Thumbs stopped, Maisie arrived, and I'm back running!

Well, for once in my life I have a good excuse for not running much, and not posting either. As you know, I was hanging around between Ireland and England awaiting the arrival of my little grand-daughter. Well, needless to say she was a typical woman, - LATE! But what that meant was that I got to have a few nice runs around old haunts (see last post), and also managed to get a Hash in with the Sheffield Hash House Harriers, althoughg it was more like a Mountain Climb, as it involved an ascent and descent of Kinder Scout, and we didn't use paths.

I shot back to Ireland for a few days, spending time back in Banbridge and down in Dublin at my sons, before heading back to England on Tuesday June 21st, arriving in Sheffield as Maisie entered the world at 8lb 5oz, with mum and baby doing so well, they let them home within 6 hours of the birth.

I'm not sure which emotion was running highest on meeting my grand-daughter, but I sure felt proud of my little girl, as well as feeling a pang of ageing, especially when Melanie's partner, Gareth, kept saying, "Let Grand-dad hold Maisie"! Still, I still feel young, most of the time, and I am always have to remember that my own father still had five years to age from my youthful 53 years, before I was even born, so believe me, there is life in this old dog yet!

Sadly in many ways, I had to fly back to Argentina, leaving the young ones behind, and thanks to the Chilean Volcano allowing me to change my flights, I arrived back in Buenos Aires on Friday last, just as the Polar Ice Caps decided to freeze BsAs! I was suffering a bit of jet lag, and tummy trouble, so I rested over the weekend, after taking time to Wet The Babies Head in the time honoured tradition on Friday, Frinks Night!

But today, Monday, a new week, back to work, and back to the gym for a run. I managed a good 4Km on the treadmill, in a time of 20:51, my first run in my new Asics Nimbus 13's, with a progressive increase in pace, building up nicely. having had a week off, I was pleased with this run, but not half as pleased as I was with Maisie, so allow me the indulgence of a picture of the three generations of the family.... Now on with the running.....

Whilst Thumbs Twiddle, I get to run

Whilst the nervous wait continues, I have the delight of being able to get out and run along routes that I remember vividly from my serious running days back in the 90's. This morning I was out at 7.30 and a run along the Peak Forest Canal in the opposite direction to yesterdays run. The canal finishes at, the delightfully named, Bugsworth Basin, which 15 years ago was filled with reeds and un-navigable. I am pleased to see that the canal is now completely cleared up, and boats are moored up around the basin, adding to the plesant atmosphere that canal running has always had around here.

The run this morning was around 3Km in each direction, which I completed under 40 minutes. A gentle run with my hostess Tracy, and the boys, Ruskin & Huxley, with no mis-adventures from the dogs today. We just about managed to miss out on a shower, which wet the place after we had got back, although I am pleased to say the sun is now out and I will probably take a walk to Hayfield, where I lived for my last 18 months in this area, and finally left in 2002 - Nice memories from around here, and great locations for running - Maybe Maisie Moo can hang on for a few more days while I catch up here..........

I've added some links to the area, just in case you want a Peak :)..... Just click on the names above...

Awaiting Maisie

Since the race last week, I have moved onto England, and the main purpose of my trip north, to await the arrival of little Maisie, my first grandchild. In between, on Friday, I got out for a nice run with Liam Og around Ongar, on a pleasant evening, nice and steady pace, with a kick at the end as we ran around 5.3km, on the flat lands of west county Dublin.

Then on Saturday I made the journey by boat and a few trains, to the area where I used to live back in the 90's, Furness Vale, just outside New Mills, and my friends Peter & Tracy, who were kindly putting me up for a few days, and catching up over a few bottles of wine and great food. Went over to see Mels on Monday, and no sign of the baby coming just yet - Expected date was June 7th, but we still wait.

Tuesday saw me heading into Manchester, and my old workplace of the CIS, now CFS, and a great time catching up with Mark, Mike and Denise - Even though it is 12 years since I left there, it felt like only yesterday when I was there. Manchester itself has changed tremendously in the interveening years, with a lot of new build, and the old Arndale Centre has been completely revamped, to the point that it looked completely different - I couldn't find my way out! Thanks to a bit of Tu-inking, I didn't get a run in until this morning - and what a pleasure that was.

