I find the later excuse pretty week. 2 weeks out from Manchester, good time to get a sharpener in, even if just at race pace. The only positive for not racing is not wanting to travel to limit fatigue/illness, though this varies where your race is.
Failed to get a HHS team out for the Northern's which is a shame. Trying to wrangle 12 blokes can be difficult. I was willing to run Wilmslow half then drive to Birkenhead to make up the numbers but now don't have to. Sacked off the half as well.