EXCITING NEWS

I will soon be testing out the NEW prototype HEALUS running shoe, Adri Hartveld tells me I will be able to run faster in them than a normal trainer. i will let you know what they are like as soon as they come through the post, watch this space!

click here for video

Revolutionary running shoe

European 5000m record holder Dave Moorcroft tries out a radical new running shoe.

It's been developed by marathon runner and physiotherapist Adri Hartveld who has over 25 years experience in dealing with sports injuries.

He came up with the idea of the Healus Running Shoe - a design comprised of a base shock plate and heel-less sole which minimises heal strike impact - based on his own experiences and from the athletes he has helped treat.

Dave Moorcroft is surprised with the results when he takes the Healus onto the track!

HEALUS SHOE VIDEO

9th AND 1st TEAM AT HARROCK HILL

STAMPEDE AT HARROCK HILL
Its always a nervous affair waiting at the bottom of the quarry road to be given the 3,2,1, GO!
No matter how good my warm up, my legs always protest for the first couple of minutes of this uphill start, and it was no different today! Rob Berry, Steve Wilkinson and about 20 other runners shot off in front of me, it wasn't until we hit the steepest section half way up that i could floor the gas pedal to the metal and start passing runners who had set off far to fast.
I crest the top feeling far better than last month and now start the rapid descent to Parbold. Up ahead of me is Amanda crook, who took a flyer up the hill, I pull along side her as we reach the cow field at which point the cows decide to stampede in front of us. It looks like a scene from a wild west film! I have to slow right down as they thunder past at high speed blocking my way to the next stile, the last cow in line hesitates, turns and crashes head first into a steel gate just feet away from me. sending a tremor through the ground! It's amazing what race adrenaline can do for you as the thought of that cow crashing into me never entered my head!
I leave the cow looking dazed and confused with stars in its eyes like a cartoon character behind and focus in on catching the next runner in front of me, I catch him as we ascend the steepest section of parbold hill , over another stile and i take a sideways glance to see maurice green of Liverpool RC hot on my heels. I head on up the section we call the escalator, a narrow never ending path that seems to head high into the heavens above! after ten minutes of very hard climbing we reach a short road section before the final climb over Harrock hill, I push it to the limit now, any faster and I will blow for sure! Out onto the fields and on past the ruins of the old wind mill, the next section is the most dangerous, a narrow rocky path with a barbed wire fence to rip you to shreds should you fall! Rob Berry has a 20 sec lead at this point but loses it all here to eventual winner Charlie Pass [ you can not blame Rob for being a little cautious as he is getting over a ham string pull] . Over the last stile i go,i then plunge downwards over a grassy bank to the road,accelerating away from my adversaries, round a corner and there it is THE FINISH, one final all out effort and i cross the line glancing at my watch to see 35.58 [ 9th and 1st v45] my fastest time in four years, to say i was made up would be a underestimation to say the very least! AWESOME!
Every one had there own story to tell by the end of this epic race, not least Rob Berry who missed winning by just one split second in the final sprint. Steve Wilkinson was once again hot on legend Paul muller's heels with 4th place .Amanda crook complaining of sore muscles after her fantastic penny lane 10k p.b. finished close to the course record with 37.36 23rd [ 1st lady] helping the club win the team award! Mike cunningham was 34th 39.27, just behind was Brian Gow 36th 39.34 lapsed SWAC member Brian was coaxed to the race by Andy Hudson promising him a pint if he finished [ Brian is well known for never turning a free pint down1] Andy finished 49th 41.11.
Angela Delaney looking very lean and fit was a first timer here, not quite knowing what to expect I think she ran a very impressive race to finish in 44.59 72nd, Vicky Harvey getting back to top fitness ran over a minute faster than last month 45.33, Carole James was 10 secs faster than last time 48.19 but Cristine Cutner finished 1 minute slower than in may [knowing christine, maybe she ran a marathon the day before?].
There was so much drama in this race you could write a book about it, hell you could make a full length feature film, make sure your one of the stars in the sequel out in july!
Thanks go out to Danny Dreyer of ChiRunning for showing me there is a better way to run!

CROSBY MINI TRI

I was really proud of NIZ when she crossed the finish line of her first TRI event, her best event was the swim [ she can swim like a fish!] Niz found the cycle section the hardest as you had to cycle 5k over rough long grass, setting off into a strong head wind!
she battled through to finish with a good run!
Photo; Niz, Sarah and Stormin Norman




just got the results in on my HARROCK HILL RACE and was made up to FIND i finished 9th and we won the team prize, AWESOME!
CLICK ON RESULTS TO ENLARGE

DRY RUN!

I decided to get my long run in tonight as I'm watching my wife NIz run in a mini TRI event tomorrow,which should be fun! only problem is am working night shift so might not get any sleep untill tomorrow night! The rain cleared by 5pm to give me a dry run over the sandhills, felt tired after Wednesday's race and yesterdays interval session so kept the pace on the easy side, = 1.45

SINGING IN THE RAIN!

