GOLD!

Continuing on from where I left off last weekend, today I followed up my interclub and Worden Park successes with a victory in the Lancashire Championships 5000 metres, at Stanley Park, Blackpool.

Now, I would not consider myself a proper track runner, far from it - this was actually only my second ever race performance on a track. My first came exactly 12 months ago when I claimed silver in 16:00.

I do train on the track once a week, at UCLAN sports arena, in Cottam. But the prospect of racing on the surface and in that environment has never really appealed to me for whatever reason.

Perhaps it is the conception that you have to be rapidly quick to enter track races, and the fear of not being quick enough? Also, with training for Spring marathons over the last 3 years, it has always clashed with the short track season, meaning I miss out. I don't know, but for some reason it is something that has just never materialised properly.

Anyway, encouraged by Team Chairman, Lee Barlow, Wesham has managed to turn out in force at this particular event in the last two years. For the second campaign in a row we took home the team prize and Gold medals -Well done all on team Wesham!

Myself, Lee, club stalwart Alex Rowe and team captain Garry Barnett wore the club colours out there today and all did the vest proud.

Individually, I took the win, and Gold medal - meaning I am Lancashire men's 5000 metres champion for the next 12 months!

Ok, so many of the top runners weren't there - but what's the saying? "you've got to be in it to win it"? I have no doubts that I would have gone quicker if I had someone to battle it out against, but I feel like I put in a solid performance in the circumstance.

It's a shame that there wasn't a few more quicker guys out there, as I feel I would have really benefited from that. But I am confident that when I go out and race at a more 'loaded' race in the future, that these experiences will stand me in good stead and I will be able to take advantage of being in company then.

Running fast, and pushing yourself physically can be difficult anyway, but trying to do it out on your own can be really tough, finding the motivation to find that extra couple of percent to boost your performance. I set off looking to run15:30 pace (5 minutes per mile), and ended up with 15:39 after fading in the latter part of the race.

It was a lovely sunny day, and despite being clear out front I still had plenty of targets to sight - as I found myself setting a little personal challenge to lap the rest of the field (which I managed - sorry!!) and that helped me to keep going all the way in to the finish.

A great day, fantastic result, and a couple more medals for the cabinet. A good start for a summer on the shorter stuff!