Bupa Manchester 10k

I nearly threw up in the GMex the year it finished in there - not sure what the wisdom debind making us run up that slope into the GMex was, especially as you didn't find out about the sting in the tale until you'd already started your kick for home!

I dont think the race did 3 sides of old trafford in the past either.

much better day for the brits

DWardle wrote:

Wasn't the course different this year anyway? It's not even the same as last year is it? I remember watching it on TV and it finished in the G Mex centre one year. It produces fast time because it is one of the few times you get 20-30 of the best British blokes running against each other, this would happen more often if the calender wasn't as stacked.

True.

Adrian Marriott wrote:

What makes the difference is the depth of field. I was running with John and Simon Jones and it is the first time I have run a road 10k in a group the whole way. So its no surprise that we get a heap of guys running 29xx when they are pushing each other.

We can learn from this for other races. Would be good to see a stacked field for the AAA 10,000m and Bristol Half in September. Fewer, higher quality races is the way to go ...

Agree, we could do with a series of fast road races targeted by a number of the best athletes, rather than everyone running the local village fun run. Maybe like the US Championships at a variety of disatnces (5k, 10k, 15k, half marathon, 25k), with prize money from a large organisation (e.g. The London Marathon?). I know we have AAA champs at some of these distances but are they always targeted by the best athletes and at appropriate times of the year?

Also, a few more opportunites for fast 5000m and 10,000m on the track wouldn't go a miss. With a lot of people running fast at manchester, would a mid May date be a better time for a track 10k than a month later (regarding temperature and stage of training?). Look at the US results from 10ks at Stanford early season, gives 5k specialists a chance while they are strong coming off a xc season and before they drop down later in the summer. Just some thoughts based on the Americans' success.

There are those who are already trying to change the UK fixture list, but it isnt easy.

If there was an early 10k where would it fit with National 12 stage - before after or instead of ?

We do need a series of road races for UK athletes and the proposal has been lodged for some time, hopefully it will come to fruition shortly.

However we need to remember that we have a very small number of athletes now, and as Mr Wardle has already mentioned there are too many races.

For me the timing of the AAA 10k is fine, if the aim for those at the top end is qualifying for major champs then I don't think they can try and run fast times in May if the Champs are in August/September. Also means that those having run a spring marathon can sort themselves out for the AAA. The reason for the American early season 10k's is the fact that thier season is all but done come end of June.

The track season seems to get earlier every year and fades away in August, for me I'd rather see it start a little later and keep going through to Sept.

The oppartunities for domestic guys to run fast 5ks are very limited this year. Just 2 bmc 5k's one in a week or so at manchester and then one right at the end of the season on about august 25th when most people will have packed up and gone off on their jollys.

Surely swapping the 5k for a 3k at the Solihul meet was a terrible choice. There are good 3k's held every other week at watford and stretford bmcs. ideally someone needs to put on a good 5k sometime at the end of july or start of august.

any ideas?

Jonty wrote:

The oppartunities for domestic guys to run fast 5ks are very limited this year. Just 2 bmc 5k's one in a week or so at manchester and then one right at the end of the season on about august 25th when most people will have packed up and gone off on their jollys.

Surely swapping the 5k for a 3k at the Solihul meet was a terrible choice. There are good 3k's held every other week at watford and stretford bmcs. ideally someone needs to put on a good 5k sometime at the end of july or start of august.

any ideas?

Solihull week before the trials so 5000 prob not a good idea. But agree in general - I reckon I've got two chances at a quick one this year unless theres a chance of getting something else arranged or going abroad.

Area champs are surely worth the effort though? I'll be running the northerns again. I know there's no pacemakers but unless you are leading that shouldn't be a problem and people should be racing for position as well as chasing times. There's not many opportunities about so more people should be taking advantage of that one.

look into the Huesden-Zolder meet in Belgium where Mo ran 13:09 last season. Heat 1 is close to 13:00-13:05 for the winners, Heat 2 usually goes 13:35-45 for the win, heat 3 around 14:05 for the win. Might be a good option for British 5000m runners looking to step up a level and run a good time. Meet is in July I believe. I imagine the fast heat might be a bit too quick but the second race would be ideal for some aspiring national level athletes

You can also run BAL meets as a guest and the first one went in 13.59 so good competition. There used to be downloadable guest entry forms on the webpage, not sure if they are still there.

Jonty wrote:

Surely swapping the 5k for a 3k at the Solihul meet was a terrible choice. There are good 3k's held every other week at watford and stretford bmcs. ideally someone needs to put on a good 5k sometime at the end of july or start of august.

Does anyone know why Solihull isn't a 5k and isn't at the usual time of the year? This race always provides about half the 5k rankings between 5th and 25th. Personally I don't understand why the 3k is ever run at BMC meets. No-one needs a 3k time for anything. Sure, it can be a useful workout, but you can do it anyway.

Track or stand being repaired, this is the only date available that fits with the rest of the BMC schedule. No point having another 5k at Solihill 1 week before AAA. However some of those people running 5k at AAA might run 3k at Solihull. The 3k is put into the BMC events when there are other 5ks too close to make another 5k worthwhile. You should assume that the people who suggest the events know at least as much about it as you do

Did anyone else find there results were not right on the Bupa Great Run website.

I crossed the line in 32.00 though on the results site it has me as 35.40odd. On checking the full results no one finished with 10sec of 32.00min. So im not sure whats happened. Any ideas?

Posted this the other day: Thoughts?

"A thought has just occurred to me about Tim Don's run at the weekend. He ran in the Manchester 10km and ran 29.30.

The British Association for Triathlon served him with a three month ban last year for missing three drugs tests. The drugs tests I’m assuming would have been carried out by UK Sport. His case then would have been handed to his federation to decide on the punishment.

Now had he said he was an athlete the case would have been handed to UKa and he would have received a two year ban? Meaning he wouldn't have been allowed to race yesterday.

The matter is elementary now but I’d be rather peeved if I’d been beaten by him and lost out on prize money etc."

makes his 29:30 off 40-50 mpw look less surprising

I am the king, i can run what I like. Triathlon rules! (are great cos they let me off easy)

Tom- how are you doing? I presume the store is doing well now that you have expanded to a second store.

Drop me an email if you get chance

stick to "MILKSHAKES" there LEGAL

Its one to think about. If he's not a member of a uka club then he can get away with it. But could there be a reason why he isn't a member of a club? He might know that all he'll get is a 3 month ban for missing a drugs test.