Wednesday, 30 October 2019

HEXHAM 10K 2019


THE FINAL RACE IN MY 100 RACE CHALLENGE
Yes, the challenge that I set myself on my 65th birthday, 29 March 2015, has come to an end at Tyne Green, Hexham on Sunday 27 October 2019.

My original challenge, (BlogSpot -  65forizzi) was to complete 65 races in a year and until I mistakenly believed that a 65 year old could run at 4.20 minute pace ( albeit for a short downhill stretch in the Wallington 10K 2015), I was well on course  to do so.

The subsequent achilles injury meant my original target for 65 races wasn't completed until the 25 May 2016, some two months late, but still not bad for a 66 year old. Not good enough for someone as competitive as me, however and I immediately set myself a new target, to complete 100 races in two years, to 29 March 2017.

You may have noticed that I have gone some 2.5 years over the new target, but life got in the way and having survived an Ischemic Stroke in December 2016, it is only now that I can declare my challenge is complete.

On Sunday I ran through my latest injury, a hamstring strain, to record a very slow 54.24 finishing time in the HEXHAM 10K 2019. Maybe I am too hard on myself, for I was in the top half of the race finishers (just) in 237th position from a field of 503, but injury free I can and will do better -  next challenge to get below 50 minutes again in a 10K ! Oh for those far off days (actually my forties), when I could consistently run 10 kilometres in sub 40 minutes.

Having declared my intent to improve on my 10k times, I am also looking for my next challenge, to start on my 70th birthday,  29 March 2020. Any suggestions?

The full list and stats for the 100 races is below under 65forizzi and Going for 100. If you google 65forizzi and petergraham100 you can see my blogs on the majority of my races.

Originally, my challenge was to remember a fellow Tynedale Harrier, Islam Ali (Izzi ) who tragically died at a very young age in a Triathlon training accident on the A69 outside Hexham. I have enjoyed a very long life compared to Izzi and I am still running. I have decent health and a wonderful family including two grandsons, Alfie and Theo, I am truly blessed.

Highlights of this challenge

Race no. 4 - 18 April 2015 - Newcastle Town Moor Parkrun  - Finishing Time 21.44
     -do-   8 - 4 May 2015  - Ashington Triathlon - My first and last tri.
     -do-  9 -  5 May 2015 -  Les Alcorn 10K - 2nd V60  with trembling legs the day after my first tri.
     -do- 14 - 6 Jun 2015 -  Grasmere Gallop Trail Race - 1st V60 and running with my son Chris.
     -do- 58 - 20 Apl 2016 - Keswick 10K - 1st V60
     -do- 78 - 11 Sept 2016 - Great North Run - 1st V65 in 1.42.43
     -do - 86 25 Feb 2017   - Prudhoe Parkrun - My first race after my stroke, time irrelevant.
 All of my 1st V65 wins - Well I am competitive!

Statistics

Finishing time              54.24
Position                        237  (503 ran)
Category Position        178 male (240 ran)
Age category                5th V65

