Update/Race Report Inter Counties 2010-03-14

Hi all hope you are all fit and healthy and training and racing well.

It has been a good couple of weeks but busy with all what is happening at the moment with racing /Pregnancy well not me but you know what I mean and getting things sorted out.

I like this time of the year when it is getting lighter in the mornings (easier to get up for work) and also getting dark later which means you can get some runs down over the hills, I was saying to Owain the other day how quick this winter has gone which is good in one way but bad in another way e.g.  X/c coming to an end (gutted) I think when we had that snow fall it kind of took you’re mind of the winter because you had something else to focus on so I know I love winter running but I must admit I cant wait to get the shorts and vest back on with the nice warm summer breeze in the air quality.

Training this week has been pretty good I know I was coming in to shape after the Nationals when in the race I new there was more to come in the Inter counties the week of the race was pretty much low key 1 hard session of 5x 1 mile at about 4:30 pave of 1 min and then Thurs low session of 12x 1min the session went well the mile session I felt really comfortable running at this pace and felt strong on Thurs  session even planned to take Friday of running and just do spinning for 35 min just to give the legs a break, so I knew I was pretty much ready for Sat race I don’t know how my coach does it but he always gets me in shape for the  Inter Counties so I must first pay credit to him for this.

We have only 6 weeks left to Baby Deed is here so it is squeaky bum time as I said before it has been a hard pregnancy for me yes that is right me with all the moaning going on by Nicola and the abuse you get I be glad when it is over it is like living with Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde talk about two faces may be I should give Sharpy a ring and see if had to deal with it ,but as I keep saying to Nicola it will all be worth it when the next Olympic runner is here I keep you posted.

Race Report Inter Counties

It is always a strange feeling running for you’re County as you only do it once a year and the rest of the time you are with the club you run for so it is weird to see you’re Team mates warming up with other people, but it also good to get a chance to get to know people you don’t normally get to mix with so it works both ways.

Turned up at the course 2hrs before the race and decided to play a game called were the hell are Bedfordshire based it is a good game to keep you warm when it is cold, found them eventually the Bedfordshire sign was lay in on the floor really good place to put it any way that’s were I met my Team Manger Richard Inchley  I known Richard since I first started running for Bedfordshire when I was 12/13 yrs old and he is still in charge of the Team he is a very good Manger who couldn’t do enough to help  you relax and concentrate on the race so a big thank you to Richard for you’re support over the years.

Did my warm up as usual you guessed my legs felt crap good sign so got back stretched and all the normal routines that I have to do to get me prepared for the race during the day I did feel more relaxed about the race I am trying to be more positive before races these days some times I don’t believe in my ability so I am being more upbeat and I think it is starting to work only taking 21 yrs.

Any way to the start normal suspects there Mo/Vernon/Hall/ Riley/ next to my pen was James Walsh and Phil Hinch so it was going to be a battle again

The Gun went we were away the pace felt quick but not really quick sat in behind Vernon /Riley/and a few others Mo was right next to me the first lap pretty much stayed like this but going on the  2nd lap it all changed Mo hit the front and took of Vernon and Geele went with them but not for long  ,I was with the second group of Riley/Wilkinson/Humphries/Gunn, Hall and Hinch had about  10 metre gap on us going onto the third lap I managed to pull back to Hall/Hinch and started to work together on catching Skinner who was just ahead by this time we were joined by Humphries/ Wilkinson/Walsh so it was becoming a battle for fifth place onto  the last lap I decided to take it on to try and brake the group down but it didn’t work and by the time we got to the last 8oo metres there were still Me / Hinch /Walsh/Wilkinson/Humphries battling it out the last 800 metres are quite tough going up hill when you are hurting but I knew I had to go early and not let it get down to a sprint finish but we could not separate us in till the last 50 metres were Hinch/Walsh got away 2 second gap and then Me and Wilkinson battling it out for 7^th which he just got me .

Very happy with my run 8^th place take out Geele and I finished 7^th hopefully get an England call up for the Home Counties in 2 weeks time which would be great so fingers crossed for that, this week training 2 sessions and the 12 stage relays this Sunday and then either England race /Eastleigh 10k for the south and then sit down with coach about the races coming up so I will keep you posted on that once we have sorted out them but the will include some half marathons in there

Have a good week of training and all ways believe in what you are doing if you believe than you can achieve anything.