First off, always save your work before pressing 'submit'! as wrote a great long blog pressed submit.....and lost it all!!!!!

Not happy, so here i go again and in a slightly worse mood than 5 minutes ago! 

Well greetings from the USA, as i sit here in the 'Hamptons' drinking my coffee and watching the world go by. 

it was funny read somewhere on Runnerslife this week about Neil and Simon having a disagreement about why was over in the states. Neil was right that we have come out here for a third wedding blessing, yes thats right number 3. As we have had the traditional, the the 'Elvis Vegas' blessing, with finally one in NYC at the famous 'Coogan's' bar. But Neil should know me better my now, as if there is even a chance of a race, i will find it, run it and try an makes some cash!! One of my all times hero's is the 1972 Olympic 1500m champion John Walker, who its was once said 'that if you dropped him in the middle of the Amazon rain forest, he would find a mile race, win it and get the meet organiser to pay his ticket home'. Now that the type of running school i come from, plus you get to see different places and meet new people, can't lose in my eyes. 

So when we worked out the dated we where in NYC for, i tracked through my memory of mile races, remembering an invite i had 5 years earlier. At a race in New york i was invited by a great guy called Rick to a race in new jersey called the Ridgewood Memorial races, which had an elite mile race. I couldn't run it back in 2004 as off in some far off land racing, but promised that some day i would make it to the race. Now was my chance, so i called him up and he was delighted i would be around to race, and offered to put us up before the race. 

Now, everyone has known training has gone ok, but im not as fit as i would like to be. I have managed two race pace sessions with the 10 x 400's and the 12 x 300's but thats a fraction of what i have normally done pre race. But i did hope that all those years of running and racing might help me. I am a great believer in 'Muscle memory' as the body fibres remember what to do in certain situations, like riding a bike, you never really forget. This is how you can sometimes run above your fitness level and thats what i was needing right now!

The race is held within a 10km, 5km and then mile races, with a packed crowed and fantastic atmosphere. I had a great reception and felt ready to run after a good warm-up. The race had a great international mix, which was the best field they have had for a long time. I felt ok at the first 1/4 through in 63, but struggled up to half way in 2:09, the down hill section was poor and i hit he 3/4 in 3:13, back in third place. I was passed by a big group but managed to pull back to 4th and 4:18, a struggle really and the winner was 4:11. But its a start and i know im heading in the right direction. I was very grateful for how great the race looked after us, plus Alex's parents who are over for the blessing. We really enjoyed the whole event and i it already in my plans for next year to come back in great shape and break the record.

We heading back to NYC after a post race beer, before stopping at Coogan's for a coffee with the owner Peter Walsh. I saw Neil's GB vest he gave from the indoors is now up on the wall , to go with mine from beating Alan Webb back in 2003. We then headed down to the Hamptons to Peter's second home, where i plan to get some good training in and plan my next few months, as i get back to fitness.

Can't say i enjoyed writing this twice, but i hope some of you enjoy the read, 

Cheers james