Race No. 49 That's What Friends Are For

Newcastle Park Run 20 February 2016

Hat and jacket on at the end I can enjoy watching others running.

'That's what friends are for' -  to get you round when you are struggling for pace and form.

 

I don't think that sheltering  behind them from an awful headwind in a 5K Park Run is what Ross, Joey, Rachel etc. had in mind in 'Friends' but that is what I did in yesterday's Newcastle Park Run, sheltering behind my running partner of over 20 years Brian Stonehouse.

I am struggling for pace and form in my return from the latest injury and was really suffering on Newcastle's Town Moor as Brian and I set off towards the front of the field of 490 runners. Running together we were averaging just over seven minute mile pace for the first mile, slipping to seven thirty pace as the race went on. I was really suffering as we turned, yet again, into a headwind. Easing off, I let Brian pass me, meaning to take advantage of his slipstream. As I did so, I caught his heel, causing him to stumble.

"Sorry, Brian", I said as he recovered, "You will murder me on the next bit"

That is just what he did opening a gap as we headed for the 5K marker. "Oh, this awful" I thought as I had to dig deep to keep in touch with him. Then a couple of runners caught me and I was able to hang on to them and shelter, again, from the wind. With this help I was able to close the gap on Brian and as we approached the final turn to the line, pass him ( see second image above).

At the line I finished in 23.25 for 115th place, Brian 117th in 23.29. I know it was awful to pass Brian as he had pulled me through the race, but 'That's what friends are for'

Race No. 48 - Park Run Finsbury Park

Rob Lynch is allowed to photobomb me - we have just seen Sunderland beat Man Utd!!

A visit to see Sophie Graham in London, a nice Italian meal, with wine, followed by a trip to the theatre to see 'SUNNY AFTERNOON' , none of these were enough to stop me recording another race (no. 48) in my 65forizzi Challenge.

Yes, on Saturday it was just so easy to do another Park run as Finsbury Park was only three minutes away from Sophie and Rob's flat. Afterwards a late breakfast was followed by a walk to a pub in Stoke Newington to watch SUNDERLAND BEAT MANCHESTER UNITED. Repeat Sunderland beat Manchester United.

As we passed the park entrance on the way to the station for the journey north, I asked for a photo for this blog and look at the image! After THAT result, nothing could interfere with my good mood, not even the prankster behind.

As for the race itself, it was cold , lots of the nice  people whom you will always meet at a Park Run and an average post injury run for me. 

Looking at the Finsbury Park records for runners my age, whose did I see but my pal, Howard Gold of Heaton Harriers, at number 2 in the standings - I was number 12! Howard and I go back nearly thirty years in our running careers and we have both recorded 21 minute runs in the V65 category, mine last April as the second race in this challenge. Today, it was 24.27 but I am hopefully starting to get back to some sort of form.

Statistics

Finished in 24.27 for 96th position
261 runners.


PS
 'Sunny Afternoon' is of course a celebration of 'The Kinks'.  The story was oh, so familiar as I was there in the sixties as a keen fan. I knew all the words of the songs as sang them, with gusto!

Race no. 47 "When The Going Gets Rough"

A Muddy Night At Lambton Castle

"The Tough Get Going"

For my third race this week I thought that I would get off the tarmac and into the mud, and just to make it even more interesting, do it in the dark!

Yes, last night instead of my usual Saturday night smoked salmon, rib eye steak and some nice rioja, I put my trail shoes and a head torch on and headed to Lambton Castle Woods for a muddy five mile thriller - The No Ego Challenge ( a bit of a misnomer in my case)

I was already in a good mood when I learned on my journey that Sunderland had come back from two nil down at Liverpool to snatch a 2-2 draw. Things got even better at race registration when as the oldest competitor I was given a free tee shirt. Then, as the field lined up at the start the starter introduced the youngest runner, a 16 year old. He then asked if I minded my age being broadcast.
"Go ahead", I said, " they have to catch me". Yes, I was up for it!

We had been warned that the first few hundred metres were the worst part of the course for potholes, mud and obstacles and so it turned out.  But, aren't today's runners a soft lot.  Without wanting to be at the front, there I was with the leaders as we entered the dark woods. A young guy in front of me started picking his way around the potholes, " Coming through" I barked as I passed him, put my foot in the very next hole and fell flat on my face ( see my muddy knees on image above).

And yet, I was still there, with the leaders, as we left the wood and hit a nice, dry level track. Of course, that was when the younger, fitter leaders got away from me and I was on my own, dropped by the leaders but clear of the field. Not a new feeling, for this is how I always ran my fell races in my younger fitter, and faster, fifties.

Now when you are on your own, in the dark and having to look out for the markers you make sure that you do just that. At each junction of paths I made sure that I spotted the next marker before joining a new path. Piece of cake. Then, finally, a few faster runners caught me. Running along with them I started to relax for they could do the navigating, I thought. Mistake, as we ended up at a  closed gate with no markers. Turning back the way we had come , we soon rejoined the race, only further down the field. If this was not frustrating enough, after another mile, the same thing happened and I ended up even further down the field.

At this point I accepted that my possible moment of glory had gone and that I should be happy just get around in one piece. So it was that I finished in 45.56 for 44th position. Looking at the results later, I was first V60 by a margin of over 5 minutes to the second placed V60 runner and ten minutes over the third placed. That's victory in any language, and another bonus, my calf had held up, Hurrah!!!

Race no. 46 Monthly Mile South Shields

....And, Don't Sprint!

I am not sprinting!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know, I should not be running short races and yet here I was back in South Shields for the Monthly Mile.

It is sprinting that has cost me four months out from my 12 months racing challenge through injury. Yes, maybe my pace judgement was a little ambitious at the start of the Wallington 10K back in July. Having recorded a 4.30 minute pace ( admittedly downhill), to increase it to 4.22 was a bit over the top and my achilles tendon suffered for it. In a similar vein, why did I think that I had to win this race in December 2015? Yes, my sprinting days are over.

So, here I was a little older and hopefully wiser on Tuesday night as we lined up to face a full head on gale on South Shields beach front. Moving behind anyone who looked lean and fit, I set off down the field and stayed there for the first half of the race. Ok, I did pass a couple of people whilst keeping my pace down. I even ignored my usual competitive instincts to let a couple of runners pass me. Then and only then, with a hundred metres to finish did I let my pace increase.

At the line it was a 7.02 for the mile, that's ok, as I must forget finishing times and SPRINTING until fully recovered.

Statistics

Time 7.02
13th position
47 ran.