Hafan Pwllheli Parkrun VRB Meetup Anyone?

[TailChaser]

This Saturday (3rd August) we’re meeting up with Oldfloss at Hafan Pwllheli parkrun on North Wales’ Lleyn Peninsula. It is a very unusual course as it is (I think) currently the only parkrun along a beach (please feel free to let me know if there are any others!). This does make for trickier running but it also looks a lot of fun! It’s quite a new course and I suspect this time of year it has it’s biggest attendances (c140 last week). There is a car park right next to the entrance to the beach and a lovely cafe by the harbour for a post run natter afterwards.

If anyone is in the area or can travel along to it and fancies trying it out, it would be fantastic to meet you 😀

(This post is also on the C25k forum)

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Portrush has also got a parkrun along a beach, in fact at high tide the runners are on some parts of the "course" or should that be beach actually running IN the sea, there is a video of exactly that happening, however, most of it is ran on the sand at the water's edge. Anyone who as ran at Portrush will probably be able to tell you more details of that.

During the Open Golf Championship at Portrush last week there was a brief moment when the camera focused on the runners at the parkrun there running on the sand along the side of the sea.

I would not want to run that, especially in my new expensive running shoes, they could get ruined if seawater got into them.

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Yes we spotted that small parkrun too Al. All publicity is good publicity.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

👍 🏃

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Oh wow, that sounds really cool! I’ll have to hunt some footage of that down. I know at Pwllheli they cancel it if the tide is predicted to be too high but it seems to be good for this weekend. I’ve got some really good Keen walking sandals that would probably work as runners in those conditions (they help me walk super speedy) - you don’t have to ruin your shoes Al 😀

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to TailChaser]

OOOOhhh I have my Keen sandals too.. hmmm !

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

They’re brilliant aren’t they? I used to wear Birkenstocks but they had no spring and made my shins hurt when I walked quickly in them. I zoom along in the Keens and I’m very tempted to try running in them on sand.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to TailChaser]

It's worth a thought..high tide is 10.34..so we could be okay??

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

👍 It’s either those or the trail shoes I think.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to TailChaser]

molly1973 wore Trail shoes on Saturday..she said they were fine..and I know GoogleMe runs 8n hers...that is why I got mine...

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Afraid we won’t be able to join you all, but I’m sure you’ll all have a wonderful time by the sea. Enjoy school hols too.

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy 👍x

[Sandie1961 Graduate10]

I’d love to do this, but unfortunately back among the vineyards of the Dordogne 🇫🇷 Have fun x

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

Practice for 15th September? Have a lovely time x

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

Oh wow...well enjoy the Dordogne...a tad warmer than here😉xxx

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Planning a little jogette tomorrow as it’s my birthday, followed by Buck’s Fizz and pastries from the boulangerie, then lunch in the restaurant at the top of that flipping steep hill I have to run up from our house whenever I want to go anywhere 😄

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

That sounds so perfectly wonderful!!!

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Sounds lovely - have a great time👍😀

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

Thanks JP 👍x

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10]

Wrong week for me... as I’m sure has been noted in the other place!

I was just replying in the other other place to a post and Pwllheli came back to me.

I made a few mistakes... I set off with the gazelles... I’m used to 300ish runners and a narrow start... I found myself on a wide startline with very few runners... and so obviously I ran with the gazelles... 6 minute miles and me don’t get on, I was in trouble by 1k!

The biggest issue I had though was I could see the turn around point the whole way out... I was focused on it... and it never seemed to be getting closer. Part of that was that the course is a curve, so that turn starts maybe a mile away, with a mile and a half to run... I found it very strange and dispiriting. So... have a good chat as you go guys and don’t look at that marshal for the first 10 minutes!

Part of me wants to come run it on Sunday... the other part of me says a 4 hour drive to parkrun is stupid. I expect to not be there... but my crazy side could win!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Well!! I was not there either... as my sensible side stopped me... then molly1973 told me yesterday that she met you and Little Miss UNM... last week!!! I was very miffed!

This week I am going, even if I walk the whole thing... to meet up with the Kat family,( who by the way are totally awesome ).....and you are at home!!

I think crazy is quite good fun... The tide is out too....

PS

When I ran it the first time... I could not believe the speed of some of the runners, as they disappeared into the distance... and the tide was in...! the sand so deep that you had to lift your knees...as if in thick mud...the only easing off was on the return journey, there was a tiny strip of stones and shingle...

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

We shall synchronise diaries at some point! I will be over that way again soon, but do fancy ticking off some of the others in the area. Little Miss was gutted that Conwy juniors didn’t start while we were there, that could be this weekend too I guess.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to UnfitNoMore]

We will...! I want to do Penrhyn with little hills...and Conwy...which us a lovely one..and flat

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Conwy has that footbridge! When I ran it lots of people in front of me walked up it, which was a pain 🤣

Penrhyn and Pont y Bala are my next two over there

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to UnfitNoMore]

We'll try and coordinate a Penhyn!!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Sounds good. I’m hoping to get over again before the schools go back... just need to confirm a few things with senior management here, but she’s usually up for a trip over 🤣

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thanks for the reminders about the bend and the distance UNM. We walked about that distance a few years back and it did the same to us - false sense of security. We will be running it slowly and carefully with Floss and maybe Molly. Our family friend is trying to get us to run Conwy instead but I’ve told him to join us at Pwllheli as he’s always at Conwy in the holidays, he needs a change!!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10 in reply to TailChaser]

He does... Conwy is a nice run, I especially like the bit towards the castle, but it’s a bit mundane and the start could do with being wider. Pwllheli is tough, but unique... when I’ve cleared the rest of that corner of wales I’m going back to do it properly!

[lexi6 Graduate10]

That sounds and looks like a lovely, picturesque parkrun and with VRB’s, sea, sand and cake (although the last two not taken together preferably)🥴 what could be more perfect? 😎

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to lexi6]

Sun would be good, but this is Wales so maybe a little optimistic 😂

[NeverSayNoToJeffing]

Woolacombe in North Devon has a mile stretch along the beach and then through dunes. It’s tough - i’ve Done it twice😳

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to NeverSayNoToJeffing]

I watched a YouTube video on that one yesterday - it’s the toughest in the country apparently and it looked it - well done! 👏👏👏

(Don’t think my legs are long enough for sand dunes, I’ll get stuck!)