"Review of 2013"

Return to regular track sessions - No

Circuit training - No

V50 track records 100 - 800m - Yes!
Finish a 3000m steeplechase - No

Stretch - Yes and No!

Wilmslow Half Marathon in 1.33 - 1.45 pw in sub zero temperature!

Target 50 races - 45

1350 miles - 1316

All in all another great year of running (although it has finished with a heavy cold and no training) if not for meeting targets!

"Boxing Day Handicap"

 

It a glorious if cold and icy day for the club's annual four mile "naked" (no watch!) handicap race on the super hilly forest road course. I targeted a 30.30 but actually finished quicker than last year even holding back for a 29.45. Back to the pub to meet Matt and Jade then home for a big lunch!

"Christmas Eve run"

 An easy six miler over The Hollins and along the Macclesfield Canal best described as "sun, rain, hail, gale force gusting wind and sun!"

Week 52. Weekly mileage 26. Annual mileage 1289. Races 44. Sessions 183. 

"The Club Fell Handicap"

Fourteen miles & 4,000ft of climb, that's the Annual Club Fell Handicap Challenge. Always held a week before Christmas the weather this year was extremely kind with the winds on top of Shining Tor (pictured)only being described as gale force! as always I was out there for a long time (3.02.05) but managed to knock three minutes off last years time and navigate from the sweetie tree in Goyt Valley without turning an ankle. Photos show reluctant runners in front of the pub fire pre race! Views to Shutlingsloe the first climb and finishing back in Langley three hours later!

Week 51. weekly mileage 29. Annual mileage 1263. Races 44. sessions 178.

"Sherdley Park XC & the Stockport 10"

For the first time in many years I ran back to back races, cross country mud on Saturday and road mud on Sunday! I had forgotten how monotonous road races can be even the Stockport 10 which had plenty of variation and views as I jogged round to a personal worst of 81.18.

Week 50. Weekly mileage 30. Annual mileage 1234. races 43. Sessions 174.

"Killer Hill Cross Country"

 

Back to one of my favourite courses and the final round of the North staffs XC League where for once it wasn't sub zero temperatures and a mud bath. I had a really good run covering the six miles in 47.20.

Week 49. weekly mileage 23. annual mileage 1204. races 41. sessions 169

"Recce To The Sweetie Tree"

Three weeks to the annual club fell handicap race and a chance to actually see where the famous "sweetie tree" is deep in the Goyt Valley. it was a glorious morning for fell running with views for miles in every direction. The penalty for not visiting the tree is twenty minutes but if the mist comes down it will take me a lot longer to find it than that!

Week 48. Weekly mileage 25. annual mileage 1181. Races 40. Sessions 164.

"Parkhall XC"

 

Another great day of xc at Parkhall on a dry and fast course but why do I always get photographed behind the runner with the stupid hat on!

Week 47. Weekly mileage 28. Annual mileage 1156. Races 40. Sessions 160.

"Sweeping The Langley 7"

Back again for the annual job of being "sweeper" in the local Langley 7. It's a challenging hilly course for even the top club racers so for the back markers its not for the faint hearted, but as always we have a good laugh and everyone gets round (but not before telling me to shut up as I carry on chatting going up the steepest hill!)

"XC On Stafford Common"

After another week of torrential rain one of the toughest courses of the season for mud was always going to be testing, & so it proved! Again we managed to score as a team and I had a strong run in 51.57.

Week 44. Weekly mileage 21. Annual mileage 1089. Races 38. sessions 152.

"Llanrugg to Llanberis"

A one mile climb from the north wales campsite that i was staying at led to this  view over Snowdonia. Amazing!

Week 43. Weekly mileage 35. Annual mileage 1068. Races 37. Sessions 148.

"Lidgett's Lane"

Back up on Kerridge for some long hill climbing over Lidgett's Lane on one of the first real autumn days of the season, that is, blowing a gail and rain! Such sessions always make you realise why you love running so much!

Week 42. Weekly mileage 25. Annual mileage 1033. Races 37. sessions 143.

