Mon 21 Feb 2011

A little bit worried before the start of run tonight after soreness in left shin yesterday, as I hoped there wasn't any damage.  After a careful start got into an easy pace and front of shin wwas completly fine, had a little ache on the outside of the calf muscle but this eased off towards the end of the run.  I think all the mud on Saturday obviously just stretched something a little to far but major damage done (thank goodness).  Rest of run went without a hitch.

Distance: 10 Miles     Time: 01:21:31      Pace: 8.09 m/m

Sun 20 Feb 2011

Started out with the intention of getting a long ran in this morning, however after about a mile my left shin felt very sore. I would imagine it was to do with the strain placed on it racing through the thick mud at Alton Towers yesterday. Eased of the pace a little to see if that would help, which it did to an extent, but then when there was more stress on it going downhills the soreness came back.  At this stage it seemed pointless carrying on regardless just to get the milage in, as I didn't want to make it worse, therefore I cut the run short and just did 12 miles of which the last 4 miles were very close to 9 min/miling.

Distance: 12 Miles       Time:  01:42:16    Pace:  8.31m/m

Weekly Total:  71 Miles

Sat 19 Feb 2011 - National Cross Country Championships - Alton Towers

National Cross Country Championships - Alton Towers

11 members of the club made their way up to Alton Towers in Staffordshire on Friday evening, staying at a Holiday Inn about 50 minutes from Alton Towers.  After a good meal and a nights rest we awoke to a very gloomy damp morning, the weather forecast was for rain, with snow further north. However as we got closer to Alton Towers we could see a light dusting lying in the fields.

Arriving at the venue, on the opposite side of the car parks to the theme park we were greeted by more mud than you have ever seen, the registration, changing and club tents area was a complete quagmire.  Whilst we were waiting for Tina to collect the numbers we were talking to a couple struggling to get their pushchair through the mud & it turned out to be GB International Liz Yelling!!!

Looking over the course we found the thick mud to be the whole the way round except on the infamously steep hill!!  We had heard ambulance sirens earlier and word was going round that three youngsters had broken their legs in earlier races. The St John’s and Alton Towers Health & Safety Officer had apparently wanted to cancel the event but a compromise was reached to shorten the women’s race from 8km to 6km  and the men’s race from 12km to 10km, as never in the events 135 year history had it ever been cancelled .

Manged to get in a three miles warm up but shoes were plastered with mud and soaking wet!! At 15.15 we were underway to complete one small 2km lap and 2 large 4km laps. Went off quite hard at the start and was fairly well up there, after about 300m the grass ran out and the mud began, by the end of the first small lap I felt quite exhausted, but we were all in the same boat, so managed to dig in and felt at bit better on the bottom of the course before we hit the big hill. However managed to run all the way up first time round, on the second lap somebody stopped right in front of me on the really steep bit , so I had to re-adjust and walked up the last 5 metres, didn't lose any places as going at the same speed as those who were still running up it. There was a long run from home but remained strong and picked off a couple of runners on the way up to the finish. Final finishing place was 407th. Initally I wanted to be in top 500, but when I saw position  I was a little dissapointed for the sake of 8 places I could have been in the 300's, BUT here was the dilemma as I hadn't really eased off for the race as I still have my sights on the bigger picture of the London Marathon in April. After the finish I was absolutely exhausted and cold, had shaky hands trying to take spikes off, didn't do warm down as I couldn't face any more mud.  After 30 years running I think these were the muddiest conditions I have ever run in!!!!!

Total Distance: 9 Miles  Race Distance: 6 Miles   Race Time: 45:54    Race Pace: 7:38 m/m

Fri 18 Feb 2011

AM. Easy run, went out about 07.30 as had day off today because we are leaving for Nationals at about 15.00 this afternoon.

Distance: 6 miles         Time: 00:52:17    Pace: 8.42 m/m

PM 12.15  Went out for second run today, feeling a bit more sprightly.  Did 1 lap of Lyminge.

Distance: 4 Miles        Time: 00:59:54    Pace: 7.28 m/m

Thurs 17 Feb 2011

With Nation Cross Country coming up on Saturday did another easy run tonight rather than a tempo seesion. Did the same as last night 4.5 laps of Lyminge except did the other way round tonight.

Distance: 10 Miles  Time: 01:18:42   Pace: 7:52 m/m

Wed 16 Feb 2011

Easy recovery run tonight 4.5 laps of Lyminge.

Distance: 10 Miles   Time:  01:18:17   Pace: 7:50 m/m

Tues 15 Feb 2011

Club Handicap 4th Round
It was a grotty wet & windy night that greeted us for the 4th in the series of the Club Handicap runs. Went out from Clubhouse and did three mile warm up and some strides. Did not feeling particularly good tonight may still have been a bit tired from race and long run at the weekend.  Anyway started on a handicap of 12 minutes, pushed hard down into Golden Valley but had two cars turn down roads in front of me and wind was straight into face. Again at top of Sandgate Hill had another car pulled into road infront of me and so had to take foot off gas momentarily. Tried to push hard round second smaller lap, but inthe end was about 40 seconds down on last time. Miles:- 5:35/6:29/5:48/6:03/2:33 

Distance: 10 Miles    Time: 01:18:38   Handicap Pace: 5:56 m/m