Portsmouth Lakeside Parkrun: Has anyone else... - Bridge to 10K

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Portsmouth Lakeside Parkrun

UpTheStanley profile image
UpTheStanleyGraduate10
15 Replies

Has anyone else discovered that if you dissolve an effervescent rehydration tablet in a sealed water bottle, there is a considerable build up of pressure? And that if the bottle is the clever type with a drinking spout that is locked closed with a button to release it, pressing the button can then produce a fountain of water that easily reaches the next table in a post-Parkrun coffee shop? Well Dexy has now, as have the people on the next table …….

That was the aftermath of a very pleasant bit of local tourism to Portsmouth Lakeside parkrun, which is a 20 minute drive away rather than a 20 min walk. Our third visit there, with a mix of tarmac and gravel paths beside a lake (you might have guessed that) which make a decent occasional change from our usual plod up and down Southsea prom. Also 4 passes through an underpass requiring 8 climbs of at least 3 metres each – bit like the Tour de France for us flat-earthers.

A crisp clear morning saw us arrive early to avail ourselves of the excellent pre-run facilities (amazingly, we are allowed in to the main reception building of the industrial park of which the lake is a feature). We then met up with Jonathon P for a quick chat before the start, then off with the usual shuffle for a couple of hundred metres before being able to settle to a steady pace. The first u-turn comes after about 800 metres, so it’s very quickly two-way traffic, which makes overtaking rather similar to using suicide alley on the 3-lane single carriageway roads of distant memory. The first two underpasses come immediately before and after the turning cone.

After the turn, it’s back towards the start then peeling off left to run along the far side of the lake, our thundering footfall and associated vibrations probably annoying the morning fishermen. At this point we change from keeping left to keeping right, ready to meet the front runners again after they round the halfway cone at the end of the lake. Past halfway myself about 15 secs slower than I’d have liked, then looking out for Jon (unsuccessfully) and Dexy, who seems to be going OK as she passes. Back to the T-junction turning right this time, through the underpass AGAIN, round the last turning point, through the underpass YET AGAIN and on the homeward stretch to the funnel for a 25’06” watch time (parkrun time later given as 25’22” for a Lakeside PB and first (of 5) in age group).

Jon finishes with a parkrun time EXACTLY on his PB and Dexy just a bit outside hers. So off to flood the coffee shop and consume the usual rewards before heading home with an afternoon fretting about Stanley to come. Onward and upward!!

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UpTheStanley profile image
UpTheStanley
Graduate10
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15 Replies
Katnap profile image
KatnapGraduate10

Well done all 3 of you! Hopefully you didn't get barred from the cafe?

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply toKatnap

Luckily only spotted by the lady who had a cooling shower. She was relieved it was water rather than lime juice, the colour of my bottle. I told a member of staff there had been a water spillage and she quickly mopped it up so no one could slip on it.

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate10

Fantastic UTS, sounds like you all had great runs this morning. 🏃‍♀️ 🏃‍♂️ 🏃‍♀️

over61andstilltrying profile image
over61andstilltryingGraduate10

Well done to all of you! 🏃🏻🏃🏻🏃‍♀️😊

lexi6 profile image
lexi6Graduate10

😄 Oops! Nice runs all of you.

JonathanP profile image
JonathanPGraduate10

Great to meet up with you again UTS and Dexy - this is beginning to become a habit.😀 Luckily I had hit the road before the 'fountain incident'!

Congratulations on your first in age group - I was a little disappointed with my time(28.26), if only because it's now 4 weeks on the trot that I've been within a few seconds of a new PB. Still they say that patience is a virtue - it will come.......😀

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply toJonathanP

Lovely to see you too.

They also say “practice makes perfect” Jonathan.

I would have thought that it’s impossible to get exactly the same time again, but you’ve proved me wrong. Next week you will have to start at the front. 😂😂

JonathanP profile image
JonathanPGraduate10 in reply toDexy5

At least I'm consistent! Yes those few seconds should make all the difference.😀

BaddieThePirate profile image
BaddieThePirateGraduate10

Tee hee hee. Well done Dexy! 💦

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply toBaddieThePirate

V embarrassing. 😊

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate10

Well, I guess it’s cheaper than champagne 😂😂 Sounds like you all had a good run!

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply toSandie1961

Doesn’t taste as good though Sandie 🍾🥂

Wimborne profile image
Wimborne

That did make me laugh 😂. Fabulous running everyone and brilliant PB UTS. 👏👏

grumpyoldgirl profile image
grumpyoldgirl

Oh poor dexy (and mystery lady!) I didn't know that, and I'm glad that now I do know, I won't have to find out the hard way! 😂 The run sounds very complicated, great results all of you.👍

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate10

Very public spirited of Dexy to cool people down after the run 😂

I used to work there when my boss was annoying me at the site I was supposed to be on... never thought of running around the place back then though.

Great job guys.

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