at the back of my mind I went off steadily for a change and ran probably my best xc race of the season to date to come home as a scorer for the team in 47.11.

Weekly mileage 24. Annual mileage 1148. Races 26.

"Gritstone Trail"

With the first real frost of the season still on the ground but in glorious sunshine today's run was definitely the best one of the year. Over two and a quarter hours in the hills along the Gritstone Trail it was one of those days where everything dropped into place and at times you simply forgot you were running, a real "runner's high".

It definitely made up for the rest of the week which saw no running at all after a full ninety minutes of football on Monday night left me with a niggled hamstring. Definitely not worth repeating if asked!

Weekly mileage 20. Annual mileage 1099. Races 24.

"Park Hall Country Park"

Second round of the North Staffs XC League saw us at an old quarry high up in the Staffordshire Moorlands, Park hall, now a local nature reserve and a fantastic venue for running. With a mixture of winding single track and traversing of open moorland this three lap 10k race is a real test of both descending and digging in on short sharp climbs. managing a 50.48 I will really pleased with this with much of the run being into a strong headwind. watch the pain and the glory at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO1uuFbGaFw

I finished off the week with a run around the Langley 7 course which is being raced next weekend. I am marshalling for the club so won't be competing for the first time in many years. On a glorious sunny autumn morning with views over Macclesfield Forest and the Cheshire Plain there can't be many better places to go out for a recovery run.

Weekly mileage 40. Annual mileage 1079. Races 24.

"Matterhorn of Cheshire"

With a few days off work I took the opportunity of some fantastic autumn weather to do one of my favourite runs from Teggs Nose to Shutlinsloe, which at just over 500 metres up is the second highest point in Cheshire and a very long way away from the plain!

This run is just over nine miles and is usually a solitary one but the sunny weather and possibly one of the last "good" days before winter was the chance for many walkers to be out on the hills and getting in my way! It took over an hour to get to the summit and forty five minutes back over Forest Chapel (pictured and dating from 1673) but was a glorious one despite the tough climbs and descents, and I finished still feeling quite fresh and ready for the day ahead.

"Heat-on Park"

Back to Heaton Park for the first in the Manchester & District XC series. The largest municipal park in Europe this fantastic 10k three lap course with hills, twisting single track in the woods and stream crossing is tough at the best of times but with temperatures up to 15c this year it was even tougher than usual!

After a good fast start I really dropped down the pack finishing in 49.12 but did beat my closest rival Jack from Machester Harriers by twenty seconds. Although the calf niggle seems to have finally recovered it is the back that is now taking over to cause problems! I can happily follow the map which makes it all look so easy!

The remainder of the week including a couple of great early evening runs in the hills making the most of late summer sun. Not sure how many more of thise there will be left this year.

Weekly mileage 26. Annual mileage 1039 (week 42). Races 23.

"Sandbach Super 6"

After a week of good varied running including completing my first full track session since May (6 x 800m, 2 minutes recovery) I had a second outing in the Sandbach 10k a multi terrain race run over the fields and lanes I train on during the week.

With over four miles of undulating road this should be a straight forward race but the opening and closing mile are really interesting including single track, open field and a steep stepped railway bridge! Even taken slowly in wet conditions this was a hairy experience. The photo gives an indication of underfoot conditions at the start. I ran a very steady 45.30 (28th out of 174 finishers) which although being fairly slow was completed without any real issue and with plenty left in the tank. I even ended up as second V50!

Weekly mileage 27. Annual mileage 1013. Races 22