When I lived in the area, it was around the time that I was running seriously, and quickly, and the canal towpath along the Peak Forest Canal was always a favourite run of mine. While I might be slower these days, I could still recall the great runs along here, and it was great to get out for an ealy morning run along the canal, with Tracy, my hostess, and the dogs running alongside us, Ruskin & Huxley. We ran an out and back route, of approximately 9Km, taking a shade over the hour, a nice leisurely pace, great conversation. and perfect running weather - for June!

After a shower etc., I took a walk up to Whaley Bridge, and the local Tesco, where I was surprised to see, amongst their range of "World Beers", a NOT favourite of mine from Home - Quilmes, and hopefully, as can be seen from the picture I snapped from my phone, not quite at the price we would pay at the local store in Avellaneda..... Needless to say, I didn't buy any......

Now, I am sat here twiddling my thumbs as I await news from Mels. I have my flight booked for next Wednesday, so a bit more running, no finger nails, and soon, the newest addition to the Mycroft Clan should be here........

The results are in..

After a weekend away in Limerick to watch the Magners League Final (Rugby for the uninitiated), it was back to Dublin today, and the eagerly awaited challenge between the "Auld fella"(Me), and the "Young Un"(my son). The event, a BHAA Race over 5 Miles in Dunboyne, a race I ran a few years ago, and recalled it being flat and fast. Liam Og has recently taken up running, and despite giving him 28 years (as any father would), it was looking like a close race from his training times, and my own return to running - would it be the case on the day.

The race was to start at 8pm, on a very pleasant evening in County Meath, with the sun still bright in the sky at start time, albeit the breeze did bring a little chill, which would be swept away once the running started. There was an excellent turn out for the race, and we set off right on time, with Og and myself lining up together.

I wasn't sure what tactics to employ, should I set off hard and see if I could burn him off early on, or should I hang back at a steady pace, knowing he was likely to run alongside, and simply try and out kick him over the last mile. I had thought that 8:20 pace would be good enough, and once started, I was surprised to find Og running alongside, as I set off at sub 8 minute pace, and the first mile was hit in 7:56, fast for me, but Og was still alongside - he looked confident....

Mile 2 was reached in 16:01, still around the 8 minute pace, and a little too fast for me, so I eased back, clocking 8:32 for the next mile, and Og pulled ahead... I was struggling a little, maybe the weekend had caught up with me, maybe the niggle in the back, but to be fair, i had felt fine at the start, and make no excuses for the next mile, which saw a terrible 9:04 time, and I knew I was in trouble, despite having caught himself before the mile marker - he had overheated, and taken a walk break to recover his composure.

The last mile. He was only a few yards ahead, but I knew that I couldn't increase my pace dramatically to close the gap. His youthful legs were turning over well, he had got his second wind and with less than half a mile to go I knew that tonight was going to be his night, as there was no way the gap could be closed, far from it, it was widening, despite my own increase in pace. I dug in, but with little effect, although I did overtake a few runners once we made the last 200m on the track at Dunboyne Athletics Club, but I only clocked 8:02 for that last mile, and a final time of 41:39, with Og having crossed the line some forty seconds ahead of me.

The challange had been accepted, and he deserved his victory. Obviously I hope that it will not be the last time we race against each other, and I am sure Og will get a lot faster as he builds his training, but I am determined to resume competition with him, although it might be in virtual races in the next year of so, until we can line up together at a race. I am proud of his achievement. Mildy disappointed with my own run, although my overall pace was exactly what I had in mind, I set off too fast and suffered for it mid-race....

That's my racing over for this trip home, as my next stop is Sheffield and the imminent arrival of Baby Maisie, the main reason for my journey - I'll get a few more runs in to keep my fitness together, and then it will be Grandad (Abuelo) duties before I return to Argentina and the next race......