Richard Goodman 2nd in English National Cross Country Chapionships!

I have noted the extraordinary performances of Richard Goodman on this blog for some years - ever since he bettered my 32 year old Club (Shaftesbury Harriers) Youth 3000m record. He has gone on to perform to his full potential with some fantastic performances for someone so young (still only 20). This year he has overcome injury and the major disappointment of losing his US scholarship as a result of the injury to win the Southern Area XC Champs and the British University XC Champs. Last weekend he ran the English National Cross Country Championships at Nottingham over 12km and finished just 8 seconds behind multiple times winner Steve Vernon in second place. He is giving 13 years away to Vernon and I see the tide changing as youth will prevail in future years!

Result;

ZXC SM

Pos

Perf

Name

AG

Age

DOB

Coach

Club

1

36:23

Steve Vernon

SEN

M

33

17.10.80

David Turnbull

Stockport

2

36:31

Richard Goodman

U23

M

20

04.04.93

Mick Woods

Shaftesbury Barnet/St. Mary's Uni

3

36:37

Andrew Heyes

SEN

M

23

22.06.90

Keith Whitelam

Hallamshire/Tulsa Uni

4

36:46

Nick Swinburn

SEN

M

25

11.05.88

Morpeth/Northumberland Fell Runners/Bangor Uni

5

36:48

James Wilkinson

SEN

M

23

13.07.90

Philip Townsend

Leeds City/Birmingham Uni

6

36:51

John Gilbert

SEN

M

33

24.09.80

Kent

7

37:00

Jon Pepper

SEN

M

25

02.06.88

Bud Baldaro

Brighton Phoenix

8

37:01

Nicholas Torry

V35

M

37

19.02.77

Serpentine

9

37:03

Jonathan Brownlee

SEN

M

23

30.04.90

Bingley/Leeds Uni

10

37:04

Michael Skinner

SEN

M

34

21.11.79

Blackheath & Bromley

11

37:11

Adam Bowden

SEN

M

31

05.08.82

Tony Bush

Harrow

12

37:15

Adam Hickey

SEN

M

25

30.05.88

Eamonn Martin

Southend/Loughborough Students

13

37:20

Audun Nordtveit

SEN

M

25

08.06.88

Highgate/Norway

14

37:22

Dan Garbutt

SEN

M

25

10.10.88

Aaron Thomas

Durham/Leeds Metropolitan Uni

15

37:24

Jack Goodwin

U23

M

20

07.06.93

Simon Goodwin

Bedford & County/Bedfordshire Uni

16

37:26

Tom Bishop

U23

M

22

09.07.91

Team Derby Runner

17

37:27

Andrew Ward

V40

M

44

20.10.69

Clowne

18

37:28

Paskar Owor

SEN

M

Belgrave/Uganda

19

37:31

Mark Draper

SEN

M

29

28.06.84

Stephen Haas

Bedford & County

20

37:40

Josh Lilly

SEN

M

28

30.11.85

Tipton/Birmingham Uni

21

37:43

Peter Hodkinson

U23

M

22

24.02.91

Peter Hodkinson

Notts/Oxford Uni/Erewash Valley

22

37:47

Ian Bailey

U23

M

20

04.03.93

Mick Woods

Aldershot, Farnham & District

23

37:49

Johnny Gilby

SEN

M

34

25.08.79

Derby/Birmingham Uni

24

37:50

Graham Rush

SEN

M

Cheltenham

25

37:51

Alastair Watson

V35

M

36

04.08.77

Notts/Hermitage

26

37:52

Darren Deed

V35

M

35

07.05.78

Bedford & County

27

37:53

Toby Spencer

SEN

M

23

09.06.90

Toby Spencer

Coventry

28

37:53

Andy Maud

SEN

M

30

28.07.83

Clapham Chasers

29

37:53

Matt Bergin

U23

M

20

02.03.93

Simon Goodwin

Bedford & County/Brunel Uni

30

37:54

Carl Hardman

SEN

M

30

20.03.83

Salford H/Bolton

31

37:56

William Gray

U23

M

21

24.01.93

Bud Baldaro

Brighton & Hove/Birmingham Uni

32

38:02

Shaun Dixon

SEN

M

31

06.09.82

Ben Noad

Highgate

33

38:04

Glen Watts

SEN

M

27

09.12.86

George Harrison

Shaftesbury Barnet/Western State Col

34

38:05

Lewis Timmins

SEN

M

26

17.06.87

Lindsay Dunn

Morpeth

35

38:06

Carl Smith

SEN

M

24

03.01.90

Philip Townsend

Leeds City/Birmingham Uni

36

38:07

Gary Priestley

SEN

M

25

02.09.88

Salford H/Edge Hill Uni/Blackburn

37

38:09

Frank Baddick

SEN

M

28

29.11.85

George Gandy

Newham & Essex Beagles/Loughborough Students

38

38:12

Dave Norman

V35

M

35

04.11.78

Norman Poole

Altrincham

39

38:13

Danny Russell

SEN

M

Highgate

40

38:15

Shaun Collins

SEN

M

24

18.11.89

Enfield & Haringey/Kingston Uni

41

38:15

Alex Dunbar

U23

M

21

24.04.92

Mick Woods

City of Norwich/St. Mary's Uni

42

38:17

Edward Highton

SEN

M

25

22.01.89

Owls Leicester

43

38:19

Joe Wade

SEN

M

25

14.01.89

Geoff Watkin

Aldershot, Farnham & District/Lamar Uni/Isle of Wi

44

38:20

Simon Deakin

V35

M

36

05.10.77

