- 11 runs
- 141.4k
- Three key sessions:
- 10 miles including 8 miles @ GMP (3:24/k)
- The Andy Lawrence 30th Birthday 5k - 4th in 15.27. More below...
- Long steady 22 miles (3:49/k and felt aerobically very strong)
All in all it was fine and my fitness is very good for the start of a marathon block. The bad news is I've been carrying a bit of a niggle in my left leg which I originally attributed to the piraformis I've been dealing with for the best part of a year. Unfortunately I've ended the week with a very sore knee so may need to dial things back next week - still 12 weeks and no need to chase fitness.
Really, the only thing worthy of mention this week was the Andy Lawrence 30th Birthday 5k. Putting aside the fact that his birthday is not until November, Andy successfully assembled a field worthy of a course where, apparently, Andy Baddeley holds the record at thirteen-fifty-something. With runners coming from as far afield as Morpeth (including the second place finisher who drove down on Saturday morning after a night on the lash) the athletes congregated at race HQ to place their bets. Despite assuring my friends that I was not going to win they foolishly chose to put their money on me, something for which I am now grateful as it meant I collected more money when JP eventually (and inevitably) won!
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| Taking a break from filming Cadbury's commercials Baz was 1st in the Fancy Dress category |
Having jogged over to Bushy Park we were started by star guest, Commonwealth marathon runner Nick Torry (currently injured) and after the race to the 200 meter mark was complete (poor sod who won had to finish the full 5k to collect his prize), the 5k race could get under way. Andy Greenleaf, the aforementioned hungover Morpeth athlete and I set the early pace. The three of us traded the lead until about 800 to go when JP unleashed a blistering last kilometer to take the win in 15.18. Alas my legs went with about 300 to go and I had little to offer in the sprint finish department finishing in the always disappointing position of 4th with only 9 second between 1st and 4th. This was later upgraded to 3rd as JP got his priorities completely wrong and rather than coming to collect his alcoholic prize decided to spend the evening with his young family... more fool him! Obviously I argued strongly for his reinstatement when it came to the results of the betting.
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| Second at this stage but I faded to 4th |
Special mention to Emma who finished as 2nd lady only a few seconds off her PB - she'll be racing the San Sebastian Half Marathon on the same day I do the full and her preparation is just starting to pick up,
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| Emma going for the line - she beat the guy in orange! |
Massive thank you to Andy for putting on a wonderful day which only he could have done. If anyone else spoke about making this a "decadely" event I would probably be a little cynical but I fully expect to be lining up again on September 5th, 2025.
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| Finishers, marshalls and spectators - "birthday" boy front and centre |
