Knee trembler

I've just had a very good couple of days. The come back is not quite established but its definitely waiting in the wings. With the re-commencement of cycling early last month, my knee ligament flared and reacted poorly to the novel action of hard pedalling. Apparently there is no such thing as ‘muscle memory’ as far as my left leg goes. Prior to this, I had work in Kirkcaldy and enjoyed running both east and west along the Fife Coastal Path. It really is a terrific day out with lots of old castles, churches, caves and what not.

Anyway, my dodgy knee has meant I’ve replaced running with cycling and have easily been clocking 100 miles a week on two wheels, some of that at or near to 20mph. This excess of fresh air and lycra resulted in me entering a 12 mile time trial. With no running races, I wasn’t missing any events as far as athletics goes. I had eyed a longer hilly time trial, but had a late but refreshing realisation that I was not in that kind of shape.  

The event took place on Saturday. It was the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue ‘12’ based on the circular route around Stamfordham, just south west of Newcastle. Its not a standard distance so there was no pressure of ‘PBing’ going on. I was off no. 88. Very apt. The course was described as ‘sporting’, which means its an uppy-downy affair. I arrived, signed on and jogged around the village for a mile to get my heart rate up. The sun was up and a gentle easterly meant good conditions. It was only the second outing for my Planet X t.t. bike, bought second hand from a nice man in Selkirk last year. Maybe it was more than a year ago?  Who can keep track during these covid groundhog days and months.  

Anyway,  I lost around 5 or 6 seconds trying to get my shoe cleat in the pedal at the start. Normally, pre-covid, you would get held up and could start all clipped in, but not anymore. Richardson of Derwentside was a laughy, jokey no 87 in front of me, but I didn’t share his nervous energy, and never saw him again after the start. No 89 came past after 6 miles or so and then a whirring Ben Lane (90) some time later. I focused on both riders to drag me to a finish time of 32 minutes and a very respectable 55^th place out of a full field of 120. The dark destroyer and H. had ridden out to give me support which I appreciated. Maybe a sporting course favours my diminutive build. In response, I have entered another short event in North Northumberland at the end of May and then, in a minute of brain meltdown, a 50 miler early in June. I will have to get the miles in for the latter.Either that,or get an electric bike.

 

On Monday morning, after dropping off the wee man to nursery, I drove to Warkworth, fancying a 6 miler to Alnmouth and back. Theres a coastal route which is part of St Oswalds Way. Who Knew? I hit the sandy path behind the dunes on empty beaches and jogged around to Alnmouth and then continued up to Boulmer where, after 8 miles I turned around. I spent most of the time on the beach on the return leg and stopped after 12 miles at Alnmouth Golf Club for a corned beef and pickle sannie and a cuppa. Alnmouth was busy. 

All in all, it was a 17 mile run which was a wee adventure. I admit there was a little excess chaffing down there, but it was a poultry price to pay for such a grand day out. I will return to do another bit of the Oswalds Way soon. There’s also St Cuthberts Way. I’ve been down to Spennymoor in Durham (again, on work) and picked up 6 miles of the Auckland Way; When the suns out these off road trails offer a terrific alternative and you feel you can go all day on an easy pace. I’m already on 20 miles after 2 days this week and have looked at all the trail runs available in Scotland – there’s plenty to go at. With the back end of work to finish in Dumbarton, I have also recently been mooching around Helensburgh, Rhu and Roseneath with the bike. I can see myself spending more time exploring these trails and quiet roads. I’ve not totally given up racing, but life’s short and I’m not as spritely as I was.  There is a 10k being organised on a nearby airstrip. However, the £23 entry fee means I won't be crossing the profiteering organisers palm with silver anytime soon. His prizes are often another entry to one of his events! 

I should add that, since my last blog, the dream team of the dark destroyer, Linds and Cat formed the womens A team for Morpeth Harriers and won a bronze in the North East XC champs, so I was chuffed about that. I was even mentioned in the race report - but that was for transgressing too near the course to try and get some snaps. I was chased away by a man in a yellow bib...my knees were trembling, I can tell you! 

Having finished Heinlein’s satisfying ‘Starship Troopers’, not like the film at all, I am back on Faulks with ‘Engleby’.  I have a bit of a backlog on the reading front, having spent this last few weeks on decorating duties.  Anyway, the suns out and the forecast is pants for tomorrow and Friday, so I better get out. Bike today. The good news, I guess, is that with the vague promise of the lifting of these pandemic measures (as consistently as effective as syrup in a colander) there might be, just might be, a chance of more to blog about, so strap yourself in for an update soon.  toot, toot.