Hello Everyone. Today is parkrun day, a free 5K event which takes place every Saturday morning all around the world. It is for everyone, slow, fast, able, disabled, big, small and everyone in between. Oh and don't forget about the super Mum's and Dad's who push their babies in buggies. You can walk, jog, run, run/walk, it's not a race, just a run in the park and loads of us here on Bridge to 10K do it religiously every Saturday morning.
Some of us may not be able to do a parkrun at the moment so until parkrun returns fully for everyone some of us will continue to take part on our own in a Virtual parkrun every Saturday morning called a (not)parkrun. Or if you are away on Holidays, prefer to run on your own, or do not have a parkrun close by you a (not)parkrun is perfect, please feel free to join in. Please post a little run report after your parkrun or (not)parkrun and let everyone know how you got on. The little run report can be done over a post parkrun coffee and treat/cake. (parkrun is all about the after run coffee and cake, and meeting friends old and new).
If you are a new graduate and would like to start, all you have to do is run, walk or jog at a parkrun or a 5K run/jog/walk (not)parkrun anytime today or tomorrow and write a little run report under this post. It's like a little community and it is good fun, sets you up nicely for the weekend. If you want to you can register on the parkrun website and you can log your 5K (not)parkrun. In fact you can log any 5K done during the week as a (not)parkrun.
For anyone whom has not done a real parkrun yet and if it is available to you, give it a try. It is the most wonderful community event. Saturday mornings will never be the same again.
Looking forward to hearing from all of you who ran in real proper parkruns and (not)parkruns. Happy running and have a lovely weekend.
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damienair
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Hubby & I were back at park run today. No.2 son & No 3 son have had Covid this week & the rest of us have felt pretty average but are testing negative.
Yes of course, May the 4th be with you! A few Star Wars fans at the parkrun I attended today too. Well done. Congratulations to you both on your PB’s and you’ll crack 32 soon no doubt.
Good afternoon Damien, 16:04, not my time at Springburn parkrun where I was a marshall this morning, it was nice to witness a runner breaking Springburn's parkrun course record, the second runner was more than 2 minutes "slower", out of 90 running, 9 ran a sub 20 minutes 5K.
Next week is Springburn Parkrun's 10th birthday, I'll be running and there will be cake at the finishing line.
Not only running very fast but his panting was also very loud, of course I wasn't at the finishing line but I am sure he must have been exhausted when he got there.
I love fancy dress at parkrun but even I could not rustle up a Star Wars costume today. In fact only 1 storm trooper T-shirt was spotted at Southsea parkrun this morning. But it was bright sunshine, and a light southerly breeze and it brought out 526 runners, walkers and joggers today. Most this year, I think.
It was lovely to run in a T-shirt and capris and not feel cold before and after the run. UpTheStanley started at the back and then caught me up on the 2nd lap of the run . I paced it well so I didn’t need to walk at any point and was happy with 5k time of 32.45 on Garmin and 33.48 parkrun time. It was a lovely atmosphere and I got to chat to or cheer lots of familiar faces.
Lovely also to see a female first finisher.
As a special treat at the end of the run we got to enjoy the spectacular sight of a spitfire doing various manoeuvres in the sky alongside us.
Many of us gathered to cheer in Coddfish as she finished her 248th event. It’s finishing that counts, not how long it takes. Mr and Mrs C , Oldgirlruns , UTS and me then headed for breakfast and coffee.
Great run for you today Dexy5, particularly seeing that Spitfire doing various manoeuvres, perhaps practicing for the 80th anniversary of the D-day landings on the 6th June 1944 which my father took part, I would imagine that there will be a lot happening for D Day in Portsmouth in the next few weeks.
Yes Al, I believe Southsea is to be the centre of celebrations for the D-Day anniversary again. The spitfires are based at Goodwood airfield and people pay for flights to the Isle of Wight in order to raise the funds to keep these fantastic aircraft going. We get to see them regularly in the summer, but it was great to watch from the seafront. UpTheStanley flew in one for his 70th birthday, and got to pilot it too. A bit more enjoyable than facing the enemy back in the day.
Yes Portsmouth was at its best today Dexy - not surprising you had that turnout. Great that Coddfish is one nearer that milestone - suggest you ask that Spitfire to come back for no 250!
well done Dexy and everyone. Another great parkrun morning including the spitfire manoeuvres. Coddfish is a true hero. I hope to be in Southsea to meet you all towards the end of September and get my South for the Compass challenge and meet you all for a post parkrun breakfast.
Traditional Bank Holiday in Stratford upon Avon - busy, busy busy! We had our highest post Covid attendance today at 482, and it felt like it at the start! We were spread out at the beginning very much like Bushy, but then we all had to squeeze onto narrow paths. Luckily I’m still wearing my trail cross trainer shoes so I happily went on the grass to get round everyone.
Eldest kitten was RD today. It being Star Wars Day he was in his element with his Yoda hat. The ED and his family were all dressed up, and eldest kitten started the briefing by playing the Imperial March on his cornet. That went down very well and certainly quietened down the crowd!