Leeds City

45

38:22

Matthew Barnes

V35

M

36

22.07.77

Norman Poole

Altrincham

46

38:24

Dean Lacy

SEN

M

Mark Newell

Cambridge H

47

38:26

Alex Pilcher

SEN

M

29

22.01.85

Alex Pilcher

Derby/Belper

48

38:27

Sam Mitchell

SEN

M

25

30.04.88

Notts/Royal Air Force/Worcester

49

38:28

Daniel Jenkin

SEN

M

27

12.05.86

Durham/Durham Uni

50

38:29

Niall Brooks

U23

M

22

08.07.91

Norman Poole

Sale Harriers Manchester

Peter Reeves improves Queensland M60 3000m Record to 9;57

It would be remiss of me not to congratulate Peter on my blog having already done so on facebook for improving his Qld M60 3000m record. The significance of course is that he is making my job harder! (in 7.5 years !), unless someone comes along in the interim and puts it out of site!
Peter reported on his own performance;

Near septuagenarian ,PJ Reeves , alias the robot credited his recent record 60 years' Masters time of 9:57.08 to an inspirational call from his mentor the GTrain . Speaking to a lone reporter inadvertently on hand to witness the event having missed a prearranged interview with the Queensland Woman's Mud Wrestling team , Reeves was quick to pay tribute to the man that saved him from the sterile environment of a dementia care ward . " They said I was too old . Too slow . Too senile . " Reeves explained in a voice still betraying the hint of a serious stroke and dribbling uncontrollably . " The GTrain took me aside and said the truth only hurts if you believe it . Bugger the detractors he told me , just go down to the chemist and buy a can of Bball . It will mask all those physical deficiencies clearly identified by your mates . Remember it's on special this week mate from selected pharmacies that stock my exclusive range of GTrain products . I can tell you it made all the difference . Worth at least a minute . I recommend it to anyone out there who is a total and absolute loser in regards to running . It transformed me and it can do the same for you . Sow's ear to a silk purse , all courtesy of Bball . Remember too that this week a cartoon of Bball comes with the exclusive GTrain 12 week training guide . Incredible value ! "

Sometimes Peter goes off on a tangent but at 60 we should allow him these foibles.
Records at 1st January 2014 were;
3000 METRES 
M30 Brendan Whelan 8.46.49 
M35 Peter Edwards 9.00.4 
M40 Shane George 8.51.25 
M45 David Sweeney 8.56.46 
M50 David Sweeney 9.13.53 
M55 Peter Reeves 9.43.54 
M60 Peter Reeves 10.02.19 
M65 Alan Bradford 10.30.50 
M70 Colin McLeod 11.26.8 
M75 Colin McLeod 12.56.02 

M80 Norm Pearce 15.46.64 

The Australian M60 Record  is currently 9;41 by John Gilmour, however I suspect Keith Bateman may change things dramatically when he turns 60.

North Lakes parkrun 2nd 16:26

Peter Bock 16;12

 A Reporter said...

Dave McSweeney , self styled man of adventure and friend to the mega rich and famous was out at North Lakes again this weekend to promote his new energy drink now labelled as Bball. Talking to the assembled world media after a typical stylish and polished performance , the GTrain as he is popularly known , was keen to deflect questions in regards to his likely appearance at this years' Tough Mudder event on the North Coast . In what is perhaps the worst kept secret in world sport , this years' event is likely to see the long anticipated match up between Mr. Garmin and his childhood friend ,Bear Grylls . It appears the two have reconciled their differences after a bitter falling out over Scouting merit badges that saw them part ways in primary school and subsequently take on the world separately in their chosen fields of rugged outdoor endeavour . It is a little known fact that McSweeney first coined the nickname of "Bear" for his then erstwhile friend Nigel Grylls who had been bullied mercilessly due his wimpish name . The name stuck and Nigel was transformed to the mega star man of action he is today and concedes he has much to thank his old friend for . Promoters know the GTrain does not come cheap but hope a deal can be struck where Bball replaces Solo as the giveaway drink of choice and GTrain headbands replace the standard TM headbands as the badge of merit for completing the gruelling event .

