…the can’t even play their instruments! Listen squire, who d’you think sold this thing out anyway? Them lot there? Them lot there? They haven’t even got an album out…

It’s been an odd few weeks training wise, some good and lot bad with a smattering of 5k race thrown into the mix, again mainly poor times and underlining the fact I’ve not been training enough! I ran 17:59 at Hollins Green, a great day for running on a quick course, but really ran out of gas after 2 miles. I did go off hard (5:24 for the 1st mile) and tried desperately to hang onto runners passing me after 3k but it wasn’t to be.

I ran at Bowden a week later, another quick course but the weather was awful, monsoon conditions and with short sections of the course on grass/parkland paths you couldn’t get any traction. I deliberately went a lot slower, looking to do 5:40 and get a half decent few miles in but this back fired, I had to stop before the finish because a couple of old dodders I was lapping blocked the tight exit near the finish, I looked at the clock and could see I wasn’t even going break 18 so didn’t bother using my patented sprint finish, 18:09, a PW!

I had a great week of training after Bowden, hitting the track hard on the Tuesday with a 10 x 2mins session that felt good for a change. It wwas only my 3rd outing since VLM at the track but I knew with all the race in June etc. I’d struggle to get there. Anyway I ended up doing over 60 miles, only the 2nd time I’ve passed that since VLM and managed to get two session and a longish run in.

I went to Wavertree last night though to race in the 5k rather than the track. Again, I went off slightly more conservative than I usually do, going through the 1st mile in 5:33 and felt really comfortable chasing down a couple of lads from the Harriers. I passed the 2nd mile in 5:38 so was in good shape for around 17:30. I passed to two lads and got to 4k in 14:10, I was flagging a bit but knew the rest of the course was pretty much down hill.

One of the lads I passed caught me on the home straight and I didn’t have the legs to catch him but I crossed the line in 17:39 – my garmin was slightly over the 5k so I obviously strayed a bit form the racing line which was worth 15 or so seconds. The 3rd mile was clocked at 5:48 which is slightly disappointing but I’m heading in the right direction.

This time last year I ran 10 seconds quicker at Wavertree but that was off a much more consistent block of training. I’m really targeting the Sefton Park 5 miler on 18/07 and hoping to be in low 28’s shape for than race…watch this space!