29 April, 2012
Payton Jordan: Stanford, CA
Event: 1500m
Time: 3.35.19 – 1st
Andy's Blog
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Posted: 15 May, 2012
My results from the: Payton Jordan
Category: Competition
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Posted: 15 May, 2012
My results from the: Mount Sac Relays
Category: Competition20 April, 2012Mount Sac Relays: Walnut,CAEvent: 1500mTime: 3.40.33 – 1st
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Posted: 16 March, 2012
My results from the: Aviva Grand Prix
Category: Competition18 February, 2012Aviva Grand Prix: BirminghamEvent: 1500mTime: 3.37.16 – 5th
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Posted: 16 March, 2012
My results from the: Millrose Games
Category: Competition11 February, 2012Millrose Games: New YorkEvent: 5000mTime: 13.22.44 – 6th
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Posted: 16 March, 2012
My results from the: New Balance Indoor Grand Prix
Category: Competition4 February, 2012New Balance Indoor Grand Prix: BostonEvent: 3000mTime: 7.47.09 – 8th
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Posted: 16 March, 2012
Blogging, slogging and blues blazers
It seems that while I was away in the US, I got into the habit of blogging regularly, but on returning to the UK there’s always something else demanding my attention! So here’s a new blog to fill you in on the last few weeks.
Just after my previous post, I finished my indoor campaign at the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham. I was pretty heavy legged from the 5km the week before, but despite the jetlag after 6 weeks in the US, I decided to give the 1500m a go. I did a session on the Wednesday and felt much better than I would have anticipated, and decided that I definitely wanted to get involved! The race went well, I finished just ahead of (subsequent world indoor silver medalist) Augustine Choge, running a PB of 3.37.16 to go to number 4 on the UK all-time list. This was a very positive way to finish this period of racing, but it was also a reminder of the level I need to be at in the coming months. I was as competitive as I could be in the race for the time of year, but didn’t feature near the front, something that has to change!
After the race, it was time to get back into the familiar training routine at home, helped by milder weather and being reunited with my training group and coach. It was also time to focus on some solid weeks of training and mileage, without worrying about travelling or racing. It’s never a chore (despite heavy legs after sessions!) to train hard in the leafy surroundings of Bushy Park and Richmond Park, not to mention the occasional foray onto Wimbledon Common.
So that pretty much brings us up to date. The only other thing to mention is how I spent Saturday night. Ahem, perhaps that wasn’t the best lead in, but still. I was privileged to be invited to be the guest speaker at the annual dinner for the Cambridge University Athletics Club. This meant it was one of the few opportunities where I can don the sartorial delight that is the Cambridge Blues blazer. Thankfully I don’t have a picture to post here, but suffice it to say that it is a ‘unique’ look, and no matter how traditional or prestigious, it still inevitably leaves sniggers in its wake. So, armed with my preposterous outfit, I headed to Downing College for the black tie dinner. The food was great, but it was even better to catch up with some old friends, and their presence meant that the speech went that much smoother…
The weekend finished with a run with the Hare & Hounds, the University Cross Country team on the Sunday morning. We had glorious sunshine, and it was great to be back to see how beautiful Cambridge is without a looming deadline! Thank you to the guys for their company, I’ll be back…
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Posted: 14 February, 2012
Beantown, the Big Apple and Burgers
Category: Competition, PhotosFinally I’m back in the UK after what feels like a long stint training and racing in the US. Back to nice bread, Robinson’s squash and narrow roads. It’s amazing how strangely reassuring it is to have Radio 1 on in the car (yes, I’m still pretending that I’m the target demographic).
The races since my last blog went really well. On both occasions I had to contend with tough fluctuations in pace, providing welcome practice for the unpredictability of summer racing.
I raced the 3000m at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston, running 7.47.09. The promised early pace never materialised, and as the leading four African athletes pushed on to run their last mile in 4 minutes, I was left in no mans land leading a second group – until the last 200m when I was punished for my generous pacemaking! The crowd were amazing, and the atmosphere was incredible for a relatively small number of people. It feels like they’re right on top of you! It was also a new experience for me to run in an arena with huge posters of myself everywhere! Very surreal. And thank goodness for photoshop.
For the next few days, I stayed in Boston to meet with various New Balance departments about new products. The meeting with the shoe team was the most exciting – so much hard work and technical expertise has gone into the latest range of New Balance shoes – they’re incredible. It feels like as athletes we’ve really had (and continue to get) an opportunity to give our input during development directly to the designers, and the choices of shoes we have available to us for all the different elements of our training are fantastic. In fact, I now have in my possession a pair of racing flats lighter than my spikes!
From there it was a return to New York for the historic Millrose Games, taking place for the first time at the Armory. I raced in the 5000m, which prompted several people to ask me if I was the pacemaker! The race itself was set up for Bernard Lagat to set a new American record of 13.07, so needless to say the race was tough from the start. The pace fluctuated early on, and a few 62s 400s took their toll on my legs later on! I passed 3km in 7.57 after a few steadier laps, and glanced up to see 10 laps remaining. Obviously I knew how many laps were involved in an indoor 5000m, but nothing prepares you for the constant turning! I was pushing hard, and finished 6th in 13.22.44, putting me 4th on the UK all-time list, and making me dizzy.
On Sunday I had a bit of time after my run in Central Park, and had been told about the Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien, a cult “secret” hidden in the lobby of one of NYs luxury hotels. Despite the burger in the lobby bar being over $20, the Burger Joint serves (allegedly) the best burger in midtown for around $6. Its menu consists of burger, cheeseburger, fries and drinks. It’s hidden behind a dull brown curtain in the lobby, and has bare wooden floors and basic diner-style booths. The only way you would know it was there is if you peer down a narrow corridor next to the reception desk and see a neon burger. There are no other signs, but the queue at lunchtime tells you something is going on! I really felt like I had ‘discovered’ something, despite it being all over the internet, and the burger was fantastic! Well worth a visit, and the perfect end to my US sojourn.
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Posted: 28 January, 2012
Tallahassee training
Just a quick video to show you the great places I get to train!
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Posted: 24 January, 2012
In the News: Andy Baddeley wins New Balance Games mile
Category: In the NewsNEW YORK — Showing solid early season form, Britain’s Andy Baddeley won the elite mile at today’s 17th New Balance Games at the Armory here in Upper Manhattan, leading five men under the four-minute mark.
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Posted: 24 January, 2012
In the News: Milrose Games 5000m hotting up
Category: In the NewsSource: www.armorytrack.com, Published: 1 January, 1970Milrose 5000m field looking good. 3 US national records could fall in one race.