Four Races In Eight Days But A Bug Bites

Park Run Newcastle 25 April 2015
So here we are four weeks into the challenge and seven races completed. The latest, today's Park Run on Newcastle's Town Moor, was my fourth in the last eight days. It should have been a routine run out but the stomach bug I have been carrying since the Keswick 10K, on Wednesday, made it anything but routine.
On Wednesday I was aware during the race that I had an ache, but ignored it. In the night I had stomach spasms, but couldn't decide the cause. Muriel asked if I had been taking Ibuprofen and I had to confess that I had taken a few. I have been using them as a crutch (metaphorically) to take the edge off the various injury niggles I am suffering and on reflection the pains were very like those that I suffer if I am ever daft enough to take aspirin, the latter literally burn my stomach. So no more ibrufen, well not for the moment.
At the start of Saturday's Park Run I knew I was well below par and set off at a reasonable pace, clocking seven minute miles. If I had hoped that this would mean that there would be something extra in the tank for the latter part of the race I was mistaken as the pace slipped and I finished in 22.44 mins, averaging 7.19 pace.
Results showed me in 149th position from a field of 601 and second in the V65 category.
Hopefully, I can get rid of this bug and get some serious training in next week before the Ashington Triathlon on 4 May 2015. I certainly need it, for I am way outside my comfort zone in tackling my first tri. Last week when I went to Hexham Wentworth Pool for a practise swim I started to question what on earth I am thinking about; I will probably be the only entrant who will be doing the breast stroke, plus one of the few (only one?) who will not be clipped in for the cycle ride. Did I say that I was outside my comfort zone?
Anyway, what is a challenge if it doesn't challenge you? Roll on Ashington.

Newcastle Town Moor

Keswick Round the Houses 10K 22 April 2015

Race no. 6 Keswick Round The Houses 10K

My sixth race and I am on schedule.
This race took place in the Lakeland Holiday town of Keswick, Cumbria, one of my favourite places in the world. I have been coming here for over fifty years, first camping with my brother, Bill,  and friend, Ronny Leedham, when I was about twelve years old. We had taken about four buses to get here from Sunderland all those years ago. You just cannot imagine parents allowing kids to do such a thing these days. Three years later I was back in Keswick, this time properly supervised by (Bede Grammar) school teachers at Derwent Hill, an outdoor centre owned by Sunderland Education Authority. I was passing through Portinscale (the precise location) recently and found that it was still in their hands. It's  great that youngsters can still enjoy the outdoor life there, as fifty years after my first visit I can still remember the wonderful time spent under canvas. One highlight was a ten mile hike circumventing the lake and climbing to Watendleth, before the downhill stretch back down to Derwentwater.
But back to my challenge. Wednesday evening and the sun was shining over Derwentwater as I sought out registration in Fitz Park. A £7.00 on the day entry fee was pretty good value after some whopping fees which are charged these days - I know they often include a free t-shirt, but just how many t-shirts can my cupboard hold?
Come seven pm and the runners were lining up for the start. As summer had finally arrived in these parts it was vest and racing shorts for me and away we went. My training partner, Brian Stonehouse, was also doing this race, well done Brian having already travelled to and from York on business earlier in the day.
 The first two miles were fairly easy and I was averaging just under seven minute pace but not really feeling on top form. Maybe the seven consectutive days exercise, including Saturday and Sunday's 5K races were taking their toll, as was the previous night's swim followed by a run around Hexham. Anyway, who said this challenge was going to be easy? And then we hit the HILL! Yes a b.....y hill which saw a climb of 350 feet and my pace drop down to exactly nine minutes. So I had lost (or gained) two minutes to my pace. Of course an uphill section is always followed by a downhill stretch and I did enjoy dashing down the Ambleside road back into Keswick. Subsequent downloading from my GPS watch told me mile 3 was 6.44ins, but it felt faster at the time. Back through the centre of Keswick then a slight uphill section before turning into Fitz Park for the last half mile. I would have loved to say that I really raced this bit, but truthfully I was tiring and the pace was just below 7.30 mins. Through the line in 46.12., a reasonable time.
Calling into race HQ, I asked what prizes were on offer at V65 level, back came the answer "well, there's a prize at V60 and another at V70" , "that's my answer" said I.
On my return home I was pleased to find that I was actually 3rd V60, a good result in what was a strong field made up almost entirely of wiry, Cumbrian Club Runners - they are a hardy bunch in this neck of the woood.
Brian Stonehouse was 5th V60 in 48.06. Well done Brian.
A final note on my visit to Cumbria. At the caravan site at which we stayed, Burns Farm, Threlkeld, I was chatting to a Fireman from Newcastle, Lee Greener. Lee said that he used to be a good cross country runner as a boy. Well Lee, are you going to accept my challenge to take up running again? If you do, and join us at the Park Run, Newcastle, you will have helped me to achieve one of the ambitions of this challenge 'to inspire even one person to take up running and thus improve their lifestyle'.

