VESTed interest.

   I managed to catch up with Rob Burn who is the Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers club chairman/coach on my eight mile run home from work. I was after a new club vest in preparation for a load of races that I have coming up because I was in doubt that one club vest could keep up with the demand. Rob offered me one vest that I thought looked a bit big and that was without trying it on, I would of needed to put a few stone on in weight to fill the dam thing. Another quick rummage through his huge bag of assorted club vests and he pulled out one that was spot on.

Kilburn 7 mile race - 2014

   Psychologically I have ingrained into my mind that once the yellow and blue club vest goes on then it's time. It's time to activate full on race mode, time to give it 100% for myself and for the club and also time to fight for every possible position I can. Now and then I feel the need to take a slightly lighter approach so off comes the club vest and with it so does the stress,pressure and seriousness. I still enter the race as a club runner but it does feel like a more relaxed environment that I have made for myself and on the odd occasion I have even performed better than what I had expected.
  Years ago I didn't think it was worth turning up to a 5k parkrun and now I find myself not only turning up and doing the best I can, I am also donning the club vest to ensure that I'm in full race mode as I try to beat my P.B.  It's just a parkrun, not any more my friend.
  I have entered the Darlington 10k which is in three weeks time and I have been trying to guesstimate my finnishing time, I started off with 34 minutes 30 seconds which seemed to be very realistic but I just didn't like the sound of it. Back in 2014 I did it in 33 minutes exactly which sounds pretty good now so something between the two for wishful thinking and a target. 33 minutes 45 seconds it is then, I will start straight away convincing myself that is what I am capable of and that is what I will be trying to do come race day.