PARKRUN! 😄🌲🌳🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🌳🌲

I really do think Parkrun is one of the best things ever created, so brilliant, so simple.

I was running behind a small child today. She wasn't much taller than my knees and I just couldn't get passed her! 😄 She even started shouting and waving during the run "Dad! DAD! I'm here dad, LOOK! Dad I'm here!" Her father was on the first lap, a good mile behind, looking as exhausted and perplexed as me ... She just laughed and carried on. I was trying to work out how her little legs were going faster than mine, she didn't have a faster cadence, I'd be surprised if she was matching my stride, but she was definitely going faster. She then stopped to tie her shoelace and then raced passed me again.. 🤣

Anyway it was a lovely day to get my butt kicked by a child. And I was very happy with my time 🤗.. Happy running everyone! Enjoy your weekend!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

It's amazing how fast little children can run, that child actually passed you when you were running after tying her shoe lace😂

You were happy with your time but that little girl was even happier with her time as well, perhaps she should have been in a junior parkrun, I think they are ran on Sunday mornings.

[Hidden in reply to AlMorr]

I was just really impressed! No chance I could have done that at her age.

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

A lovely post clubberlang. I just watch in amazement as children run so naturally without thinking about their breathing and style. Teenage boys are the funniest. I see them sprint past me at top speed. Then they walk to recover and I overtake them, then it happens all over again, several times. I just love it when I beat them to the finish line. Hare and tortoise comes to mind. 😂 🐇🐢

[Hidden in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy. I have an eight year old niece, I'm told that she has a talent for running. I did a 2k run with her and she does exactly the same... runs off very quickly, exhausts herself, stops, and then goes again. I'm sure this girl was about the same age and she was very disciplined, controlled pace, only stopped to tie her shoelace 😄... She even had a sprint finish. That's what I found so impressive.

[Madge50 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

There’s one at my local parkrun, he runs off, walks a bit with hunched shoulders ‘am I bovvered’ stance.....I overtake him then he runs past, often with flapping shoe laces and the same happens again......does make me smile, 😂

But to give him some credit.....he’s there most weeks 👍👏

Mx

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Madge50]

Love it 😊

[Hatman]

Great post from a guy with a really good attitude. Take inspiration from Clubberlang. Find fun in all situations. 👍👍👍👍

[Hidden in reply to Hatman]

Thanks Hatman! 😄👊👍

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

Love it ❣️ Oh to be young and carefree again 🙃

[Hidden in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Exactly Sask. You're reading Born To Run aren't you? There's some really interesting stuff in there about running like children... children just run for fun, they laugh and smile when they run, they run for the sheer joy of it. We lose that as we get older.

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Good memory clubberlang! Yes, I read that a few weeks ago (LOVED IT!) and have now moved on to Outrunning the demons by Phil Hewitt. I have also read Finding Gobi and am constantly on the lookout for more running type reads 🤓 (unfortunately some of the recommended reads on here I’m unable to get through the Saskatchewan library system 😢).

It does seem we tend to lose that joy of running as we get older, always striving to run faster and further. I’m trying hard to enjoy every run and not make them a chore - although I would love to run my 20k trail race in a “good” time, it is more important to enjoy the journey. The pace is slow, I stop and take pictures and enjoy my scenery on my trail runs. When I was working to reach my first HM distance running in town, I can safely say some of those runs became a chore 😟. I’m hoping that doesn’t happen with my summer trail runs although having lost my trail running partner, some of the joy comes from running with her. I will work hard to keep that child-like joy though (I have been known to giggle, whoop and holler like a child in some of the runs 😂)

[Hidden in reply to SaskAlliecat]

I remember because I absolutely love that book! 😄 It's amazing what we're capable of. Well, you just keep giggling on those trails and I'll keep making the 🍿

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Sounds like a great plan!

[Stephen_UK Graduate10 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

I read Finding Gobi. Would be interested in any recommendations about good running memoirs.

[Hidden in reply to Stephen_UK]

I've heard... Feet in the Clouds: A Tale of Fell-Running and Obsession....is a good book. Someone actually gave it to me but I've lost it... It's around here somewhere 😬

[Stephen_UK Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. I will look for that one.

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Excellent! I just searched our library system and there is one in the entire province. Request submitted! Should be here by the time I finish Outrunning the demons.

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Stephen_UK]

mrrun posted recently a book called an accidental athlete. It’s also on my list of summer reading

[backintime Graduate10]

When I asked my 16 year old if he would do a 5k parkrun with me in August he said he would. I asked him if he wanted to do some training and he tells me he runs home twice a week after football with his bag on his back. Wengo on to the internet and map his run and damn if he doesn't just trot out a 5k twice a week AFTER football training. I will be watching his back no doubt : /

[Hidden in reply to backintime]

😭... I think he might do pretty well at a Parkrun. 😂

[backintime Graduate10]

My youngest will do the junior parkrun too. Can't interest my daughter at all lol

[Stephen_UK Graduate10]

I've done it twice now and was thrashed by my son both times. He did no training at all. Just started it one day and found he could do it easily. For younger people it's just so simple if they are generally fit and healthy.

Agree that Parkrun is one of the best things ever. Completely addicted already.

[Hidden in reply to Stephen_UK]

It's a good thing to be addicted to. My friend's been going to Parkrun for years, sometimes that's all the running he does. It's just really good for maintaining your fitness and motivation throughout the year.

[Stephen_UK Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Agree. As long as I don’t get injured I plan to keep doing it.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Never work with children or animals.. that is what they say... If you have ever tried to catch a small miscreant on a school play yard... you'll know the feeling

You have to wait until they get fed up or are hungry, because they never tire!

Well done you...! Great fun

[Hidden in reply to Oldfloss]

😂 So true! Imagine if we could keep that energy!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Oh yes!!!

[Madge50 Graduate10]

Fabulous, love parkrun, yes, watch the kids, and remind yourself of that, you just ran, no thoughts of time, form or any other nonsense, just run for the joy of it, that’s parkrun 👍😎👏💪

Mx

[Hidden in reply to Madge50]

Exactly, the runs I remember aren't my best times, they're the ones I enjoyed.

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

🤣

Bloody kids

Love parkrun too

[Hidden in reply to Tasha99]

😂 It really is awesome.

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Great! Out of interest I looked at the ages in our parkrun results for today and 3 under 11s beat me - one lad had done 81 parkruns! 😀

[Hidden in reply to JonathanP]

😲 Could be the next Mo. 🏃‍♂️

[Joster Graduate10]

My ten year old nephew leaves me for dead at parkrun! I was so sure I was just behind him and his dad on the wet Saturday before last, so I stuck with him, or so I thought. As I pulled level, I realised it wasn't him but another boy with my nephew's dad!! Long gone......

[Hidden in reply to Joster]

😲😂🤣