Gladiator too

Its been a fortnight since the Heaton Memorial 10k, a 2-lapper held in Heaton Park. When the wind behaves itself, its a decent course and has seen a handful of sub-30's in its long history. I'm doing in preparation for the Ribble Valley 10k late in December.

I did Heaton last year without commitment. Why? Because running performance depends on a number of key factors. Fitness is obviously one. Another one of these is psychological state. The third is 'where you are in your life and whats going on'. Factors 2 and 3 are closely linked, Factor 2 depending very much on Factor 3, unless you can separate your axons from your neurons and park your cerebrum well away from your cerebellum. Diet...that's another. 

Last year I was happy to finish and trotted in with a 41 minute effort. Although I cannot really recall it too vividly, I can read about it on my blog (runnerwanderings.blogspot.com/2023/12/winter-training-camp-23). Marvelous. 

This year, I was tentatively hoping to slide in a 40 minuter. The conditions were good and I had been super happy with Tinto a fortnight earlier (see earlier blog also!). I parked up and met A&C at race HQ - they had jogged the 14 miles in from 'Peth for a Sunday run and I had their change of clothing. 

I jogged abit before the start with Gav B and hid myself in the crowd at the start. The first lap was pretty good and I took it steady, working my way up slowly through the field and passing a few I recognised. There was a North Shields who looked my age and he was around 20 seconds ahead. However, I played it canny and as one or two came past me, I rode their wave and tucked in as best I could. Shameless, I know.

The second lap arrived and I sat in behind a strong looking Saltwell youngster. There was little wind, but I studiously avoided what there was of it. We caught the North Shields guy, who strangely began a little weave, trying to shake me. He should have known better. I wasn't waiting for him; I was with my new Saltwell buddy aka Windshield Willy. He dragged me all the way to the finish line and a 39:30. Deep joy. That's all I have for you today. 

Today's cross country has been cancelled due to everyone frightening themselves about possible insurance claims, parking problems and athlete well-being. I would too, if I was an organiser. So, instead, we have had to entertain ourselves with watching the Liverpool XC on youtube and going for a jog around the woods. We were going to see Gladiator 2, but strangely the movies were full.  I knew a man once who said, “Death smiles at us all. All a man can do is smile back." A toothless one, in my case. 

On the reading front I finished Robert Harris's Act of Oblivion, plodded my way through the short novel The Geometer Lobachevsky by Adrian Duncan (mmmm..?), and I am now immersed in Carl Hiansen's 'Skin Tight'...ooh, sounds a bit racy! (unlike me).