Sunday 19 February 2012

Marathon weekend

With the Dewsbury 10k postponed until March 4th due to the snow, 20 events in 12 months is now more like 20 in 10, with the Huddersfield 10k now the first race next Sunday, 26th February, followed by 5 events in March.
After struggling with a chest infection last weekend, I needed to get a couple of decent training runs in this weekend. So on Saturday I hit the road with Matt for a 14 miler from West Park to Roundhay, round
the lake and back again.
Then on Sunday, I enjoyed a 12 mile trail run round Temple Newsam in the sunshine with plenty of hills in preparation for the Haworth Hobble (though 32 miles might not be so enjoyable!)
I also finished 'The Ghost Runner' over the weekend, a book about John Tarrant, one of the greatest distance runners the world has ever seen, who was banned from competing as an amateur after accepting £17 in expenses
for boxing as a teenager in the 50s. His ban from competing in Britain was eventually lifted after a long battle with the authorities but his ban from representing his country or competing in any events abroad was never lifted.
It is a remarkable and ultimately tragic story that takes Tarrant from a children's home in Kent during the 2nd World War to appartheid torn South Africa via two world records (for 40 and 100 miles). Well worth a read!