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My form at this moment seems to alright. The trouble with big mileage with the addition of a busy lifestyle, I seem to pick up bugs which knock me for six. My dad is on the mend from a stroke. He has the odd bad day, so I have to help out. This has had an effect on recent races. The Inter-counties in Feb I was run down, my dad wasn't too good. The National XC also in February at Sunderland was another day I should have stayed in bed cause I had a bad headache.

The club training weekend up at Chapel Stile near Ambleside in the Lake District in mid March was to prove I was getting back into it. I'm still not 100% since the National XC, but I was to put in some pleasing training runs on the roads, fells and a 30mile ride on my bike in the wind and rain to Coniston, then around the Lake in 42 mins, and then back. I was soaked and blown all over the place that afternoon. On the fells for 90 mins in the morning was very windy and a bit dodgy in places. My Innovate Mudclaws 370 gave me alot of confidence up there. The social side was also enjoyable. Our communial meal on Saturday was nice. I probably ate more cakes, deserts than anyone else.

My next race was to be the Ackworth Half Marathon on the 25th March. I was going to do Wakefield 10k for London Marathon prep. But I got persuaded to do Ackworth through there organiser Cyril Jones. Plus Jamil and Julian was also pre-entries. It made more sense for team purposes.

I remember feeling quite keen to race it on the day. I was still suffering with a cough. I was keen to get going and test my race fitness.
Ackworth is a undulating coarse with some good climbing included. On the more open area's, we had to put up with the strong winds.
For competition were Leeds City's Darren Bilton and Adam Osborne. Darran has always been consistant. Adam is also turning into a good runner for Leeds.
Soon as we went, I took the lead. On my left I could see Darren for the first fifty metres. Then I it was just me trying to break away from the field in my true fashion very early on. Around 4-5 miles, I could hear the lead car's commentry saying I was in front, with the two Leeds lads 40 yards behind. The forth runner was quarter of a mile behind.
This, according to second placer Adam Osborne was to be the closest they they get to me. I was also thinking I've messed up with the quick start. I was beginning to think they were catching us up as the raced progressed.
It was to be my sole thought all the way to the finish. It was only on the last two miles that I thought the race was mine. I wanted to win the race and the Yorkshire title again and make it eight titles.
I finished the race strong. Adam was next 40 or so seconds behind, with Darren getting third.
Jamil's foot injury was bothering him during the race, but he stuck it out for the team and came in eigth. Julian was 12th. Otley won the mens team and also the mens Yorkshire team.
Zac Whitehead ran Wakefield 10k that day. He was hoping to crack 35 mins, but finished in around 37 minutes. He is dissappointed by his race form. He felt he could have done better. He will eventually with some guidance from myself.
Steady training this past week. Yesterday (Saturday), I ran to Silsden and back to Shipley along the canal. I felt alright on that one. Nice day to run.

I have been really busy these last few weeks. I have a lot of races to report on. Over four weeks since January 21st, I have raced a marathon, three XC's, a 10k road race and being part of a UKA Endurance meet/session. I need a break.

I raced Mumbai marathon for GB/Standard Chartered on Sunday 21st January. The marathon was the easy part. I left the UK on the day of those storms which caused havoc with the transport network.
My train to London went only as far as Newark. I thought I was stuffed, but other's opted to take a taxi down to King Cross. Myself and seven others got there for 8.30pm. I was 5 hours behind schedule. I arrived at Heathrows checking in desk at the exact time my plane was due to take off. Apparently I found out later it was still at the airport at 11pm.
Heathrow couldn't find me a local hotel either. The only option was to go back into London and stay there, which would have cost around 200 quid.
I slummed it there and caught the next place out at 10.40am the next day. I managed to catch up on sleep on the 9 hr flight over.
I arrived there for 1.30am Saturday morning. No one was there to pick us up either. So I had to organise transport to Mumbai's Hilton. Got to sleep for 3am. I had only 30hrs to go before the marathon.
I didn't feel to awake to begin with at the start. Myself and Michael O'Connor representing Ireland ran together for the first few miles. He was going to fast for those conditions. Almost London marathon like pace. Thankfully my lace came undone. I could now run at a sensible pace and take sensible fluid intake on board.
I had to stop again around 7 miles. It wasn't going well. Got the halfway point in better shape. My aim was to overcome the heat and go after the Danish and the Irish runner.
My targets were reached around the 27/28km point. I was feeling good about myself now. The only people in front now, where Africans, Indians and other sub-continent athlete's, and a top Russian athlete.
I was feeling a tingling sensation in my finger tips over the last quarter now. I was always trying to keep the fluid levels up. It was on going battle.
The last few miles were ran solo into the sun on long road around the sea front.
I finished comfortably in 2.31.30 and 1st Oceania entrant in the Nations challenge.
You might be interested to know the was a sub-continent runner called A,SHITOLE. Race bib 83. Check out The Greatest Race on Earth site for the results.
Monday was spent sight seeing, before returning back early Tuesday morning. A great experience indeed.

