2016 is drawing to a close and for me, from a running
perspective, it has been a year to forget. I’ve been running since 1989 and in
all that time there have only been two years that I haven’t found myself placed
(top 3) in a championship race. Those years being 1989 and 2011. Well this year
could well prove to be the third year. It is definitely going to prove to be my
least prolific race year. So far this year I’ve taken part in 2 parkruns; Delamere
in February (18:48) and Portobello in March (17:58) and one proper race, the
North of England Six Stage Road Relay in September.
This lack of competition has been caused by an injury
ravaged year. Attempts to make it back into the big time frustrated by one
thing after another; hamstring, knee or calf, rotating round month after month.
It seemed that just as I was getting my fitness back and looking to test my
form out at a parkrun something else would go. So it was rest and start again.
The major positive from all this is that I’ve managed to
maintain a reasonable level of fitness throughout the year, as I was able to
utilise all my knowledge to work out training routines that challenged me but
not my injuries. Although that has helped, and given me a much stronger upper
body than ever before, it isn’t the same as running. It hurt, I got out of
breath, but not in the same euphoric way I feel after a hard fartlek or well
won race.
So the year drifted on and all my thoughts were about giving
up competitive running. I could still run and enjoy doing it without the
pressure of specific training to get fit for a specific race. I got close to
calling it a day and vanishing from the race scene for good, but, just as I was
starting to get back to some level of fitness along came the call to represent
Salford at the North of England 6 stage.
Ok, let’s not get dramatic, it wasn’t a call to represent a
potential medal winning A team it was just a call to represent one of the lower
teams, I forget which one but probably somewhere around the M area. It gave me
renewed focus, as I love running relays and they bring out the best in me.
However, after six months without a race I was understandably nervous about how
I would do.
As it turned out I had an ok race, nothing spectacular,
nothing mediocre, I once again managed to show how I punch above my fitness
level when it comes to relays. However the best thing it did for me was to get
my body back to running at a proper race pace and over the ensuing week I
noticed how much quicker and more confidently my training sessions were.
Unfortunately, at the end of that week I came down with a
cold. Not just any old cold like the ones I have most years which reduce my
training load for a couple of days and then disappear, this one just kept on
and on at me and stopped my training, almost completely for two weeks. For two
weeks after that there were still remnants and although I was able to start
building up my training again I was still coughing up and finding my breathing
all over the place.
It’s only now, though still a bit bunged up, that I’m
feeling like my training is flowing again. The speed is up on my quality runs
and my steady runs are becoming effortlessly fast steady runs. I feel like a
runner again and I’m ready to race.
Having said that, I have this year decided not to run in the
Manchester or South East Lancs cross country leagues. I’ve done them every year
since I joined Salford and every year I have ended up injured. So this year I
decided to give them a miss, and I do miss them, especially Boggart Hole Clough
(which would be more aptly named Boggy, Holey and Cloggy), but I think I made
the right decision.
So I’m left with one more championship race to go, one more
throw of the dice to ensure that my championship medal winning years becomes 16-2
and not 15-3. I’m ready for it but it’s still a little while off. Of course
first I need to make selection, and that’s never a given when you’re trying to
get selected for Salford Harriers, then I need every member of the team to be as
committed to the cause as me, much easier as our team spirit is strong, and, finally,
I have to remain injury and illness free, well I’m due some good luck. Fingers crossed
I make that start line.
Written by Roger Alsop