65FORIZZI
March 29th 2015- March 2016
Date Race Event                     Time Overall Finishing
Position 
Category
Position
Comments
29-Mar 1 Hartlepool Marina 5 mile 36.27 173 3rd V65 516 ran
07-Apr 2 Monthly Mile S Shields 6.27 20 na 79 ran
12-Apr 3 Blyth Valley 10k 45.34 296 3rd  V65 563 ran
18-Apr 4 Park Run Ncle 5K 21.44 147 3rd V65 646 ran
19-Apr 5 Gibside Great Run Local 5K 24.28 8 n/a 51 ran. 
22-Apr 6 Keswick Round the Houses 46.11 88 3rd V60 186 ran
25-Apr 7 Park Run Ncle 5K 22.44 149 2nd V65 601 ran
04-May 8 Ashington Triathlon 88.48 190 4th 1st 5k 
05-May 9 Les Allcorn 10K, Alnwick 45.53 57 2nd V60 125 ran
10-May 10 Great Run Local 5K 25.05 6 n/a 45 ran
13-May 11 Latrigg Short Fell Race 28.5 67 3rd V60 87 ran
24-May 12 Gibside Great Run Local 24.3 10 n/a 50 ran
27-May 13 George Ogle Mem. 6m 43.13 66 1st V60 195 ran
06-Jun 14 Grasmere gallop Trail Race 50.12 25 1st V60 305 ran
09-Jun 15 Blaydon Race 40.13 621 3rd V65 3825 ran
13-Jun 16 Park Run , Ncle 22.2 100 1st V65 511 ran
17-Jun 17 Humbleton Hill Fell Race 47.18 31 2nd V60 59 ran
21-Jun 18 Lambton 10K 47.36 117 2nd V60 715 ran
01-Jul 19 Tynedale 10K 45.1 182 n/a no chip
05-Jul 20 Red Kite Trail Race 73.57 18 n/a 86 ran
15-Jul 21 Kirkley 10K 45.59 58 1st V65 165 ran
25-Jul 22 Park Run Ncle 5K 22.42 101 1st V65 439 ran
29-Jul 23 Wallington 10K 45.59 52 1st V65 158 ran
05-Sep 24 Gloucester Park Run 23.5 28 1st V65 180 ran
19-Sep 25 Ncle Park Run 25.07 218 1st V65 540 ran
27-Sep 26 Prudhoe Miners 10K 49.06 66 1st V 65 140 ran
03-Oct 27 Park Run Gibside 24.36 14 1st V 65 60 ran
04-Oct 28 Gt Run Local Gibside 25.54 7 1st V 65 54 ran
06-Oct 29 Monthly Mile South Shields 6.44 18 na 18/22
10-Oct 30 Sherman Cup 45.31 391 1st V65 464 ran
17-Oct 31 Gibside Trail Race 59.38 212 8th V60 442 ran
24-Oct 32 Park Run Newcastle 22.57 164 1st v60 562 ran
25-Oct 33 Great Run Local 5K 25.56 8 1st V55/65 57 ran
01-Nov 34 Derwentwater 10 mile 79.19 211 5th V65 436 ran
03-Nov 35 Monthly Mile 6.43 18 na 69 ran
03-Nov 36 Park Run Newcastle 24.16 118 1st v65 369 ran
08-Nov 37 Town Moor 10K 46.54 302 3rd V65 549 ran
15-Nov 38 Park Run Newcastle 23.38 123 1st V65 470 ran
21-Nov 39 Aykley HeadsCross country 54.52 459 2nd V65 592 ran
01-Dec 40 Monthly Mile 6.44 12 na 90 ran
06-Dec 41 Park Run Ncle 5K 25.32 192 4th V65 363 ran
19-Dec 42 Saltwell 10K 49.36 190 5th V65 419 ran
20-Dec 43 Gibside 5K 27.03 na na fun run
05-Jan 44 Monthly mile S. Shields 7.19 14 na 47 ran
30-Jan 45 Riverside Parkrun 24.54 104 2nd v65 229 ran
02-Feb 46 Monthly mile 7.02 13 na 47 ran
06-Feb 47 No Ego Head Torch Lambton 45.56 44 1st v60 180 Ran
13-Feb 48 Park Run Finsbury Park 24.27 96 1st V65 261 ran
20-Feb 49 Park Run Newcastle 23.25 115 1st v65 490 ran
02-Mar 50 Monthly Mile South Shields 6.45 7 na 46 ran
12-Mar 51 Riverside Park Run 22.47 65 2nd V65 231 ran
13-Mar 52 Gibside Great Run Local 24.42 6 na 71 ran
26-Mar 53 Park Run Newcastle 22.47 93 3rd V65 457 ran
27-Mar 54 N. Tyne 10K 45.46 331 1st v65 1779 ran
3 Apl 55 Blyth V. 10K 45.54 221 4th V65 498 ran
10 Apl  56 Sandancer 10K 46.33 130 6th V60 400ran
16 Apl 57 Park Run Town Moor 22.47 135 1st V65 515 ran
20 Apl 58 Keswick 10K 47.01 89 1st V60 179 ran
23 Apl 59 Parkrun Ncle 22.01 131 1st V65 684 ran
26 Apl 60 Spadeadam 10K 46.52 4 3rd male 18 ran
26 Apl 61 Riverside Parkrun 22.28 42 2nd V65 223 ran
01-May 62 Sunderland 10K 46.01 202 2nd V60 1809 ran
03-May 63 Les Allcorn 10K, Alnwick 45.46 57 2nd V60 139 ran
21-May 64 Park Run Town Moor 22.34 117 1st V65 651 ran
25-May 65 George Ogle Mem. 6m 43.03 61 2nd V60 171 ran
Going for 100
01-Jun 66 Vindolanda 10K 48.06 40 1st V65 153 ran
04-Jun 67 Grasmere Gallop 10K 50.35 41 2nd V65 348 ran
09-Jun 68 Blaydon Race 40.08 729 2nd V65 4129 ran
15-Jun 69 Newburn River Run 48.4 95 3rd V60 266 ran
22-Jun 70 Humbleton Hill Fell Race 48.19 32 1st V60 60ran
25-Jun 71 Gibside Parkrun 24.24 19 1st V65 93 ran
03-Jul 72 Great North 10K 46.55 514 1st V65 NA 4104ran
06-Jul 73 Tynedale 10K 45.16 160 2nd V65 379 ran
20-Jul 74 Wallington 10K 48.36 34 1st V65 159 ran
24-Jul 75 Great Run Local 5K 30.27 21 na ran 6k
17-Aug 76 Stamfordham10K 46.25 35 1st v65 139 ran
03-Sep 77 Rising Sun Parkrun 22.29 30 1st V65 178ran
11-Sep 78 Great North Run 1.42.43 3068 1st V65 57K ran
18-Sep 79 Tynedale 10 mile 1.25.30 35 2nd V60 109 ran
24-Sep 80 Townmoor Parkrun 22.35 109 2ndv65 553 ran
15-Oct 81 Townmoor Parkrun 22.52 159 3rd V65 643 ran
29-Oct 82 Townmoor Parkrun 22.2 162 2nd v65 650 ran
30-Oct 83 Great Run Local 5K 25.24 14 1st v65 80 ran
13-Nov 84 Prudhoe Parkrun 25.24 85 2nd v65 295 ran
26-Nov 85 Prudhoe Parkrun 25.02 21 1st v65 108 ran
25-02-17 86 Prudhoe Parkrun 28.46 72 1st v65 110 ran
09-Jun 87 Blaydon Race 2017 53.06 2611 4319 ran
09-Jul 88 Great North 10K 56.44 1291 8th v65 3434 ran
19-8-17 89 Prudhoe Parkrun 28.01 71 2nd v65 128 ran
9 Jun'18 90 Blaydon Race 2018 47.21 1497 38/173 v60 4351 ran
13 jun'18 91 Newburn river run 6 50.52 193 10th v60 325ran
20-Jun 92 Humbleton Hill Fell Race 62.33 40 2nd v60 45ran
04-Jul 93 Tynedale 10k 2018 55.01 242 6th V60 335ran 
18-Jul 94 Durham 10K 2018 53.49 576 5th v60 1796 ran
25-Jul 95 Prudhoe Parkrun 25.31 ? 1st V65
29-Sep 96 Wrekenton X C 179 Non C. 450 ran
28-Oct 97 Hexham 10K 51.33 192 2nd V65 440 ran
11-Jul
Apl 24 '19 98 Keswick Round the Houses 35.48 155 10th  -21 295 ran
01-Aug 99 Prudhoe Parkrun 26.2 44 1st v65 113 ran
27 Oct '19 100 Hexham 10K 2019 54.24 237 5th V65 503 ran
THE END