"Monday Night On Kerridge Ridge"

For the first time in over ten years I did a Monday night club run. I had forgotten how much pressure there is to "keep up" when running in a group, but dropping off Kerridge ridge in the dark with head torches bobbing across the hillside was fantastic.

Week 41. weekly mileage 20. Annual mileage 1008. Races 37. Sessions 138.

"Shades Of Cross Country"

How often do you need to run cross country in a pair of sunglasses? Answer, very rarely! Sunbathing weather greeted the start of the season at the North Staffs League in Winsford. I however was still full of a chest cold but anchored to the team round as the last scorer in a seven miler in 52.58.

Week 40. Weekly mileage 18. Annual mileage 988. Races 37. sessions 135.

"300m & The Macclesfield Mile"

Finishing the track season on a high note is always the best way. At the club's annual track champs and presentations (runner up in the vet men's category!) I took two V50 pb's in one afternoon., including the rarely run 300m (46.7) and the mile (6.07.08)

Weekly 39. Weekly mileage 24. Annual mileage 970. Races 36. Sessions 132

"South Park"

A tough hill rep session reminded me (again as if I needed it) that this is the best park in town!

Week 38. Weekly mileage 25. Annual mileage 947. races 34. sessions 128

"PB In Sunny Salford!

 

Last round of the Cheshire Track & Field League and the sun beat down on Salford's Cleavely track. It was a great afternoon with a season's best in the 3000m of 12.09.03 (still 14 seconds off the V50 record!) but a 30.4 in the 200m took half a second off my old record.

Week 37. Weekly mileage 23. Annual mileage 922. Races 34. sessions 123. .

"Alderley Edge & Hare Hill"

A fantastic mid week run to again capture what will probably be one of the last sunny evenings before the autumn really sets in.

"Shining Tor & Thursbitch"

Probably the last chance of the summer to run this in half decent weather. It was still blowing a gale on Shining Tor though!

"Astbury Mere Magic Mile"

A chance to run a flat out mile as part of the Marathon Talk Challenge. Set out far too quickly and died to finish in 6.13.

Week 36. Weekly mileage 29. Annual mileage 899. Sessions 177. Races 31.

"Eccles Pike"

A first attempt at one of the oldest races on the calender. one and a half miles up and then straight back down in 36.04. In a word, HARD!

" Costa Adeje"

A week in Tenerife and the chance to run out into the mountains. Only problem was 30 degree heat!

"Rome"

Four days in the Eternal City and a chance to get lost on even the shortest run!

"The Kerridge Climb"

Back to the annual Rainow Fete and Kerridge Climb. Again a blisteringly hot day and being cheered on to a 13.23 by wife and number one son!

"Sweeping The Forest 5"

Once again on a glorious evening the chance to have a run and a chat whilst safely shepherding all athletes safely home in the race.

"Colwyn Bay & Goodbye To Gran"

Combining a final trip for gran and her ashes with a round of the Cheshire Track and Field League. A warm but difficult day in all senses.

"Oldgate Nick"

Back over saltersford, Cats Tor and Thursbitch. Stunning views and very lonely!

"Langley Fete Fell Race"

Back again for more punishment on a very hot summer's afternoon. A painful 27.36!

"The Whaley Waltz & No Diving In The River!"

Absolutely brilliant first time out at the Whaley Waltz on a boiling hot summer day. A hilly six miler over Windgather rocks and a dive into the river in the last 200m! Time 59.44

"Lymm 5k"

 

Always a tough one this again reflected in a poor time of 22.17

"Waggonshaw Brow"

Long run in Saltersford and Rainow finally linking across via Waggonshaw Brow to Gin Clough

"Bosley Rose Queen Fete & Fell Race"

 The second new fell race of the week found me at the Bosley Rose Queen Fete and in glorious low twenty degree heat the five miler over Wincle Minn. Again I felt I had a good outing coming home in what was for me a respectable 43.59

Week 24. Weekly mileage 28. Annual mileage 619. Sessions 119. Races 22.

"Boars Head Hill Race"

 My first ever mid week running of this tough race around the hills above Lyme Park including The cage and Bowstones. On a still muggy evening I had a really good go at this eight miles coming home in 70.08.