Finally the snow!
So the snow has finally started to fall here. To be fair we have been so lucky thus far. The weather for November has been amazing really and very mild. All the ski resorts were due to open last week and couldn't as there was no snow. Last year they were all open by the beginning of November. That being said it has been great for training and I have managed to get some good training in. The group seems to be growing and we meet for a session every Tuesday and Wednesday morning. This is new to the schedule (the mornings) and I shall have to see how the Achilles holds up cracking out a session at 8.15 in the morning, but due to people's work commitments it suits us all okay. Christian Belz joined in (or back in) the group two weeks ago and is a real addition to the group. He was 4th in the Euro's back in 2001 and has been to two Olympics. I think he left the group when he wanted to do Marathon but the coach didn't feel he had the knowledge so he went and found someone else. I actually find that quite refreshing that he was prepared to let a guy he coached to two Olympics, 27.53 for 10k and 13.12 for 5k. So often you see coaches fall out with athletes or hold on to them too long because of pride or jealousy or whatever and then they don't improve. Unfortunately I think Christian kept getting injured over the Marathon so is back doing 10k, although he still cracked out 2.15 debut! Great though as we now have two guys who have done Olympics and the 2 x World Orienteering Champ (who can run 14 flat for 5k) and a couple of others who have cracked 30 for 10k plus me. Although all of them are off to Kenya training in January so shall see what I do then, although shall probably be running indoors.
So although I am holding on with the longer stuff, hopefully when we get on the track I shall come into my own with the shorter sharper stuff, but the main obstacle will be the Achilles. It is fine running long as I keep saying, but how it will react to the track I have no idea and I am not prepared to try just yet as I am running really well.
I raced over 10k in Basel on Saturday which went pretty well, but shall talk about it in my race blog but all in all it has been another good weeks training and racing. The snow continues to fall and settle and from the flat window it is a complete whiteout so should be fun running in it later!
Sp8y
Comments On "Finally the snow!"
Thanks for the comment.
Sp8y Posted on December 1st, 2009I do have some strong views, some would say opinionated, and I guess with some things I can be. I think if I still lived in the UK it could have been an option for me, but on the flip side I am not particularly patient when it comes to red tape. I know that must be a real problem for guys putting races on, as well as the cost, health and safety etc which you don't seem to have as much in other countires. Don't get me wrong, all races look into safety, but I bet we have to do risk assemsments, police costs, road closures, all that I have mentioned before for our suing culture and PC-ness, and all that seems to only be a real problem in the UK. I know that runnerslife put in months of work to try and hold our own races. We had the venue, everything sorted. Right at the last minute the council stepped in and demanded car parking fees up front, which we couldn't afford, so the race was cancelled. That's the type of thing that really annoyes me, short sighted people. We were trying to help the local community, but they were not prepared to help us by letting us run the race without a ridiculous cost up front. It was in local parks, so there was no need for Police or road closures. I have several friends who work for some of our various different federations and they say it is like banging your head against a brick wall with the egos and the administration. (Again I know a lot of good people do great work) but having had the pleasure of racing around the world, and being part of some great events we are lacking somewhat in races that get the public and sponsors interested. It would drive me insane knowing your hands are tied all the time, so know plans for me to start organising races in the UK, for now I am able to still use my, some might say limited ability, to continue to experience races on different continents!
Sp8y
Seems like you have some strong views and good ideas about what works and what doesn't with races.
Anonymous Coward Posted on December 1st, 2009I gather you've got a bit of an entrepeneur streak in you having done your work with the Miles Better site and you must have plenty of contacts from your past racing experience. Have you got any thoughts of bringing these sort of events back to the UK and organising a few here yourself? Do you think they would work here?