REEBOK SEFTON PARK X/C CHALLENGE

3 laps, 9.8k in 37.38, Very muddy but some fast stretches.
After my disasters of last seasons X/C 's I had what felt like my best race in many years, thanks to Pete Magill's advice [ only one hard session during race weeks].
Despite a sore throat since Wed I had really good legs, holding back at the start I started pushing the pace after a couple of mins, turning the race into a progression run, pushing harder and harder as the race went on, I don't think I've ever passed so many people before, it was awesome fun!
last season i had heavy legs from the start of each X/c and ran out of energy by half way, i hated each and every moment of those races, this time was so much better, at last I'm no longer over trained, still not at my best but making very good progress and most important of all I'm having fun again, so 2 good races [ 1.20 half marathon, best time in 5 years] and this X/C show Pete's training is working :]

New pete magill video featuring Grace!

CLICK ON PHOTO TO WATCH

16 miles on the roads , Running Naked!

Run Naked, check out this video :]

I can now run for 16 miles on the roads in my Nike Free's[modified] without any problems, this inc 10k steady down to meet up with the club at Ainsdale, followed by 11 hard efforts over 300 - 400m with ben, Simon,Neil and Brian. Once again conditions were extremely windy but we managed a very good work out. after arranging a lift for Saturdays X/C i said my good byes and headed for home the long way.
I ran the last 15 mins at a fast tempo pace finishing with 2 laps of a half mile loop, really pushing the gas peddle to the floor over the final 5 mins.felt much stronger this week :]
No more hard runs now until sat X/C.
16.00 m, 8 mph av, max speed 14mph =2.00

Ryan Hall, 'SPEED'@

TRAINING FOR THE WEEK
Wind and Rain, but hey lets look on the bright side at least it was warm :]
Sat 21st
Run with Paul around Parbold and Ashurst Beacon, lots of hills amd plenty of off rd running and mud -AWESOME!!! = 2.03
Fri 20th
Short run with Tess, felt 'good' = 24 min
Thur 19th
Long easy run with Tess over the big sandhills 'Lovin it' = 1.33
Wed 18th
MEGA SESSION
afternoon
run over sanddunes with tess plus Drills = 1.13
Evening
Club run, Hills plus finished off with 3 mile tempo run, hammered the last mile and 1/2 with wind behind me, 10-11 then 11.5 mph = 1.12
Tue 17th
Sandhills with Tess, easy = 1.04
Mon 16th
Club Session Fartlek, plus run down and back = 1.50

I love this advert

CLICK HERE

It reminds me about the bald guy who had rabbits tattooed onto his head, when asked why" He said " from a distance they look like hares!" :]

Poor running form at Southport 10k and why you should do the club runs!

Watching last months Southport 10k I was shocked by how many runners had poor running form, would i be harsh to say at least 80% of runners needed to work on their biomechanics!
sadly there is still a belief that your natural style is best. The guy who ran like a gorilla is living proof that its not and a video of the race would prove what I'm saying, how many runners are getting injured, how many of them will still be running in 5 years. most runners rely on over padded shoes to cover up their sins, put them in a pair of Nike Free's and heavy heel striking would soon come to an end. Maybe there is a need for a Running school after all most running shops [ often the first contact for new runners] are only interested im selling you a pair of shoes!
I got a copy of Explosive running on Monday, I'd only been waiting 3 months for the book to be delivered by amazon.
This book goes into great detail on how to run correctly as well as showing common faults and how to correct them. there is also a good section on improving muscle strength so you can run with a better range of motion and faster leg turn over. think about this; over 90% of the time your legs are in the air with only there own weight as resistance, even hill running won't improve your muscles strength in this range!
The book is quite technical and not always a easy read but its worth the effort because this book gives the best advice I've come across in all the many books i've read, a must for all runners wanting to run faster and still be in the sport 5 years from now without major injury, on the other hand you might like running like a monkey:]
CLUB RUNS
If you still train on your own you really should think about joining in on some of the club runs, not only will you run faster, your have loads more fun and even make some new Friends, Kenyan runners would never do there hard runs on their own so why should you?
Southport Club Runs
on a monday you have a choice of two runs;
Mon 6.30pm from Ainsdale station [by the spar] 5-6 miles with 8 -12 hard efforts, coach; Brian Davey, this is a great session, recommended!
mon 7.00pm christ the king school, easy steady run, 5-7 miles { remember not to run off and leave Carole behind!]
Wed 6.30pm fron Dunes fitness centre, speed session for all levels, great session, very popular, don't miss out!
Sundays
8 and 9am, ainsdale pinewoods 7-14 miles, steady.

Running in Kenya

HOW HEAD POSITION CAN AFFECT RUNNING POSTURE AND CAUSE BACK INJURY, PLUS BOMB ATTACK ON SELWORTHY RD!!!

I found this video of great interest, for a long time I've had sciatic and lower back problems, but I didn't realize that the position of my head could effect the rest of my posture.
I have a bad habit of looking down when I run, looking in a full length mirror, straight away I could see that by lifting my head into a neutral position my whole posture improved, now my head, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles were in alignment!
I set off today on a long steady run over the big sand dunes then through the pinewoods, returning along the white post route back over the sandhills. I kept my head up and felt a big difference, before I was running with my head looking down and my butt was back [ like sitting in a bucket] now with everything in alignment I felt smoother and faster, I was landing more under my centre of gravity and I seemed to be almost floating over the soft sand instead of sinking into it, this was good!
after an hour and fifty minutes i came off the sandhills and headed for home, as I got to Selworthy rd I found the road blocked off by the police, after a shooting and hand grenade attack earlier this year it seems there was another attack with a bomb last night! READ REPORT

KING KENNY WILL NOT BE HAPPY!

I took a longer route home but still finished 10 minutes faster then when i did this route a couple of weeks ago!

TRAINING FOR THE WEEK
sun 15th
easy run with Tess on the sandhill 6, felt light on my feet and really enjoyed myself = 1.12
Sat 14th
Long steady run over the sand dunes and pinewoods = 2.06
Fri 13th
Had to take my bike for an MOT, so only had time to run back from the garage, then later run back to pick my bike up [ it passed, hurray!]
= 14 mins
Thur 12th
Long easy run, big sandhills with Tess, enjoyed the run = 1.45
Wed 11th
Two runs today, afternoon ran over the velvet trail inc Peter Magill's running drills = 45 mins
Evening, club run from Dunes fitness centre, 8 x 600m at 5.10-5.15 pace
= 53 mins
Tue 10th
Two runs, 54 mins easy sandhills plus evening run on the rd 34 mins
Mon 9th
Club session 10 x hill sprints plus run down and back = 1.37
Total = 9 hours 55 mins running
For an elite runner this 'time on feet' would add up to almost 100 miles per week, next year I might increase up to 12 hours or so as I build for London.
Following Pete Magill's plan of 1 hard, 1 less hard session plus a long run, the rest of my training is at a easy aerobic pace.
Feeling much better and enjoying my running again.

Read the incredible story of Gilbert Tuhabonye

Human Hunter - Attenborough - Life of Mammals

In this compelling clip, we see a tribesman runner persue his prey through the most harsh conditions in a gruelling eight hour chase. Thought provoking content from the BBC's Life of Mammals documentary series.

MORE ON RUNNING DRILLS TO IMPROVE STRIDE RATE AND STRIDE LENGTH

Training with Gilbert and the Gazelles.

Sing when you run!

Found these cool video's, which go into more detail on how and how not to do your running drills.
check the 2nd video 1st [sorry they got in the wrong order].
by the way i still think it's better to think of driving the knee forward and not up which makes me bounce up to much!