Goodbye 2012

My first race since May...

... and a cross-country at that!

So, that's out of the way.  It's not easy summoning up the will to put your body through a race again, becoming accustomed to the kind of discomfort that only running as hard as you can for a given distance  will bring.  I'd done my first few hard training sessions for many months, but it's not the same as putting it all out there!

I was pleased to finish a respectable 31st and 7th NHRR scorer on a day that also saw NHRR win a cross-country event overall for the first time this season.  My performance, along with some recent sessions, suggests I could do a low 38min-something 10k at the moment.  Given I've only been doing injury-interrupted,  low-mileage tick-over running for most of the last 6 months, I'm pretty happy with that as a base to build from.

My right hamstring was feeling pretty tight yesterday, so I'll have to watch that to avoid another recurrence of this Summer's on/off injury saga.

I am back

Hold the front page - I am back in the bosom of Herts and NHRR!

What a funny old year this has been, but as it draws to a close, a new chapter of my life is beginning and I may even try and become a half-decent runner again.  After avoiding speedwork for several months, my hamstring seems to have finally healed properly and I am starting to try an up the mileage and pace again.

I must get the link from the NHRR website site changed, as I have relinquished my statistical duties.  After 5 glorious number-crunching years, Statto is dead!  Mmm - now I will  need to adopt a new pseudonym...

Hamstrung

It's been a strange few months.  Thanks to my recurring hamstring injury, I've managed very little mileage in the last 3 months, just 3 speed sessions (2 aborted!) and 1 long-run!  It has been very frustrating, especially when I really need the endorphins more than ever!  I have also been someones's lodger for the last 4 months, most of the last 2 in London, so I've not really been a part of the NHRR scene lately.

Soon the next chapter will start in earnest when I am able to move back and I look forward to some injury-free and stress-free running!

Squirrels storm back to MWL Div 1

Historic maximum-points haul!

NHRR made it 4 wins out of four in both Gents and Ladies races, so topped the table with a the maximum possible 48 points, 14 points clear of nearest rivals (an fellow promotees) Royston.

On a personal note, I continue to struggle with my right hamstring.  I think I may finally have cracked it, but with hardly any running in the last 2 months, just one long-run and no speed-sessions, I have a lot of catching up to do.  At least I am running again.

NHRR MWL 27th June

The Final Chapter - let's make it a clean sweep!

We go into the last race in a very comfortable position in the league table, but it would be great get the maximum 48 points for the season.  Let's go for it!

Here's the elevation profile (click to enlarge)

You can see a course map and some other goodies here

Here's how this course compares, on my hill-ranking system, with the 3 other races this year.