In Praise of Volunteers

Great Run Local Gibside Chapel 19 April 2015

Having run yesterday at the PARK RUN Newcastle Town Moor, today I travelled to a local beauty spot, Gibside Chapel, a National Trust site near Rowlands Gill.
No sunshine today for my run/race, but I was up for it and despite being a little tired after my hard earned pb yesterday I was looking to do my best.
Yesterday there were 646 starters for the Park Run, today was a much lower key event with 51 runners in my 5K race and 27 running the 2K course. Both PARK RUN and GREAT RUN LOCAL are Not For Profit events set up to encourage people to have healthy lifestyles by being more active, I back them to the hilt in this. What I particularly admire in the organisation of these runs is the number of volunteers who turn out every week to make them happen. Without these volunteers this wonderful activity could not happen, so even if you cannot, or do not run, why not volunteer? I can guarantee that you will find a friendly bunch at these events.
Now here is a promise from me. When I pick up my next injury (it will happen) and cannot run I will look to volunteer. There, promise made.
Turning to today's race, whilst this was my first ever Great Run Local, it was not my first race at Gibside, for I have ran the Gibside Fruit Bowl, a race that takes place late in the year over this hilly location. Did I say hilly? When I last did it I compared it to a fell race, so up and down was the course. Today I let the fast starters go, for I had been warned that the first two miles were up hill and they were! This was not a race for my usual clock watching to keep on the pace, the times were all over the place as steep clicks were followed by steady climbs. As promised, after two miles the top of the climb among the conifers was reached (in about 18 minutes). Then it was round the cone to complete a loop of the course before plunging downhill at pace. Oh, I love sprinting downhill! Through the finish in 24.28 mins and my first Great Run Local was complete.
As I look forward to my Sunday roast I can only offer 'A big THANK YOU to those volunteers who have made it an excellent weekend. Have a look at the websites.

AND THE SUN SHONE!

Sat. 18 April 2015 Newcastle Park Run.


 Yes, finally at the fourth attempt the sun shone on one of my races.
This was the first Park Run of my challenge (although my eight Park Run overall) and what a good one in many ways. Firstly, hurrah!, the sun shone and I wore a vest for the first time this year. Secondly, it was the biggest field I have seen at Newcastle's Town Moor for a Park Run, all of 646 runners. Thirdly and most important of all, I ran well. How well? Read on.
Lets first flip back to Wednesday when I had intended to do a Fell Race, The Grisedale Grind. The intention was to take Basset Hound Maisie to the Lake District, for me to run the race and then Maisie and I would wild camp on the Fells. With a forecasted overnight temperature of 2c I was starting to have second thoughts. At a revised -2c I chickened out!
Thursday saw me try out my loan bike, a road bike, for the upcoming triathlon.
On Friday, Louise Griffin and I put in an easy run up through Whittle Dene and back through Horsley Woods. At 9 minute mile pace it was pure enjoyment. This left me up for a good weekend and hopefully two races.
So Saturday dawned with a blue sky and sunshine. Warming up around the moor I was actually warm, what a novel experience.
Lining up with all those runners I was very pleased to meet a former Tynedale Harrier, Lucy Wallace, a lovely young girl I hadn't seen for at least fifteen years. Lucy had been one of a trio of young Harriers that I used to coach, the others being the Pearson Twins, Kimberley and Holly.
Exchanging expected times, Lucy volunteered 18 minutes I said 22 minutes and hoped that I could achieve it.
Well to cut a long tale short, I was able to keep well below 7 minute pace for the first 3k then just had to hang in to finish in 21.44 mins. That's my best result at 5k since I turned 60, am I pleased? What do you think?
Actual results, as you can see from the schedule below, were that I was 147th out of 646 runners and third overall in my category. Looking at the statistics, which Park Run provide, in my previous life as a V60 vet my best time was 21.59 which made me 35th out of 155 gadgees. This latest result puts me into seventh position out of 67 runners at V65 level. Who knows if the warm weather continues I might be able to take another second or two off.


