Kirkby Malzeard 10k

05/06/10 This was the 3rd 10k in the Black Sheep Series, and I'm not doing too great this year, still this was my fastest race this year. The weather forecast was for hot and sunny, another warm race day. Today was the first time that I was trying out my new toe sock, hoping that having each toe encased in its own pouch would limit my discomfort from my existing blisters and hopefully prevent more forming.

As the 2pm start approached the temperature rose, I had a frozen water bottle with me, but that was melting rapidly as was my pre race mars bar. V and I went for a little trot to warm up, well that was me knackered and we hadn't even started.

Everyone gathered at the start and we were off, up the village and round past the cricket field where we would eventually finish, a slightly uphill fist 1/2 mile then a good long down to the first water stop and hose spray, that felt good, then as we started to climb my legs began to complain, what is wrong with me its like I cant run more than 2 miles in one go anymore, I can see all the other Ripon Runners pulling away from me, that makes me feel quite low.

I run a bit walk a bit for the next few miles with an Edinburgh marathoner from Wetherby Runners, who was having a similar race, we took it in turns to pass each other and I could see that I was starting to gain on some of the Ripon Runners, that made me feel a bit better. At 4 miles the blistered toes reminded me that they were there, but not as bad due to my new toe socks. About 1/2 a mile to go I had to let the girl from Wetherby go, I was burnt out, struggling in the heat, it was now down hill, but didn't feel it.

When I crossed the line I was disappointed that it had taken over an hour, but my feet weren't too uncomfortable and gained no new blisters, so that was positive.

TIME 1hr 3min 20sec

League race at Guisley

03/06/10 The weather was still glorious, not ideal for a race, at least it didnt start till 19;45 .

The race was organised by Yeadon Dragons and at a previous race one of them had told me that it was predominantly off road.

The race started and it was humid, we started by running along an old railway line then headed off for the woods, down down down, avoiding tree roots and rocks. In the back of my mind i knew it was going to have to go up at some point, but first a short flat bit, a relief for my blistered toes after they'd been battered in the front of my trainers as I ran down about 2 miles of woodland tracks.

Then it began, the long climb back up to the start, still through woods, I had to walk some of it, but I was going forwards. I was with my marathon training partner, V, she turned her ankle, we stayed together, the same as Temple Newsam, we started together so we'd finish together which we did, exactly together.

The next day I was disappointed that the scorekeepers had put V 1 second behind me.

TIME 58 min 58 sec, 5.5 miles

Melmerby 10k

This was the 2nd 10k in the black Sheep Series. The day was warm and windy. The previous day I had felt unwell, lightheaded, headache and nauseous, I still didn't feel 100%, still thats no reason to not run.

The first mile was going ok, then the sun came out and I started to feel lightheaded again, I slowed a bit as not finishing was not an option. The race felt hard, but its only a week since the marathon.

TIME 58:32 almost 2 min faster than last year.