The Bull Run.

   Tactics Lesson #1

  The year was 2010 and I was still trying out different race tactics and ideas that I had began experimenting with since the Kirkbymoorside 10k in 2008. It was the Teesbarrage 10k and my plan was to take it steady for the first mile then go into full attack mode for the rest of the race. The first mile was just right as I tucked in behind a couple of runners one of them being Jim Bulman of New Marske Harriers. With a mile completed it was time for the full attack mode and also time to deploy operation demoraliser. As I passed Bulman I said " Is that the best you''ve got Bulman it's not even my marathon pace. "  Well that certainly instigated a reaction and Bulman came after me like a mad charging bull and for the rest of the race I could hear him stomping and panting right behind me, it was almost  like that bull run in Spain as he chased me all the way to the finish line.  Luckily  I managed to win but I did learn a lesson that day and that was to be very careful whose cage you rattle because it obviously had the opposite effect.
    I found you can use this same tactic but in a good way to help your training. I was doing a speed training session down at the running club and was quite easily in front after each interval so I deployed the demoraliser idea ( that doesn't work )  to great effect with the notion of revving up the competition. I can't remember exactly what I said but it was something along the lines about insulting my training mates family name. All I can say is that I didn't finish first on the next interval but Ollie Harrison did and believe me I didn't  let him. I should of followed him around his training sessions insulting him as I'm sure he would of made it to the Olympics with the way he ran that day. Saying  that though he probably would of taken up bare knuckle boxing on the side to shut me up before then I think.
  Both great days in the running world.