Running On Empty

Another weekend, another non-parkrun 5K-ish. Google Fit reckoned it was just over 5K, and running buddy's watch thought the same. Onthegomap.com strongly disagreed. Anyway, this time, I completely forgot to get any photographic evidence, so here's a map of the route instead:  Being in my spiritual home of Seaton Sluice, I was absolutely in my element. Starting at the harbour by the Waterford Arms, heading under the road bridge and past the old bottleworks site (and that of the old bridge that I never knew), we headed up the dene to the far end of the village. From there, uphill to the Delaval Arms and downhill again to the clifftops before following the coast back to the Kings Arms and finishing with a lap of Rocky Island. The whole thing was around sunset for once, which was nice too. Unfortunately, I'm writing this at least a week after the event, so my memories of how I felt on the run are a little hazy. But I think both my hip and knee were fine this time, w...

Finally, a weekend run again. Let's quickly recap what I've been up to. Or not. First, I've not been running. Parkrun has had to be abandoned, as I'm taxi driver every Saturday morning now at parkrun time.  Secondly, I've not been running or even cycling or swimming since the snow-halted attempt at Blyth in early January. Thirdly, I've got a job again. From March 2025 to February 2026, I went without an income, which was probably the most prolonged stress and confidence-shattering period of my life. Mercifully, I'm now employed again, but the job's requiring a lot of hours right now, so exercise has been way down the list of priorities.  Today, however, the running buddy and I got back out again, heading to The Land of Oak and Iron (i.e. the Derwent Valley) for an easy 5K in beautiful woodland and mainly along the old railway line there (gentle gradient ahoy!). Really glad we didn't just go to Weetslade Colliery Park (my initial suggestion), as it ca...