One week later (Saturday 27th). I took part in the Northern XC at Manchester's Heaton Park. Always a good quality field. My legs felt a little heavy. It was a three lap 12k race. My last lap was slower, cause of the tired legs and a broken spike on my shoe. Finished a pleasing 18th out of 1500 runner's I think. Jamil Parapia my club mate finished 48th. A great run by him. I don't think any other runner in the club since I've been there has finished in the first fifty. A good team turnout aswell. Andrew Robertshaw also had a great run for us. Leeds City won the team.

Less than 24hrs later. I took part in the Winter League XC for my second claim Idle AC, It was over at Baildon and it's moorland. I remember not really wanting race so soon as I lined up at the start. Once I got going, I was alright. I finished first place in this exposed race. Very windy at the tops of the moor's.

[My dad ended up again in the BRI with a suspected stroke. Myself and my brothers were asked to join my mum at hospital. It was quite serious at the time. He's pulled through now, and taking it easy until he gets his pace maker for his irregular heartbeat. At the time, I decided not to do the next race at Dewsbury. Only decided the day before Dewsbury 10k to do it, after I was sure my dad was going to be alright]

One week later (Sunday 4th February). I raced the Yorkshire 10k road championship at Dewsbury. It's a fast out to Birtstall junction and back. There was no sharpness in the legs to begin with, but on the return things did improve. I was in forth position focusing on the third placer who was within reach of catching, but didn't happen. I ended up with 30.49 on my watch with a County 10k title to boot. Not bad two weeks after a marathon. There was some fast lads missing to be fair. But I can't help that.

Following week........No races!. But did a recce of the Esholt Winter League XC race for the following Sunday. St Bedes organised it. A technical route, which I'm glad I recced. Very enjoyable.

[In the coming week I find out that I have a elite selection for London marathon for the third time. I have done it every year since 2000. I did consider giving it a miss, but the selection changed all that]

Since UKA marathon coach and Tim Hutchings from the London Marathon office got us in. I felt I needed to show my appreciation by going to Birmingham's Alexander stadium on Saturday 17th Feb. It was most of the day with a good session in the local parkland. Later we had a talk from a professor on heat acclimatization. It was good to meet up with Bud Baldaro and team who I went to Slovakia with last October.
We also had Mike McLeod (Gateshead) He was one of the country's top athletes from the eighties. He was there to give advice on training and other related stuff. I found him very interesting bloke, who just did the work no messing. Despite his achievements. I was impressed by his down to earth attitude.
My coach Dennis Quinlan took us down. He even had the oppotunity to do a little speech to everyone. We had a good productive day there.
The session was 20 minutes at marathon pace. Then with groups of shorter distance athletes, we did. 6 x 3min at 5km pace with 90 seconds recovery. I felt comfortable with that one.
Then it was another 20 minutes at marathon pace. I slipped and grazed my leg on that one. I bounced back up quickly before someone saw me. I hope.

