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!!