Race no.85 Prudhoe Riverside Parkrun

....and the calf goes

Jogging in a winter wonderland alongside fellow harrier Hilary Graham

Picking up the pace

After two weeks of rest and recovery from the hamstring injury, it was time to try a jog and what could be better than an easy jog around an icy Prudhoe Riverside Parkrun course.

The freezing cold morning must have put a lot of Parkrunners off, for numbers were down, from 295 in my previous run here to just over 100. For me, knowing that the -4c temperature overnight  would have frozen the muddy off road section was all the incentive I needed to give it a go.

In the event, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the offroad section, the muddy part, that is, had actually been resurfaced in the interim. Wow, that was almost unbelievably quick!

Letting my running pal, Brian Stonehouse,  go nearer to the front at the start, I was happy to settle into an easy jog for the first mile and even happier to find no discomfort from the hamstring. Then, just as I was feeling more confident in my running, there was a sharp pain in my calf, damn!

After a year of running injury free, I just cannot enjoy my running. What should I do, stop, or (wishful thinking) try and run it off? Yes, I chose the latter and as I jogged on the pain went from sharp to just discomfort. Picking up the pace a little, I went round the course for the second lap, easing back as I did so , no sprint finish for me today.

At the end I was 21st out of a field of 108 in 25.02. Brian was 17th in 23.45. Fellow Tynedale Harrier, Hilary Graham ( pictured above), was 39th in 26.57. For me, it is back to ice pack, rest, recovery and treatment. If there is any silver lining to the injury cloud, it is that recovery from a calf strain is, generally,  a lot quicker than a hamstring problem, here's hoping!

Brian pushes on

The Inaugral Prudhoe Riverside Parkrun

Race no. 84 Whoops I did it again

Runners gather for the first Prudhoe Parkrun

The test event

Look at my muddy legs

After an injury free year and just when I thought I would get some classic autumn races under the belt, my hamstring has given up on me, again.

Some years ago I realised that I was always just a sprint away from a hamstring injury, but in recent times it has all being going so well. Maybe I should have realised that track sessions are risky for me, but when you are going well in training and racing you, or rather me, go for it.

So it was that a couple of weeks ago I put in eight fast 600m sprints on the track and was left with a painful hamstring. In the following days I used the roller on the hamstring and also the tight periformis/sacrailiac/sciatic nerve and things were not too bad. As a precaution I also opted out of the Norman Woodcock 5m. The next day was the test event of the new Prudhoe Riverside Parkrun and in awful conditions of heavy rain and on a muddy course I was so sensible, jogging around at a reasonable pace." It seems ok", thought I, "tight, but ok". At the next Harrier session I simply jogged a few laps and again, it seemed that I might just have got away with it.

Come this last weekend, 12/13th Nov. I was entered for the Town Moor 10k on the Sunday, but thought I would test the hamstring with an easy jog in the inaugral Prudhoe Parkrun on the previous morning. Lining up with almost three hundred runners I felt quite good. In my warmup there was no discomfort, but I still moved back down the field at the start to make sure that I didn't set off too fast. Everything felt ok, perhaps a bit tight in the hamstring tendon, but nothing in the muscle itself. Then we got to the end of the first lap of two laps and b......., it just went. "Stop, or slow jog?" I opted for a slow jog and finished in a reasonable 25.24, but I knew that I had a strained hamstring.

A few days later, I am resting, massaging, using hot and cold packs and hoping I will be back within three to four weeks. In the meantime the Brampton to Carlisle Road Race has come a cropper, as has the Town Moor 10K. It will be too soon for the next Harrier League Cross Country and the Hexhamshire Hobble is doubtful. Just when it was looking an easy ask to complete my one hundred race challenge by 29 March 2017 it isn't looking a forgone conclusion.

I hate injury!!

Beautiful Gibside Chapel

Race no. 83 Great Run Local

Autumn Colours At Gibside

The Warm up

It was a short journey through Rowlands Gill for my second race of the weekend, the Great Run Local at Gibside, and what a beautiful setting for a crisp, autumn morning.

After a jog and organised warm up away we went, but I was off the pace as the fast guys left me for dead. Was it  the effort of yesterday's Parkrun, or that nice half bottle of Rioja last night? Who knows, but at least I found a bit of energy on the long pull uphill and actually caught and passed one of the front runners. Then, that very welcome turn for home and yes, I can still run fast, very fast downhill!

At the finish I recorded 25.24 for this tough 5K race, probably about par for the course. I was told on my very first run here that it was about three minutes slower than your average Parkrun time and that was pretty accurate.

By the time you return to your car and switch on your mobile the result from the run has already been texted. Lovely people, lovely surroundings, what more could you want from a run?

Statistics
14th position from a field of 80.
There is also a 2K course, just right for beginners, or anyone returning form injury.

A Two Race Weekend

Race no. 82 Town Moor Parkrun

Away We Go!

Looking comfortable

I recognise Chris' style and those long socks!

Pass me? Not this time!

The field is off!

 The month of October  has seen me just ticking over and conserving energy for a busy November to come with a cross country, the Brampton to Carlisle Road Race, Norman Woodcock at Gosforth Park and the Town Moor Memorial 10K scheduled for the month.

Saturday saw the Graham family back on the Town Moor, for another Parkrun. For Chris it was  milestone, a new 19.24 minute pb. For Laura, also a pb, as she enjoyed some 'me' time,  her parents looking after baby, Alfie. For me, just another day at the office, recording a 'standard' 5k circuit of the 'Moor'.

It was a perfect day for running, cool, but no wind as 650 runners set off on the 5K circuit. Chris had joined his Heaton Harriers' team mates at the front, whilst I tried to stick to my 'don't go off too fast' strategy. Laura, meanwhile, had her own challenge - one that mere men will never experience - getting back into running after giving birth.

As I ran, the crowded field thinned out a little and I cast around for my age category rivals. "How" , I wondered," had I only recorded a third place V65 last time out?" As the 4K marker was passed I spotted one of my rivals picking up his pace. "Not this time", I thought, as I also increased pace with a couple of hundred yards to go,  really putting my foot on the gas pedal all the way to the line. Looking at 'Strava' after the race I see that I recorded 5.37 minute miling pace to the line, that's fast!

I was second V65 in 22.20 for 162nd position. Joseph White, Sunderland Harriers was 165th in 22.24. Ian Mason was ahead of both of us in 22.03 for 153rd place. My next target is to get back under 22 minutes - why not?

Chris, who is steadily improving his finishing times, recorded 19.24 for 49th place. Laura finished in 31.05 for 524th.

That will be my last 'Town Moor' for a while as I look for a bit of variety in my racing. It will not be my last 5K however, as I fancy the hilly Great Run Local tomorrow at Gibside. I am also taking part in a test run for the latest Parkrun to start in this area, the Prudhoe Riverside Park, next Sunday. That after the Norman Woodcock Memorial Race next Saturday -no rest for the wicked!