PARKRUN... And no more running into trees 🌳

What an amazing day for a Parkrun, absolutely stunning out there this morning. I would have been content to just sit on a park bench watching the sun glistening on the water... but Parkrun beckoned.

I’m gradually speeding up now, legs are getting stronger and I’m starting to catch and take over people on the hills now, which is good. This is my magic 5km training run...which is my tempo run, so the goal is to stay disciplined, stay at a pace that is nice and controlled, not easy not exhausting... Anyway all that went out of the window when one fella shouted “come on then, what do you have left” on the final hill and we were both sprinting towards the finish line. It was all just a bit of fun...but I won. My time is improving and i’m very happy with the magic plan! 😃

Also, i’ve recently been reading some comments about preventing sweat from going in your eyes... I actually ran into a tree when I was trying to wipe sweat out of my eyes... So to prevent future embarrassments I bought one of these bad boys.. Very happy with it. It’s cool and comfortable.

Happy running, avoid those trees and enjoy your weekend everyone! ❤️😎

[Stephen_UK Graduate10]

Well done with that, and especially the sprint. It was a lovely morning for it, wasn’t it? Running into a tree is not good. Maybe you should try a Barkrun?

[Hidden in reply to Stephen_UK]

It really was, absolutely beautiful. Barkrun? Gosh that’s bad Stephen😂🤣

[Stephen_UK Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I know. Sorry. Put it down to fatigue!

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to Stephen_UK]

😂

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to Stephen_UK]

Lol...😒

[Debston Graduate10]

Well done clubberlang, sounds like good fun and I like your new cap, keep you nice and shaded in this glorious sunshine. I made it to my local Parkrun today, at beautiful Bedgebury Pinetum and I was very grateful for the shade of all the pine trees.

[Hidden in reply to Debston]

Trees are a runner’s best friend if you can avoid bumping into them 😂. I love pinewoods, lovely and cool in there.

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Really beautiful and cool but it's a pretty hilly course so there was plenty of overheating going on! One of the marshals told me that it's one of the top 5 toughest Parkruns in the South East. Not sure how they work that out but I can believe it. Or maybe he was just trying to make me feel like a hardcore runner! 😂

[Hidden in reply to Debston]

I can imagine... we only have a small section of woods and it’s slightly uphill, the ground is usually slippery and sapping and you’re jumping over roots. I’m very happy when I get back on the path 😂

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Debston]

He wasn't kidding you, it's the 24th hilliest in the current list of UK parkruns - jegmar.com/stats-hq/fastest...

Hardcore you are

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to UpTheStanley]

Ooh, thank you so much for that! It's official then! 😂

[Hidden in reply to Debston]

Wow Debs! That marshal knew what he was talking about, that’s a hard parkrun, and you’re smashing it!

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Really beautiful and cool but it's a pretty hilly course so there was plenty of overheating going on! One of the marshals told me that it's one of the top 5 toughest Parkruns in the South East. Not sure how they work that out but I can believe it. Or maybe he was just trying to make me feel like a hardcore runner! 😂

[Kertesz Graduate10 in reply to Debston]

Bedgebury is my local Parkrun too... but oooooooh! Those hills... and especially that one at the end!! I’ve never been brave enough to run it in a crowd on a Saturday - I tend to go at 7pm in the evening and plough my way round!! And yes, out of 519 Parkruns in the UK it’s the 498th hilliest!! So go you!! What an AMAZING achievement!!

[Hidden in reply to Kertesz]

You two could have a VRB meet up? 😃😃😃😃😃😃

[Kertesz Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Yes!!! ... Once I’ve got some hills in my legs!!

[Debston Graduate10 in reply to Kertesz]

Thank you, Kertesz! Definitely come and give it a go one Saturday morning, it's a lovely atmosphere and very nice to get an official time but absolutely no pressure to be a speedy gonzalez!

[Kertesz Graduate10 in reply to Debston]

Ah, thanks for the encouragement...!! I’ll let you know when (if!!) I decide to give it a go!! X

[Couchpotato2]

Congratulations! Yep I’ve got a friend o follow me in the visor camp which really helps. It was a lovely day for a run 🏃🏻‍♀️

[Hidden in reply to Couchpotato2]

Thanks CP. Yeah, I only bought this because it was on special. Glad I did though. It’s visors from now on.

[Couchpotato2 in reply to Hidden]

Really good in the rain too!

[Dottie_D Graduate10]

Well done 👍🏼

[Hidden in reply to Dottie_D]

Thanks Dottie 😃

[madmother Graduate10]

Excellent! You’re doing really well on your 10K journey. Keeeeep running. Ps love the hat!!!

[Hidden in reply to madmother]

Thanks MM. Still haven’t sent you a 🍻 pic yet have I? That’s outrageous!

[madmother Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Nope...almost mentioned it, but thought I’d not embarrass you 🤣

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

A great post clubberlang! Glad you won the sprint at the end 💪🏃🏽‍♂️. Love the visor. I was thinking I may have to invest in one (more gear, yippee!). I wear a cap in the summer but maybe the visor would be cooler ... although when I soak the cap and put in on, it is quite nice.

[Hidden in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thanks Sask, yeah they’re good. I think if it’s really hot and I was out all day, I’d want something to cover my entire head, but it’s not something I really worry about in 🇬🇧 🌧 This hat is just very comfortable, it’s more like a sweatband, I don’t even notice i’m wearing it apart from it keeping the sweat off my face. So i’m really happy with it.

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Well done on that sprint - great when you can do something that once would have been impossible!😀

[Hidden in reply to JonathanP]

Thanks Jonathan, that’s one of the great things about this forum, you can look back and see what you’ve achieved. I sometimes read those comments from my first week when I was struggling to run for 60 secs. I have a 9k run tomorrow and i’m sprinting past people at parkruns. How can you not be happy 😊

[backintime Graduate10]

Glad you avoided trees, always a good thing : )

Well done on your good parkrun (and winning the sprint)

Let us know how your 9k run goes

[Hidden in reply to backintime]

Thank you 😂, yes i’ll let you know