Swansea Parkrun. More fun times 😃

[RunBrianRun]

Met a lovely chap at the start who has run over 100 of these all over the country. He told me he’s the kit man for Preston Northend football club who are playing Swansea today. He runs a Parkrun on the morning of every Saturday match and he’s well into his 60s now and suffers with all kind of ailments. Hugely inspiring and just what I needed before I set off.

Swansea Parkrun is an out and back mainly flat course so I thought I’d go for a 5KM PB today despite getting lost and overdoing it on Thursday. I felt ok. Wind was light and from the sea and the rain held off till just after the end so conditions were perfect. I thought I’d be brave and start somewhere near the head of the field this time instead of my usual at the back slot. This only meant that I was being passed by the faster runners the whole way round which was quite disconcerting. Lesson learned there. I ain’t no Mo Farah 😂

I found a couple of runners who were at my pace so I tried to stick with them and it really worked as I had to dig really deep towards the end which I’d never have done if I was running on my own.

I read an article recently in the telegraph on how to run a PB in a Parkrun and the only thing I could remember was to “ruin” it in the last 400metres. I think that means give it everything. So I did. And nearly collapsed as I passed the entrance to the funnel at the end and then collapsed onto the grass verge and hoped for the best 😂

I think I saw Denovo at the turning point. At least I hope it was as I shouted out to her 😂

Results showed my time as 24.27 which I am thrilled with. A new PB! 😊

Well done to everyone who made it out for a run today!

[Hidden]

Fantastic post and amazing time. well done!

[RunBrianRun Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Flick. Only one left and that’s my lot for another year 😢

[bertiesugar Graduate10]

There are a lot of inspiring runners out there and especially on here. Great news on the pb. I have also heard about the all in at the end but I never have enough left. I tend to keep at a pace the while way round. For me it's all about where you are in the pack when you start (usually over 600 people at the Coventry Park run). I was at the back today and took over 30seconds to get passed the start line but one day I will slow the pace and go for the final dash

[RunBrianRun Graduate10 in reply to bertiesugar]

So true. As soon as you get chatting to someone you realise that each person has their own struggle and I find listening to their stories so inspiring.

One of the great things I love about Parkruns is this myriad cross section of people who make no judgments, have no expectations of you and, like you, are running for the sheer love of it. 👏😃

[Denovo]

Yes, I was in the red jacket at the turn

[RunBrianRun Graduate10 in reply to Denovo]

Yay!! Only managed a gasping hello as I passed by. Well done on volunteering. It’s something I’d like to have a go but if I had the time.

[Denovo in reply to RunBrianRun]

Well done you on your time and PB!

I live less than 10 minutes walk away from the meeting point, so really have no excuse for not participating, all the more since I would otherwise just stay in bed till at least 10 am

[UpTheStanley Graduate10]

Nice one ☝️

Good day for “bests”, I had a season’s best (PB was 4 years ago so probably out of reach) 23’56” today which I put down to fartleking about on the short bridge runs. Onwards and upwards!

[RunBrianRun Graduate10 in reply to UpTheStanley]

Well done UTS. 👍👍 You are indeed a sprightly thing! I’m convinced intervals or fartleks are crucial for improving times.

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Well done BrianUK, what a brilliant Parkrun for you. I just love hearing the stories from other runners.

Yes I had to defend my place this morning and when I turned to the pair who would have overtaken me, the chap said that doing a final sprint was the worst thing you could do as your heart beat raises and then you just stop. There’s probably something in what he said (I think he’s an instructor) but I was still glad they didn’t catch me!

Is it Weymouth next week?

[RunBrianRun Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Well done Dexy5 on another Parkrun! 👍 And also well done on staying ahead of the heavy breathers 😂😂 I think it’s back to Chichester for my final Parkrun. I’d love to do the Worthing one but I’ll have given the hire car back by then as I fly on Monday. 😢

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to RunBrianRun]

UpTheStanley and I are both volunteering next week at Southsea otherwise we could have said hello at Chichester. Enjoy the final one and we’ll see you parkrunning next summer

[RunBrianRun Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Oh that’s a shame. Would have been great to have met you both.

[mountaindreamer Graduate10]

Wow, that’s fast Brian - well done! 😃🏃‍♂️❤️

No way I can sprint for 400ms, so about 30m at the end will have to do! 😂

[RunBrianRun Graduate10 in reply to mountaindreamer]

Ha ha ha 😂 I certainly wouldn’t call what I did as sprinting. Just shuffling a bit faster. 😂 It hurt like hell though so maybe I’ll think twice before doing it again. I swear I almost passed out when I collapsed in the verge 😳

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to RunBrianRun]

😳😳❤️

[over61andstilltrying Graduate10]

Well done Brian! So even without the amount of sleep that you had planned you achieved a PB. Impressive! Well done you! I am very pleased to have completed my first Parkrun today. So 😊 for you and for me!

[RunBrianRun Graduate10 in reply to over61andstilltrying]

😊 thank you so much! Yes a big well done ☺️ to everyone who got out today. Mind you it’s absolutely raining cats and dogs here. I’m pretty glad that I didn’t have to run in this. 😖

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Congratulations for getting your PB at 24.27, the average time for a 5k is around 28 minutes, so you are now running faster than the majority of folk who take part in a 5k run, well done.

[RunBrianRun Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks just insane and testament to the wonderful C25K app that gets us old slouches off our sofas and into a whole new life experience. Wow! I feel great! Thank,you 👍😁👍

[Sarakc Graduate10]

Very well done Brian!! What an amazing time!! I’m still buzzing after mine today!! Back to working Saturdays now until my next holiday in October!! 😀👍👏

[RunBrianRun Graduate10 in reply to Sarakc]

Thanks Sara 👍😀 Yours was terrific too! Shame to have to wait so long before your next but spare a thought for me 😢