Music first, then reading

Obviously the London Marathon is my key target race, but if it does not go to plan no big deal!  Just enter another marathon.  I have already got my GFA for 2017 but I don’t think I will be back in 2017, who knows?

Race Number 12 in 2016 – The Grindleford Gallop 21 Mile Trail Race – 12 April 2016

I was using it as a long run as part of my London Training.  Conditions were great, dry, cool, sunny, not too bad underfoot.  Several feed stations to keep the hydration in check and jelly babies (and cake).  At the end we got soup, bread and coffee (and more cake) included in the entry fee.

The winning time was 2:22:24 which is amazing, its a very tough race!  The trusty old Mizuno off road shoes were ok and the Fenix 3 was great (it now shows vertical profile so I had a good idea of the evil climbs and descents).

Norton 9 – 6 March 2016

Was not going to enter this, but decided to the day before and to make it in to a long run.  The plan was to run from home to the start (via a 15 mile route), then run the race so completing a 24 mile run.  I did this in 3 hours and 3 minutes which was ok, couple of miles were off road (7:38 min miles).

Did the race in about 65 minutes, nice conditions.

Harewood House Half Marathon – 28 February 2016

first things first, its 12.6 miles so thats a shame.  Nice race though off road, hilly.  Ran on tired legs which was the plan,

National Cross Country Championships – 27 February 2016

One of the highlights of the Cross Country season, the best cross country race on the planet?  We were there representing at this fantastic event and Doncaster AC helped out by providing marshalls.

Checkout Peter Simpson, Doncaster AC in the Telegraph!

I had a a good run on the fairly tough course, 1730 men raced and I finished in 683rd place lol.

Snake Lane 10 – 21 February 2016

Felt a bit rubbish to be honest, gave up during miles 4 and 5.  Then had a think about this and started racing again, started catching up with people and passing them.  Had a fantastic finish which I forgot was down hill, I had decided that with 400m to go I would run like I was doing a 400m rep on the track and I passed several runners I had been passing and being passed by in the last few miles.  Keep the mind posative, at the end of the day we are all hurting and the wind and hills are the same for all, those that can be positive will be more successful!

1:02:38 finishing time in position 50th.  I should have broken the hour by now for this distance.