Cross Country For Race No. 30

North East Harrier League Sherman Cup, South Shields

A Family affair as Chris and I race at Temple Park, South Shields

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Am I shrinking in height? I thought that Chris was only about 1" taller than me, but in this photo, taken today, he looks about 3" taller! Compare our eye line and it must be that 2" quiff, Chris's that is not mine!

Anyway, on with the running bit and more progress in my 65 race challenge. After two months out with that b...... achilles injury I have managed four races since last Saturday and today it was a proper cross country at Temple Park, South Shields. The course was fairly dry, unlike some previous years when there was very sticky, deep mud to drain strength in the legs. On a sunny afternoon Chris and I set off together at what seemed like a steady pace, recording just on 7 minutes for the first mile. Suddenly, I lost sight of him and wondered if he was ahead or behind. A glance at my pace told me I was down to 7.30 pace (or is that up to?), and realised that he had dropped me.

Towards the end of the first of three laps I could see him ahead of me by about thirty places, but that was the nearest I came to him. The second lap was a steady plod, interchanging places with people about my own pace. I thought that I was picking up the pace for the third lap, but statistics did not confirm this. Obviously,  I am not very fit after my eight week layoff and basically I am slowing as a race progresses. I cannot decide if this is depressing, or should I be grateful that I am at least running again - I will settle for the latter.

At the finish I had recorded 45.31 for the 9.1K course in 391st (ouch!) position out of 464 runners. There were lots of V60 runners ahead of me, but I was (I think) 1st V65, there were seven others before you think otherwise. Chris recorded 42.31 for 320th place, well done Chris.

Looking at statistics, Tynedale were third team in the Davison Shield Competition and 10th in the Sherman Cup, so all in all a good day for Tynedale runners of all ages - the categories start at Under 13 years!

Monthly Mile South Shields

Race No. 29

South Shields Beach

The nights are drawing in and 'Winters Coming' as all GAME OF THRONES fans know only too well. And so it was that I travelled to South Shields last night to run a mile!

Well I needed to get another race under my belt, number 29, also, I need to recover my race pace and get back down to 7 minute miling. So, South Shields it was to be as I lined up with the fast boys and girls, or more precisely the under 8 minute milers.

Having watched the so called ' slower' runners do their best, I followed as best I could the faster runners in my group. Away they went, leaving me to plod along at around  6.40 pace. It didn't feel too bad and with a push at the line I recorded 6.44. That's OK , I thought, but that final push had tweaked my right calf, typical.

The results showed that I was 18th out of the 22 faster runners. They also showed that fifteen in the so called slower group were under 8 minutes and the first five were under 7 minutes, the winner recording 6.33. Next month I think I will join that group and give them a race!


Now I need lots of massage on my calf before Saturday's Sherman Cup cross country back here in, yes, South Shields.

DEJA VU AT GIBSIDE

Race Number 27 and 28.

Happy to finish at Gibside, again.

One of the definitions of 'Deja Vu' is the feeling of something unpleasantly familiar, well that was certainly the case yesterday, when I ran the Great Run Local at Gibside, for I had done the very same thing the previous day, only that was the Park Run Gibside.

After 8 weeks absence from my 65 race challenge with an achilles injury, last week's Prudhoe Miners' 10K had given me the confidence that I could at least race, albeit slowy and with a bit of discomfort. So on Saturday I ran the 5K Park Run at Gibside, a course I was assured was not as steep as the route of the Gibside Great Run Local. I then had another early morning start on Sunday to decide for myself.

Well, Saturday's run did feel slightly less hilly than my memory of the GRL and I finished in 24.36 for 14th position out of a field of 60. Come Sunday and I set off near the front of the field. As we started the long(ish) climb to the turn for home I felt stronger than I had since my injury and pushed on passing a couple of runners. Then it was all downhill to the finish and I was able to put a gap between myself and the pair of runners who had been closing on me.

Through the line and a reassuring beep from the marshall's thingy as she passed it over my wristband - see image above - 25.54 said my watch, "OK" thought I, " a decent time for a hilly course".


Comparing the results of the two runs this morning I was in for a surprise, the difference in elevation was no more than 35', 342' compared to 305'. There was also a difference in the length of the two courses, the GRL being 130 metres longer - that must be a very steep 130 metres to account for over a minute on the time!

After these two races I would declare myself to be relatively happy with my return to racing. I am not completely recovered from the injury, but I am racing again. I am eleven races behind schedule, but there is a choice of races next weekend, a cross country at Temple Park, South Shields on Saturday and the Matfen 10 K on Sunday. I could do both, only joking, or am I?

Prudhoe Miners 10K

Race no. 26 and I got round

Eight weeks into an achilles injury and it was time to see if I could get get round a 10K race.

Maybe it would have been better to look for a flatter race, but I had pre entered my local Prudhoe Miners' 10K and it was time to give it a go.

It was uphill from the start, but as I had got around a flat 5K Park Run the previous weekend without too much pain, I thought that I would raise my pace, a little. A mile, or so into the race it was time to face the steep, steep climb through Bewick Grange. Oh, it was tough , but at least I ran the hill. Then, finally I could put the pedal down and raise the pace to the heady heights of 7 minute miling - was it only a couple of months ago when this was my average pace?