Thursday, 1 November 2018

Race 97 Hexham 10K 2018


Sunday 28 October 2018

Only three races to go in my 100 Race Challenge and I am feeling good!

In just a few short weeks it will be two years since I had a stroke and whilst I will never be as fit, or as fast as I was in December 2016, I am starting to enjoy my running again. So much so, that I was able to push it all the way to the line on Hexham's Tyne Green last Sunday.

I realised that I was getting there when, at the start of  the Hexham 10K,  I was frustrated by the pace. My own fault of course, for I had started too far back in the field of 440 runners. Yes, in the 85 races completed  by that fateful date,  everyone of them was flat out. I thought those ' eye balls out ' days were over, but on Sunday I did the zig - zagging well known to all of us who have taken part in Great North Runs and got out of the crowd, then  ran at My Pace.

Ok, my pace at the start of the challenge was probably seven minute miling and I am not going to get back to that, but in the last few months I have surprised myself with the improvement in race pace.

In 2017 I did not have the confidence to do more than a couple of races and was happy at nine minute miling. This year it has been nearer to eight and a half minute pace and on Sunday, eight minute 20. Only a ten second improvement per mile, but significant to me.

Heading into Corbridge and the turning point for the return to Hexham, Jules Pearson , a fellow Tynedale Harrier, greeted me as she passed, offering a few words of encouragement.
 " I'll pick up the pace at the five mile mark" said I, without realising I had already done so. As I in turn, passed Jules, I said
 "You'll soon catch me", but it was only on the finish line that I saw Jules again, she having closed me down right at the end, finishing just five seconds behind, in 51.38.

Whilst chatting to Jules at the finish we were joined by another Tynedale Harrier, Ben Heathcote. Ben had finished in 5th place for 35.26 minutes. Both time and position were excellent considering that he had done the latest Harrier League Cross Country the day before. Before we set off in the race I had set Ben the target of finishing in the top three, but amended this to fourth place when he told me of his previous day's efforts. Being a really good guy he remarked that he had let me down on that one place!

