My Last Run

 

It was exactly a year ago that I ran for the last time. This is what I posted after the Marlow 5 Mile.

I was in two minds whether to run this years Marlow 5 mile. I had been out for a run twice in the last two weeks. No real injury, just my legs and glutes objecting and a rise in temperature outside. But if this was to be my last race for a while, and the weather forecast was not too bad, I decided I could jog round if necessary. And this is such great event, particularly for slower runners. 

In the end I did OK, just over 50 minutes. I might have been the oldest runner there. I actually thought I would just have a rest from running, but it looks like that has been permanent. Even some of my walks have felt difficult, although most are fine. 

You only have to look at the results of races to see the drop of seventy plus runners. Of the 206 runners at Aylesbury parkrun on Saturday, there were none in the 75-79 category and only two in the 70-74. (Not counting one elderly lady who walked round). So I'm happy I was still running at 77! 

I looked back on my injuries over the ten years I was running. In July 2013 I had a fall running down the canal. A tree root if I remember. Out for over a month. See post 3rd September for patella alta. In the December a hip injury but a couple of weeks rest did the job. In March 2015 I had a problem with my knee so rested for 2 weeks. In February 2016 a sore back put me out for 2 weeks, and in the November I rested a calf strain for over a week. In 2018 another calf strain meant no running for over five weeks. Then my plantar fasciitis in October 2019 resulted in nearly three months without a run including missing the Great South Run. Another couple of weeks rest in April 2020 due to that calf strain again. Then nothing in the last two years. Probably as I slowed down. All in all that was not too bad.

In conclusion, a few PB's.  For parkrun, this was at Aylesbury (obviously) in November 2014 with a time of 25.46 (8.20 pace). But my best age grade was not until October 2016 with 69.19% (a 25.48 time). My best time of the six I ran the Marlow 5 mile was 43.05 (8.40 pace). For a 10K this was the Beaverbrook in 2016 coming in at 54.06 (8.42 pace)  and for the six  Maidenhead 10 miles it was 1.33.26 (9.20 pace) in 2017. Closely followed by the Great South Run 10 mile the same year in 1.33.59. Last of all, my best half marathon was at Milton Keynes in 2017 in 2.09.14 (9.50 pace).