There can be no doubt that lactate threshold training and running to individual heart rate zones works wonders for racing times after yet another weekend of astounding performances at Bolsover, the Andy Reading 10k and the South Yorkshire Cross Country Championships.

Our own Jenny Blizard scooped up the second lady prize as well as taking the first veteran award with a superb 37:27, just behind lactate threshold coach and fellow former GB international, Dave Tune, who crossed the line in a comfortable 37:19 as part of a successful morning’s pacing duties for his hard working athletes.

Literally one second ahead was Doncaster’s most improved runner for some years, Chris Pye, who has smashed 11 PBs this year as a direct result of running to his heart rate zones set up in his lactate threshold test at the clinic.

Chris ran a huge 67 minute lifetime best at this year’s Manchester marathon, obliterating his previous fastest time with a 3:02.34 clocking, while his times for the mile, 5k, 5m, 10m and the half marathon have also been dramatically slashed in 2015.

Narrowly missing out on a podium finish was Chris’s club mate and top V50, Simon Wright, whose 34:26 represented his second fastest 10k time of the year as he crossed the line in a fine 5th position overall, just ahead of elite triathlete Team Blizard star, Mike Chadwick, who clocked a brilliant 34:50, exclaiming afterwards "I’m now super motivated for 2016 and a few months of hard training!"

To read more about our Mike's race at Bolsover click here to read his blog! http://blizardtrirt.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/mikes-bolsover-10k-race-report.html

Meanwhile, in need of a trip to the off licence to buy Coach Tune some ‘PB wine’ are Steve McAleavy and Jonathan Drake, whose times of 43:39 and 36:39 meant they finished 2015 with lifetime best 10k times!

Jonathan’s Bolsover result saw him take more than half a minute off his previous fastest time, while Steve was over the moon with his time when he said: "Well pleased with my 10km PB at Bolsover - thanks to David Tune and Team Blizard Physiotherapy #lactatetrainingpaysoff - roll on 2016!”

Also in fine form over the 6.2m distance was Nene Valley Harriers’ Yvonne Scarrott, who ran her quickest time for 19 months at the wet and blustery Andy Reading 10k in Chesterton.

Yvonne also won the first V45 prize for her 41:46 result, and joined Steve in expressing her thanks to Dave, happily adding ‘the hard work is paying off’!

Meanwhile, fresh from his fastest 5m time in years at the Portsmouth Victory 5m, Winchester's Jamie Jones claimed his first parkrun first place finish at Andover on Saturday.

Having missed his threshold session, he was in the mood for working harder over the muddy parkrun terrain, but despite taking victory by some margin, he said he still felt 'well within himself' - great going Jamie!

Finally, the recent heavy rain and unseasonably warm weather combined to create a properly muddy cross country course at the South Yorkshire county championships at Campsall yesterday.

One of Jenny’s top young physiotherapy clients, elite steeplechaser Bertie Houghton, won the men’s event in style, beating off some very stiff opposition to triumph on the near 10k course.

Also performing well was our own elite Team Blizard athlete Fiona Davies, who was third lady and first veteran on the day, beaten only by top fell and mountain runner and 34 minute 10k guest on the day, Julie Briscoe, and 20-year-old Hannah Fletcher from Hallamshire.

Fiona covered the challenging 3.6 mile course in a swift 23:53, while Sheffield's Trevor Neville and Chris Ireland also ran well in the men’s event, with Trevor covering the 5.9m in an impressive 38:38 to finish 8th M40 and just ahead of club mate Chris.