GET WELL SOON FRANK - I WANT TO SEE THEM BARE FEET RIPPING UP THE CROSS COUNTRY IN OCTOBER PAL!

North West Road Relays - Marbury Park

I love taking part in the relays, they're always a good bonding excersise for the club and Saturday was no exception. Penny Lane had four male senior teams and two female teams. I was quitely confident we could get a medal here, for whatever reason the bigger clubs don't tend to send their top runners, never the case with the six or twelve stage, plus only 'A' teams medal which meant even if the Liverpool Harriers sent their usual three or four strong teams, only their 'A' team would count in the grand scheme. Plus, James and Martin are in fantastic form, Neil is at the end of his Marathon training and is in great shape and although I'd been away stuffing my face for a few week I felt okay in the few sessions I'd run, particulalry the four mile tempo session in work which I cranked out in 23:10 without breaking sweat.

It was a glorious day and we managed to just about arrive to cheer the ladies on, they medalled themsleves here a few years back but were unlucky to finish 4th. I had a decent warm up then settled in to watch the start, Martin was running the 1st leg, me 2nd, Neil Kelly 3rd and James McNally the glory leg. The course was pretty flat with few tight turns but the majority was on park paths, two loops that measured 3.35 miles on my garmin. Martin ran a blistering 1st lap and was slightly ahead of the Southport lad in 2nd for the county. By the time he handed over to me I thought he was 3rd behind Wirral.

I set off keeping my eye on the chap I thought was from Wirral but he was ionfact from Leigh! The Southport runner blitzed past me after about 30 yards and although I did want to stay a bit slower than 5k pace I was flying for the 1st mile and paid the price! I gradually got slower and was getting passed by a trickle of runners, including the Wirral runner. I'd turned Martin's 50 second lead into a 6 second deficit!

Southport were long gone, I handed over to Neil who was chasing Joe Johnson from Wirral, the race for third was still on but Joe is in great form and he took the lead to a further 40seconds. James couldn't catch Mark Humlston on the last and we trailed into 4th by 11 seconds. Three of us were disapointed with our times, especially as we were so close but when the gongs were given out, they announce Penny Lane as 3rd!

Hopefully this wasn't a cock up and we won it fair and square! I can only assume Wirral A didn't have an eligible runner because they most definaltey finished in front of us!

Guilden Sutton 10k

The following day I decded to run the Guilden Sutton 10k, I didn't fancy getting up at the crack of dawn for a long run with Martin and Nige and I'd heard the race was a good course. Stu Doyle who also ran the relays (and won the gold for Cheshire with Vale Royal) told nbe there's a good 2k section near the end where you can really push it. I decdied not to go too mad and tried to keep the pace at 5:50 for as long as possible and push on at the bit where Stu said was downhill.

I started steady - the first 6k of the course is two loops up with a bif uphill and downhill over the railway and they were into a stiff wind on the straight. My legs were tired for I ended up doing the 3rd mile in 6.04, passing through the 5k in 18:36. I caught up with the first lady just after the 5k mark and this is where the course opened up. I eventually got going and started shuffling a bit faster. By the time I hit the main road with the 2k down hill section I felt okay so really started to push.

I could see a few runners ahead and concentrated on catching them, a quick glance at my watch I could see I was back on for close to a pb. As the course got back onto the country lanes I caught a guy from Stockport who gave me a nice bit of encouragement. I knew the finish was uphill and a few twists and turns and I tried to open up a bit more but my legs felt heavy. I crossed the line in a respectable 36.28, just 3 seconds outside my pb. Big Stu was 3rd but probably would have won if he didn't do the relays, I defo defo would have pb'd and I reckon I'd have got under 36 too but not to worry.

Six Stage Relays this week, I seriously doubt we'll make the elussive top 25 for the nationals but you never know!