Summer, or at least Spring has finally arrived in the North East with beautiful clear skies and sunshine.
After a day sorting the garden yesterday and a week off since the Blyth 10k last Sunday I set out in just a running t shirt and shorts determined to do a longer run.
Setting out from Dinnington I passed the north end of Newcastle Airport narrowly avoiding being buzzed by a 737, then passed through Havanah and Three Hills Nature Reserve, spotting my first butterflies and bumble bees of the year. I also saw a Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk so the local rodent population are certainly in trouble!!!.
On through Hazellrigg and passed Big Waters made up the return to Dinnington. At this point I was up to 9k and feeling ok so continued on towards Horton Grange with Prestwick Carr on my right hand side. A Great Spotted Woodpecker bounded overhead and the first Swallow of the summer hawked for insects over the lake.
12k and tiring now but not ready to give up so the final 3k was a plod around the viliage.
The last part I was pretty much running on empty but very happy to have made it. That may be it for me distance wise though!!!, time for a rest.
Run happy, run safe 😁
week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
