Mon 24 Jan
3:02pm 6 miles.
7:09pm 9 miles.  Can't believe how well the legs have recovered from yesterdays half marathon.  Bouncing along at end of first run finishing with a 6:39 mile.  Then ran with Andi Jones in evening, first 7 with Andi in 49:08 then I sped up finishing with a 6:21, 5:56 last 2 miles.

Tue 25 Jan
2:27pm 6 miles
6:31pm 11 miles including track session at Stockport. 1 mile (400m jog), 4x400m (200 jog), 1 mile.  Controlled session with Vernon, Pat Martin, O'Gorman and Clowes. All together, 4:47, 68, 67, 67, 68, 4:43.  Legs have recovered so well, so brought session forward a day to allow me an extra day before the Northerns.

Wed 26 Jan
7:08pm 14 miles.  Sluggish tonight.

Thu 27 Jan
12:37pm 6 miles. 
7:06pm 8 miles.  Felt superb again, struggling to hold back for race at weekend. 

Fri 28 Jan
2:42pm 3.5 miles.  Was 3 miles into a 6 mile run and every runners worst nightmare came true.  I looked to my left and saw a dead body floating face down in the canal.  Frantically ran to the nearest person with a mobile and within minutes the emergency services had all arrived and the canal was cordoned off.  Ended up stood in my shorts for an hour in the cold, then being interviewed by the police, by the time I ate I had gone 8 hours without eating.  Hardly ideal preparation for tomorrows race.

Sat 29 Jan
10:26am 2.5 miles pre race loosener
2:18pm 12 miles including Northern Cross Country (11th -  see race report)
7:59pm 5 miles easy recovery run

Sun 30 Jan
6:44pm 22 miles.  Tired from race yesterday.  Ran entirely on the roads after work.  Experimented with some new roads in Mossley and realised after 400m without street lights I was climbing Hartshead Pike!  Character building run!

Weekly Mileage: 105 miles