Anyway, the run itself wasn’t so bad once we got round the big bunch and the field spread out. I quite happily overtook people who didn’t want to run through the puddles. We nearly got side swiped by a goose who did a great job of finding a gap to cross the path!
Just under 30 minutes today. It felt harder but my tummy wasn’t happy so I blame that. Hopefully it’ll settle down before tomorrow’s trail race.
It sounds like eldest kitten is blooming in his new role TailChaser ! Big bank holiday weekend numbers for you. It was our highest since moving starts too. The weather here brought everyone out.
A busy parkrun for you TC - I love the idea of the goose waiting for a gap in runners before crossing the path; how well trained! And you seem to have found a brilliant way of calling the troops together for the briefing - I think Eldest Kitten could have a job at a lot of parkruns!
tourist at Durham today with over 500 runners. A rather subdued affair as a member of the Parkrun team died suddenly in the week and everyone was still rather shocked. There were many tears and a remembrance round of Applause…..very moving. The route was the regatta course so no fabulous views of the cathedral and mostly on grass. I had chosen my hybrid trail shoes (Brooks cascadia) and they worked wonderfully. There were many many students running (as you would expect with a university close by) so although I finished mid 400th I was still 6 th in my age group!🤣. The volunteers were amazing and I was made very welcome.
Durham is so beautiful isn’t it? I think it’s great when the parkrun family acknowledge the loss of a local member but it must be even harder to lose a member of the core team so unexpectedly.
It was a very-notparkrun for me! MrU and I had some jobs to do and I was trying to figure out how to squeeze a run in. I ended up doing a bit over 5km (mainly along a dual carriageway!) while he had a haircut and then met me a couple of miles away and ran together for the final mile and a bit. Not the most beautiful route by any stretch of the imagination but I’d forgotten how satisfying it feels to start at one place and run to somewhere else. There was a very chilled 28 minute 5km in there which was a nice bonus.
Struggled round parkrun 248 today, as Dexy5 has evidenced above. Beautiful day, spitfire out over the Solent, nice breakfast (even if the sourdough ideally required a steak knife). Collapsed at home for the rest of the day with some rugby to watch today, and more importantly tomorrow. COYQ!
It won’t be until late June at the earliest. I may be able to do 249 next week (but that depends on my daughter’s plans as we might be saddled with her dog). We have other commitments on the next 2 Saturdays and I have learned that with my health it’s an either / or regarding parkrun and something else. I am timekeeping the following Saturday and then we are in Italy for the next 2. I also have the big dilemma of whether to wait for Mr C to catch up. He is currently 3 parkruns behind me, will be 2 assuming he runs when I am timekeeping.
That’s great Coddfish . I really really want to be with you for your momentous landmark PR, and between now and mid-June is bonkers here. Look after yourself, and can’t wait to see you! 🥰
Earliest is 22 June, if not dog-stuck on Saturday and if I don’t wait for Mr C to do a joint 250. Our daughter’s dog can’t cope with turning up at the end of parkrun, never mind participating. The big question for me is whether my ability to do it will continue deteriorating. My oncologist is of the view that a lot of my current issues are adrenal insufficiency, from having spent almost 9 months on initially very high dose steroids, and now almost at the end of the wean. But it could go on for some time.
Early alarm for us to do Course Set Up and First Timers Welcome before heading home for breakfast and the Buskulele at the village market. It was quite cool by the time we finished so we went to a nearby bar to warm up 🍻
A late check in from me today. Just come in from cutting the grass which is a nice 4km walk all of its own. 😇
True to my promise to Beachcomber66 that I’d stop taking the easy way out and avoiding hills (which I used to run all the time), I went back to Ashton Court this morning. Last weekend I was irritated with myself for taking 4 walking breaks on the way up. I did go back on Sunday morning to fix that situation and incorporated the same hill into my 8k run, but I wanted to go back to PR today. Perfect conditions made it tempting to go to Severn Bridge, but I was good and resisted!
Nailed the hill: it felt great too. It was a slower PR time due to a larger turnout and me starting close to the back, but a better Garmin time, so I’m dead chuffed. 😀 Might go back next weekend too! 😅
I was able to wake up early enough, so on this sunny morning, I went to Harrow Lodge parkrun. The easternmost parkrun in London.
It was a lovely one lap course round a nice park. It was mostly on grass, with the occasional tarmac bit.
Because of rain in the last 2 days, it was a bit muddy, though not nearly as much as last week’s parkrun, so I was able to stick to just over my usual pace.
It was my 49th parkrun overall, and 40th location.
A distinctly underwhelming run for me today Damien - rather too much walking but, hey, that’s faster for me anyway! And at least I was there! A beautiful morning and really springlike for the 526 runners; I came in at 512 in a time of 50:16 (48:26 Garmin time!) and was 2nd out of 3 in my age group. And on a beautiful day, there followed an excellent breakfast with my crew of Dexy5, UpTheStanley, Coddfish and Mr C. Happy running folks!