The next day (Sun18th Feb) was the final Winter League at Esholt. I recced the route the weekend before. But I got there early and ran it again just before the race.
It was a nice sunny day for it, but it was quite cool. Myself and Ben Mounsey from Stainland took the lead. Going up into hill into the woods I began to break away. I could hear Ben working hard at it. I felt a little tired, but I was fine after a mile. I took another tumble again on a down hill stretch, and grazed the same leg again. I wasn't having much luck.
It was well marked with red and white tapee. But it could have done with some extra marshalls for the tricky sections. I faltered on parts which can still happen after a recce. You don't always have time to think when you're in race mode. Even Ben and Chris Loftus made mistakes. They actually cut out sections through no fault of there own. The first three had there gaps, so it didn't really matter about final positions. Did I forget to tell you I finished first.
No..
I finished first.

Next weekend is the Inter-counties XC at Nottingham. Yorkshire have a strong team. I hope everyone turns out for it. I have been eligable for the team since 1998. I think I have only missed two due to holidays.

Ahh yes. Here is one of my fleet of trucks delivering to Europe and beyond 'The Ian Fisher GB collection'.

There is a host of items on offer. Quilt cover's & pillow cover's, Curtains, board games, homemade jams, computer games, cat & dog food....where does it end!

And here it is again. Bringing all 'The Ian Fisher GB collection' back from Europe!

Swines!

Welcome back!

I've got a bit of catching up to do, cause it's been a while since my last post.

On Saturday 6th January, it was the Yorkshire XC champs over at Skipton's Airevale park. It had been a long while since I was really tested in a race. This was the one.
Skipton AC had designed a proper XC course for the champs. It was a testing course with nine ascents in the mens race over 11k. It was a three quarter lap, then two large ones to finish off.

The front end quality was high again. I noticed the inform pairing of Leeds City's of David Webb and West Yorks XC champion Martin Hilton. I rarely see or hear much of David Webb in races. Martin was unsure about his form after a recent cold.
Huddersfield's Glen Comish (Sale) was also a pre-race favourite, because of his fast 10k road races. I remember meeting Glen at a the Burton Leonard 10k back in 98 for the first time. I beat him that day into first after my shoe laces coming undone after running through deep water during the race.
John Henegan (P&B) won the Yorks XC championship at the same venue back in 2005 I believe. I was in India at the time doing a marathon for GB.
Knavemire's Kim Critchley although not as dominent as he was 10 year's ago cause he's trains more on the bike now. A very nice person to know. He isn't elitest in anyway, and is also a friend of Jamil's through racing. Kim claims he doesn't do the quality training anymore. I find that hard to believe.

The race started off surprisingly quick considering the nature of the course. I remember feeling sluggish right from the start. The eventual first six in were leading the charge. I had people coming back and forth. My 12mm spike's were not proving their worth on the muddy camber's.
From early on it was Kim, myself and Leeds City's Mike Burret who was having a fine run. He must have felt very confident running with us two. Plus he had a great West Yorkshire XC season before Christmas.
I had the endurance in me from my marathon training, but I was lacking a controlled fast pace. It was so up and down. Maybe I should have done the Ribble 10k the week before as a sharpener. It worked for Jamil who was also having a very fine run to finish 18th in the end. But Dennis Quinlan talked me out of doing it.
Going into the second lap I felt I was running on empty. I wanted to shake these two off and go after John Henegan and Glen Comish. It didn't happen.
Going into the third lap, I felt a change was coming. I began to get more energy back. I was feeling more upright and not as tense in my body. Finally I shook those two off.
Chasing after John down to the play ground did help me close the gap on him and Glen. Going up through the woods, I caught a tree root and went over, which took the wind out of me a little. This mistake did help the gap between 4th and 5th place increase after coming out of the woods and along towards the finish. I wasn't aware of Kim closing on me towards the finish.
Still, it was a great race for us all and those who watched. David Webb deserved his victory that day. Poor Martin has once again just missed out with coming in second again. Will he ever be champ?
A great planned course by Skipton AC. It's what a XC should be like.


Day after that. I raced for my 2nd claim club, Idle AC. The third Winter League race was held over at Oakwell Museum near Birstall. It was another exciting course planned by Dewsbury RR. It looked complicated on their site map. I had to go early to familiarise myself with it.
I used my new Innovate Mudclaw 370's. They were great in the heavy mud.
These Winter League races despite the easier standard are much more fun to run with their well thought out races.
My brother David was there to take pictures of myself and a few other's in the race.

