Sporting Events

Ali is taking part in the Middlesbrough 10k on Sunday 21st September, the week of the race, Ali reveals his training secrets...

As I completed a few laps around the Acklam Hall cross country course on Thursday, accompanied as always by Benjamin the Labrador, I realised that the next time that I would be jogging along Hall Drive would be for the start of the Middlesbrough 10k!

Like many other runners, sorry that should be slow joggers, there was a little bit of apprehension when the race pack arrived, would I get round the course O.K? Would my training shoes fall to pieces? And most important of all, would I enjoy it?

There are, of course, no definite answers until Sunday but I do know that I have enjoyed getting out and about running, sorry slow jogging, on a regular basis.

I have met a number of fellow joggers all giving each other a knowing smile as the sweat runs down the forehead and got a great deal of encouragement from people who have said that they will be out on Sunday to cheer everyone on.

I do apologise to the Boro fans that tried to get me to explain on Monday how we managed to concede a late goal at Portsmouth and only got a shrug of the shoulders, but it was close to the end of a long run!

It all starts on Sunday at 10:15am and the BBC Tees team is raring to go. Chocolates seem to have been banned from the office and fruit has replaced the usual round of pasties and pies at lunchtime.

Hopefully, as we all line up, we will be celebrating Boro's win at Sunderland the previous day!

Benjamin is coming to cheer, or bark, me off and will be waiting at the finish line for the return of his no doubt exhausted master.

If you see number 2732 on the route give me a shout. All encouragement will be gratefully received.

Enjoy the day, which will be, I am sure, a celebration of all that’s good about the Boro!