Now it only remains to have another early morning, tomorrow and I might be able to run my first GREAT RUN LOCAL at Gibside.

Sixty Five for Izzi 2015
March 29th 2015- March 2016
Date	Number	Event	Time	Overall Finishing Position	Category Position	Comments
29-Mar	1	Hartlepool Marina 5 mile	36.27	173	3	Third, but only two prizes for category!
07-Apr	2	Monthly Mile S Shields	6.27	20	na	20th out of 79
12-Apr	3	Blyth Valley 10k	45.34	296	3	Target- improve finish time
18-Apr	4	Park Run Ncle 5K	21.44	147	3	147/646 A big field!
19-Apr	5	Sand Dancer 10K
25-Apr	6	Park Run
26-Apr	7	Wallsend T. O'Gara Mem. 5K
29-Apr	8	Whinlatter
04-May	9	Ashington Triathlon
05-May	10	Les Alcorn 10K
09-May	11	Park Run

My Third Race Blyth Valley 10K 12 April 2015

 Well, I am now three down in my 65 race challenge having completed the Blyth Valley 10k yesterday, Sunday 12 April 2015.
Until I sat down to type this latest blog I hadn't realised that all three of my races had been on the coast, infact at the water's edge. At this time of year this has meant having to deal with the cold and for the first half of the races, running into a strong headwind.
This was very much the case as fellow Tynedale Harrier, Brian Stonehouse,  and I set off from Blyth Harbour south to Seaton Sluice. On a nice warm day (is there such a thing on the Northumberland coast?) this would be very pleasant. Yesterday it was just cold and hard to enjoy.
As is becoming the norm I held back my usual 'go for it' pace to just below the 7 minute mile pace through the first mile and then settled into 7.10 / 7.20 until the turn for home at Seaton Sluice. Would the wind be behind , would it push me home? In a word, no, or it certainly didn't feel that way.
When I last raced with Brian (Prudhoe Miners) he had passed me after a couple of miles. In this race he was behind and I expected to see him at any moment in the second half. Coming back into Blyth there was no sign of him and glancing at my watch it was all about keeping to a decent pace and finishing in 44/45 minutes - oh for the old days of sub 40 minutes! Head down with the finish in sight, pace up and through the line in 45.29 by my watch, followed by Brian about a minute later.
By now the heavens had opened and I was shivering with the cold. Would it be worthwhile to wait for the results, was I in the prizes? No and possibly, yes, was the immediate response. No, because I was cold and sore - that's the last time I go for a hard cycle ride before a race - and yes, I might be in the first three for my age category. I knew that I hadn't won the category for I had seen Harry Matthews from Elswick Harriers ahead of me at the start., but how many prizes were on offer?
Overnight the results have been published showing Harry (209) was first in the category with a time of 42.43, Ian Richardson of North Shields Poly (292) was second in 45.27 and I was third (296) in 45.34. No word yet on prizes.
Today, Monday,  I am still sore and suffering yet another new niggle, this time my right thigh. This had started after about two miles into the race and was no doubt caused by my cycle ride the day before. If I can jog tomorrow without too much pain I will consider my first fell race , The Grisedale Grind , in the Lakes on Wednesday. Lets wait and see.

A Filler Rather Than A Thriller AKA a Welcome Destination To 1 Million Runners

The sun is going down on the beach at South Shields after the second race of my challenge.

