This is arguably the biggest day on the club's calendar, with both the Wesham 10k - our home race - and also the Dinner Dance and presentation evening, where all the members and their partners are able to get all glammed up to celebrate individual and team successes through the course of the previous 12 months.
The previous week had seen me train as normal and increase my mileage back up to 77 for the week - including a blustery 10x800 metre speed session, a 5 mile tempo and also a 17 mile long run. I have to admit to having felt both disappointed and frustrated throughout the week in response to my own perceived poor showing at the Leeds Abbey Dash.
This week, my attention turned to trying to just go out and race at Wesham 10k, without the added pressure of aiming for a time. I just wanted to try and win the race, as it was one of the ones that I have always wanted to claim, with it being my home race.
I tailored my training this week accordingly and reduced my mileage and intensity of my effort down as the week went on. This week I have recorded 61 miles. This is a low amount for me now and almost amounts to a rest week- which in itself is crazy considering I trained off the same amount each week in the 18 weeks running up to London earlier on this year!
Tuesday saw me complete a slightly reduced track session - I cut it short due to the shocking downpour and winds during the latter stages of the session - with 3.5 miles of effort, rather than my planned 4. This consisted of 1x1 mile, 4x800m and 2x400m.
Through the rest of the week I settled for gentle and steady 5-6 mile runs, rather than any strenuous tempo sessions or pace work.
On my long run the weekend previous, I had incorporated the Wesham 10k course into my route to do a recce of the course - and came across a massive 30 metre long puddle at approximately where the 1 mile marker would be due to be. Therefore I knew that if there was much rain put down this week, I would have to be prepared for more of the same on race day...
...and on Friday, boy did it rain!!
As I didn't want to put pressure on myself running for a time, I took the decision to ditch my watch for this race. As the 480 or so runners funnelled into the narrow start I took a decision to try and take the race by the scruff of the neck and set the pace from the start.
The first few hundred metres see you climb into the town of Salwick from the back country lanes, before taking a fairly sharp right turn past the Smiths Arms pub. Here there was the first group of marshals and spectators. From their shouts I was able to guess that Rob Affleck was, as expected, the runner that came with me and started to pull clear from the chasing pack.
The next section saw a quarter of a mile or so of straight, flat road, before taking another corner and plummeting down a sharp downhill at Darkinson Lane. This was the point at which we hit the pool of water and the race turned into a mini-steeplechase!
As I was prepared for it, I was able to accelerate slightly into the water and kick away into an extra couple of yards advantage from Rob. I was confident that I would be strong through the water due to my crosscountry experiences.
The course didn't get much easier too soon, as the following half a mile saw two bridges to contend with, before the course then finally levelled out and became fairly flat from about 1.5 miles in.
I tried to maintain the same pace and momentum, and was aware all the time that Affleck was very much still breathing down my neck and I was unable to pull away despite my best efforts. After 5k we actually overtook the lead car, after it got blocked in down a narrow lane by a car coming the opposite way!
When Alan went back past us in the car, Rob seemed to make a move too and overtook me to take the lead for the first time in the race. Two weeks ago, when the same happened at Leeds, I was unable to find anything to stick with him and allowed him to get away. This time round, I dug in and managed to find something extra to edge back infront as we headed towards the Hand and Dagger pub and into the strong headwind in the fourth mile.
Once again, from there-on-in I was unable to pull away, but just found enough to ensure I kept infront and approached the final section in the lead, with the knowledge that so long as I could summon up a sprint finish then the race was there for the taking now.
Thankfully I did, and despite being pushed all the way and to my limit in difficult conditions by Coach, I was able to claim the victory this time around in my home race in 32:34, just two seconds short of my pb time too.
Then in the evening, it was time to get suited up, and have a ball with the rest of team Wesham at the Dinner Dance. It was held at the Clifton Arms Hotel in Lytham, which is a superb venue. A 3 course meal (well FIVE courses for me actually as I pinched Molly's starter and desert!! 😂😂😂) followed by the awards, and then dancing (and drinking...) the night away. It was fantastic to get to enjoy the company of all my friends and family in fancy suits and dresses, instead of our usual shorts and vests!
I was honoured to be awarded with the Club Person of the Year award, and it was special to be presented with a framed picture from the marathon that will take pride of place with my trophies and medals. I am fortunate to be surrounded by people that I buzz off running alongside. I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate David Taylor on winning the Runner's Runner Trophy, as he has had a phenomenal year - as too did Lee Barlow, with his own special marathon performance. Along with a rejuvenated Jason Barlow, the addition of Simon Denye and also many other solid and consistent performers, I think our men's team is well placed to have a great 2016.
A final note, that having provided me with a new light-weight sublimation Wesham vest, which is a massive improvement on the previous heavy bulky top, Terry Lonergan has offered to sponsor me and provide me with training kit as I look to push on further and kick on again next year.
It is a very generous show of belief from someone who is vastly experienced and proven in the sport. For him to pay such attention to my development and invite me to be a part of his Fastrax team, which includes some very talented and top class athletes, is a huge honour for me. It shows a great amount of trust and belief in me and I will work hard to prove it correct.
