Girls On Top

I didn't ever get around to finishing my life story in athletics but I'm sure that the world won't stop turning and that you'll be able to munch on your pre-race breakfast Saturday without worrying that you've missed out on some vital piece of information.

Who do you think is going to win?

Sue Biggart will walk off as the outstanding favourite in my opinion, as she has gone much quicker in the past than any of the other leading ladies and there is no reason despite her dancing exploits(she recently competed in the Manx Celebrity Come Dancing)o assume that she has not prepared as thoroughly as usual.

There are a couple of dark horses in the race who have the talent to displace Sue but will they have the experience and determination? There is Janice Quirk who was the first woman in the End to End and who had a splendid debut finish in last year's event with a superb 19.01 but the one lady in my opinion who is in with a real chance and she won't thank me for shouting it form the rooftops is Marie Jackson.

Marie finished in 2000 in just over 20 hours I think but at that time she was yet to develop the style that has made her the most consistant manx racewalker at most distances(don't mention 5k to her) over the last five years or so. She won the 'End to End' on the old east course and last year won silver (individiual) and gold(team) medals in the World Masters 20k. Before that I wouldn't have given her much hope in the Parish Walk but such achievement really bolstered her confidence and she went on to win the National 50k title in april this year.

Most eagerly anticipated sporting battles contain a contrast between the athletes involved and this is no exception. Sue is strong and very Parish Walk orientated with seven previous finishes in as many years and apart from last year each one quicker than the previous. Although very much a one event specialist, she also came home second lady in the National 100 miles held at N.S.C. in 2006 (lapping me at least once in the process.) Marie by comparison though slight in stature is very steely but the other major difference, despite Sue trying very hard to improve over the winter is that Marie posesses an excellent racewalking technique and therefore should move much more economically.

What I have written above is possibly a little disrespectful to Jane Mooney and Alison Brand(did I hear that Ali isn't aiming for a finish this year?) who both put in brilliant performances last year to post 17:26 and 17:31 and should any of the above three not quite realise my expectations, then there's no doubt they'll be right in there.

Roey Crellin, still fastest Manx born woman(17:12) was not quite up to her best in 2007 but if she shows her true ability may just feature, as may Marie Gilbertson or Terri Salmon.

As I remarked at the outset, Sue Biggart is in pole position but this could be the best ever race.

As usual as I say on these previews, if I've missed you off or undersold you, I apologise but just go out there and prove me wrong.

Bring on the Parish Walk Boogie Woogie

The latest news in this constant tale of woe is that Jock Waddington hasn't been too well. Apparently, he was supposed to go to Jools Holland last night but was laid up instead. Hopefully, his indisposition(that spelling doesn't look right but time is precious) is temporary and he'll be fully recovered for Saturday. In fact he probably should have gone to the concert because it was lively enough to wake the dead!

At this rate no one will tell me anything in case it finds its way into my 'Blog,' yet I am like a news hungry beast at the moment and probably ready to fall for any old spoof.

Did anyone else get the text about tapering? No one has owned up to that one as yet.

The latest weather forecast is better than the first which is certainly good for all the officials but temperature is more important for us walkers and a maximum of 16c should just about do the job.

I suppose that should lead on to the tip for the day which I think is to make sure you have head covering if the sun is out, not to mention U.V. protection cream. If it gets to the stage when you are needing to apply the sponges, the best place is to the back of the neck where the cool water will be most effective. Vaseline is also essential for all parts that may chafe, especiallyu in hot or wet conditions and I'm sure I don't need to spell that out everyone, as some of them are more gender specific than others. Some recommend the petroleum jelly for the feet as well, although I have left mine without in recent years as I find my foot blisters from moving within the sock.

Oh well, I'll try and give you my insights on how I think the race will pan out tomorrow but for now I'll have to leave you.

Post no. 74... Where Michael Blogs Instead of Engaging with Henry

I don't know if someone was winding me up but I just received a text purportedly off 'Parish Walk Information,' off a 166--- number basically telling me not to train and rest my weary legs. My guess that its someone from Manx Telecom or high up in the organisation pulling my leg after my earlier rant but 'ITS TROOOE!'

Well each to their own anyway. If Sean, Robbie and Jock fancy doing a couple of 20 milers between now and Saturday, who am I to stop them?

I just heard some more bad news and it seems that Ian Wakely who did so well on the Sarah Killey Memorial race has also had to withdraw due to knee trouble.

The excitement is really starting to grip me now and this afternoon when I was supposed to be rapt by an important meeting of accommodation providers, I could think of little else but the race. Perhaps my mind is actually being more practical and just doing anything to avoid work because I had decided to come home, introduce our 'Henry*' to the carpet before preparing tea and all I have done is read Rich Wild's blog, checked my own for comments before reading Murray's 'Stats' and having a look at mine. I'm afraid that my technical wizardry has come to the fore again though and I'm not really sure what the difference is between, 'Pageloads,' 'Unique Visitors' and 'Returning Visitors.' It sounds simple enough but they don't really seem to add up. Me being more than a bit thick as usual I think.

