Spring update

Done a few races including a disappointing Stratford Half marathon in 1:23, but came back and have done a couple of decent 5000m on the track winning the B strings in the Southern Mens' Track League in 16:30 and 16:37 at Hemel and Perivale respectively. Also managed a 5M win in 28:02 at Battersea in the Vets AC series. Mid May and now taking a week off, primarily down to my still dodgy achilles, but also to then keep going for the rest of the summer!

Southern Vets Champs, Trent Park, 14th March 2010

Combined event with the Middlesex Vets Champs. 10k race, which I found very hard. Still tired after Half Marathon and am going to take a week off. 3 laps, each with 3 decent hills, which I really slowed down on. Still beat guys who I wasn't beating last year but feel as though I need a rest. A bit poggy in places but generally good going although I still ran in Adidas Swoop because of a stoney path which we ran down and up on each lap. Finished in the late 20s in the Southerns and top 10 in the Middlesex, in which we won the team bronze medal.
Results are here.

Hec Petersen Trophy, 6 March 2010

Low key inter-club match between Ealing and Ranelagh, with Hercules Wimbledon along for good measure. Only 3.7 miles round Richmond Park. Still had last weeks race in my legs and took it fairly steady. Managed to come 2nd but Ranelagh won the team trophy.
Results are here.

Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon, February 28th 2010

Decided to do this to keep my wife company who's training for an April marathon. Terrible weather conditions: pouring rain, howling winds, floods on part of the course. Started off with a 6minute mile and felt ok so continued for much of the race at this pace. Would be a nice course if it wasn't for the lashing rain and chill factor. Big hill at 7 miles so slowed down teriibly there and then at 8 miles felt good and piled it home for the last 5k. Caught 2 in the last mile and finished 17th in 1:20. I reckon I could have gone faster earlier on and with the conditions is probably worth 1:18 or so. A couple of the leading guys are 65 minute men and did it 69. Hadn't done a long run for ages other than a couple of steady 10 milers so pleased. Furthermore, I was first Vet home and won a trophy and some compression socks presented by Dame Kelly Holmes! 2 days later and my legs are in bad way - but it was fun at the time. Results here.

Met League Horsenden Hill, February 13th 2010

A cold day for the last Met League of the season. Numbers down on previous races but still decent quality. WG&EL won the team from Serps, even with Torry winning the race. Usual 3 laps, slightly longer than the other races in the series. Not as muddy or wet as in previous seasons but still hard going in small patches. I had a decent race, finishing 55th in amongst the usual suspects. To be honest, took it easier than last week at Wimbledon and walked away less knackered than usual. Had an easy week of training and felt ok but should aim to get in top 50 next season.
Was aiming to do a long run today with the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon looming but weather atrocious so settled for a 5 mile tempo.
Results for the Met League on www.hillingdonac.co.uk

Surrey XC League Div III, Wimbledon 6th Feb 2010

Ran for Vets AC in this one as a 2nd claim athlete. We were in trouble of being relegated so the team manager rallied the troops and we got a good team out, won the team race and easily stayed up. I managed to come 2nd despite a very stressful lead up to the race on Friday night/Saturday morning due to work. A fast start near the Fox and Grapes pub on Wimbledon Common and I thought I was going to struggle. Lower quality than a lot of the other races I do, so I knew I should be in the mix and after a couple of miles people starting flagging. Up the hill on the first of 2 laps and I just had to hang in there for another 3 miles or so. Glad I wore my Adidas Swoop studs as a lot of paths so quite stoney underfoot. Really knackered at the end and a St. Johns Ambulance lady was a bit concerned for a few seconds but I was ok. Went out and got quite drunk with the missus. Hopefully tiredness was down to stresses of work. Training had been going well although I keep getting bad stomach problems when I go for a run after 6.30pm ish. Writing this on the Tuesday after a couple of runs and my legs are still feeling the after affects. Last of the Met Leagues coming up on Saturday so will probably just do a couple of steady runs now on Weds and Thurs rather than a session.
Results can be found on the Vets AC website.

Middlesex XC Champs 2010, Ruislip, 23 January

After the Christmas and snow break, we finally got down to some racing action at Ruislip.
The Middlesex champs had been postponed at the beginning of January due to the snow which had affected much of the country for 2-3 weeks. The Met League at Stevenage had also been cancelled.
But Hillingdon and Middlesex AAA had managed to rearrange the the champs for Saturday. Competition and numbers were lower than normal but the 12km race through Ruislip woods was as testing as ever. Conditions were treacherous underfoot with massive puddles and sloppy mud for much of the 3 laps. Ran in Addidas Swoop studs as I tend do to on this course as the stoney up and down hill drags play havoc with my ankles when in spikes.
Had decided to take it steady for the first mile as a bit longer than most of the 5-6 milers. Felt good all way round and worked my way through the field to finish 21st. Beat my usual rivals, but should set my sights higher now. Had lost a bit of training due to the snow and was content to beat my club rivals but in hindsight should have been another minute further up the field. It was good to be racing again and felt easier and less knackered than usual.
Aiming to put in a good couple of weeks before the final Met League and Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon which I'm doing to fit in with my wifes's April Marathon plans.
Results can be found on the Middlesex site.