I’d like to start my first blog of the new year by wishing all of the readers a successful 2012.  It’s a huge year for athletics in this country for very obvious reasons and I’m really looking forward to seeing people pushing the boundaries in their training and hopefully witnessing some athletes breaking through to the next level.  I think as runners, we are all going to be inspired this year, whatever level we are at.

My blogging has been limited in recent months as a change in my working circumstances has meant I have been commuting an extra 10 hours per week.  I’m not really one for New Years resolutions but I have resolved to blog more frequently in 2012, and to achieve this I will have to organise my time a little bit better.  The arrival of my clubmate and good friend Matt Barnes to the runnerslife team and the quality of his contributions so far has given me a bit of a kick of the backside!

Recently my running has progressed a little bit as I have got used to the new routine and my Plantar Fasciitis problem has cleared.  I’m still a little bit short of my very best form, but the Ribble Valley 10k race over Christmas was quite significant for a number of reasons.  Firstly, my time of 30:36 was my fastest time for over two years.  More significantly, it was the only time in 2011 that I recorded a time faster than my 2010 best at any distance.  I also felt back to my old self, even taking the race on at 3.5km, and it was a good way to end 2011 and I can now go into 2012 believing that I’m not quite over the hill yet and can still challenge some of my PBs.

The race was also significant as my brother Andy made a return to competitive racing.  He had run a low key 7 mile race two weeks previous – his first race since May.  Andy is a far more talented runner than I am and it was no surprise when he appeared on my shoulder 9km into the Ribble Valley race!  In the end, he beat me by 5 seconds after a storming finish.  I’ve lost count of the number of times we have finished within a few seconds of each other over the years! 

People often ask me if my rivalry with Andy is any stronger than it is with any of my other close rivals.  I think Andy often finds an extra 10% when I’m anywhere near him in a race.  Even when I’m not in the race, I am aware of races where I have helped him to find a little bit extra.  One example was the Cabbage Patch 10 mile race about 5 years ago, when Andy was 300m from the finish and struggling.  He told me afterwards that he looked at the finish clock, and knew my PB was 49:35 and sprinted like mad to make sure he beat it.  He ended up running 49:31!

I know I always race very hard, no matter who I am up against.  Whether it’s Gareth Raven, Matt Barnes, Andy Norman or Ben Fish, I always give 110% and finish the race knowing that I couldn’t have given any more. 

It’s great having Andy back racing again and I do think it will have a positive effect on my running.  Training together in sessions is bringing us both on by the week, and there are a few incentives to motivate us both to train harder.  Knowing we are in a stronger position to challenge for team medals in the coming cross country championships has fired us both up.  And of course, we are both keen to be the first Norman back!  Anyone who read this weeks training log probably noticed me turning the screw with the training a little. 

My other resolution is to try to prioritise my running again and give it some more structure.  The only way I am going to achieve this is by setting myself short, medium and long term goals and work out how I am going to arrive at each of these goals.  This is something I will be doing over the course of the next week, but it won’t include the 2012 London Marathon as the deadline for entry has passed.  Thinking about it, the last time I worked towards a goal was last years London Marathon which seems a lifetime ago now!  All of my best ever performances have come when I have been working towards a goal and had structure and direction to my running.  I’m determined not to let my best years pass me by, and to make 2012 a positive year for my running!

Cheers

Dave