Luckily, our Terence is away with school at the 'Venture Centre,' this week, so I'm filling my time whiling away the minutes before the 'Big Off' doing a few things i don't usually do. Last night, we took advantage of the weather and went looking for sharks but failed and four extremely playful seals at Peel had to do. Tonight, I'm off to Jools Holland but will have to keep my dancing in check (see above re not over exercising,) then tomorrow, it's 'Blood Brothers.'

Therefore, I shouldn't start climbing the walls before Thursday.

* For those of you of a less than domestic ilk, Henry's the vacuum cleaner.

Will he? Won't he? Will he? Won't he? ..............Oh Who Cares Anyway?

I don't know. I was asked to subtly announce that Mark Hempsall wasn't walking (Hence the title 'Hempsall Out,') bearing in mind that I thought I had an impeccable source (i.e. Conan The Destroyer's mouth) and now he tells me, he's changed his mind! He's 'just' walking to Peel as training for the '100 miles' in Milton Keynes this August. For anyone who thinks he may be pulling a flanker, though, he has promised to back up Dave Mackey from 8pm, so you won't be the only one chasing him with an axe if he continues.

Briefly, I had hoped that the previous paragraph may mean a resurrection of the chances for our team Eminem & Eminem but I have also heard that Matt Haddock has suffered an ankle injury and in the interest of his '100' ambitions will also bow out at German.

More gossip: Peter Kaneen has still not decided whether or not to start the race though in honesty, I really can't see him featuring at the sharp end due to the interruptions in his training this year. However, Beware! Last time he didn't think he'd pass Santon i.e 2003, he went and won it!

I also have it on good authority that Eamon Harkin will be accompanying his daughter, Breeshey who has entered the U21 race, so the top ten will be losing another of its regular inhabitants.

If you add into this the absence of Ray Pitts, Thomas Melvin, Jane Kennaugh (unless she's found another alias,)the aforementioned big dude, there is plenty of scope for new heroes to emerge and I think that the standard this year will be higher than ever.

My favourites to enter the higher echelon for the first time would be Chris Cale, Marie Jackson and Janice Quirk but if you're out there and have put in the effort, the sky's the limit.

Aaaaaargghh!!

Nooooo! Stoooop iit! Stooop! Noooow!!!! It's too Laaate!!!

There's people everywhere walking at full tilt! Stop it now! It's too late!

I hope that got your attention!

If you're still training now the only thing you're going to improve is your chances of being injured and being knackered on the day!

The idea this week if you can't contemplate the thought of no exercise after all these months of hard work is to warm up as if you were about to do a major training session and then stop. This will keep your body loose and perhaps lessen the possibility of your brain melting down but any hard work this week will be counter productive.

If you haven't already made your lists up and done the shopping, write down everything that you could conceivably need. Don't forget clothes for the end, vaseline, spare everything including socks and shoes, a luminous vest to pin your number on to so that you can change quickly in varying weather conditions, loads of food, bananas, water, sports drinks, a head torch, new feet and a second brain that you can't unprogram that says, 'Never do this again!'

I hope to write more tomorrow.

Little Islander

Here's a dilemma for you. Nine days before the biggest race of my life to date, I received an invitation to compete at the UK Athletics Championships and Team GB Trials in the 5k track racewalk (you may remember that Peter Kaneen won bronze last year.)

This would give me the opportunity to compete on the same stage as some of the biggest names in British Athletics and even any friends or family that I take with me have to pay, from £12 per ticket.

So, I here you ask: What's the dilemma? It's only three weeks after the Parish Walk and I'm sure I won't be able to do myself justice with 85 miles in my legs. Do I give up what could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to taste life at the top of the UK table for what is a provincial ramble around the Isle of Man at an unrecognised distance? No comparison can be made between the events and in honesty this could be my once in a lifetime opportunity to win our own 'Blue Riband' race when you think of how increasingly competitive it is becoming. So there's little contest in my mind. This could be my 'Parish Walk' whereas 5k is my least favourite distance (I'm ranked 14th in the UK as opposed to 12th at 10k, 9th at 20k and 4th at 50k) and I have little chance of finishing on the same lap as the winner even at my best.

I'll just have to hope that at 42 years of age, I can continue to improve and they'll give me another shot at stardom after turning them down this time.

Scaring the Spectators

Last Wednesday's race was also a bit of a walking striptease for me:

Immediately prior to the start, I decided that the spetacles had to go. As usual, my relationship with my 'Garmin' sports watch was fraught, hampered this time not by my inability to work it properly but because I didn't start it and in a fit of pique, threw £160 worth of gadgetry at the assembled officials.

By the time the next lap came round, my hat which was atop my scone mainly to keep the glasses dry that I wasn't wearing was the next item to be jettisoned and as by now, I didn't it would seeem have much more to take off, the few spectators were becoming visibly peturbed.

They needn't have worried. The 'Breath-rite' nasal strip that Peter Kaneen had kindly supplied me with succumbed to the damp in the air and came off one side of my nose. I'm not sure they look too 'cool' at the best of times but standing like an antenna, it definitely had to go.

The next lap there was a 'frisson' in the air as the onlookers quaked in their boots but despite threatening to remove my shorts, I had nothing left to give. Pretty much describes my walk as well.