Archives // Warwickshire

Catching Up – Week Beginning 05 March

Sunday 11th March 2018

Yesterday I competed for Warwickshire at the inter counties. Although my relatively poor performance on the mud meant that I did not catch up with many people in the literal sense of the phrase, it was great chance to catch up with friends. Tim and I used to run together several times a week when he lived in Birmingham but see each other infrequently these days. As we were both racing we agreed to meet up afterwards, and in the warmth and comfort of a pizza restaurant in Loughborough, caught up, reminisced and talked about mutual friends. Running a race is a good excuse to get together. In fact, the last three times I have met up with Tim have been in running-related circumstances. Some time soon we should meet up without needing to run or watch athletics before hand, just like normal people do.

Less expected, though, was bumping into a runner I knew at university who I had not seen for ten years. Running together at various stages of the race, we exchanged some knowing glances but did not say anything until we crossed the finish line two seconds and two places apart (he won). “I know you” was the best I could come up with. John replied with “you’re Ed Smith.” He got my first name correct. We chatted, moaned about the course, talked about racing plans and exchanged email addresses. Later that evening I looked at my phone to see an email from John, presumably sent from a coach somewhere between Loughborough and Edinburgh, asking how I was and telling me about his plans.

I don’t just run because it is a good outlet for my spare energy or because of the sense of purpose and achievement it gives me; I like the friendships that are forged on the track, the mud and the road. Runners are just about the only people who understand other runners and I have formed some good friendships through this great sport.

My Week

Monday: rest, unwell (0)

Tuesday: rest, unwell (0)

Wednesday: 15km easy (15)

Thursday: AM 10km easy / PM 10km with 2 miles hard (20)

Friday: 7km easy (7)

Saturday: Inter Counties XC, Loughborough – 115th (16)

Sunday: 22km easy (22)

GOHAHO – Week Beginning 01 January

Sunday 7th January 2018

Get Out Hard And Hang On

I decided to adopt a new strategy yesterday at the Warwickshire Cross Country Championships. With no team points at stake and with the race solely about individual performance I decided to just go for it. I won the race to the first corner, I won the race up the first hill, I even won the first lap. It’s just a shame the finish line was at the end of lap four.

As it turns out, the top three would have beaten me whichever way I had chosen to race. I probably would have hung on to fourth had I raced slightly more conservatively and sat in the pack for the first two laps, but sometimes you just need to get out there and go for it to really know what your limit is. Mine seems to be 5th in Warwickshire at the moment.

Next week we’re back at the same course for the third Birmingham League of the season. I might try this strategy again; I might revert to type and try and pick people off in the second half of the race, such is my normal cross country strategy. Either way, I am looking forward to it.

I love racing.

My Week

Monday: AM 12km easy, hurdle drills / PM 10km easy (22)

Tuesday: AM 9km easy / PM track session 16*400 with recoveries of 5*60s, 5*45s, 5*30s – all 66-68 (22)

Wednesday: 11 km easy (11)

Thursday: AM 8km easy / PM 10km with 2 miles hard (18)

Friday: rest (0)

Saturday: Warwickshire XC Championships, Warley Woods – 5th (15)

Sunday: 19km easy (19)

Training – Week Beginning 02 January

Monday 9th January 2017

Seven seconds off a medal at the county champs.

Monday: AM 10km easy / PM 10km easy (20)

Tuesday: 10km easy (10)

Wednesday: AM 10km easy / PM 10x40s hill reps, slow jog down recovery (20)

Thursday: 10km easy (10)

Friday: rest (0)

Saturday: AM 8km easy / PM Warwickshire XC Champs – 5th, 1st team (22)

Sunday: 19km easy (19)

Taken from my training log.

Training – Weekly Beginning 4 January

Sunday 10th January 2016

I didn’t place as highly as I had hoped at the county champs but it was OK considering how bad I felt on the day.

Monday: 11km moderate (11)

Tuesday: AM 12km easy / PM 4km fartlek run on hilly loop (20)

Wednesday: 14km easy (14)

Thursday: AM 10km easy / PM 9km easy (19)

Friday: rest (0)

Saturday: AM 8km easy / PM Warwickshire XC Championships – 7th (26)

Sunday: 22km easy (22)

Week total: 112km

Taken from my training log.

Training – Week Beginning 29 December

Sunday 4th January 2015

The county champs went well and I achieved my highest ever position. Just trying to get the mileage up now after a few weeks of inconsistent training.

Monday: 15km easy (15)

Tuesday: no run, travel delays (0)

Wednesday: AM 16km easy / PM 10km easy (26)

Thursday: AM 14km easy / PM 12km easy (26)

Friday: rest (0)

Saturday: AM 8km easy / PM Warwickshire XC Championships, 6th position, team gold (25)

Sunday: 2 hours easy (27)

Week total: 119km

Taken from my training log.