Hartlepool Marina Triathlon - Run & Afterwards
So only the run left to do. And only 5k. Like it says on Run Happy, you know you’re a runner when you describe 5 miles as a short run, and that’s hardly any further than 5k.
Again, lots more overtaking, and I also saw a couple of the guys from the NE31 club, who were on the ‘back’ leg of this out-and-back along the sea front . . . it was encouraging to see that they weren’t too far ahead of me . . . and great to get recognised and shouts of encouragement.
By the time I was nearing the end of the run, there were only a few runners left going the other way. And I clapped, & told them that it wasn’t far, hang on in there, etc, etc. Of course they were going to finish, but from my own experience, a little extra encouragement goes a long way!
And then the finish, with Wife & Daughter and my business partner & his daughter waiting. Everyone seemed very impressed. Which was nice!
So as we were so close to home, I just packed everything into the car & drove back without changing. But I seemed so hungry. Cereal bar . . . two [small-ish] bananas . . . two chocolate-peanut bars . . . more fluids . . .
Once I’d showered & changed (nice T-shirt in the goody bag!), and cleaned my wetsuit & tri-suit, we headed off up the coast in search of fish & chips (still hungry) (if you’re in the US, chips=french fries, but chunkier; and fish is always fried in batter). Sunday was also the day of the Great North Bike Ride - a 54 mile race / fun-ride down the coast from Seahouses to Tynemouth. It was great to see so many bikes on the road - enough in fact to more or less assert their right to be there. I think next year I’ll have to do this one.
Anyway, we somehow got a little lost, and ended up at Newbiggin-By-The-Sea. Which, as it turns out has an excellent fish & chip shop in Front Street, just next to the Black Pearl pub (Daughter’s eyes were almost popping out of her head when she read the sign). So we sat on the edge of the beach; Wife & Daughter ate sausage & chips, while I truffled my way through a fantastic [huge] piece of haddock, cooked in the best batter I’ve ever had, with a huge portion of chips.
Finally I felt full!
There was some sort of medieval fayre in Newbiggin, with a band playing some excellent folksy ‘tra-la-la-lally’ tunes just above where we were sitting; they were a bit like a cross between Lindisfarne & All About Eve, and just what I needed to make the day perfect.
After lunch, we went inland to Brinkburn Priory, which is one of Wife’s favourite places in the world. After a look around the buildings, we sat on the grass outside, and then . . . and then . . . I woke up fifteen minutes later. Hmmm, maybe that early start, followed by 90 minutes of running around like a lunatic had taken more out of me than I’d thought. As Wife pointed out, 90 minutes of just running around might have been a whole lot easier!
Workout:
- Type: Run
- Date: 08/26/2007
- Time: 09:10:00
- Total Time: 00:21:00.00
- Distance: 3.11 miles
- Average Pace: 6:45.41/mile
Mmmm. I miss a good bag of fish and chips.
Aussie style.
I’ve yet to have the British style, but I suspect it’s slightly different than the Aussies.
I love that family and friends are always impressed when you finish a race. Even if you feel you didn’t achieve your goals, they will always be proud of you.
I too was dirt tired yesterday… I fell half asleep on the couch as my wife made dinner… and the kids were screaming in the background. I’m sure your nap on the grass was much more comfortable.
Probably a whole lot more peaceful - there’s a good reason that Brinkburn’s one of Wife’s favourite places!