Race Number 10 A Bit Of A Struggle

Izzi and the Tynedale Harriers on Helvellyn

Left to right: Marcus Byron, James Dickinson, Mike Broadhurst (back), Dave Armstrong, Peter Graham, Izzi, Peter Scott. Not pictured Neil Cassidy.

Date	Race	Event	Time	Overall Finishing Position	Category Position	Comments
29-Mar	1	Hartlepool Marina 5 mile	36.27	173	3	600 runners
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	296/563
18-Apr	4	Park Run Ncle 5K	21.44	147	3	147/646
19-Apr	5	Gibside Great Run Local 5K	24.28	8	n/a	51 runners. 1st GRL
22-Apr	6	Keswick Round the Houses	46.11	88	3 V60/69	186 runners
25-Apr	7	Park Run Ncle 5K	22.44	149	2nd	601 runners
04-May	8	Ashington Triathlon	1.28.48	190	4th	1st V60 in 5k run
05-May	9	Les Allcorn 10K, Alnwick	45.53	57	2nd V60	125 runners
10-May	10	Great Run Local 5K	25.05	6	n/a	45 runners

Great Run Local, Gibside 10 May 2015

Well that's ten races down and I am ready for the next challenge, hopefully my first fell race of the year, Latrigg at Keswick, in midweek.
After overdoing it this last week by following up my first ever triathlon, Ashington Sprint Tri, on Monday, I really went for it the very next night in the Les Allcorn at Alnwick. This combination took a lot out of me and I did nothing apart from rest, eat and drink until this morning.
Oh, I hate early morning races! Do you eat a decent breakfast? Probably not, maybe just cereal. In the event I had juice, cereal with fruit, a slice of toast and a croissant. Not a good idea as it turned out.
Setting off from Gibside Chapel, in my second Great Run Local, I followed the leader at a fast pace, but couldn't keep it going, quickly conceding four places as we hit the hills. Another runner then joined me and we ran together for a time before hitting the climb which takes you to the turn back for home.
'What's going on?' Thought I as I experienced a new sensation, pain and discomfort .
'Is that pain in my stomach' I wondered, 'Or, my chest?' I then did something I never do, I stopped!
Getting it back together, I decided it was my over full stomach and set off again. Thank goodness it was down hill and I got my act together to finish in 25mins 05, only thirty odd seconds slower than my last effort here. For future morning races I will have to rethink my fuel strategy - its a two stop for me in future, a little before and then some more after a race.