I ran a short 3 mile circuit in a relatively quick time, perhaps 20 sconds slower than normal. However, afterwards and for the next few days I had hip pain with every step, as the leg compresses into the hip.
I waited 5 days and tried a 5 miles route. Same again, more hip pain.
This Sunday just gone I decided to take part in a 10k off road race that I have entered for the last 2 years running. Each time in the last 2 years I have had to stop many times due to my leg going totally numb from the knee down several miles into the run. This was sciatica I was told afterwards; it was the reason I got orthotics in my shoes in January this year. Since then I have had no more numbness. So despite not really running at all for a month, and still have this hip pain, I decided to try and do the event more justice. The event is the Newcastle Dales 10k, in Apedale country park. It was previously known as the 3 dales dash. The course had changed this year considerable, and no longer took in the 3 dales, just one - Apedale. I suspect this is cost-cutting, as they had to pay the police to stop traffic on the old course as the route crossed a main road. The course is much tougher now, and to be honest it's not as good. You were almost running back on yourself all the time. It felt like you were weaving about, and the organisers had really tried to wring a 10k out of too small an area.
The weather was awful. We'd had gale-force winds during the night and very heavy rain. The wind had died down a little by the morning, but it was still blustery. 170 people started the race, up about 40 from last year. They are mostly locally club runners. The route is all off road, some of it on compacted stones paths, woodland, grass and marshland. The race begins with a 150ft climb in the first half mile, enough to take the wind out of most people's sails. You then descend that 150Ft in the second half mile and then gain 200ft in the next mile or so. The route then slowly descends over the 4 miles before a truly awful hill half a mile before the end. See the map below. I kid you not when I say you are almost on your hands and knees. Did I mention it was muddy? Half way through the course had gone through a field and you were up to your ankles in mud and water for about the next mile. Your feet take on about a 1lb each I think, and keeping your balance is the main priority. So you end up runing with sodden, heavy feet for the last half of the race, only to end on this very steep and slippy climb just to finish you off before the end.
The course difficulty was reflect in the finishing times. The winner completed it 4 minutes slower than last year in 38 minutes ~(average 8:26 minute miles) I completed in just over 53 minutes, and 63rd place out of the 170. Not everyone finished. I saw one man being carried by others. He was in a lot of distress, and must have fallen very badly, umable to walk.
I was happy enough with that time, given the difficulty of the course. A normal road route 10k, I would have finished considerably faster. About 6 weeks ago I completed 7 miles in average 7:30 minute miles, so I would have knocked at least 6 minutes off that time.
Anyway, my hip is still hurting 2 days later, so I'm going to take it easy for the next few weeks, and work on strengthening my hip muscles. I'll do the odd run before Christmas, but then in the new year unveil my master plan for the MDS training.
