World Cross Trials Report....

Race went really well! I finished third winning a bronze medal and most importantly gaining the third automatic qualification spot for the Great Britain team at the World Cross Country Championships, these will be held in Amman, Jordan on Saturday 28th march....


The race yesterday was tough as you'd probably expect, for those who watched I'm sure could see that from the look on my face in the sprint for home! watched the highlights this morning on http://www.eightlane.com/ which was painful in itself! Whilst this is probably my best achievement in a domestic cross country race to date, it's certainly wasn't my best look in front of a camera! and i've had some bad ones :-)


here's a link if you fancy watching it http://www.eightlane.com/generator.php?search=Video&id=827


I also did a post race interview which can be found here on the same site http://www.eightlane.com/generator.php?search=Video&id=828

After getting myself into a good early position off the start line I soon found myself having to work back an early break made by the front of the lead pack. I almost lost contact at around half way into the race but after working back to the lead group I had a good tussle with Phil Nichols and Keith Gerrard which seemed to pull us clear from the others and also meant we caught and passed the Eritrean guy running for Scotland West County who held 3rd for first half of the race. At least I thought we'd got clear as whilst I made my move on the 4th and final lap going into the long stretch for home drawing clear of Nichols and Gerrard, Tom Lancashire came through strongly finish just 2 seconds behind me for 4th.

There were some very good performances from Guernsey athletes too which bodes well for the future...

Seniors Womens: Louise Perrio 92nd
U20 Women: Sarah Mercier 28th (Sarah won Team silver for Hampshire)
U15 Girls: Nicola Petit 139th
U13 Boys: George Mason 54th / 294
U13 Girls: Katie Rowe 17th (with 2 years left in the age group!) Claire Heaume was also 98th
(Katie won team bronze for Hampshire and was the first scorer over the line)

Should have some more pictures of the race up tomorrow.

Cheers for now

Lee

World Cross Trials Pre event post

Inter Counties / World Cross Country trials are only 2 days away and the body is starting to freshen up nicely, which is exactly what you want going into an important race. I've put the bad run from 2 weeks ago behind me now but on quick reflection and to use someone else's words... it was a different sport! (in describing the underfoot conditions & terrain of my last race). I guess that's the unique thing with cross country running in that every course/race is different and you can't change that so you just have to give yourself the best chance of success by focusing on what you can.

I would be lying if I said that the result from 2 weeks ago hadn't effected me a little bit at the time, as training had been going so well, but I've looked upon it as a blessing as its removed any danger of complacency I might have had this weekend. I still remain confident in the knowledge that I'm in good shap though, better than ever infact. Plus if anything I go into the race in a very similar position to that of the European Trials back in November, as an underdog to make the team. I know that I need be on the top of my game in order to qualify for the team and suits me fine as it adds pressure, which you need to bring the best out of yourself.

All the races will be shown live on Sky sports this saturday, my race will be just after 2.30pm but there are junior athletes from Guernsey running through out the day, first event starts at 11am. Whilst the event is also the Inter Counties (hence you would normally be running in your county vest - Hampshire for me!) I will be running in a club vest, I didn't manage to get hold of the Hampshire team manager until last week and the team was already arranged, thankfully someone sorted me out with a guest spot! As I'm first claim Newham & Essex Beagles for road and cross country look out for a black vest with a yellow horizontal stripe through the middle.

For those that miss the race live, check out my twitter for updates.

All for now.

Cheers

Lee

Team success but individual disappointment

Unfortunately a disappointing race to report this time around, I finished 13th overall but after the way training has been going I felt I should have been in much closer order to the front of the race. I must admit I didn't feel particularly good today physically, right from the start of the race my legs just weren't feeling fresh like they should on a race day. It was tough going and whilst the course was particularly muddy and challenging terrain that's no excuse for the end result.

If there was a plus point to the weekend it was that we won Team gold. I was running for my new club Newham and Essex Beagles, its apparently the first time the club has won the mens event in the national for something like a century. Unfortunately I wasn't in particular good spirits for the presentation as was still mulling over a bad day at the office but pleased to have contributed to the team success none the less (i was 2nd scored, with 6 to count).

Had to skip the media pic's etc after the presentation as had to catch last flight home and only had 90mins to get to Gatwick, luckily central London traffic wasn't too bad believe it or not!

Next up World Cross Trials in 2 weeks time where I will be sure to put in a better perform in. For anyone who wants to check it out the race will televised on sky sports (saturday 7th March) they'll be showing all the junior races too and there a few Guernsey girls and lads running in these too.

All for now.

Cheers

Lee

English National Champs a few days away

Its been a couple of weeks since my last post but I'm glad to say that my travel nightmares are behind me now! Looking back it wasn't too bad in the end and could have been worse, one members of the womens team who was travelling back to Edinburgh didn't get back home until 2 days after she was meant to.


Training has been going well since my Italy job, oh and before I forget sorry no pictures to post up from my race unfortunately. One of the team managers who was taking pics had advice from an Italian photographer on his camera settings only to find that the pictures came out badly! funnily enough the Italy photographer was also handing out cards to his website! I did find a foreign website though with a great link showing numerous pictures of the 2008 race and shows a lot of quirky aspects of the course. Unless you understand polish the pictures are likely the only bit you'll be able to follow though...
http://bieganie.pl/?show=1&cat=32&id=957


My last block of training has gone well and I've put in a good 2-3 weeks of decent training and I'm definately in much better shape than I was then. Track sessions have gone particularly well and I'm confident that I can put in a good performance at the weekend...

