Anyway back to the races. The overnight snow made it perfect for the tv cameras without impacting (!) too much on the conditions for the runners. The hill looked tough - I'd definitely be walking up that one in my current condition - and helped make all three into good competitive races. Farah looked supreme and I just hope his change of plan this year - he's going to train in the USA - works well. I think he can medal in Korea in August but can he top the rostrum? He's certainly moved his running onto a new level in the last year (see below). The final positive change in Edinburgh was Chris Thompson guesting in the commentary box with the two geordies. What a character he is although probably too much of a liability for the producers. You got the impression that he was about to either exhale an expletive or tell a raunchy joke. Not sure big Bren knew how to take him! Hopefully he'll also have another progressive year, kicking off with another great 10,000 at that superb meet at Stanford (end May?)
So with a perfect link, Edinburgh being a major place to celebrate hogmanay, here we are at the start of a new year. On a personal note, let's hope it is better than the last three which have been, for many reasons, quite horrendous. The signs are not good: the extra two stone in weight I'm carrying is definitely changing the way I run. As a good friend pointed out to me recently when I told her how much excess I was carrying, just try running normally whilst carrying two six month old babies. This has clearly affected my running gait and led to the further injuries I'm suffering. Anyway I'll try to do a bit of running this month so that I can survive Blackheath in February. My Christmas cracker joke stated that a battery has a rotten life, it is either working or dead. Well, philosophically I definitely prefer the former so must get the trainers back on, just incremental increases in mileage from a very low base (i.e. one mile).
The only positive from a running point of view in 2010 was from some of the trips made. After a short trip to Holland in February for an international 10km won by Michelle in the snow (also caught up with my old Dutch friend Alex), I had a mad July with three trips away: County Cork in Ireland to avoid attending Ciren AC's children's party; Paris for a bonding weekend with daughter Natalie, taking in a Diamond League meet which included the Usain Bolt travelling circus, and then Barcelona - again with Natz, see picture - for the European Athletics Champs where Michelle and the girls won bronze in the marathon and Farah ran that stunning 5000. Final trip of the year was to France, family in Nantes then north west Brittany. Running link tenuous here but as we intend buying property in the area (the pink granite coast) I couldn't help but think about some good little time trial routes for when I set up Wrighty's training camps (a bit like Font Romeu but more convenient for the sea). .
With Natalie's many Norweigan connections - she's now living in London and was out clubbing with Miss Norway last night! - Oslo's Bislett Games look to be next on our bonding agenda. Doubt I'll get an invite to race so will just have to sit in the stands, if I can wedge myself into a seat.
