Trafford AC Grand Prix 3000m

I was thinking of doing the 1500m this Tuesday at Stretford and after another great 300m session on the back of my mile I felt in great shape. The only thing that put me off was the tactical element of the 1500 on top of the fact that I wouldn't be on the track competivley for another 6 weeks after. Also, a load of the Harriers boys and girls that I train with and know were all going and would be in the same race with similar targets in mind for the 3k so I decided to do that.

The conditions as ever were perfect at Longford Park and after a decent warm up I slipped the spikes on and ran through a few drills while watching the A race and cheering on Sir James McNally and young Callum Grant. James pb'd and Callum ran a sb and I headed for the start with a scouse enclave containing myself and five Harriers.

My goal was for sub 9:40 but I was confident of getting low 9:30's, the others were looking for 9:45-ish. I was going for 77 second laps and when we set off and I immediately got into my stride, clipping the 1st lap off at 76 secs. By lap three I was struggling, not a good sign, my feet slapping the track which wasn't confortamble in the spikes. I was behind Amanda Crook from Southport and tried to hang on as long as I could as she maintained the pace I kinda wanted but I fell off and around 5 laps in I was 6 seconds off the 77 second splits.

Carl Mountain then cruised by with about 600 to go, followed by Rachel Burns and Lee Midgehall, I fully expected Sophie (getitng paced by Al Ashton) to do likewise but dug in and tried to keep Lee and Rachel in touching distance.

With about 250 to go I opened up and with 100 to go reeled Lee in and pipped Rachel and a few others along the way on the line but Carl was a good 5 seconds ahead. We all pb'd but I was disapointed with the time. I know I can knock a chunk off that time and I'm thinking about doing the next 3k instead of the Sefton Park 5 miler.