I’ve just got home and I’m still grinning! I’ve just done something utterly ridiculous - I drove for 4 hours with Flossie the dog in tow on a Friday evening, ditched the B&B I originally booked (looked 😱) thus wasting some money, booked into a tried and tested Holiday Inn Express instead, got up, ran 5k and drove home again! 🤦♀️
Oh, I missed something out. I met my awesome wonderful VRBs and that 5k was Lyme Park PR, one of the hardest in the country on PR’s 15th anniversary. Very fitting! 😀 So TailChaser , Katnap , kittens, BaddieThePirate . Sandie1961 (with loyal non-running Chris and Ben the 🐕), Jay66UK , RunaroundSue , Mr Runaroundsue, Pianism , UnfitNoMore . Little Miss UNM and Sharuns all nervously descended upon LP!
The first timers’ briefing did nothing to help our nerves. All we could hear was up this, up that, difficult, rocky, up some more, and then some more, down (yay) slippery, be careful .... !!
But you know what? Yes it was tricky, especially the first rocky uphill stretch, but holy mackerel it was beautiful! The stretch up to The Cage was jawdroppingly amazing, and the fact it was uphill went almost unnoticed for me. 😍 It was followed by a fantastic downhill stretch which I could have run forever. 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
We successfully negotiated Tumbler’s Turn - you could see why it was called that! A helpful marshal stood there to catch people overshooting it! 😅😅 Then there was a cruel uphill stretch near the finish. 😩
We all did it! I did my usual and ran the lot slowly. Others took a few walking breaks, others flat out sprinted it! We were jubilant at the end, and celebratory hot drinks and cakes were consumed with gusto. 😋
What an amazing bunch of people you all are guys. It was sooo worth 8 hours of driving. ❤️
Next up, my home PR with some more VRBs. This forum doesn’t stop giving! ❤️❤️❤️
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cheekychipmunks
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🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽!! How wonderful to see you all together VRB’s! 😍 Lyme Park sounds like a challenge, but those smiles tell me it was conquered!! Fantastic achievement by you all Cheeky!! You’re all fabulous!! 🤩🤩🤩🤩🥰❤️
What a good photo of all of you at Lyme Park Parkrun today, you were very lucky getting all that cake after the run, I was at Dunfermline parkrun this morning, got nothing, not even a result until about 3 o'clock, however, I got a sub 35 minute 5K time of 32.31, very disappointed, not at the result, but because unlike you, there was NO CAKE at the end.
Our results were late today as well. I blame the technology! Or the operators - when Mr RAS used his phone for barcode scanning he thought he had sent the results, but in fact they were waiting to send because he didn't turn his data back on. We went off to play at a ukulele gig, oblivious to the urgent texts and emails asking him to "resend" and asking me to get him to check his phone.
That's nice to know Benno87 that Dunfermline is your home run, there was cake at Dunfermlines 4th birthday Parkrun which was first but no cake yesterday, if there are no cancellations Dunfermline will have parkrun number 100 on the 2nd November.
Although I live in Cumbernauld which is 26 miles from Dunfermline, for over 9 years I have visited and walked through Pittencrieff Park at least once a month, it's easy to get to by bus, when I registered with Parkrun I put Dunfermline as my "home parkrun"
Since my first parkrun on 13th July at Dunfermline a new parkrun nearer to where I live has begun, Drumpelliier parkrun near Coatbridge, I ran there on the 21st September and got a PB of 30.55. It's a flatter course but could get muddy during wet weather whereas Dunfermline although hillier is all tarmac and would only have some puddles in wet weather. 😊 🏃🏾
I dunno about smashed it... it nearly smashed me a couple of times! After “cleverly” leaping over some mud, to land in more mud, slip, scramble to stay upright, onto the grass, more slippage and a leap back onto the path, all my HM training about to go to waste, I finally, somehow, managed to get running again... only to twist my ankle about 50 yards further. Walked it off and did a run walk home... at which point I was seriously considering a name change here!
So, nice brew, expensive and average butty, but good company... and it was time to depart. Team UNM headed to the gym, my legs needed to know that I didn’t hate them.. onto the treadmill, 31 minute 5k on the way to 4.25 miles... a mile of cooldown walk after. Maybe I’ll stick with the name after all.
Wonderful to meet you and the others that I hadn’t met thus far... wonderful sprint finish by one of the kittens by the way (never saw the other one running, way too far ahead of me!). And also some now familiar faces. Great way to spend a Saturday morning.
I’d request that the next one was a little flatter... but it kinda has to be. One of the toughest five parkruns ✅ but it was a close call.
Well after all those shenanigans, I’m mighty impressed that you hit the gym too UNM! You definitely need to keep your name! Great to meet you and Little Miss at last. 😀👍👏
Hopefully we will get down to your neck of the woods too... there’s a similar run calling me! What am I thinking? Maybe the Severn Bridge one would be better 🤣
This is BRILLIANT!!! I love the fact that you drove all that way...I love the fact you took Flossie and I absolutely love the fact that you all met up!!! Right...anyone in Yorkshire, Brighouse parkrun is a good one!! anyone??
