Aaaaa went t' Blaydon races…….2007

I haven't done this race for about 10 years, but it is still a great run with a carnival atmosphere at the end, actually, both ends as there was a band outside Balmbras.

5 to 6 and we were aaaal there singing the Blaydon races, in scorching temperatures. It was great to see all the Birtley vests out, well not all of them as a few of our members chose to run in cognito, that is, not sporting their colours. I wonder why that was???

This was another one of those races for me, where I only had to worry about myself, as the lads were too young, and Linda was taking them to the far end, with my tracksuit, in case I was cold at the end.

My preparation for the race started well on the day, as I went for a sports massage in the morning, but then it went down hill as I spent a couple hours tidying the garden, shopping and then washed the car.

When I reached the start, I had decided that if I could get as far as the Central Station I should be able to complete the course, but two minutes after I started the race I realized we don't run past the station!!! The knee had managed to go about 6 miles on Thursday, but was sore. I "acquired" the number from an injured party, and was not going to let him down.

At the start I saw hundreds (well quite a few) people I knew, people from Marks football team, people from work, Peter Miller who I used to run with when he was in Birtley, (now Chester le Street) The lovely Tracy Laws…..who I think should have been the Blaydon Belle… was warming up with big bruvver Shawn, everywhere I looked was somebody I knew, but could I heck find Vince and Janet!! I didn't see Tracy again until the end, I think she had been and showered by the time I finished.

The race was very hard this year maybe cos I had hit 30 two days earlier, it was too hot, and I was old (no I wasn't) I passed Tracy's big sister on the Scotswood road, but she didn't want to chat, so I moved on and looked for someone else to talk to. After crossing the bridge there was a welcome shade, and a feeding station. Must admit though I wish I hadn't stopped for a drink, my knee just seemed to stiffen, but I was going to soldier on like the Warrior I am (hee hee).

It was hot running along Scotswood road, into the sun, but the hottest part was yet to come, Chainbridge road was terrible, I reckon it must have been about gas mark 6. (you younguns will have to ask yer mams what that means) Then when you get to the roundabout at the end you think you are finished, you turn the corner and they give you a hill to run up, they must have had a sense of humour in 1862 when they first defined this course.

I finished the course well inside the target of 40 minutes I had set myself, Karl, who had travelled all the way from Haltwhistle for the race had a stormer, completing 5 minutes ahead of me. I did hear Zak ran but never saw him, I wonder if I beat him.?!?!?! Craig and Daniel Peake, Lesley Cornwell, Graeme Dixon, Dorothy and Rob, Janet and Vince, Karl, Zak, myself, obviously Pat Kelly, Maggie, Richard Hopkins, and 4 or 5 others whose names escape me at the moment. We know who you are, and hope to see you all in future races.

The night finished with a mediocre pizza on the Fell, and too much white and red wine!!

Usual Disclaimer!! YB