The Bockster takes over after 3;05 first  KM 

Performed as well as could be expected 

North Lakes parkrun 1st. 17;01

 Alternate Medicine Weekly said...

Showing to all the world the effectiveness of ancient Scotish Herbal remedies the self styled Thane of Garmin and advocate for Scottish independence , Dave MacSweeney , showed he had lost little speed with a triumphant return to form at last week's North Lakes Park Run . The mystery elixir and catalyst that fuelled this comeback performance has been dubbed colloquially as Banquo's revenge . It has been sanctioned by the IAAF and will soon be available commercially from selected pharmacies that promote and sponsor the lucrative GTrain brand .

I stopped the ibuprofen and have started some natural remedy which  seems aimed at arthritis sufferer's
Contains Tumeric, Ginger, Black Pepper, Boswellia , Devils claw, White willow twig bark!!
So long as it hasn't got Lances bollock I should be OK!!
More steady running this week though I did go for a run up Mount Mee ~ road not trail on Sunday. I ran 4;40's going up the hill but was very steady running back down at only 5:30 K's tip toeing to save my knees.

So to this morning and parkrun. Was up early for tea and a bit of stretching. 2k warm up jog to start. Today I always intended to start easy again first lap and go hard for last two laps.
It is incredible how easy running 3;40's feels when your in a race, not that my race pace is that much quicker 3;18's.
Someone came with me for the first part of that second lap, but their sound faded away as we ran through the lapped runners.
Not having done any intensive training recently I could really start to feel the effort become harder to maintain as my bodies ability to deal with the lactic pain has weakened.
I finished in 17:01, a 44 second improvement on last week. I do not believe by racing all three laps that I could gain another 44seconds to run 16:16 but I am probably still in condition to run 16:30 which considering the limited training ain't bad. It was 25 O C this morning and humidity was as ever sky high. I still believe with a few weeks of interval training and cooler temps this winter I can go sub 16:00.

North Lakes parkrun 1st 17;45

 North Lake News said...

A number of youngsters and Park Run tragic try hards received the thrill of a lifetime when they won a lucky numbers draw to be photographed running with their idol and reigning world Park Run King , expatriate Scotsman Dave McSweeney , at last weekend's North Lakes Park Run . Going by the alias of the GTrain and known on Twitter as Mr.Garmin , the extroverted Scotsman displayed the common touch showing he was equally adept at mixing with the Saturday morning fun runner as he was with conversing with heads of states and mega rich sporting stars who count the GTrain as a friend . The mood of the morning was best summed up by a clearly emotional and overwhelmed teenager who said , " my mates are never going to believe I kept up for two laps with the GTrain . It was real(sic) awesome . And I've got the photos to prove it . So eat your hearts out all you losers out there ."

I have been suffering from sore knees over the last two months! 
Tendonitis in the left (which I've had for years) and I suspect possible torn medial meniscus in the right. As I have already had the the cartilage in the right knee trimmed for a previous tear I wont have it done again. I have been surviving on a diet of steady runs - Roo+Lake and Ibuprofen. The anti inflammatories have the side effect of giving me mouth ulcers and I have reached the pain limit with ulceration and given them up and will just run sore ?. Eventually if it is a tear it will grind itself  to the point where I should no longer feel pain.
Bob in Tokyo is suffering likewise. http://bobs-training.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/ending-year-in-fairly-good-shape.html
So today after doing very little but steady runs I decided to try a tempo run for something different.
The plan was to do the North Lakes parkrun which comprises roughly 3 laps of 1600m. I would run the pace of the leader (if possible) and open up on the 3rd lap.
I felt very comfortable running the first two laps in 3;40ish K's and was able to run pretty much flat out for the last lap (some overtaking lapped runners slowed me), I calculated from Strava that I ran the K between 3.4 and 4.4km at approx 3;12 pace. Knees were pretty sore on the warm down but happy with the effort.
Might try two fast laps next week.

Before the start the run director announced my 16;09 was a parkrun Australian record for M50-54.

First Lap

First lap holding back

Second lap and about to go hard

Not smiling now!