This is me in the twilight on South Shields beach at the end of April's Monthly Mile event. I used this short, very short race  to keep my schedule on course after a weekend away at Kelso Antiques Fair.
Having registered for the event on Monday evening, 7pm Tuesday found me lining up with the Intermediate Group to run a fast mile. Research of previous results informed me that the Advanced Group were very fast, from under 5 minutes to a max of 6.30. March's results indicated that a time of just over 6 minutes should win the Intermediate Group, so that was my choice ( 7minutes for the Beginners' Group).
Lining up with the other 14 runners I felt reasonably confident, then away we went!
"What pace is this?" said I as we flew away from the start. A glance at my Forerunner said 5.18 min. pace.
"They'll come back to me " I thought as they kept on going at that pace.
5.30 / 5.40/ 6.00/ 5.40/ 4.42/ 5.10/ 6.12 my pace was all over the place and the finish was in sight. Through the line, a tap on the watch said 6.25 mins. Where did that time come from as my pace never went over 6.12? That must remain a mystery for the official time was 6.27 min.
I was officially 9th out of 15 in the Intermediate Group which was won in 5.42. Overall, I was 20th out of 79 runners. There was no age grading.
Did I learn anything from a mile race, a distance which is only a third of the distance of my regular Park Runs ( and a sixth of what used to be regular 10Ks)? Yes, firstly,  I don't have the speed in my legs now, if I ever did. Secondly, after only six minutes of effort I hardly had time to raise a sweat. Worthwhile? Yes, I would say so as I am on schedule and ready for my next challenge - The Blyth 10K on Sunday.
Turning to the headline above, maybe 'A filler rather than a killer' means different things to different people, but to me it is about the tracks on a rock album, as a head banging follower of Linkin Park, Foo Fighters, Wolfmother, Blink 182 etc, it means something to pad out the album, something they do not do. I would like to think that this race was more than a filler for my schedule. Being as competitive as I am it has set me a challenge, get fitter, get faster, come back and get down to 6 minutes for that mile.
'A welcome destination for a million runners', everyone knows that reference don't they? If not I will tell you that last year's Great North Run saw the millionth runner complete the half marathon from Newcastle upon Tyne to South Shields, finishing just short of where the photo was taken.

My Second Race In The Challenge - Monthly Mile South Shields - Tuesday 7 April 2015

One race into my 65 race challenge and a new injury scare/problem!



The Junction Pool, River Tweed, Kelso




Yes, after feeling so good after my first race in both body and mind, I went to Harriers on Tuesday night last week to face the usual question - which group should I train with?


The 1st Group were doing a pyramid session on the track, second group going out onto the roads. I'll go onto the track said I.
Hugh Bingham announced the session :
1 x 1200 metres
2 x 800 metres
3 x 400 metres
4 x 200 metres


I think it was 1 x 1600 metres after that, but I didn't get that far, for after the 1,200 metres at just over 6  minute pace (for me, anyway) I had a painful hamstring. I pushed on through the 800s and knew that I would easily manage the 400's - I can manage 400s all night at a good pace.
Well, yes I managed them, moving up from the back of the field to finish each of them with Neil Cassidy - note please that I did not push ahead of him, simply pacing Neil to the line each time.


200 metres next, with a hamstring niggle I knew that I would turn that niggle into an injury at 200 metres pace, so that was my session done for the night.


So here I am a week down the line with a suspect hamstring. On Saturday I was away for the weekend at Kelso Antiques Fair. The showgound in Kelso, where the fair was taking place, actually looks onto the world famous Junction Pool on the Tweed (famous to Salmon Anglers, that is), which meant I could kill two birds with one stone, have a look at the Tweed and test my hamstring.


Well, there was an angler being rowed by his ghillie over the actual junction stream itself. Was he really spinning? Oh dear, another sign of my age, for I never used to be snobbish about spinning, maybe its because my own syndicate on the River Tyne is fly only. One or two anglers were also fishing from the bank, but in the short time  was there whilst I saw a few salmon show, I didn't see any caught.


Back into my jog, I kept the pace down at 9.30 minute pace and jogged as much as possible on the softer grass surface. After about three miles I was back to my caravan with only a little discomfort from said hamstring. Since getting home I have done a bit stretching and last night I had the roller on my legs. Yes, there is an area of tenderness still there but surely I can manage a single mile without doing too much damage, can't I?