31/12/06 - Ely New Year's Eve 10k (00:56:19)
A blustery but dry day for this, my second go in the Ely New Year's Eve 10k.  Marginally faster time than last year, but given the strength of the wind between 5k and 8k, as well as the lingering sinus problems, I am quite pleased.  It is certainly a nice race to finish the year on.

10/12/06 - March Frostbite (00:46:22)
First time running this new Frostbite 5-miler, and what an interesting one!  Very muddy and very slippy underfoot, yet still an enjoyable race.  Not ideal for a PB (unless there is a good, hard frost), but still an enjoyable race.  Although slowest time yet for a Frostbite, I felt good at the end, and no problems with ankles etc.

03/12/06 - Nene Valley 10 (01:33:34)
Second time running this race, and this time it was on a cold and very windy day with slippy conditions underfoot.  Ran quite comfortably up to 8 miles, but last 2 were a real struggle - legs felt totally dead.  Managed to finish 17 seconds faster than last year, so not too bad considering first proper run since twisting ankle on previous race.  However, this race is very much for the elite (I finished a lowly 216/233, and it was a lonely run at the back), so probably not entering next year.  Not too impressed by the organisation, and no memento for finishing either.

19/11/06 - St Neot's Riverside Half Marathon (02:02:30)
A lovely course (bit hilly!) and superb conditions - cold, but clear.  Everything going OK until around 11 mile marker when I took a tumble - left ankle gave way in rough edge to road, fell twisting left ankle and grazing right knee.  Took a mile to run through the after-effects, so quite pleased to be only 11 seconds slower than my PB.  Finished 706/902.

12/11/06 - Bushfield Frostbite (00:43:24)
A much better race, despite a problem with my left hip (bursitis), as I managed to knock just over a minute off last year's time.  Excellent running conditions, and another record-breaking entry for the Frostbite League.  Will take it easy before next weekend's Half Marathon.

29/10/06 - Fenland 10 (01:31:09)
After the superb crowd support during the Great Eastern Run, this 10-miler was much more mentally challenging.  Good running to 7 miles, but then really struggled the last 3.  Still managed a PB, but wanted to break 90 minutes.  Next time........

15/10/06 - Great Eastern Run (02:02:19)
The return of the Great Eastern Run to Peterborough saw me having a much better run, which looks to have put the disappointment of the Blackpool Half Marathon behind me.  I would have been happy with a time around 2 hours 10 mins, so to finish in just over 2 hours 2 minutes was great, and managing to knock 5 minutes off my PB even better.  A nice flat course with bags of support all the way around as well, so roll on 2007.

08/10/06 - St Neot's Frostbite (00:45:54)
First Frostbite of the new series.  Disapppointing that the official time of 00:46:14 is some 20 seconds slower than my recorded time (00:45:55), thus making for a slower time than last year.  Excellent conditions, and an enjoyable race, though, and a good start to the new series.
Update 17/01/07:  Following queries by several runners to the race officials, the timing of the senior race has been investigated.  As a result, all times have been reduced by 20 seconds, so my official time is now 00:45:54 - much happier now, and only one second different from my timing.

24/09/06 - Tarpley 10 (01:40:11)
This 10 mile race is definitely undulating!  Having said that, I really enjoyed this race.  A smallish field (only 115 finishers), but very friendly and superbly organised.  The race started in cloudy, windy and cool conditions (up hill!), but after a few spots of rain, the sun came out and the heat rose rapidly - the heat certainly took its toll later on.  I was reasonably happy with my time, given the conditions.  And to cap it all, I came away with a pair of Ron Hill tracksters as a spot prize!  I certainly hope to be back next year.

02/09/06 - Derwentwater Trail 13k (01:44:06)
Torrential rain, steep climbs and Glenderaterra bog (very messy!) made this a very different race!  A real challenge, but actually very enjoyable, and I certainly would do it again.  Struggled a bit after the bog - had to walk through the bog, and then found legs very cold and tired when tried to run again.  I had hoped to do the run in 90 minutes, but given the conditions, pretty satisfied with the time.

20/08/06 - Thorney 5 (00:45:06)
After a couple of frustrating training runs, it was nice to get a decent race under my belt.  Woke up to torrential rain, but thankfully it stayed fine for the race.  A nice, if uninspiring, flat course out on the old A47 and back.  Aimed for a 45 minute race time and took it steady, finishing close to taget time.  Felt pretty comfortable all the way round.  Nice preparation for the Derwentwater Trail in a couple of weeks (although that one is certainly not a flat, fast course!).

23/07/06 - St Ive's 10k (01:01:48)
Slowest 10k race to date, on yet another very hot  day.  The run takes you up onto RAF Wyton airfield (past armed guards!), with the middle 5k run on the runway perimeter track (very hot, with absolutely no shade).  I again struggled in the heat (roll on Autumn!).  The course is a bit undulating, but nowhere near as bad as Whissendine!  Very friendly and well organised race - will definitely do again.

06/07/06 - Whissendine 6 (00:59:42)
When the race blurb says "naturally undulating", take it to mean damned hilly - this one was!  Six miles of country lanes on a very warm and sticky evening makes for a good challenge.  Unfortunately I could feel twinges in my right calf early on, and after two miles, it was clear it was strained!  Still, battled on to complete the course (should really have stopped and walked in).  Nice bottle of beer and engraved glass as memento - saved the beer for the weekend, broke the glass getting out of the car!  Very friendly event, though, and well worth doing again.

25/06/06 - Chiquita Bananaman 10k Chase (00:56:42)
Never mind the time - how many bananas did you pass?  Seriously, this event is like no other, with the object being to pass as many of the TV celebrities dressed as bananas as possible during the 3-lap, 10k course inside Victoria Park in London.  A hot and humid day saw nearly 1,000 runners, all dressed in bright yellow Leukaemia Research tops running around the park, with human bananas mingling with gorillas and clowns.  A great and really enjoyable event.  I  managed to pass 5 bananas!  Will definitely be back next year!

04/06/06 - Blackpool Half Marathon (02:22:11)
Difficult race - very hot and hard on feet.  First 5 miles OK but then the run on the concrete promenade between 6-9 mles turned my legs to lead. The run home from Bispham seemed never ending.  Despite being on target @ 5 miles, eventually finished 15 minutes slower than Silverstone.

14/05/06  -  Eye 10k  (00:52:55)
Good race despite turning my ankle just before the start.  Nice flat course with just a short cross country bit near the end.  Good running weather - cloudy, cool, but dry.  A new PB by 2 minutes.

30/04/06 - Breckland 10k (00:54:55)
Superb race - brilliant weather and a really friendly and well-organised race.  Short hill at start, but basically flat on roads through forest.  First race in new shoes - Saucony Grid Triumph 3 - no problems, and very comfortable.

19/03/06 - Silverstone Half Marathon (02:07:23)
First half marathan - went well, although conditions took their toll last 2 miles.  The Grand Prix circuit is really good to run on, but very exposed - quite windy, and very cold!  Pleased to finish ahead of my planned time.  Excellent organisation on the day.