Back through Prudhoe Town centre, past Waterworld and a pleasant "no thank you " to the offer of water at the water station, ( "I  am a racing machine, not a jogger" , I tried to kid myself.). Down to the Countryside Park and could I lift the pace? Yes, but not by much. At the 8K mark a pain in my right ankle/ achilles started to over shadow the pain from my recovering left achilles - it never rains, but it pours! Through the line in 49.06, a new Personal Worst for a 10K to match last week's PW for a 5K. Never mind, I got round and hopefully, after icing both ankles I will be able to continue the Challenge - only another 39 races in the next six months!

Statistics
Finished in 49.06 for 66th position out of 140 finishers.
1st V65.

Add caption

I was happier last time out on this course -Tynedale 10K July 2015

The Challenge Continues - Hopefully

Newcastle Park Run 19 Sept. 2015

Neil Cassidy at the World Masters, North Wales

St Mawes, Cornwall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, I am running again, or at least trying to get back into running and my 65 race challenge.

Two weeks ago I took time out from the long, long journey to a holiday in Cornwall to run in the Gloucester Park Run. That was probably a mistake, or maybe I was just trying to run too fast (?) too soon. Today I was determined not to make the same mistake and started the Town Moor race well down the field and at a slower pace. Did the strategy work? I hope so, at least I am not limping as I was at Gloucester.

What was very apparent, was that I am not as fit as I was before this achilles injury. Yes, I was trying to keep the pace down, but as my confidence in my recovery increased and I picked up the pace late in the run, I was having to work.

If and it is a big if, I am recovering from this achilles tendon strain, then I really should have done some exercise during the seven week recovery process. Instead, I ate and drank the same amount and would describe myself today as cuddly.

Getting back to the run, I finished in 218th place from a field of 540 in a new PW ( Personal Worst) of 25.07. Infact I was so far down the field that I didn't even see fellow Tynedale Harriers:
Martin Bluck  35th in 19.29
Gary Fenwick 64th in 21.03
Kim Bluck 140th in 23.00
Elena Bluck 177th in 24.08
Bryn Mordey 198th in 24.37.
Well done to them all particularly the Bluck family for showing what all families should do early on a Saturday morning, yes, RUN!

For me its lots, lots more Eccentric Heel Drops, 2 x 15 straight leg,  2x 15 bent leg, three times a day and with a modicum of luck I will be lining up at Prudhoe next Sunday for Race no. 26, The Prudhoe Miners' Run.

Another Comeback Attempt 5 September 2015

Gloucester Park Run

Helford Passage, Cornwall

Morgan Donelly at the start

...and winning

St Mawes, Cornwall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After five weeks of treatment on my injured achilles it was time to try it out again, this time enroute to a holiday in Cornwall.

The Gloucester Park Run seemed like a convenient location on the long journey to Cornwall as we were booked into the Holiday Inn Express, Gloucester. In the event the venue was two minutes away from the hotel, ideal!

A warm up revealed no problem with the achilles, so I lined up about a third of the way down the field of approx 200 runners and off we went.

Damn, as soon as I put the slightest pressure on the injury it hurt! A glance at the watch showed a 7 minute pace, ease up. 7.30 , then 8 minute pace and just a nagging pain. two miles down and another silver fox caught me up.

" What age group?" said I.
" I am 59" He replied.
" I'll jog round with you" said I.
I chatted to him as we jogged along.
" You're not even panting" He reproached me.
What could I say without causing offence, as I was just jogging?
" Well," I replied " I will not be sprinting to the line"

We crossed the line in 23.50 and I limped away from the finish to enjoy a second breakfast at the hotel - don't tell anyone.

A lovely week in the sunshine at St Mawes was thoroughly enjoyable, but I had to accept that my chance of running the World Masters Mountain Running Championships at Betws y Coed had gone.

As we were booked into accomodation in Betws y Coed and were due to meet up there with my nephew Adrian Leonard, Gail his wife and their family, at least we could still enjoy the visit. In fact it was a smashing day, watching former Tynedale Harrier, Morgan Donelly, win his race, followed by a good performance from a large group of current Tynedale Harriers, both lads and ladies. Best of all was seeing my grand nephews, Ewan and Harrison and lovely little Evie. These three were bundles of energy, Ewan at six is already training as a triathlete, yes, really. Watch out for these names in the future.

For me it's back to the drawing board  ( or the physio's couch), watch this space.

Three Welsh athletes of the future

The Long, Long Road Back From An Achilles Injury.

A Third Attempt At A Comeback

My Last (hopefully not my final) Race

Chris about to start the Tynedale 10 Mile on Sunday

Tadele Muklugeta, Elswick, starts the Tynedale as he finished it, at the front.

So here I am five weeks after my last race and still having problems with my achilles.
On Sunday I should have ran in my Club's Tynedale 10 Mile, but after two abortive attempts to come back to running I had to accept that it was still too early in the recovery.
Later today I am going to try a jog and am hopeful following some intensive self treatment using 'Eccentric Heel Drops' as well as hot and cold packs on the injury.
If I can just run without pain today, I may, just may, be able to run in the World Masters Mountain Championships a week Saturday.
Here's hoping.