Ryedale 10 Mile - Some more improvement.

I decided to make the trip to Old Malton today to do the Ryedale 10 Mile Road Race. This seemed like an ideal training race for the up and coming Brid Half and Thirsk 10 Mile in October and November. I wanted to test myself over 10 miles and treat this like a time trial. I am pleased with the way the training as been going to date. Thrashing out a few 17 minute 5k's on the treadmill. This race seemed ideal to test it out.

This was a small but well organised event with plenty of volunteers willing to help out with the marshalling etc. I did feel this was one of these races for charity so I had no regret in handing over the cash to enter.

I only recognised a few runners in the line up at the start, so I had to use the tactic of setting off steady and seeing if anybody could match the pace. Or even if I could match their pace.

When the race started a chap from Beverley AC set off fast, and because I didn't know him I wasn't sure whether this was to win a bet at the pub or he was a seasoned runner. It turned out that he had a sub 56 PB for 10 mile. Nobody else seemed to challenge us and my plan of just 'sticking' to him and hoping I have the fitness left to run for 'home' seemed the best option. I felt good even to the 8 mile point. Now the thoughts of winning the race and the mental imagery of collecting the winners prize at the end was dulling the pain. I kept surging with the pace, only in the hope that he would then give up the chase and let me win. With 1k to go I gave everything and went for the finish. This was too early and I think the chap sensed that I was beginning to labour. He then overtook me on a downhill section to the finish. I checked my Garmin and the pace was then 4-50/ mile. At the finish he had a lead of approximately 15 seconds. However, I was still happy in the knowledge that I gave everything and this had the result of producing a recent PB.

Askern 10 Mile - Some improvement

This years Askern 10 mile didn't seem as hot as previous years and with a tapering phase from Thursday onwards things were looking good. A cool and fairly gentle breeze. The legs felt fresh and the mind set was good.

Up to last Sunday I was averaging a steady 50 miles per week, mostly running to work and back with a rucksack full of sandwiches and a water bottle. The home bound run(with empty rucksack) usually tops up the daily distance to 11 miles in total.

There were only a few runners in the front line that I recognised. With D Allinson, J Wardman(Rothwell) and M Hall(Otley) the only runners that should stay in my sights. I exchanged a few words with J Wardman, who said he would be trying to go for 56 mins, with the first five done at comfortable pace. It seemed reasonable to try and keep him close by to achieve a good time. When the race started a runner from Sheffield soon opened up a lead on the rest and a small chasing group developed behind him. This contained about five of us. The pace felt good to me and I was not struggling to keep up. It was only after about 6 miles that I started to drift off the pace with the group and then it became a case of damage limitation after that. I was overtaken by a chap from Goole Viking near the end and eventually finished in 59-13, first vet 45 and £20 in Rundirect vouchers. Some of the other runners seemed to have struggled which made it easier to take. Ive had worse days.

Thanks for reading.

Why am I not a champion?

Reading blogs and listening to other runners has finally given me some insight into what attributes a runner needs to become a champion competitor.

I have found that to be a champion you need to be obsessive about winning, but probably more importantly, obsessive about your training and everything else to do with your sport in order to win. Champions also seem to have the ability to control this obsessiveness and use it to their up most advantage. It seems you also need to have the desire to win at all costs, the ability to overcome setbacks, learn from it and to come back stronger. I have observed that champions are usually but not always naturally gifted in their chosen sport and mostly single minded and determined. Those who are not 'blessed' with natural talent can still be champions if they have the mental strength, the desire and the commitment to train hard to overcome this. Certainly, natural talent alone is not enough to make you a champion. True champions are not usually content unless they win and anything less than first place in a race can be a disaster for them. They are sometimes very self critical of what they have achieved. I can now understand why some champion runners give up the sport even when they are still very good and so not choosing to compete at veteran level - unless of course they can be assured of an outright win. They are usually very focussed individuals, usually paying particular attention to detail and organisation in their lives, more particularly when it is related to their chosen sport(running). They take their sport seriously, train hard and usually have superior mental strength. They are ferociously competitive and mostly possess an element of 'killer instinct'.

I have to admit I think I have a little bit of all these qualities but probably not enough of any of them to make a champion runner. At least I know that winning a race is not just about clocking up miles.

A little hiccup at Eccup

I was not sure whether to do this race this year. It was the cooler morning which made my mind up, having got up early and eagerly checked out the Abbey runners website making sure the race wasn't full.

I was just going to turn up and treat it as a long Sunday tempo run, trying to average 5-50 per mile and dip under 60 minutes. This 'joggin' round the race stuff never seems to work for me though. The competitive instinct kicks in and you sometimes can not hold back. Seeing rival runners in the line up and friendly competitiveness from your other club mates can start the fire burning.

Among the front runners that I recognised on Sunday were Andy Pearson from Longwood , Ian Fisher(now unattached) ,Tim Midgely(Bingley) , Kevin Ogden(Spen) and Mark Hall(Otley).

It was great to see Ian Fisher back in action after taking some time off. Without much training and even showing some resemblance of his old form in the windy conditions.

I just managed to finish outside the 60 minute mark with 60-04. This was after trying to power to the finish realising how close it was going to be.

I may do the Pudsey or Harrogate 10k this month and maybe Askern 10 mile in August.

It's a shame about the foot in the photo. It almost looks like I'm leading the race!

A long run with a difference

Today four of us decided to do the 3 peaks challenge at Horton in Ribblesdale.

We had decided beforehand to run as much of the route as possible whilst avoiding running the really rocky bits and severe inclines. We arrived in good time and managed a pot of coffee and Flapjack before clocking in. There seemed to be masses of people there and I think it was something to do with Macmillan Cancer Care. We all did the run in just under seven hours, which considering we stopped for lunch and picture taking it wasn't too bad.

Reindeer Romp Trail Race

Last night me and a few other Spen runners did this short trail race(2.7 miles). It was kind of a friendly race run from the Reindeer pub(Middlestown). It was a surprise to receive large plates of chips at the end and loaves of bread so you can make your own chip butties. Much tastier than a T shirt I would say!

My race tactic of steadily easing into it and then increasing the pace later was totally wrong. These were narrow paths and woodland where there was no place to overtake. The race also started on a downhill section allowing loads of runners to start at great speed. However, I was pleased with the experience and workout.

My next race may be the Eccup 10 mile - will wait and see.

Another build up phase needed.

It feels like an age since my last race which was the Esholt 5k on the 19th May. June has been a busy month for me, what with family holidays and the like, so I haven't had much chance to put in many miles. I have put in some 2 hour bike rides just to keep up some fitness.

It's the annual Joe Percy 10k tonight night at Farnley Tyas(near Huddersfield). It's certainly too short notice to get into any sort of shape for that. This race requires teams of 10 and for our club it will be a difficult task getting 10 of us together. I will just turn up and rely on the reaction taking over. Maybe a race is what I need to make me train hard again.