Rather than my usual update after each race and every week of training, it is now two races and another two weeks of mileage since my last update. But don't worry, I will fill you in on everything! There has also been the small matter of a niggle I have had for the past week and a story of transport problems (aaaargh!).
First off, let's begin with the latest race in the interclub Grand Prix series. Last Wednesday was the turn of Chorley to play hosts, with a tough two lap course, taking in Astley Park over an undulating 4.8 mile route.
Coming into this round, Wesham were still well in there with a genuine chance of winning the overall team championship for the first time in years. Entering the race in joint first place, alongside favourites Preston Harriers, and on the back of a victory at home last time out, confidence throughout her team was high.
Unfortunately, a strong turnout and performance from the Harriers saw them take the win this time around quite comfortably, despite solid performances from all the Wesham team.
On a personal note, I managed to record a sixth win in six interclub races this season, after taking the race by the scruff of the neck from the start in order to see off the early pressure from Chorley's young track athlete Luke Betts. We led the race out from the off and soon built a considerable lead over Affleck as we moved through the woodland in the first half a mile.
I knew Luke would be strong in the opening stages of the race, and also that I didn't want to have to worry about him in the latter stages either, as I probably would have struggled to keep up with a track runners sprint finish! So I took the decision to run hard through the first 2.5 mile lap and try to burn out the opposition early and build up enough of a lead to make that last 800 metres comfortable.
The plan worked, as I lost Luke towards the end of the first lap, but somewhat unexpectedly, Rob Affleck had managed to draw us back in, and at the foot of the big hill in the early stages of the second lap - around the 3 mile mark - I could sense him gaining on me and starting to move on to my shoulder.
I had to really shift up that climb to force myself back in front and open up a good lead again moving into the final mile. Once I had climbed to the top though, I knew I had done the hardest part and had the race won.
It is a great feeling to know that I have won each race in the series so far, but unfortunately I won't be able to complete the 'Grand Slam' as I am on holiday in Cornwall on the week of the final race of the season at Leyland.
Instead, I will have to settle for my own little version, as coach Affleck called it when we met up the day later for a tempo session the "Rob Slam" (think Serena Williams having won all 4 tennis slams in a calendar year, but not the same season coining the phrase 'Serena Slam lol) as I actually won at Leyland in the final race of the last campaign and so currently have won the last race at every one of the competing teams venues! It might seem trivial to some, but it is an achievement that I am proud of and that not many people will have done before I would bet.
Topping my mileage for the week up to 70 once again, I managed to fit in a second race in he week on the Saturday evening with a 5k.
I had planned on travelling up to Nelson to take part in the latest Podium road race, seen as that is where I set my pb for the distance a few months back. However, vehicle problems (my van broke down again during the week, and has since been replaced, thank God!) meant that I was unable to make it up here in time after finishing work.
Instead, I opted for a lift off my mum and dad to the final Catforth Canter of the summer. Which meant that I had an opportunity to complete a second slam of the week by winning all three races of that series too.
This one was much tighter than the previous two, as Lancaster and Morecombe sent out a strong team. Raymond Edgar pushed me throughout and actually led through the first mile and a half of the race, before I took it on towards the end of second mile. I managed to break away slightly through the final mile to win by six seconds in the end. Being pushed meant that I was able to record a quick time. I finished in 15:27, just one second off my course record.
This weeks mileage will be lower than the last few, as I have done less miles later in the week, in order to prepare and let my body rest before my latest attempt at setting a 10k PB tomorrow morning at Birchwood.
I have trained hard since my holiday in Malta six weeks ago, and this is my final race before another week away with the gorgeous Molly, my wonderful girlfriend and the love of my life (she's sat next to me right now looooool) - but yeah seriously she is! Anyway, back on track, my last six weeks training have seen me rack up 60, 68, 75, 65, 70 and 60 miles respectively.
Will hopefully update you on tomorrow's race soon :)
