Runner who loves the off road

Done my first fell run in 3 months today at a sunny pinchinthorpe in one of the North York moors races.The course itself was a trail race and i looked forward to testing myself gainst some good hands including Bulman and Lowe of NYM,Tom Danby of new marske and my teammate Phil Sanderson Nfr.The first 2-2.5 miles it was myself and the 4 people i mentioned together but once on the tricky pull up Little Roseberry Lowe and Bulman pulled away and i dropped off the back.Whether this was my lack of fell running(ie:Climbing)or the fact id run 91 miles without a rest day i dont know but i was happy to run strong on the run in nearly reeling in Phil to finish 5th in 44.16 for the app 6.9 mile course.1.Bulman 42.10 2.Lowe 42.38 3.Danby 43.37 4.Sanderson 44.14 5.Me 44.16.Later on done a 7.1 mile run in the strong rain averaging 6.15 so all round a satisfying day.

This week has been a mixed bag but i was pleased to run another 90+ mile week.The links 10k was a bit of a downer but the next day having run 14.5 mile in the morning i ran a 6.7 mile evening run which included a 16.53 5k tempo interval which i didnt set out to do!!.This amazed me and made me think is it just nerves when it comes to racing.Once i get this Marathon out the way i intend to do a lot of short intervals and tempo runs over the winter to try to get my 5k,5 mile and 10k times down.My road running is really baffling me at the moment as some days i feel ive got a fair bit of talent and then the day after i feel im wasting my time.The other particular gripe ive got at the minute is that Blyth running club have a decent group of runners who just wont train and help each other when i know we could do well.2009 maybe for me is at Morpeth,Heaton or North Shields Poly.

Last nights links 10k was on a blustery night on the out leg but tail wind coming home.My race was ruined by an upset stomach for the 2nd half of the race.The race was won by Michael Dawson of NSP quite easily but the battle behind was between an increasingly familiar group of Waterston and Walker of Morpeth,Myself,Whalley and stott of Blyth as well as Moore of Nsp.On this occasion 2nd place was Moore in 34.50 followed by Waterston in 35.02,Whalley in 35.11,Walker in 35.20 then myself 6th in 35.40 closely followed by Stott in 35.44.After the initial dejection at a poor time i certainly hope to be near pb by the Nissan 10km on the 7th September.

Started to do yoga with my lass and slowly realizing how un flexible i am!!.Read somewhere that this can help my running so im going to perservere with it.If anything its prooviding a right laugh at home with my son crying with laughter at my feeble attempts at the positions.On the running front ive continued to train really hard last week clocking 95 miles.On Saturday i done the Albert park tt 5km run on the back of a 90 miles week and still clocked 17.00 so quite happy.Looking forward to tommorow night at the Blyth Running clubs annual Links 10km where weather permitting i hope to run well.with the mileage high i hope to run the last 2-3km strong.

Done some really good sessions last week and the start of this week.Total miles last week 91.2 miles including a 7 mile 40.30 (5.50) tempo run the day after the 5k pb then on friday done a 15 mile 3 stage tempo run doing the first 5 miles in 31.30 (6.18 pace) then the next 5 in 30.57(6.11 pace)then finally the last 5 in 30.01(6.00 pace).My long run of 24 miles went well feeling strong taking 2.40.30.Then finally on monday done some 300m intervals with a 100m jog recovery and it was good to catch up with the blyth lads.feeling good with amsterdam 8.5 weeks away.

Despite not feeling great at the start(probably due to the high mileage marathon training) i went into this race believing id beat my pb.It was a typical british summer day with the rain coming down and the pace was fast from the off so it was good to get in a group with Waterston(Morpeth)Moore (NSP)Tomlinson(chester-le-street)me and 2 other lads. As we past the halfway stage i felt really strong and pushed the pace on and the group was down to the first 4 i just mentioned.A slower 300m spell around the twisty pond meant tomlinson pushed on and it was me against 2 runners(moore and waterston) who i often battle with me getting the better of moore at last but a strong finish from waterston meant i couldnt catch him.Another pb though so reasonably happy.Thinking about training/joining Morpeth harriers again.

Done 93.1 mile this week and have really felt the benefit of training both more miles and more runs at a good pace.really feeling better about my running and now look forward to see if i put my training to good use in a race.

Having completed my high mileage 90 miles week as in the last post and having done most of my base miles at sub 6.30 pace i felt really comfortable on my 21.5 long run today completing the relatively flat course in 2.23.56 .This was 6.41 pace but it felt slower.Hopefully i can now keep on building towards my next races where i hope to run in the 34's again for 10k at the great Yorkshire,Norham or the Blyth Links as well as running sub 57 at 10 mile at Tynedale and a cherry on the top would be a sub 1.16.30 half at the Great North Run.

This week ive started my Amsterdam Marathon Preparations for 2008 a long 12 week schedule.Week 1 ive done 90.5 miles my most miles ever in a week including a 28.42 5 mile tempo,12 quarter mile reps and the Bupa Great Wales 10k.I feel as if im getting stronger and look forward to building up to 100 miles per week.Its funny sometimes this running game as sometimes my confidence is garbage and i think i cannot get anywhere whilst other times something clicks in training which makes you think"god i must have ability to do that".Onwards and upwards as they say!!!happy days