Today is 16 Oct 22. Time to review the purpose of this Blog - again! It is 2 years since the last review. 🤕 2022 was shaping up well and I was on track for a decent middle distance Duathlon race. Then COVID hit me! I tried to salvage the race season but never felt strong or healthy. Looking to 2023 now and focussing on being healthy and some sprint Duathlon racing mixed with some bike TT fun on the Canyon CF






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Saturday, 15 March 2025

Searching for Sub-18 Min 5K

 Aster the Port Vale 5k - which I perceive to be a bit short and my 18:03 doesn’t count 🥸 - my focus was to build up again to hit the mid-Cheshire summer 5k in an attempt to dip under 18 min. Frustratingly, my Achilles flared up and I found myself struggling to get quality training sessions done. But I made the start line confident that I could get close to my target. I had some thoughts that if fully fit I could be in better shape. But who knows. You got to deal with what you have and be positive. So this mid-Cheshire race is a known fast course. The event sells out quickly and I entered ages ago. It turned out to be a lovely summer evening late August, just a few days before I turned 60! So if I bagged a sub-18 min it wouldn’t count in the 60 age category - doh 😣 

The race went well, with a sub-3:30 first k. It was slightly down hill and I focused on not burning my matches too soon! A slight rise. And back to bite for the second K. Then flat and down hill for 3 and 4. The fifth K was a repeat of the first K and although hanging on I finished in 17:58. 💥 A sub-18. Part of me thought I could go under 17:50. But maybe I’m stretching things too far. 

I didn’t feature in any of the official race photos but I did release a YouTube video: https://youtu.be/TaRBqnx1x14?si=406Oq5E4GMTdtrzk

As for the result in my 55-59 (almost 60🥸) age category, I wasn’t fast enough to compete for a podium. This race attracts the fastest in the country and I was 13th. Crazy fast times for old folks! The winner of the race overall was 13:58. 

But I’m happy enough with my time. I’m more focused on trying to go sub-18 in 2025 when I’ll be the big six zero. Let’s see what happens!

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