Another Saturday, another push – literally.
This week was a solo run for me, no buggy in tow, and I’d almost forgotten what that felt like. Still, the course at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea doesn’t make it easy. Two hill climbs, each one a test, and the second never gets easier. But this time… we ran them both.

No PB, but I’m not chasing ghosts – It wasn’t a personal best – but it was my second-best time on this course since we started coming here. That counts for something.

The hills? Managed both of them running, which is a first in a while. Fatigue hit after the second, but I kept going. For me at the moment it’s just my own pace and my own voice pushing me.

Finished with a bit of fire. Gained three places at the end, including a sprint with someone trying to pass. It became a sprint battle of “how bad do you want it?” – and I did. There really is something about hearing steps coming that triggers the adrenaline

The comeback isn’t a straight line up. But it’s happening. Thank you to all the parkrun volunteers who make it happen!

Parkrun time: 31:32
Course: Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
Effort: Honest. Solid. Progress.

If you’re new here, I’ve been documenting our return to running after a long break — sometimes solo, sometimes pushing my son in a specialist running buggy. If you’re curious about that journey, or the buggy setup itself, here’s the full story:
[Link: Kool Stride Buggy Review]