Entered the Cowdray Park 5k with Taylor Beagle - I even got a free entry thanks to marshalling at that event a few weeks ago 😀
The weather was lovely as I drove over, but as I got closer the clouds started looming. I dithered about a bit at the bag check, trying to decide whether to take my cap or not (I only wear it when I need to keep the rain off my glasses) but finally opted to take it. Which is, of course, why the sun came out again. I kept it on for about half the course, but did eventually give in and carry it when my head got too hot and sweaty.
The scenery was as lovely as the weather turned out to be and the course was just as good. No huge hills, and enough change in running surfaces to make things interesting- a little bit of mud under the trees, some rough grass in a couple of fields and some really lovely springy turf along the edge of the polo pitch(?) - NB. I did not run on the actual playing area - when the tarmac path got a bit too hard under foot.
As I'd gone over on my own, it was nice to recognise a few faces from the previous event and have people recognise me too. 😀 Before the start I spotted a few canicrossers from the club geographically next door to ours, and even though I didn't know any of them I went over and introduced myself. One of them offered to run round with me, but ultimately she and her dog were just too fast for us (she finished 2nd out of the 5k women runners!) but I did manage to keep her in sight for most of the run.
I also managed to chat to a few other runners on my way round - a couple of whom, like me, were amazed to be out in front.
No official times as yet, but my Garmin had me at 33:06 which included a 'comfort break' for Taylor as well as her stopping for quite a big drink at one of the 10K water stations.
week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