After a slight down hill start and loop around the field, I was in a good lead over a future league champion Ben Mounsey from Greetland. I felt totally relaxed from the start. After the first loop, I then just settled down into a controlled tempo. There are no time recording's in these, so there is no need to blast it. It was a lovely day and I was enjoying the run out.
Idle AC had a good team performance that day, and moved up from 5th to 4th place. The top three big clubs are too far in front now to catch. I'm hoping we can keep the 4th position until the end.

With a week to go Mumbai marathon. I decided to take part in our club handicap up at North Rigton. I haven't done this one in a long while, so I was keen to do it. Only this time I was wearing extra clothing for marathon purposes.
It was nice to see Josie Hodgetts there aswell. Josie in here own word's, is in hardcore training for her first London Marathon. I predict she will do well on her debut marathon. I am watching over her progress and giving her advice on preparation.

Once again I was last off after Andy Robertshaw. This can be a windy race to do. Once again on this exposed circuit, the Beckwithshaw towards Leathley road was head-on wind.
I set off 3 minutes after Andy Robertshaw, and I didn't see anyone until halfway around. That person was Ultraman Chris Carver who ran there from Otley.
Turning off the main B-road onto thethe unclassed road towards North Rigton, I was beginning to see the rest off the club infront. This does help to wake things up a bit for me.
From two miles out, I began to reel them in. My targets were Andy Robershaw and Zac Whitehead who is turning into very good runner. Targets were reached, and then it was into the village where I saw Mick Jeffrey and Josie. Mick looked around and spotted me and went for the line. I was unaware that these two were the leader's until I noticed no runner's at the finish. Mick got it in the end. Then myself, and Josie finished in a superb 3rd place.
I finished on this undulating 10k course with 32.23. A pleasing time. We then popped into the village pub for a pint or two afterwards.

For the first time in at least three year's I took part in the Ken Dixon Christmas Handicap around Timble village and Swinsty reservoir, which is a good five miles north of Otley.
It was the first club handicap I've done in a long while. I haven't done many this year to be honest.
It was a nice sunny winter's morning, and twenty four member's took part. I didn't taper off for it, cause I'm in marathon training. I also sank a few ales the night before in Idle village with people I know from Idle AC.
Weary eyes and bright sunshine don't mix. So sunglasses had to be worn to race in this time.
I took in a sensible warm up just to wake me up and encourage the early runner's setting off.
The last three were Andrew Robertshaw, Jamil Parapia and myself. I started off a minute behind Jamil.
The first runner I passed was Phil Robinson who arrived late. As I got to the top of the long climb. I could just make out Jamil in front. Jamil looked to be running very well. Seeing Jamil in front did encourage me to make an effort to chase him down. After the first loop of two done, we passed the start onto the dam.
Even here, Jamil looked good. I think seeing Andrew in front made him try harder to catch him. Going around the north side of Swinsty, Jamil passed Andrew on the road. I was just behind them now. First I got Andrew and then Jamil.
After passing them both, Jamil made a good effort to latch on to me. It wasn't until after crossing the second bridge by the car park. That I realised I could hear a runner breathing heavily behind. Thinking it was Jamil tailing me. I kept calm, while putting in a bit more effort to break away.
By now, there was the other club member's to chase down. I finished second after Michael Pickard who had a blinder of a run. Jamil finished around 23 seconds later.
I also broke the course record I set some time ago by 45 seconds? The new course is around 100 meters short of the old one. So I think I trimmed half a minute off. I was surprised by the result as I didn't feel stuffed by it at the finish. Having Jamil, Andrew and Rogan to chase did help I suppose.

On the training side for the Yorkshire XC on the 6th January, and Mumbai marathon on the 21st January for GB. Things are going well, after my bad patch in October.
Training feels like I'm on automatic. Most of it is still off road in the mud.

