Pies, peas and a pint, the reward for completing 5 laps of Redcar’s beautiful Locke Park.

Friendly marshalls from Marske Harriers welcome you in. The event starts with a children’s fun run. Parents watch and encourage their youngsters around the course. Runners huddle in groups sporting their clubs logos. 3 Fairfield Harriers, Ged, Anne and Tracey look like the famous lemon top ice creams in their tribal shirts.

We share stories of injuries and ailments then we shuffle to the start line. The Sun shines and the sky is blue on a lovely Spring evening. Then suddenly we are off. Tracey and I run together united in our desire to complete despite our bodies screaming this is a bad idea. Ged races effortlessly  ahead.

The run is 5 one mile laps. Do not imagine geometric ovals, a lap is a meandering snake which weaves itself around lakes and over bridges. Helpful marshalls keep us on track. There are runners everywhere on this maze trusting they will eventually find the way out.

We chat as we run and try and remember how many laps we have done. Fun banter abounds between runner and Marshall’s. Super fit athletes lap us on the right. We run on pushing our limbs forward. Hips, knees, joints remind us of their existence.

Then finally relief and a smile as we cross the finish line. Fellow runners congratulate each other on completion. Then its off to the cricket club for a traditional North East supper and a chat with fellow runners.

~ by Anne Bulmer

A grey morning heralded the arrival of parkrun day but this did not dampen the spirits of those who ventured to Albert Park to celebrate Nick’s achievement of reaching his 50th parkrun!

No PBs set this morning but still a fantastic set of results as can be seen below:

As a runner, I tend to be a bit chaotic…. I’m usually dashing round 3 minutes before I head out the door trying to remember where I last discarded my heart rate strap or whether my running socks are dry.

I wouldn’t dream of going for a run without taking certain things – well fitting trainers, even better fitting sports bra, inhaler, Garmin…. so why do I go for a run without DOING certain things?!

I’ll be honest, I so very rarely warm up – while fellow runners are trotting back and forth before a race I can usually be found either nattering to someone or updating Facebook.

The following article, from Saltmarsh running, has made me think again and if you are naughty like me it will probably change your running habits too – it contains some good information on why the first mile or so usually feels rubbish and what you can do to be ready to run.

http://saltmarshrunning.com/2015/05/05/why-does-the-first-mile-of-my-run-suck-so-much/

~ Tracey

An interesting run as we passed through Teesside’s Industrial Heritage. Over the Newport Bridge which used to let ships through delivering and transporting coal and goods to Stockton. The River is straight because it was cut to make it easy for the vessels.

Matthew Wright waits patiently recording our efforts. Runners smile and try to look fresh. Supporters cheered as we passed the Barrage that now controls the tidal flow.

As we wobbled over the Millennium Bridge the marshal reassured us only 3 kms to go.  Then we snake through the canals of Stockton’s little Venice. On a Sunny day people sit out and Swans swim along the waterways.

May blossom confetti showered us as we ran to the finish line. Then finally Lisa Johnson is there to cheer us over the finish.

Familiar faces congratulate us for completing and funnel us to pick up our goodie bag with a welcome bottle of water and chocolate. We chat to our running friends and relax in the sun before we return home.

~ By Anne Bulmer

Results:

37  Roger Davies 0:40:23

128 Gareth Maloney 0:47:01

319  Anne Bulmer 0:57:37

327  Martin Weatherill 0:58:09

I’ve always had a curious approach to life. I am a complete wimp but when I set my mind to something, I usually see it through – I don’t know if it’s determination, pride or just sheer bloody-mindedness but there is something that kicks in that makes me follow through on what I say. It can get me into trouble at times, like the dayI found myself strapped to a piece of elastic teetering on the edge of the Transporter Bridge….

I first started running 3 or 4 years ago… I did the Race For Life and the Middlesbrough 5km with little to no training and that was that. The following year, I did something similar. In 2013, something clicked and I became a ‘runner’. I started doing a series of winter trail races. The first, Wynyard Woodland Park, was horrific Continue reading Tracey’s London Marathon Adventure →

For the past 3 years a handful of Harriers have taken part in the Stockton Duathlon. It is very inclusive event offering a Novice race, a Sprint and Standard race. Each year it has built from strength to strength. It is a Duathlon Qualifier for national standard duathletes. Tried Hard organise it and do a professional job.

Wind and rain were forecast to make it extra challenging this year, instead the sun shone and Stockton sparkled. As we ran and cycled along the Tees over the Infinity and the Princes Diana bridge we watched canoeists and Dragon boat enthusiasts enjoying a Sunday morning of energetic sport. Fellow Harriers cheered us on. Despite jelly legs after a hard push on the bikes we all achieved PBs and ran like champions over the finish line to the applause of friends and family.

If you have never done a Duathlon then this is the perfect event to have a go or challenge yourself to a new PB or a longer distance next year.

~ By Anne Bulmer

Perfect parkrun weather in the North East today which saw ## Harriers pounding the local parks clocking up the miles and PBs!

Tees Barrage saw Gareth, Matthew and Tracey along with mini-harriers Alex and Oliver take on the multi-bridge route along the river. Still nursing a sprain from the London Marathon, Tracey took it easy at the back but mini-harrier Oliver shot off like he was being chased and smashed a fantastic 4:37 off his previous best time on this course!

Albert Park saw a huddle of Harriers and while no PBs were acheived, the results were still awesome with all runners achieving over 50% age grading:

A busy weekend for the Harriers saw Tracey tackle her first (and possibly only!) 26.2 miles in the shape of London Marathon.

Other harriers, however, battled the Stockton duathlon and displayed some fantastic performances: