Race Report - Southern Athletics League , Brighton Match 19/08/2023

[RunBrianRun]

Thank you to Sue for reminding me to get this report written. 😅👍

Saturday 19th and yet another race day is upon me. The calendar has been busy and it’s about to ramp up further too.

The big problem with having so many races is trying to fit in standard training routines such as visiting the gym and so on. Basically these have to go on the back burner while the racing season is in full swing. Recovery is super important, although maintaining strength is also important in order to prevent injury. It’s a tricky balance.

The southern athletics league have matches throughout the year and this is the fourth and final one here in Brighton. I entered as a non-scoring athlete in the 100 and 200 metres events in what should have been a no pressure training outing as I have national and international events looming in September. As is becoming usual with me, it was anything but. 😂

I promise I won’t make this a big long read for you all again so I’ll keep it short.

Well I loaded up the car with all the gear ready to set off to the track in good time to start my warmup.

However, as I was getting into the car my back went into spasm. Well I couldn’t believe it. I was absolutely in agony. I haven’t had pain like this for over 18 months. I got out of the car and hobbled back to my front door and made it back inside. I did some yoga stretches and got my massage gun out. I then went and hung on some scaffolding outside the house to stretch it out. I popped an ibuprofen got back in the car and drove to the stadium.

I then advised my sons not to bother coming as it’s highly likely I wouldn’t be racing. 😞

As I arrived at the stadium I went to speak to my coach and he said there was a physio in the clubhouse who would be able to look at me. She did a wonderful job; pressed a few bits here and there and I felt much better. I decided to wait until my warmup was complete before deciding whether to compete. It was a little painful reaching down but I felt ok to run.

At the start line I wasn’t at all nervous but still managed yet another false start! I got a yellow card warning. Phew.

Anyway I managed to get away the second time but as usual the false start meant I was late leaving the blocks this time. I finished 2nd in a pretty dismal time of 13.2. It didn’t really matter though as the important thing was my back wasn’t in too much pain.

I decided to wait for the 200s but I was seriously thinking I’d pushed my luck far enough and to look at the big picture. In the end I ran it but with a standing start just to be careful.

Anyway, this race was much better than I hoped and I ended up with a new personal best, shaving 1/2 a second off!

So very much a mixed bag of emotions this time. I do hope my boys and grandson will get to see me race one day.

I saw my chiropractor today and he did an amazing job!

The picture is from my false start.

Thank you for reading the report and well done if you got to the end! Here’s a medal for you 🏅

Good luck with your running and training and if you’re on the IC you have my fullest sympathy. I was very nearly there with you today.

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Goodness gracious me! 2nd in a pretty dismal time of 13.2, injured and in some pain! The difference between that iand your PB is mere seconds. You performed as well as you were able on the day so be proud. Then you smashed the 200. Im not dismissing your disappointment just in awe of your strength to race at all that day.

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you Sue. I shouldn’t be so hard on myself. 😅

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to RunBrianRun]

No, you shouldn't, but then we all are, you should hear me moaning that i cant run faster for longer

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Thanks for the medal Brian, I did read the whole post, well done on that 200 metre personal best, try and relax a bit a the start of a race to avoid those false starts, if you have more than one it could mean being eliminated from a race, especially if you have travelled a long distance, good luck for future runs in September.

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Al. I’ll be very careful going forward with my starts. I have been pushing my luck too much recently. 😂

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Brian! Your race reports are gripping - never a dull moment, and the fact you raced at all is incredible, let alone getting a PB! Mr Zippy strikes again! 💥

It must be so hard on the start. I can feel myself twitching from the sofa whilst watching the athletics. They’re often held for so long aren’t they? Cruel! But at least you weren’t disqualified and maybe that race loosened your back readying you for your PB. 😀

Thanks for the bling. 🏅 I’ll take anything shiny. 🙏

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I have one word, Magpie 🤣

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

And you’re not Irishprincess !? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

You know me so well Munks 🙂

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Aww ☺️ that’s lovely. I try my best. I love sharing this journey with you all as at least here it’s appreciated.

My back is still sore but much more mobile today. I did a short run followed by a hill sprint session and apart from the expected muscle aches, I’m feeling ok. So hopefully I’ll be ok.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Epic bit of running again Brian. You are just teasing us with these false starts !! Trying to take off on the B in Bang in an event where a second either way makes a huge difference must be tough. I guess that if you are not getting the occasional yellow card you are not really trying? Whatever…..great work; again!👍

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thanks BC I must stop anticipating the gun and start listening for the gun instead. I hope it helps. My coach reckons I have another .5 to find by tidying up my start and first 3 steps. I need to work on hip thrusts, squats and hip flexors to get more power. So that’s part of the plan for winter training after the euros.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Oh my goodness Brian! What a tale. You did remarkably well to even consider starting after your back problem. And then to get a PB!!!! Unbelievable.

