Diary of an Athletic Nobody – Mate Of The Bloke

… found myself being sued, by the firm More O’Ferrall…I’d sprayed a graffito onto one of their hoardings…it was for Monsters of Rock and I’d sprayed “In Church Hall if wet”

I’d took it easy again this week miles wise, I had another solid track session on the Tuesday in windy conditions but eased off from Thursday in preparation for the prestigious Trafford 10k in the Partington on Sunday.

I had my mind set on getting under 36 minutes but would be happy with a pb and set my target for 5:47 min/mile. Not many PLS were in attendance, just the four of us made the short journey up the M62 for what is one of the best and quickest 10k’s in the country.

The conditions were perfect and after a nice warm up with James and Ste Mac, I snuggled into the pack on the narrow road for the start, not wanting to get penned in on the winding road at the start. I ran what felt like a steady 1st mile, checking my watch as I went. I passed the mile in 5:40 and soon settled to a nice 5:47 pace. I could see a few runners ahead of me that I’ll like to be near but rather than go after them I decided to stick to my own game plan. I felt good, gradually passing through the field.

On my Garmin I hit 5k in 17:50 – I was a bit concerned when the course 5k marker didn’t appear but I turned the corner and there it was – on my watch I went through in 18:15! Oh no! This kinda threw me, I’d run a neg split in 2010 but this meant I would potentially have to run a 2nd 5k in 17:44 to sneak under the 36 mins. So, 5:40 pace was required and no matter how much I pushed I couldn’t muster less that 5:50 pace.

I could see another PLS shirt ahead but thought it couldn’t possibly be James, but sure enough it was. He’d gone off too fast and blown up, I was gutted for him because he’s really been putting the graft in and in my opinion should have easily got under 34 mins, all part of the learning curve but it can’t have been a nice experience.

A lad from Sale passed me and I tried to hang onto him but he pulled away with around 2k to go. I knew I wasn’t going to get under the 36 mins but was till on for a PB, I dug in and crossed the line in 36:25, 9 seconds quicker than my PB. So plenty of plusses, again I’m a 26 seconds quicker than I was at last year at Trafford. Ste Mac was next home from PLS but James plodded back after his mishap. Fair play, he finished the race and he’ll be back at Wilmslow to do a good time. He’ll probably run under 16 at Halewood this Saturday to get it out of his system! Great race though, hopefully I can get a better turn out from the PLS massive as this one shouldn’t be missed!

In the final multi terrain race of PLS season, the PLS commando unit were team winners at Roddlesworth on Sunday, Simo Capponi ended up winning the PLS Multi Chaps and about time too! As if that wasn’t enough, Luke Parker managed to win the Tatton Park 10k in a PB time! And while I’m dishing out the platitudes, hats off to the lads and lasses from Liverpool Harriers who are trained by Tony Clarke, I see how hard they train at the track and they got some massive pb’s at Trafford. Oh and the evergreen Trevor Morris who rolled back the clock to 2009 and thrashed me yet again!

Going to put some big miles in the next 10 days then ease off again for Wilmslow…last weeks training below…

WEEK TEN 05/03-11/03
MONDAY 6.5 miles steady 6.5
TUESDAY 5 miles steady am - track session pm - 3 x 4/3/2/1 @ 5:22 average - warm up/down 14
WEDNESDAY 6.5 miles Bate Mill am - circuit class and 4 miles pm 10.5
THURSDAY 4 miles steady am - 5.5 easy pm 9.5
FRIDAY rest 0
SATURDAY 5 miles steady with strides 5
SUNDAY 10k race with warm up/down 10

Total 55.5