…those San Franciscan night, those were the best in town...

I ran the Chester Race Course 10k which was 99% on grass with a short path on tarmac. It was four laps around the course and the grass was pretty long (horses not need the surface to be like a bowling green!) but flat. I was shamed into not wearing my spikes by Stu Doyle and James McNally - I could see their point but I thought if I'm gonna do a 10k I at least want a good time! Anyway, that wasn't to be, I finished 6th in the race which gives you an indication of the quality involved, in a time of 37.17 - not back for grass and I ran the majority of the race on my own, finishing a whopping 2 mins behind 5th and over two mins ahead of 7th.

I had a good laugh with James and Stu, James and me ended up watching the Olympic Marathon in Chester over a few beers and a nice Sunday dinner. I won the vets prize but haven't received anything yet, looking at the results they've got me down as John Commullt, my hand writing is poor but not that bad!

The following day I headed off to St Lucia, Anse Chanstenet was the resort, a fantastic place! It's my third visit to the place, the last time was for my wedding so it was great to get back and see all the lovely staff. I still ran on my hols, I got up around 6 every morning and ran into the town and back, roughly 5.5 miles in total, then headed down to the beach for a yoga class. My missus is a yoga teacher and I have to admit I do like the odd yoga session but on holiday I ended up doing two classes a day! The yoga teacher, Cindy from Canada was great and most of the time it was just the three of us so she'd work on my woefully stiff hamstrings and groin, it was like getting a personal physio class which was ace.

I ate like a pig on holiday, breakfast was fruit, then cereal, then an omlete or fry up, then chocolate patries washed down with about four cups of coffee! Tea was a four course meal every night, even with the running I must have put on about a stone!

I got back last Wednesday and rather than hit the track for a speed session I went to PLS for the final devils gallop. I had intended just going to the shore then doubling back because I thought it would be really poor going on the beach/shore line with all the rain. I ended up giving it a go as I was having a laugh with the PLS lads and lasses. I decided to make a go of it on the beach but starting off I nearly on Tuesday, trod on a dead dog! It 'kin stunk! Anyway I dropped the hammer after we got around the poor animal and sprinted off on the shale/sand and pebbles.

I felt great but as the sun started to go down it was blinding and I soon hit the boggy patches and the rest caught me up. The brush/scrub was higher than me, which admittedley isn't saying much but I'm glad I did sprint off cos I'd have got lost! We made it back, my new lunas covered in shiote.

I got back int othe runing routine and headed up to Wavertree for a session that comprised of 6 x 2.45 then 5 x 200 then we headed to the sport centre to catch Dave Devine in the paralympic 1550m t13 - I great performance earned Dave a bronze which he followed up the following night in the 800.

I felt fine, so decided to do the Wavertree 5k on the Thursday, subsequently forgot my watch but decided to pace it myself, failed miserably and ran 17:32 - not a disaster but I thought I could've gone a lot quciker!

Roll on the North West relays!