I hear people are starting to say "What's Ian Fisher up to?"
Well, since my marathon in Slovakia back in October, I've been hit hard with the flu. It has taken me an age to get over it and train properly again.
My first race was a XC for my second claim club Idle AC. I won that one with a tight calf muscle on my left leg. I was also going to run for Otley in the afternoon over at Wakefield in the West Yorkshire XC series, but I felt below par after the first one and I expected that would have to be in good shape to do the second one.
Yesterday, I raced for Dennis Quinlan's club Aire Valley Runner's. It was a bike vs runner event, held by Dennis's favourite other club Bingley Harrier's.
Personally, I wasn't too fused about doing this event, as it's not my bag. I don't like to fanny about on descent's I'm not used to handling.
But Dennis was very keen for me to race against Bingley Harrier's and other folk.
There was some good competition there. You had Bingley's Rob Jebb who is a seasoned master on stuff like fells and cyclocross. He is one of GB's finest. There was also his team mate Ian Holmes who is also a champion of many fell races. Both were racing there bikes on this one.
There was a nice up hill start, followed by ploughing through fields full of shit.
The deeper the shit the better. I soon took the lead expecting Rob Jebb to attack soon. I was on my own more or less from the start.
There wasn't many places I could get good traction for me to open up the pace. I wasn't aware off the lead I was building up as crossed Shipley Glen, and then up and around Baildon Moor.
At about two thirds around the course? Rob whizzed passed me down the hill to the Quarry part of the glen on the return journey. I did kind of expected it, but powerless to respond to it as I'm not a good decender.
I finished second behind Rob, and finished a few minutes behind Rob? in over 36 minutes. I wasn't concerned about the time, but I was about the position. Ian Holmes was third in on his bike, but Rob and myself judging by the photo's were way in front. I ws quite surprised by that as I felt wasn't or even couldn't try to go flat out. Good fun though.
I won't make a habit of racing in Pie n Pea event's as I affectionately call them. But on a whole I enjoyed racing it. Everyone else seemed to enjoy it aswell.
I had Shona Brash to support me aswell, and she finish 5th lady which is very good going in that class of field. Graham Bird also of Aire Valley came second in his class on his bike.
I got some welcomed support of Bingley Harrier's on route. One marshall even joked by suggesting I would would run faster with a Bingley Harrier vest!

We then met up in Bingley's Fisherman's Inn pub. For wait for it....Pie N Peas. And a Guiness which didn't hamper my training run later around Lister Park in Bradford for 50 minutes.
After running through that shit. I just hammered it on each lap! It should have been a steady session, but I didn't feel stuffed after the race three hours earlier.

Going to do the XC for Idle AC next Sunday, not sure about West Yorks in afternoon. It's a bit of a lost cause now.
Before Mumbai marathon for GB on Jan 21st 2007. I will gunning for the Yorkshire XC in Skipton at Airevale Park. I've won a few races on that park and have alway's enjoyed the demanding terrain. I hoping for really tough one hilly one with deep mud.
It's also Ribblevalley 10k over in Clitheroe on New Years eve. Jamil want's me to race it with him and also Josie. It's a week before the Yorkshire's, and Dennis has tried to talk me out of the 10k and concentrate on the XC, as I want that the most. We shall see.

I've still got this nasty cough/cold. Maybe I should stop training (steady) to aid full recovery. I'm doing day on, day off at this moment.
I wasn't in race shape to do the XC at Boddington, Leeds. It's a shame, as I alway's enjoy racing on that one.

But enough of this running lark. I will tell you about the embarrasing incident I experienced in Bradford a few day's ago.
I was just browsing through the music section books, and this book caught my eye on the top shelf of taboo title's.
A book on the history of Smash Hits magazine.

I thought that look's interesting and I went to reach out for it. But first, I had to check the coast was clear.

It was.

I proceeded to flick through the pages of this great book. Then one of the poster's fell out onto the floor in front of me.
To my horror and disbelief, it was a poster of George Michael in his Wham day's. A picture from their debut 'Young Guns' day's. He was also in that 'Come and get me' pose.
The poster I felt made a loud noise as it hit the floor in the bookstore.
I couldn't get down quick enough to pick up the poster of George Michael when a group of girls walked passed me.

People moved out the way as I swiftly made my exit.