Its the English National Cross Country Champs this weekend, where as always a big field is likely to turn out. It's quite normal to see a field of 1500+ athletes running which looks quite impressive at the start with everyone flying off to get a good early position. The race is being run at a venue called Parliment Hill which carries a certain amount of history. Its known as a challenging course and will prove a good tester being that the World Cross Trials which are now just over 2 weeks away.

Race is Saturday afternoon will try to post up a race report Sunday afternoon if time allows.

Cheers

Lee

Cinque Mulini Result

I'm currently sat in Gatwick aiport writing this, with my flight cancelled this morning to Guernsey I'm not sure I will even get back today as Guernsey Airport is closed. I was meant to fly back last night, however my flight back from Milan was delayed most of the day due to the weather in both locations. Long days in airports are not fun as you can imagine, so this report is my therapy!

Anyway back to the important stuff - racing! ...

The race was very unique, I finished 7th a minute behind the winner Shaheen ( a former Kenyan know as Steven Cherono who now runs for Qatar under his new name, he is currently world record holder for the 3000m Steeplechase), 2nd was Lebid (he won the European Cross Champs in December, I was 22nd in that). I was reasonably satisfied with my performance as its been a while since my last race, I felt quite strong and enjoyed raced again. I would have liked to have been a bit further up the field as I was actually the 4th British runners over but the guys who beat me have been racing since the Euro's in December and I wasn't far behind. I'm confident with another good block of training I will move my performances on before the National in 3 weeks time.

The race itself is quite unique, you run inside and through an old windmill on each lap! The race is stacked in history too, with lots of famous athletes running and winning the race over the years. See the link on my previous post to check out the full results and details about the history of the race which was first run in 1933 and has run every year since. Originally it ran through 5 mills but only 2 are left in tack now and one is now someone's house be the looks of it (we just run under the arch of that one) I will try to get hold of some pictures and post them up in the week as the surroundings are great. The route was still quite fast dispite runner through inside the mill, there were no hills of sorts, but your rhythm is broken by the turns and steps inside them!

I will probably update this post when I get home, apologies for typo's in advance as typed in a hurry!

Hopefully I get home today!

All for now

Cheers

Lee

Cinque Mulini

Tomorrow I head of to Milan for my first race since the European Cross Country Champs, which was 7 weeks ago!, longer than I would have liked but I'm looking forward to getting a race under my belt after missing Edinburgh.

Training has been pretty tough going the past couple of weeks and after feeling so tired last week the thought of racing didn't really appeal I must admit, but a good track session on the Tuesday and an easier week of training has left me feeling much more confident and with a bit more of a spring in my stride.

I head out tomorrow afternoon and will be traveling separately from the team (it made more sense for me to travel separately from the team as they are heading out via heathrow). This will be my first England vest and my first time I've raced this event, I first heard about Cinque Mulini last year when I met an athlete in South Africa who was heading out there later that month to compete. I've heard a few stories about the race and it all sounds very unique as far as Cross Country races go. As the name says Cinque Mulini (5 Mills) the route of the race apparantely taking you through the 5 Windmills on the course that's used. Its quite a historical race by all accounts too, its been going since 1933 (checkout the website http://www.cinquemulini.org/ for more info. Should find the results on there too after the event. The race is 2.45pm Italian time.

I will try and post up a race report either Monday evening or Tuesday morning when I get back.

All for now.

An Award and a run with a Legend

Last night I attended the Guernsey Sports Commission Awards, it was a really good event, a well organised and entertaining evening. I was fortunate enough to pick up the Richard Burton Salver which was award for the best male performance of 2008. With 2008 seeming to have been a very good year for Guernsey Sport I feel quite honoured to have picked something at all. Alison Merrien (no relation btw, although I think her husband Ian is a distant relation in some form) won the Sports Comission Trophy and Dale Galand Garland was inducted onto the heroes wall - he gave quite an emotional speech I must admit. Thoroughly deserved - well done mate.

I also managed to get a run in this morning with Crammie, something to tell the gran kids! although by the year 2040 they probably won't have a clue who Steve Cram was or that I was even a runner! The fact that our run was along the seafront in rush hour traffic certainly added to the fun of it, I later found out that Radio Guernsey had got wind some how and had put something out on air that we were out running. A lorry driver shouted out 'You can take him Lee', no idea who the lorry driver was but amusing none the less. Actually I was thinking about having the title of this post as 'The Day I injured Steve Cram', he tweaked his hamstring just over a mile from home and I ended up driving him back the rest of way! I hope he doesn't read this :) or if he does reads it in the good humour it was intended. A thoroughly nice good though and fantastic to have had the chance to meet him properly. Actually one more funny story before I go bed, I was told this by someone else this afternoon and found it very amusing, ironically it involves someone I used to work with back in my banking days (who will remain nameless so not embarrass him too much)... some of the people involved from the Sports Commission took Steve Cram out for a meal last night after the awards when the nameless individual turned up very drunk at the bar where they were standing, the nameless individual shakes hands with everyone and says (sluring his words) alright Chessie, alright Dave, alright Stuart, alright mate (to Steve Cram and seemingly oblivious to who he was) then turns round and walks off, about five staggering paces later he stops pauses for a moment turns back to group with a puzzled looking but then without saying a word walks off again in his rather frazzled state. I wonder if the penny dropped later!

Night all.