South Yorkshire Olympics

After taking a break from running to recover from overtraining, I noticed the downside of being inactive: I started to put on weight and felt sluggish. It’s not surprising, really, but it definitely made me realise that I needed to find a way to get back into some sort of motion. So, when I saw that the Hillsborough and Rivelin Running Club were hosting a local track event, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to have some fun.

A Fun and Social Event

The event had a great atmosphere—casual, social, and open to all abilities, with 73 runners competing over five different distances. The idea of being put into races alongside people of a similar ability really appealed to me. I pre registered myself in the range of people running parkruns around 18 to 20 minutes, which even then I felt maybe a bit too much for my given my current state of fitness. (I couldn't even run a sub 20min 5km at this time)

Without thinking too much about it, I signed up for the 100m, 400m, 800m, and a 400m relay. Ambitious? Definitely. But I was excited to just have some fun.

A Bit Too Much, Too Soon

As it turned out, I was probably a little too excited. After finishing the 800m race, it quickly became clear that I’d bitten off more than I could chew for my current fitness level. I was completely gassed and decided to pull out of the 400m relay to save myself from further exhaustion.

However, despite the over-enthusiasm, I surprised myself with a couple of strong performances. I managed to finish 1st in both the 100m and 400m. The 800m was a different story—I ran out of steam and faded, finishing 4th, but it was still great fun to be running with some friendly competition. I ended up feeling extremely sore over the next few days, as the lingering effects of overtraining still left me not only feeling out of shape but also with muscles that seemed to tire easily alongside slow recovery.

Looking Forward

Overall, the event was a fantastic experience. I had a good laugh, caught up with some familiar faces from the local running scene, and found the Hillsborough and Rivelin Running Club to be incredibly friendly and welcoming. I managed a 12.56 in the 100m, which isn’t bad considering I’m still carrying extra weight and far from my fittest. I’d like to return next year, hopefully fitter and lighter, and aim to break into the 11-second range for the 100m.