Aww thanks MC, I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat! I’d love to come to Yorkshire at some point. It’s fun being a tourist, and Flossie enjoyed her (slow) run too! She took great delight in rolling on the wet muddy grass (at least it was just mud 😳)! 🐕❤️
What a hard core crew! Must be hills week. Glad you all survived intact and had a great gathering of VRBs. Think you must be in line for the most travelled VRB 🥇 😊
Well a pw for me today (apart from when I was Tailwalker). 24 seconds slower than my first ever parkrun at Conkers. It wasn't quite as bad as I remembered from when we walked it and I ran more than I expected. But it was very uneven underfoot in a lot of places, so I walked a fair bit.
But it was great to meet you all.
I think we were quite lucky with the weather, I would not like to do that when it is hot, and winters can be quite harsh there. Just a shame that it wasn't clearer because the views across to Kinder Scout can be lovely.
As I approached the cage the wind was blowing my hair in front of my face where it loitered until the last stretch. A marshall kindly offered me a hair bobble. Fortunately I've seen the views a good few times before.
It was lovely to meet you at last. Weird that you have a real name Cheeky and I’ll never remember it (even though you told me twice). You’ll always be Cheeky to me. A great get together and no rain. In fact no wicked cold wind either. What a day. Thanks for coming so far 👍🏃♀️🐕
Hahahaha, it’s Jill, Baddie, but I don’t expect you to remember that! 😅 I had to ask someone your name again after you’d told me too! Who needs real names anyway? 😅😅
I wouldn’t have missed that for the world. Yes the weather behaved didn’t it? I can imagine it would be mighty tricky in the wind and rain. 😳😳
Brilliant write-up cheeky! We got home a couple of hours ago and have just stuffed ourselves with a well deserved dinner with ice cream and home made ginger biscuits 😋after a good walk in the main grounds of the house.
What a fantastic parkrun that is, I’d be more than happy to run it again (and I never thought I’d say that!). The anticipation before running was like that before a race: my hands got all sweaty and I just couldn’t wait to start. The views and terrain are the perfect distraction from how hard it is. And yes it is tough but (imho) it wasn’t as hard as 5k on sand at Hafan Pwllheli. So proud of everyone today, but (& I being very biased here) particularly youngest kitten for speeding off (as ever) and eldest kitten for beating his demons and not only doing it but finishing with a sprint (which is becoming his USP).
And I still can’t believe you did what you did 🤣, you are particularly amazing!
I’d love to see him go round a track, and we have a parkrun with one nearby if you’re back this way. Didn’t see little kitten at all, he must have rocketed up that hill!
Little miss is just getting back into the running... kinda lost interest after last time we were at Lyme, kept running but with more walking than anything, but suddenly she wants to do it again.
That’s great UNM, eldest kitten blows hot and cold about it too but he loves the meet-ups. I’ll see what he thinks about track running, he’s definitely getting better. As for youngest kitten- he is a rocket, he could be pretty good but both he and eldest got put off by the way school does it. He is the reason I started running!
Some good came out of how school does it then! They really don’t spend time with running, and they should as it would have fitter kids ready to compete in other sports. Unless you were quick straight away at my school you ran maybe 3 times a year and we’re expected to be quick over 5 miles... sadly I don’t think much has changed.
Stretford parkrun is one I’m saving... 450m of track to start and 350 back on it to finish... no hills... polar opposite of Lyme.
Not at secondary school UNM, scary to think it’s not changed in such a long time as my school was the same too - nothing for months then a cross country run. They don’t seem to know how to treat the less sporty ones once they start secondary school. Primary school have really got it sussed with Kids Run Free and the Daily Mile but it all gets lost once they start big school. Very disappointing (and a big pet gripe of mine).
Stretford sounds a good combination, maybe a bit too far for us but who knows!
Stretford was my 5th Parkrun and my pb to date. It's popular because of the speed but starting and ending in the stadium is good. It has to close occasionally for athletic events (when we met at Sale we had 'homeless' Stretford runners swelling the ranks).
Oh wow, eldest Kitten’s sprint finish was something to behold TC! What a trouper! 👏👏👏 I hope he’s mighty proud of his achievement getting round that course. 👍👊🏃♂️👏 And as for youngest Kitten - well I never see him finish. He’s like greased lightning (as are mum and dad!) 😅
I totally agree with your sentiments. I’d definitely do it again. And yes, I loved how we were all shuffling around nervously at the start! My butterflies had already kicked in big style when I saw the first sign for Lyme Park when I was driving there, 🦋🦋 I loved every minute. What an experience. ❤️
What a great group of VRB there! I love that you all were able to meet up; you were very devoted to the meet up to make an overnight trip of it. Huge kudos to you! I love reading these write ups and especially seeing all the pictures. Thanks for sharing!
