Back again at Stanley Park for ParkRun Blackpool #277, this was to be my sixth ParkRun in seven weeks, and boy was it cold. -1°C when I left home and only a slightly better 2°C when I arrived at Stanley Park but at least it was dry and the sun was shining.

Despite a good 45 minute session on the treadmill yesterday, and despite doing stretches when I got out of the car, my calf decided today wasn’t going to be a good day. It started niggling me as I walked to the clock tower, the ParkRun meeting point. I messaged Coach Ken and said “Alas, I’m not going to do today I don’t think.” but his advice was to go slowly and see what I can do.

In the end, I hobbled around for just one lap, 2.5km, and dropped out.

Disappointed.

Ken reassured me that it was something and better than nothing and that getting out and doing one lap was “still a win”. It just didn’t feel like a win.

There’s always next week, and the week after and the week after that.

Chalk Guy was able to mark the occasion in his usual style.