Very well done Oldgirlruns on another parkrun and a fantastic morning with lovely friends. That’s what it’s all about. You were 100% faster than all the lazy lumps who were still in bed.
It was heavy going this morning at Portsmouth Lakeside - can't blame the puddles or the weather, but I think the (very) late night at the local elections on Thursday might have had something to do with it! Started off ok with splits of 6.11, 6.01 and 6.16, but went quickly downhill after that, finishing in 32.52. Oh well, who cares in those perfect running conditions and there's always next week!😀
You did the right thing Sandie1961 . You’ve had a rough few weeks, so best to look after yourself. Spring and summer is are ahead so there will be plenty more lovely PRs to be enjoyed. ❤️
Parkrun no 223 for me today, a special away day for Medina I.O.W parkrun to Tennyson Down which happens once a year or so(football tournament on our course in Newport today) Perfect weather, sparkling sea, 325 runners, a BIG hill but then a lovely 2km downhill to the finish!
Lots of Isle of Wight Ultra challenge runners coming the other way ,some doing the full 67 mile route!
Cake and coffee afterwards! And another walk to make the most of the sunshine! X
From the monument looking back at the runners(borrowed the photo, I was near the back!!)
I have to take major exception to my profile information. Absolutely ridiculous. I’m not a 50 year old. Well not yet anyway 12 more days to go. How very dare they! What an absolute liberty!
This morning I ran at an inaugural parkrun event. It was so lovely. I left early and traveled with my two parkrun friends Ida and Petula. It was raining heavy but thankfully it stopped just before the start. Approx 200 were present and about 25 well supporting parkrun tourists including ourselves. In Ireland parkrun tourism is nothing like the UK, so going to an inaugural event is something which is not discouraged because there are only about 80 people on the island of Ireland who are mad enough to travel. And of that only 20-30% will go to inaugural events.
As always it was amazing, an out and back course in a woodland scene. My finish time was 28:26. We had such a lovely day and had a post parkrun breakfast on the way home. Later I convinced my wife to join me for a couple of drinks and a pizza and watch the Leinster vs Northampton Rugby match. Phew. Comfortable lead turned into a finger nail biting finale. A great parkrun day.
How wonderful to go to a first day of a parkrun Damien. The volunteers need the runners to be there to learn how they can improve and adjust the event. Sounds like a great day all round.
Ahh an inaugural PR damienair , such fun! I’ve done one (but I’m embarrassed to say I’ve forgotten if it was Marine Parade or Clevedon!) and it had a lovely atmosphere.
Great time again, and I’m glad the rain stopped for you. Sorry you didn’t have our ideal weather though. Bright sunshine here. ☀️
There’s quite an overlap between Irish rugby fans / parkrunners. I have certainly met Irish parkrun tourists when away for rugby matches. We ran Futakotamagawa (Tokyo) on the day of the RWC 2019 final. The event was full of Kiwis, South Africans, some Australians as well as British and Irish. Great fun.
I volunteered this morning at the Worcester Parkrun and did the finish tokens role. I was a little nervous as it was more technical than I envisaged and I was right to be - the token machine wasn't loaded correctly so the first 100 tokens came out the wrong way round, starting with the highest number. Think I'll stick to marshaling.
Ah, the benefits of technology … we keep ours on a bootlace 😀. Don’t let it put you off though. I’m now feeling sorry for the RD, that’s not an easy one to sort out!
I think the RD was a little distracted when he showed me how it worked so that's why it happened. Hey ho! He said he could just 'flip the spreadsheet' so fingers crossed it all turned out OK in the end.
I didn't do parkrun yesterday, got a sore ankle, think I've sprained it a bit. So I volunteered, did pre run set up and then offered to stay on as marshal. I was at the finish line. The speed in the people coming through, it was brilliant to watch.
Well went to Lister Park parkrun but it started badly son in law was up late, we missed the start but could just make out the tail walker's so decided to run anyway. Ended up with 32.52 and half up/down the field. Im actually happy with the run and it would of been close to my pb in the end. Well done to everyone who did a parkrun yesterday xx
No parkrun for the last two weekends. My count is still on 99.
Mum went into hospital two Tuesdays ago with aspirate pneumonia (ie. brought on by inhaling some food). My sister's been shuttling back and forth to the hospital and I've been looking after Dad and sister's dog while she does. Mum's now been transferred into the correct ward after spending ten days on the medical assessment ward, but unfortunately it's into one with COVID which means no visiting. (She'd been testing positive since the bout in early January despite getting over it.)
Anyway, I did a not parkrun on Saturday evening. In spite of it being a fairly hilly route (51m ascent) which I'd done many times before and taking a few short walk breaks, I ran it in 27:19, better than any recent parkrun.
On getting back I immediately put a jacket on, harnessed up the dog (a large twelve year old cockerpoo) and took him out for about 20 minutes, finishing with a little jog which he enjoyed.
A rural road. In the distance two odd trees stand out where the sea and sky meet.
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