You’re very welcome Sask. It’s getting to be a regular thing and it’s such fun meeting up with like minded people from this fantastic forum. If you’re ever in the UK ........ 😀
More fabulous photos of you amazing lot. Wow! Cheeky seriously impressed with your dedication to VRB’s meet. Flossie would have been good company in the car though. Thanks for the great report and photos. 👍🙂
Thanks so much Lexi. Shame it didn’t coincide with your visit. Next time ok? 😀😀
Yes it’s lovely having my running buddy with me. ❤️🐕 She did an amazing job leading me over the rocky bits even though she was pretty much at walking pace for lots of it!! 😅😅
Oh my word. That’s my local parkrun, that’ll teach me not to read HU for a bit, sorry guys, I feel really bad now 😥 you know what? I nearly did Lyme Park yesterday too, gutted!!! Glad you all had a great time. I’ve run the course a few times but never actually done the parkrun. Well done, proud of you all 👏👏👏
Oh wow Neil, your local PR? How wonderful, you must be a mountain goat! 🐐 What a shame you didn’t come yesterday, it would have been fabulous to meet you.
So what’s it like in foul weather? Or (worse for me) really hot weather? 🥵 Must be a killer. 😳
Yeah I know 😥 I’ve never done the Lyme PR, though I’ve run the course several times, I did a really fun hilly run the other week, from home (High Lane), up into Lyme, following the PR course up past the cage, then running home. Sorry I didn’t make it 😥
I generally avoid Lyme in the rain. The one bad weather run I did was an organised 7k night run back in January, it can get a little sloppy, not as bad as you’d think though. In hot weather it’s hard work, lots of hydration needed, plus it’s busy too!!
Lots of replies from you, I’ll pick this one 😂 It’s strange, I did 12k a week ago Friday, from home up round Lyme, Knightslow wood, up to the cage, back home... 210m climbing, felt fine. Yesterday’s 13k was so hard in comparison, yet much flatter.
Hey is it me or is the first climb up from the car park into Knightslow Wood a bit of a killer??!
Definitely not just you Neil! That first climb was brutal, made worse by the rocky path. I stayed on the gnarly grassy bit on the side and tried to avoid the tree roots. It was one where we had to dig deep, and it felt great to get through the gate towards the top! 👍😀
Trying to remember the route, is that the one up from near the ticket hut back up the other side of cage hill? If so, I’ve had to walk up that on occasions!!
Yes I think so - it starts just after Tumbler’s Turn and there’s a long slog back up with the Cage up on the left. It then levels out a little towards the finish ..... 😩😩
Oh no Neil! I should have messaged you, I’m sorry 😩 Don’t know if you can pm on Strava and I don’t think you’re on here so often anymore? We will be back though, I’m very sure of that! Looks like you did a stonking run yesterday though 👍
It’s ok! Just feeling a bit down about missing you all, totally my fault doh! I get the notifications when someone PMs me on here, so that would work. I’m just crap at social media I guess 😂
Yesterday was a challenging run, harder than it should have been, and I’m suffering for it today, I hope my physio can put me back together tomorrow!! On the plus side, I got back to 13k. Maybe I’m just not meant to do distance 🤣
I know that feeling, I keep hitting a wall at 10 miles and it’s really frustrating as HM is so close! We’ll get there Neil, I’m sure of it, we just have to keep at it.
And we will keep you in the loop for future runs, although the next one is more south (I’ll be putting up a post later). Please don’t feel bad, it’s definitely not your fault!
Thanks Jell, it was pure curiosity which made me want to tackle Lyme Park, and I’m so glad I did. It’s incredible and the hills weren’t as scary as I had imagined. The footing was harder than it looked on the YouTube video though - it was very rocky in places. All in all a wonderful course. 😀👍
Yes, I approached the B&B which looked like a private house on a quiet dark backstreet, and thought “nah”. A single woman with a small Labrador as her only guardian? I had to cut my losses! 😅
I really am Jonathan! I’m fortunate in that Mr Cheeky spends most Saturdays at the rowing club so I’m free to travel around and meet VRBs. Perfect! 😀 Looking forward to coming down your way in a few weeks too! 👍
It’s a fantastic idea isn’t it SS? The more we do it, the more people seem to show up. We’re trying to spread the love and do different parts of the country to give more VRBs the chance to come along. 😀
Thanks Rainbow. It was 100% worth the trip. I think we all unanimously agreed it was an amazing experience - and there’s talk of returning one day too! 😅
This has brightened up my day! Lovely account of your meet up and great photos too! I've got a head cold and can't run with a muzzy head but am going for a gentle walk in the woods later. I am not a morning person at all and have a love-hate Parkrun vibe but must shake it off so I can manage some more southerly parkrun meet ups! Thanks for sharing and inspiring. 😊
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And then a friend on Facebook posts her run...
