Saturday, October 22, 2016

Parkrun #2 - Pruszkow

Parkrun Pruszkov 22.10.2016

Visiting family in Warsaw I decided I'd like to have a go at another Parkrun. There is one very local to where I was staying with Anna's brother Lucas, and as he is a regular there doing it was a no-brainer.

Well, it was, until the rain started.

Nevertheless, we talked each other into it anyway. The rain wasn't that heavy.

A short 10 minute jog to the start to warm up, and then an incomprehensible introduction (my Polish is not worth mentioning), and we were off.

It's a 2 lap course, in a park around a lake or two. I'm sure it's lovely in the summer, but it was waterlogged, muddy, grey and slippery today. I started well, keeping to my normal 7 minute/mile pace. I knew I was holding Lucas back, but he seemed happy not to be racing. In many places there were large puddles across the path, so everyone was running at the sides in single file.

Near the end of the first lap my calf went ping. Ouch. Every step was agony. I slowed down and considered stopping. My decision making skills are not good when racing, and the pain became manageable, so I just kept on going.  I worried that it would get worse, but it just stayed low level.

I sped up a little again, but couldn't get past the runners in front. Eventually the path widened and I overtook a couple and made a gap. Lucas was following. In the final straight I gave it more pace and finished strong.

Sad about getting injured, but pleased with my 10th place out of 35 in terrible conditions, with a time of 21.56.

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