So, it is down to my last three races to complete this one hundred race challenge, can I bring my 10K  time down to 50 minutes? 50.59 will do!

Statistics:
Finishing postion 192
440 Ran
Time  51.33



Pushing at the finish

Saturday, 20 October 2018

Race No. 96  N.E. Harrier League Cross Country Wrekenton

29 September 2018

Race No. 96 in my 100 race challenge should have taken place a couple of months ago, but a nasty virus caught from my 2 year old grandson, Alfie ( God Bless the little smasher), meant five weeks out of action. So it was back to training again, before I could even think of  racing. So the first N.E. Harrier League cross country of the season, at Wrekenton, became the much delayed race number 96.

Under a lovely blue sky it just didn't seem like crosss country season, but whose complaining? I certainly wasn't complaining about the weather, nor the fact that I had only to complete two of the three laps, for, as a V65 Vet., I could now run with the Ladies.

It would be wonderful if I could claim any part in Tynedale Ladies actually winning the event, but as a non-counter I cannot do so - pity! Tynedale's Lisa Tang was the winner of this race in 25.51, backed up by Rachel Vincent (6th), Jeannie Brady (15th), Kim Bluck (48th), Elizabeth Earle (90th)and Kirstie Anderson (115th). They were ably supported by Steph Bingham (140th), Charlie Pinkney(161st) just ahead of me, in 179th position. Carol Marshall and Louise Griffin were ninth and 10th Tynedale Ladies. 450 ladies ran today.

So for my comeback in cross country, I would declare myself well pleased. My next challenge is back on the roads, for the Hexham 10K next Sunday 28 October 2018. I am looking to see if I can start chipping the minutes off  my current 10K time , the future target being 50 minutes, here's hoping. 

Tynedale Mens' Team

Tynedale Lades Team plus Me

Wednesday, 25 July 2018

Race No. 95 Prudhoe Riverside Parkrun 21 July 2018

I love racing. Yes, after my stroke in December 2016 I thought that my racing days were over, but after having to slow down in 2017, in 2018 I am lifting the pace, a little.

In every race of the 84 that I completed, before calling a (temporary) halt in my challenge, I simply ran at my best pace from the start and tried to hold on to the finish line. I would like to say that my race pace was about seven minutes 30 per mile, but it varied according to the terrain, sometimes faster, but normally 45 minutes/46 minutes for a 10k race.

During those races,  I regularly checked my watch (Garmin Forerunner) for my pace. Now I check my watch even more regularly, but for my heart rate. For the main consequence of my stroke was that my heart has to work harder when I exert myself. It has taken 18 months for me to find what I can achieve in running without (hopefully) putting too much stress on my body. This involves a slow warm up, a relatively, gentle pace for the first mile, then a gradual increase to my steady 8.30 minute race pace. I am not going to achieve any more age category wins at this pace, but I am running again and vitally, enjoying it!

At Prudhoe Riverside last Saturday part of my warm up was cycling through the Country Park to the start. This was followed by a slow warm up and a gentle start, perhaps half way down the field of runners. Keeping my pace (and heart rate) down in the first lap meant that I was able to gradually able to allow both to increase for the second and final lap.

I was being so good, keeping my usual competitive instincts under control, when who did I spot just ahead of me with half a mile to go? Yes, fellow Tynedale Harrier, Keith Robson. This is a guy who   didn't just dream of living the dream, he did it, moving to the French Alps some years ago to lead an outdoor sporting life. He is now back in this country and was testing out his recovery from a knee. problem. At first I wasn't gaining on him, but with just a few hundred yards to go I realised that if I caught him as the course descended to the finish, well who knows? The image (below) shows the outcome.

So with just five races remaining in my 100 race challenge, how do I feel? Pretty good is the answer, having recorded 25.31  min. for this 5K Parkrun. Following on from a decent race at Durham (10K) just a couple of days before, I am ready for number 96 whichwill probably be the Morpeth 10K in a couple of weeks.

My thanks go to the Parkrun volunteers at Prudhoe Riverside and to my fellow Tynedale Harrriers at Prudhoe:
Adam Pratt, Lisa Tang, Willow Lloyd, Martin Bluck, Charlie Pinkney, Keith Robson,Kim Firstbrook, Liz Foster and Liz Sanderson.


Going for it at the finish - Keith Robson is in the cap


A slow start
Image may contain: 11 people, tree, plant, child, outdoor and nature

A steady first lap





Image may contain: 1 person, standing and outdoor