Run In The Forest

After preparing well last night, we head to the ‘Run In The Forest’ 5 mile race today at Conkers Discovery Park. Slogan - ‘I came, I ran, I conkered’. Well that’s what is says on the t-shirt, the bright yellow t-shirt. That’s another one for the bag in the loft then.

Organised by South Derbyshire Road Runners the race has a pleasantly not too early 10:30am start and even my parents are tempted to turn up to support.

It’s a run mainly on tracks through the forest but includes a bit of tarmac and grass. It’s not hilly but there are a few undulations.

At the start the race organiser complains that someone has stolen the 2 mile marker and asks us to wing it, but afterwards we’re more concerned with the fact that the 5 mile marker was about 30 metres before the finish. Does that mean the course was long? or the marker wrongly placed? These things matter.

My time for five and a bit (maybe) miles is 37:01, which is an improvement of a whole minute on my last attempt at five miles in February at Wombwell. So that’s good. Although my PB remains a scarily quick 32.08. I must have been fit and injury free in those days.

It was a pleasant enough race though and well organised, save for the marker confusion and a long walk to get water after the finish.

Broxtowe 5k

After work, I cycle straight to Bramcote Hills Park, where we have booked into the Broxtowe 5k because this is how low our sights (or more specifically my sights) have fallen. I ran this back in 2010 in the inaugural event, completed it in 20.05 and came 8^th. Tonight I just want to get round without any leg pain.

L meets me there and when she does, she has a young female student in tow. Apparently she found her looking lost and confused on the bus. I’m not sure I would have got away with such an explanation had the roles been reversed.

The run actually goes very well. It is pain free and I keep a good strong pace going all the way through the monumental distance, despite a lot of it being on grass. My pace is helped by the fact that I just have to pass that 14 year old lad up front, that overdressed chap in tracksuit trousers and an ipod and later the first lady.

The first two are no problem, as they both quickly fade. The third takes more time and effort but I get there in the end. She doesn’t give up easily though and comes storming past me after the line. Ha. Too late love.

I finished 26th tonight in 21:47 (Chip time 21:43). I'm back! The time is particularly pleasing considering I cycled back from Derby.

Newcastle (Staffs) 10k

The fitness campaign has been rescheduled (again). So today the Newcastle 10k, that’s

Newcastle Under Lyme by the way, and I thought I’d retired from 10k’s last year. Needs must.

This is the first time this race has been run as a 10k, previously it was known as the Newcastle 7, over seven miles. That had taken place for 40 years but this has now been shortened to take out a tricky road junction.

The race start is outside the organising club’s HQ on Ashfields New Road. The course takes us on road but steadily uphill for the majority of the first 6k, up something known locally as Black Bank. Then we descend to the finish. It also goes off-road at this point. Firstly on to gravel tracks and then dirt tracks along the route of an old railway line. Thankfully it's not been too wet, so the course isn't muddy or slippery.

The finish turns out to be at least a half a mile walk back to the race HQ, so one wonders why it couldn’t still have been a 7 miler?

It’s a popular event with 416 finishers and a rather nice commemorative mug for all. I am one of those finishers despite struggling with tight calf-itis throughout. I consider dropping out several times as my muscles alternate from tight to excruciatingly tight but I carry on in the belief that this is actually doing it some good.

My time of 49:31 reflects my cautiousness and my discomfort but at least nothing snapped. However I think doing the same over a half marathon distance at Scunthorpe in two weeks time is out of the question.