January continued to be a busy month for racing:

17 January was the Brass Monkey Half Marathon, last year I ran this race with a cold so I paced DAC Runner Marie Louise Taylor to a PB (this year she smashed it with an 8 minute PB).  This year I was feeling good so wanted to run to the best of my ability.  Perfect conditions (freezing cold) and 9 DAC runners were off smashing some massive PB’s and winning age group categories.

I did not run the time I was aiming for but I ran over a 1 minute PB finishing with a time of 1:21:14.  I ran the first 13.1 miles at the East Hull 20 last year in 1:20:30 so I know I have got more to come.  Perhaps the Brass monkey is too flat for me.

Special mention to George Laing (who is very generous in driving us to lots of races) who last ran a half marathon 10 years ago, just before a traffic accident which forced him to stop running.  10 years ago George ran 1:40.  Last year George came back to the club and after finding his love of running an amazing 1:35:56!

The amazing run by Caroline Wheelhouse (1st V55 lady) will rank her 1st V55 lady in the country with her time for Half Marathon.

PB’s for Martin James, David Watts, George Laing, Marie-Louise Taylor, Janet Kerry (despite illness the day before), Phill Whitehead (who had to endure shin pain), and Martyn Walter.  Glynn was pleased to run his best half since 2014.

Special mention to Nicola Devine who came to support our runners.

24 January was the Ferriby 10 Mile, woke up feeling ill (that silly head cold), could feel it in my legs so had no idea how fast to run.  Lots of people got ill around that time and several DAC runners missed the race as a result.  Travelled with Rose and Ben Elliot (both of whom ran PB’s).

After a short warm up (run from the school and then ran the finishing hill once, spotting a few more DAC Vests) removed some layers and we were off.  I know this race well having raced it about 7 times.  Would this be the day I broke 60?  No, got to be feeling 100% to get PB’s but to finish with a time of 62:12.  If I am running that sort of time when feeling a little unwell that great, bring on Snake Lane!

Nice to see my club mates and also nice to see Kevin Dawson (Ex Soils lol, this will mean nothing to 100% of you) and Ruth Wilson giving support.

30 January was the Northern Cross Country Championships at blackburn, who needs tough mudder, this was possibly the toughest race I have ever done, horrible conditions underfoot, non of the course was runnable for a normal club runner (obviously the amazing lads who were lapping us don’t sink in as far I guess?), hail storms, freezing cold.  And 12km of the bloody thing.

4 lap course, I finished about mid field pleased to see Wayne Martison running a bit better than me and Peter Simpson had a great last lap and nearly caught me.  8:45 minute miles or something like that, shocking lol.

Classic Production House – We are Hardcore 1992