Harrogate League. Starbeck 22nd May.

I've just seen the results for the second HL race ran last night.
Well done to all in my club who turned out in force, and racing so well to keep our club in front. I wish I was there to support and expand the elite gap, but I'm still out of it I'm afraid. Still, it's given me chance to change some windows and pave a path to my front door.
It so pleasing to see everyone pull together and run so well in mine and Jamil's absense.
The ladies did very well again, but I have to mention the lads who ran at the front. Matt Cox had another blinder to finish first Otley runner followed by Andrew Robertshaw. And what can I say about Zack Whitehead's run, he's just getting faster. They were so close to the race winner. He must have panicked with those white vest's in the chase.
Well done everyone!

No Windermere marathon.

In the last hour (10am) I have decided not to run in the Windermere marathon tomorrow. Doubt has been setting in this past week through trying to run comfortably. It's quite hard trying to block an injury from your mind.

I can walk, bike and get up and down stairs in no pain well enough. But pounding 26 undulating miles on the road seemed quite daunting after six weeks of minimal running. Having visions of dropping out in the race would have made me more miserable because I knew felt I could win this one. Then on the other side of the coin I knew it might have made it worse.

Now that I have no races planned over the next few months, I can let things repair naturally. My experience in the sport has helped me made the right choice in the end.

Still not running!

The sprain around the quad area on my right leg is hampering any sort of running. I can walk and bike okay, but I can only run for a mile or so before I can feel the tightness. It's taking time to heal, and I am using heat lamps, magnets, massager's, massaging and creams and sprays. I'm accepting I will have to let it heal naturally.

After missing a few key races the past month, I have pulled out of Edinburgh marathon on 25th May.
Windermere is a week before. If I can run without any problems I will go ahead with that. Other than that, I have decided to do no other races or training until I recover.

It does mean I will be out of the Harrogate League races. After being dominant in that sries since the early nineties. I think quite alot of runner's will be quite pleased to have someone else win them.

Other things outside racing has also had an impact on wanting to compete. So there you go.

Next time, I hope to be back to normal and in a more positive mood.

Rothwell 10k

Missed Rothwell 10k near Leeds today just to be on the safe side from making my sprain worse. Got this shuitsu massager the other day. It seems to be doing the trick as my leg seems better. Going to run a careful one on the grass later. But before that I will go on the turbo trainer.
I hope to do Sheffield next Sunday. I'm missing vital training for key races over the next month or so. Everything could be wiped out until I'm 100% sure of running without the injury playing on my mind.

Baildon Boundary Off-Road Half Marathon

I was looking forward to having an enjoyable run today in this popular trail race which takes in Baildon (north of Bradford) Esholt, Leeds and Liverpool canal, various woodlands, Saltaire, and Shipley Glen including Baildon Moor.
I did a long run of 2.15 last Monday in my racer trail/fell shoes. But after such a pounding which I later found out to be mostly hard trail, my legs took a bashing. I took Tuesday off to recover and then went out on a fast run on Wednesday around Lister Park. I started off alright, but i had to cut it short as my right leg was giving me some jip. I decided to rest up till Sunday's race instead.

It was a nice day for the race. I was still worried about my niggle near my right knee. There wasn't acute pain, but it did cause me to hobble. I decided to run in running tight's to keep my muscle/joints warm.

I had only run for mere seconds and just had to pull out. There was no way I was going to run it as a limp for 13.4 miles (my friend Pete Shields had a Garmin).
It was a wise thing to do, but I was so looking forward to running it and prove something for Baildon Running club. I was left quietly disappointed. The organiser's and other folk were understanding which did help.

Later in the day I used my bike turbo trainer. I had no problems with that so my knee is alright. Some tendon soreness I think.

Baildon Boundary Off-Road Half Marathon

I was out on a 2 hour 20 minute run yesterday. It was mostly off road taking in the race route and some more on top. The race route passes through a couple of miles away along the canal.
I haven't done this event since 1999. Since then the route has been changed. I have noticed there is more hard tracks than before. I ran it in the Adidas Swoops. Okay on soft surface, but I felt it afterwards. Going to run it in more cushions shoes.
I followed the written plan of the route. Everything went very well until I got to Fairweather Farm area as it forks off into two lanes. I took the left one down to a stream which would lead up to Baildon road. I was soon back on track though. I'm confident that I won't go wrong. I'm looking forward to running it again. I'm going go for the record.
It makes a nice change after running London every year from 2000 to 2007.
I felt stale in London 2007 after doing two foreign marathons since October 2006.

I've got my number's for Rothwell 10k on 20th April, and Sheffield Half marathon a week later. That will be the final race prior to Windermere.

I'm going to run a tactfull Windermere. I'm in the Edinburgh marathon the week after.

The Guisley Gallop

This race has always seemed to pass my attention over the year's. Today, after partying over the two previous night's (dressed as a jester at Jamil's birthday party at Barden Tower's last night), I thought about doing this race.
It was a snowy start to the day which mean't a revised route away from the canal and main road. It could have easily been cancelled, but it's so popular with runner's.

I had a great start by nearly falling into what looked like a small puddle, but it turned out to be quite deep. After gurning with my arms out like an airplane I got my balance back. There was still some icy snow at 10.30am. Going down into the woods needed some care and attention. I think everybody were being cautious themselves.

I began to brake away quite early on. There was a sharp right onto some concrete slaps at the far end of the route. It did make me slip out. At the corner of my eye running back I noticed Tim Midgley and Jamie Noon in persuit. I din't look back after that, but I felt I was extending the gap.
The surface was now getting pretty churned up as I went into the second lap. I felt I could settle down now into it.
In the last two miles I was passing some back marker's. As I finished the last loop before returning uphill to the finish I noticed some runner's coming from a different direction?
After jumping over the stream and then making my way back someone mentioned I should be doing another lap. At first I dismissed it, but after 50 meter's I grinded to a halt and asked them if they were telling the truth. I must have lost a good 20-30 seconds trying to get an answer from them which never came. I then turned and ran back to the finish.
The last stretch was on the tarmac to the retail park. It seemed an age until the next runner came in. Something had gone wrong.

About five ninutes later the next runner's were coming, but I later found out around a dozen had gone of course.
The course was well marked out even for someone like me who is short sighted. But I think my knowledge off that area did help.
To be fair to the organiser's they did a great job remarking the new route with only a few hour's to go. I'm afraid things like this are alway's going to happen with off road races. There was a few angry people taking it out on the organiser's at first but things soon cooled down soon after.
There was 404 finisher's. I won the race in 32.01 going by my watch.