But what a shame you didn't have your family there as planned. Next time hopefully 🤞

A big well done to you you speedy speedster 🏃‍♂️

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

I think the PB was going to be soon anyway as I haven’t run the 200 competitively all summer really and my previous PB was set last year. I’m still developing my speed so there s more to come yet I hope be the spectre of sarcopenia and atrophy make their inevitable presence felt.

It was a shame not to have them there but I hope they will come next year. They will watch the nationals and euros on the live feed from those events.

[misswobble Marathon]

Oh gawd 😩 it’s unbelievable that your back should conk just as you were about to set off! Full marks for carrying on though 💪👍😀

Not a bad day’s work all in all 😁

I hope you’re more comfortable now, and whatever it was has sorted itself out 🙏🤞

I was reading the other day that one of the original members of King Crimson is a Masters Athlete and still ripping it up on the track aged 80 🙂

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Thanks MW that’s really interesting I wonder who he is?

[misswobble Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

Peter Giles! A distance runner I think from what I’ve gleaned from a quick scan on the Internet. Or at least he was in the article I read but he was 65 then 🙂🎶🎵

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Glad your back held up in the end,congratulations on the new PB ! Enjoy your race reports,hopefully your family will see you racing soon 😁🤞xxx

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Thank you Aliboo! 😊

[Jools2020 Half Marathon]

I think you seriously underestimate the interest in your long run reports! And you have us sitting in the edge of our sofas - it’s like we are there with you. Love your musings and background info.

Serious bad luck for your back to go when it did. It must have been a hard decision as to where to go from that!

Huge congrats for your results. Amazing!

I nearly missed this report so if you don’t mind I’ll follow you to ensure I don’t miss the next one.

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Jools2020]

You’re welcome to follow me Jools and I’ll keep on writing them. Not long to the end of the season now though. I wonder if there would be any interest in following my training and preparation for next season? Just an idea to keep my report writing skills fresh. 😃

[Jools2020 Half Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

I’m sure there would be! I’ve not been that interested in track events before other than to occasionally watch it on TV, so I know very little about it and the training & prep you need to do for it. So I, for one, would like to learn more.

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Hanging from something is a great idea to stretch out that back, I’m glad it eased off for your races.

Yes, that was definitely a false start! A “dismal “ time of 13.2 - no way.

And then you go and PB your 200m by 30 seconds. Whoop whoop . Well done Brian.

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy ☺️ It was my lovely neighbour who rushed out to help me who suggested it and it did seem to help.

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon]

I'm shaking my head at the screen thinking of all the emotions swirling around on your race day. There are already more than enough emotions on a race day and then back trouble putting "shall I run/shan't I run" in there too! Oh dear! A privilege to have a physio on hand ready to assist. It must have been a very hard decision. Perhaps the excellent condition your body is in helped support your back trouble. I know that my various experiences with back trouble would definitely not permit running on the same day, let alone racing!

A super star indeed and a PB too! I note you said a 200m PB was 'due' but on a bad back day from a standing start! Wow! Many congratulations on what you achieved in challenging circumstances. 👏🏃🏻‍♂️🎉

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Thank you O61. I was a bit shaken (and still am tbh) that my back should just go like that especially as my core, obliques and back muscles in general are stronger than they have ever been. It was a timely reminder of my vulnerabilities. Best I enjoy this while I can. I’m certainly building memories for sure.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Blimey Brian! You have real determination. To run after your back went like that must've taken heaps of mental fortitude!!! Congratulations on the PB, that's amazing. But get a grip on these starts would you please, before it becomes a habit 🤪

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

You know me Linda 😅 I have a history of ignoring injuries. 😬😂 Tbh, if my coach or the physio had said leave it I would have heeded their advice. 👍

I’m doing more start practise tomorrow. You’re absolutely right, I really do need to sort it out. Nationals are only 10 days away 😬

[TailChaser Marathon]

Wow, that was quite a report Brian. I wouldn’t be able to run with a back spasm, you did an amazing job getting on top of it. Congratulations on your PB too!! 💪💪👏

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

Thanks TC. It’s one of those back nasty little back spasms that come out of nowhere and pole axe you. Then it subsides, and remains in the form of residual pain and the sentinel threat of another one coming at any time. It’s quite mentally debilitating as well as physically. I can still feel it today but I’m taking care. Hopefully I’ll be fully recovered by next Saturday. 👍

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

Yuck 🤞All the best Brian 🤞

[Week7 Half Marathon]

PB !!!!A happy ending to another brilliant report. You do like do keep us guessing don't you?

Congratulations on the achievements of the day. A rocky start to the day but a great finish!

Looking forward to the next report .

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Week7]

Ha ha 😂 I must admit I do enjoy writing them Week7 , especially as they are appreciated so much.