Tynedale 10K 2016 - My Home Race

Race no. 73
https://youtu.be/6oWwpF-SDeg

Though Wylam

My club race, through my home village and running with my son, Chris, what more could a guy want from a race?

This race, number 73 in my current challenge, actually took place on 6 July, but a nice holiday intervened a couple of days later and with number 74, Wallington 10K coming up tomorrow , 20 July, I thought that I better get this blog out.

I actually wanted to wait for some photos of this race to appear, but haven't found any, so last years showing me going through Wylam will have to do. Also, I actually did the same time as 2015 to the second, so that will do for me.

There was some doubt as to whether I should be running this race, for, I had given my hamstring a good old tweak the previous weekend in the Great North 10K. A visit to my chiropractor confirmed that there was no damage and with the advice to take it easy I was up for it.

I assured Chris that I wouldn't blast off down that steep hill from the start in Ovington and that was my intent. Well, I was actually holding back, but still the pace for that first mile was 6.25. As Chris passed me in mile 2, I had to admit that the hamstring was a bit sore at the bottom of the hill, but no pain and all that. The second mile was 7.16 pace, before averaging 7.30 through 3, 4 and 5. A push in the last mile and a bit took me through the line in 45.15 which is Ok.

In that last quarter mile my pal and Tynedale Chairman,  Ian Brown , was pacing me from the side lines. He then revealed that he had been forced to drop out with a calf problem. Ian, what a sensible chap you are.

Any hopes  I had that I might have taken my age category were dashed as I crossed Ovingham Bridge, for there was Mark McNally, a proper runner and a fellow V65. Mark had finished in 41.22. So it was that he was first and I was second V65. He finished in 88th position., I was 160th. Chris was 112th in 43.29. 379 ran which looks well down on previous years when this race was generally fully subscribed. Come on you runners next year, it is excellent and there is a pie and pea supper.

Now for tomorrow's Wallington and a reminder not to dash away down that particular hill at the start. Last year I damaged my achilles with my 4.30 (!!) starting pace. Ouch, it is painful even thinking about it and the 11 week injury absence. Will I learn to be sensible?