Singin' in the rain!
It was pooring with rain for Rob's speed session tonight,it was good to see Tracey running with us again after her ankle injury problem.
The session; 6 x 1/2 mile round the selworthy hill loop. went pretty will apart from my 4th effort when i blew up abit, but recovered for the last 2.
2.44 2.40 2.40 2.54 2.40 2.46 = 48 mins

IS IT BETTER TO WALK OR RUN IN THE RAIN?

GREAT RESULT AT HARROCK HILL

AFTER POOR RESULTS SINCE MY MARATHON AT THE END OF APRIL, I KNEW SOMETHING WASN'T QUITE RIGHT , I'VE BEEN FEELING TIRED AND STRUGGLED IN RACES.
I DECIDED TO TAKE A IRON SUPPLEMENT AS I'VE HAD A PROBLEM WITH IRON DEFICIENCY IN THE PAST!
WELL IT SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED, AS I RAN MY FASTEST TIME AT HARROCK HILL IN 4 YEARS!
I FEEL REALLY MADE UP WITH MY RUN! FANTASTIC!
FULL REPORT TO COME.
IF YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE IRON DEFICIENT FIRST CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AND GET A FULL BLOOD TEST.

HARROCK HILL RACE SERIES

NEXT RACE HARROCK HILL
WED.June 25th HARROCK HILL 1 (R). BS. 7.30 p.m. 5.2m/900' from the Farmers Arms, Bispham Green (GR 497130). £3 on night or £9 for series. Teams free. PM. Over 16. Records: 30.28 N. Leigh 2006; f. 36.38 L. Hayes 2003. Pub; FARMERS ARMS OPEN. Details: Andy Quickfall, 26 Chaucer Close, Eccleston, Chorley, PR7 5UJ. Tel: 01257 450339. Email: andyquickfall@hotmail.com (preferred) THIS IS A FANTASTIC OFF RD HILL RACE!

RUNNING TO AVOID INJURY USING MARTIAL ARTS TECHNIQUES

RUNNING TO AVOID INJURY USING MARTIAL ARTS TECHNIQUES

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Your Health

Chi Runners Poised for Softer Landings

by Allison Aubrey

Listen Now [5 min 18 sec] add to playlist

Lori Cheung

The one-legged posture is the basis for chi running technique. The leg in the air should be relaxed from the knee down, with toe dropped.

Your Questions on Running

Arthritis, bunions, knee pain and shin splints; it's a pernicious group of injuries that frequently conspires to keep runners off the road.

Dr. Mark Cucuzzella and Danny Dreyer, founder of the ChiRunning method, answer your questions about how to make running work for you.

Read their responses.

Lori Cheung

Danny Dreyer demonstrates the alignment for his chi running technique: the back is straight, lower abdominals are slightly crunched, which helps keep the pelvis level, and the upper body is slightly forward. The idea is that every time your foot hits the ground, your shoulder, hip bones and ankle should be in a straight line. That way, your weight is supported by your frame, not your muscles.

If you watch world-class runners, says Cucuzzella, "They're landing right under their center of body mass. They're lifting their legs, not pushing off."

Softening the Impact

Tue 24th

Steady run over the sandhills with some surges [ going through the gears] increasing my body lean and relaxing my legs, the more lean the faster you go, AWESOME when I get it right, need more practice! =43 mins

SODS LAW

Beautiful weather today, after the atrocious winds of yesterday!
Got hold of DANNY DREYER'S CHI RUNNING DVD and its made me realize that am not engaging enough body lean or relaxing my legs enough . so now i have the DVD i will put most my energy into improving my CHI RUNNING before worrying about running good races, long term it will pay big dividends.
Had a enjoyable run over the sandhills, felt pretty good after yesterday's race.
easy - steady = 41 mins

HOPES DASHED BY 50 MPH WINDS

Freckleton half marathon/ Riders on the storm
Gale force winds reaching 50mph dashed the hopes of Rob Mcgrath and me running good times, which was a shame as the rolling course was enjoyable and the race one of the best organized and marshaled that I have run in, so a big thanks go out to Brian Porter race organizer.
Now the nasty bit! the WIND, strong enough to pull trees down, and bring runners to there knees. three times during the race i almost fell as the gusting wind pushed my legs from under me.
Inform Rob set off like a scolded cat and it took me Almost 5 miles to catch him, soon after rob got a second wind! and shot off again, not to been seen till the finish.
i found myself in a small group and we worked the best we could into the gale. It seemed to be a head wind or side on all the way to 9 miles after which we got a welcome tail wind for 3 miles, unfortunately by then my legs were well gone!
with half a mile to go we turned right straight into the teeth off the storm, this really was the final straw to break the camels back! It made you want to cry or even stop and rip your number off in disgust! some how, like every one else I soldiered on to finish in a not very respectable 1.23.04.15TH PLACE rob on the other hand put in a fine display of power to finish in a very credible 11TH 1.21.09 taking into account the dreadful conditions.
I am not sure what conclusions I can make from this race as I have never run in such atrocious conditions before, but feel disappointed with my performance! RESULTS