North Lakes parkrun 2nd 17;29

I warmed up by running the 2.5km from home to the start and did 3 strides. The start is slightly downhill and there is a major width restriction on the pathway due to road works (it narrows to about 1m !). So I wanted to get out fast to avoid being blocked. Everything appeared OK till close to the end of the short grass section as I nearly over rotated and came close to tumbling over (like I infamously did at my kids sports-day Parents race back in 2004 - see if I can dig out the photo of that hamstring tear) anyhow to prevent myself from falling I splayed my right leg to break the rotation and thereby strained it! Immediately it was painful and I battled mentally should I drop out ? I continued on, taking a brief lead before a youngster breezed up on my shoulder and overtook me at 1KM and gapped me soundly. 
Although it was painful I was running OK so I continued through the first lap in about 5;30 and the second lap in about 11;39. That second lap had taken far longer than it should have and I realized my time wouldn't be great. The third lap requires lapping people the whole way but the serious road works width restriction only presented minor inconvenience. My official time was 17;29 for second place (first over the line was Jai Hockey in about 17;15). I hobbled back home for 10.4km for the day. I rested Sunday and Monday to give the hammy some time to repair.
Will see how I go beyond that before recommencing.
Interestingly, I wore my heart rate monitor and  got the HR up to ave 160 and a max of 170 during the 5km parkrun section.

Did this hamstring tear from 2004 lead to my current chronically sore hamstring?

Christleton 5K 17;12

It's been a while!
No racing just steady running waiting to see if my back/hammie/foot issues would resolve themselves. My hammie pain seems to have become chronic with it lasting over a year now.
Still, I ran an 8 week block of 90km a week, so as I have been saying to anyone who asked, I am fit but not race fit. It was a long haul after recommencing training Dec 2017 having taken a break during Oct/Nov 2017. The Summer saw me running some all time slow runs in the dreadfully humid Brisbane conditions. The cooler months seem to have rejuvenated me and I am back running reasonably quickly (4;20km steady pace).
My Niece was getting married in Chester UK May 19th 2018 (same day as another wedding). Due to other family commitments I flew over by myself but was able to meet up with our daughter Kate who has been living in London for the last year.
In the week prior I met up with Andy Green at our old University @ Loughborough to reminisce over old times and sink a few beers. We went for a run around our old training haunts at The Outwoods (Bluebell Woods) and The Beacon. I had absolutely no memory of which paths to take but fortunately, as Andy had been a reasonably frequent visitor whilst his son did an engineering degree, he was able to guide us around. We also had a tour of the sporting facilities at Loughborough which are now world class including track, swimming pools and indoor training facilities.
Bill Foster ( a former 2;12 Marathon man) one of the ladies athletics coaches proved an amiable guide, with him and Andy recounting many past battle stories.
Andy has been is outstanding form recently, as a 55 year old he ran a certified 5KM road in 16;00, the 4th best World All-Time. He was gutted about missing the sub 16 specially as his watch was 15;58. He has subsequently suffered a set back with his Achilles and calf causing him to back right off the training.
As luck would have it, Andy told me about a 5KM Road race, the night before the Wedding in one of the neighboring villages to where I was staying in Cheshire. I couldn't miss the opportunity to race in the UK for the first time in 20+ years.
The Christleton 5km was limited to only 500 runners and was well oversubscribed - I got in on a waiting list entry).
I warmed up with Andy and took a starting position about 6 to 8 rows back (my chip time was 4 seconds different from my gun time). I had semi resolved to run around with Andy, who said he'd run around 18mins. I had no idea what I was capable of because the few times I had tried to run quickly in recent weeks doing odd KM long bursts at speed (3;30K pace) to try and crack a few Strava segments had left me completely smashed! How could I put 5 K's together for a 17;30, I felt 19/20 minutes was likely more realistic for me. Andy also introduced me on the line to his club mate Stephen Watmough who was ranked 3rd M55 currently in the UK with a 16;50 time to his credit.
At the start as the swarms of youngsters and not so young cleared out and found space to run in. I ran briefly following Stephen before dropping back, finding a comfortable pace to run at.
It was unusual for me to run in such crowded conditions practically through out the race.
The course was a lap and three quarters around country lanes and the village of Christleton. I was not at 100% but I did push myself specially as I tried to my best to un-chick myself towards the end.
I was surprised to finish with 17;12 chip time, much better than I had expected.
Stephen Watmough beat me in the age cat with 16;47 - thankfully a pretty rare loss for me.
Andy cruised in with 17;39 and his younger brother Graham Green dropped out with a KM to go (running at sub 16 pace with a 2;36 M50 Cat win at the London Marathon still in his legs)
so I didn't get completely mullered by the Green Machine.

Results from Christleton here https://chestertri.niftyentries.com/Results/Christleton-5K

Andy's 16;00 5km result ; http://www.ukresults.net/2018/podapra.html

M55 All-Time Rankings. Andy 4th!; https://arrs.run/Veterans/VR4_R5K.htm

I had three weeks away but managed around 70km each week. Now trying to get race fit for the Gold Coast 10km in 3 weeks!!

Father and daughter Kate

Andy Green #242 with Peaky Blinders haircut 

Stephen Watmough #393 getting the better of a Queenslander

First race in 8 months, got chicked twice!

Andrew Green M55 5KM 16;00 this year 4th All-time

Andrew's younger brother Graham winning the London Marathon M50 Cat in 2;36 - not your typical runners build!!