Trafford Grand Prix - 3000m

The Stretford rack always has a special place in my heart. I don’t why but the weathers always great when I run there and atmosphere is always fantastic. I was toying with the idea of running 10k on the track over in Bebington but with the weather being so hot decided to make the short journey over Manchester for the Trafford Grand Prix.

I was the only PLS representative there but I bumped into plenty of lads and lasses from the Harriers who were mainly taking part in the 3k. My PB for this distance was 9.58 but following a great block of training this past 6 weeks, I was confident I could go a lot quicker.

My plan was run 78 second laps and if I felt good start to wind it up with 800 to go. I had a good warm up in the park, strapped on my super light Nike Zoom Victory (80 grams Phil, 80 grams) and went through a sprint/stretching routine. It was scorching hot trackside but the air felt good. Whilst warming up I watched the quicker A race, cheering on two Harriers lads I knew Al Ashton and Sion Wynne-Williams. Being a runner you can appreciate the speeds they’re running but it still seems funny as they appear to be jogging as they pass by.

Within minutes of the A heat finishing it was time to line up for my race. DON’T GET BOXED IN is always my mantra for these races but what happened on the first corner? Yes I got boxed in and for the next 300m struggled to get out! I went through 400 in 81 secs but decided not to chase it, just settle into my pace. To be honest I didn’t pay much any attention to my watch, trusting my body to tell me if I was running too hard or too soft.

The race quickly split into two groups, I was in the second group and made my way through the crowd until I was eventually at the front of our group but around 100 metres seconds behind the leading group. I kept pushing and with 800 to go I was about 7:16, a lad from Trafford stayed with me really helped me with about 200 to go by trying to pass, I got the legs turning and crossed the line in 9.44, a whopping 14 seconds off my previous PB. Needless to say I was chuffed, I was gunning for a 9:39 and I'm sure with a better race tactics I'd have been a bit quicker. Never satisfied us runners :o)

When I asked Al Ashton how he felt right after he'd finished his race (he also got a great PB), he told me 'I just ran' - it made me laugh, the simplicity and almost zen like quote also summed my performance up - I didn't panic, didn't clock watch, I just ran!