Remember that Captain Sensible song? Rubbish wasn’t it. Anyway, the final cross country race of the North West League took place at Birchwood and in the tightest series for aeons, Liverpool Running Club pipped new boys the Liverpool Running Bugs to win the mens title. I honestly thought and indeed still think PLS could have challenged this season. I’d overated my own prowess on the xc but we’ve definitely got a stronger six than showed this season. Not to worry, there’s always next season, maybe we can drum up more interest. The race itself was over a re-vamped and slightly longer course. Hats off to the Spectrum Striders, the change meant the four loops were interesting with more hills than usual.

Unless PLS finished 2nd, we couldn’t finish any higher than 4th and with so much at stake for the other two big guns, we were pretty much resigned to consolidating 4th. I started off slow and picked my way through the field, as usual I felt great on the flat and dug in when the opportunity arose. I’m not making excuses around my xc performances but my broken leg must have a bearing on my results. Although there’s muscle etc in the leg, I just don’t feel any power when pushing through mud or up hills with the left leg. I might book some more physio or ask around because even mundane things like running up stairs or stepping up onto a chair to change a light bulb, I can feel there’s no power when pushing with that leg. Maybe it’s also affecting the road and track stuff too but because my results have improved with the extra mileage and quality track sessions, I’m papering over the cracks. I’m not too concerned, I’m lucky to be running, never mind winging about my performances. Of course could always hop around, like Ripping Yarns!

On Monday, myself, Shane ‘the stig’ Knott, Dave ‘driving Miss Daisy’ Lynan, Marty ‘Colonel Callan’ Hirrel and Grae ‘Sienfeld’ Hind all trogged along to the Holiday Inn in Liverpool for an audition for the Egg Heads Quiz show on BBC. Shane and Dave had already appeared on TV quiz shows, Shane actually won the Weakest Link and Dave made it to the first add break on 15 to 1. Marty won the PLS quiz and Grae is a self proclaimed genius...and me, I know some stuff. The audition went well, I couldn’t believe my luck when I was asked a Star Wars question! Fingers crossed team PLS will be appearing on the TV some time soon.

Training wise, I had a few days off work and managed to get out with my pal Birdy who’s also doing London. I got a solid week in again, a good track session that comprised of 10 x 3mins, Neil, Nige and Tim all turned out which was good to see. My times varied from 3k pace to 10k pace which I was satisfied with. I done a long solo run of 20 miles and another tough tempo with some of the PLS bods on the Thursday, James and Martin, fresh from the nationals joined me Keiran and Nige for 2 mile warm followed by 3 miles at marathon pace, 1 mile steady, them 3 miles h/marathon pace, mile warm down. I was a bit stiff after the 20 miler but managed to sneak 6:22 for the marathon pace and 6:03 for the h/m pace – not bad, Keiran cracked me up telling me about his nox pump adventures in the park run. He had this ‘training aid’ that sounds barely legal, set off like a rocket then died a death with a mile to go. He then proceeded to vomit everywhere.

Friday was my usually steady xc that I had to cut short for a toilet break. Trev Morris was a guest runner again, I swear he only comes to goad me, telling me he wants to die undefeated in our head to heads but I reckon I’ll crush him at Trafford, especially if comes down to a sprint finish, and he’s jet lagged, and he’s not had a good sleep, and he’s carrying a strain…

WEEK NINE 27/02-04/03
MONDAY 8 miles steady 8
TUESDAY 6 miles steady am - track session 10 x 3 mins - 5.5 miles effort with warm up/down 14
WEDNESDAY 20 miles 7:42 average 20
THURSDAY 5 miles am steady - 10 miles pm 2 miles warm up - 3 miles marathon pace (6:20) - 1 mile easy - 3 miles half maarthon pace (6:00) - 1 mile warm down 15
FRIDAY xc steady 4 miles 4
SATURDAY 11.5 miles steady 10
SUNDAY xc with warm up/down 8.5
Total 79.5