My first parkrun was 28 July 2018 with a time of 37.27 shortly after completing c25k - doesn't seem that long ago but a lot has happened since then, including recently running 10 miles.
So today was my 50th parkrun and it was really great that a small but perfectly formed group of running buddies cheekychipmunks , Dexy5 and UpTheStanley was able to join me to celebrate - not forgetting Flossy the dog! I had resisted the fancy dress option, but Dexy made sure the occasion was marked by supplying me with 'the big 50' numbers for my shirt (see photo)! It was nice to have some 'well done 50' shout-outs from other runners.😀
It was quite windy at Portsmouth Lakeside this morning but thankfully we had a dry spell in between last night's and today's rain - not that you would have known it from the puddles around the lake! I'd decided to take it easy and not push for a PB - UTS and I set off together with the first km only 5.59, but then upped the pace with UTS kindly 'pushing' me for the last km (5.28) and an official parkrun time of 28.51. Dexy and then Cheeky & Flossy were clapped in.
We adjourned to the local Starbucks to refuel, with the 'scores on the doors' that matter being carrot loaf cake - 3, lemon muffin - 1. A great time was had by all !
Oh and the bonus? On Wednesday I knocked 29 seconds off my 10k time - 59.29😀
Happy running everyone!👍
Written by
JonathanP
Graduate10
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So lovely to meet up with you again JonathanP for that special 50th run. I’m glad you also managed to get the photo without the photo bomber. 🤣🤣
You timed this run well as the seafront would have been sooo windy today. Really enjoyed Portsmouth lakeside again. I think we are going to have to apply for residents status for cheeky!
We managed to watch the rugby as if live and no spoilers. Just need Wales to win now.
That was such fun JonathanP . I’m so glad I was able to make it for your landmark run, and yet again the weather behaved for us. Flossie and I seem to be lucky on our travels, although we drove back through the 💦 💦 on the M4 as expected.
What a lovely course! 😀 I really enjoyed it and especially loved the underpass bit (no idea why, it just appealed to me 😅). Not too many puddles either, and I was pleasantly surprised at my Garmin time of 36.11 (36.47 “at the back with the dog” PR time) with still weary GSR legs! Always nice to follow up with coffee, cake and a natter, so thank you for inviting me. 😀
Now we’re just looking forward to hearing which race you (will definitely) enter! 😅😅😅
I don’t even consider 2,5 hours very far now, and it’s certainly worth it when meeting up with lovely VRBs - plus I’ve done that trip so many times now my car knows the way! It was a brilliant Saturday morning. 😀 Hope you enjoy wearing your red 50 shirt. 👍
Well done to you Jonathan! 50 parkruns! Yikes! Wow!
🍾🥂👏🏻😊🎉👍🌟 💥⚡️ 🏃🏻🤸♂️🏃♀️🤸♀️🏃🏻🤸♂️🏃♀️🤸♀️
How long does it take you to travel to the parkrun from your house? What ever the distance 50 times is amazing! Fantastic and of course so lovely to share the big 50 with cheekychipmunks , Dexy5 and UpTheStanley .
You must have called on a talented photographer, because the photo is so lovely capturing your happy milestone and joyful foursome or should I say fivesome? 🏃♀️🏃🏻🏃🏻🏃♀️🐕
And well done too on a massive 29 seconds off your 10km time. Brilliant!
Thanks over61 - I'm really lucky as it's only a 10 minute drive.
The photographer was an unsuspecting passerby who did a very good job, but we did have somebody trying to get in on the act in one of the other shots - all welcome at parkrun!
Yes I was really pleased - running longer distances has definitely helped😀
Clearly the photo bomber that Dexy mentioned! On the subject of PBs, I wondered whether I could run like I had before my injury and my halt/ticking over running period one day this week. Answer! Absolutely no way!! Only up to 6km in my re-start. So mustn't expect too much, I suppose. One week at a time. You seem seriously in the groove! I wonder what plans you have for your running?
I'm sure it's only a matter of time before you get back to your previous pace - sometimes us runners just have to be patient! At present I don't have any particular plans except to keep running 3 times a week - parkrun, 5k intervals session and 10k or thereabouts. However as you may have noticed,some of my RBs are 'encouraging ' me to enter a race - we shall see !
Brilliant! Well done Jonathan on a magnificent 50th Parkrun! 👏👏👏 And what fine company you had for it, too. I LOVE the photo! So full of joy. 😁 Now on to the 100!
Oh wow, well done JonathanP ...and congratulations on your big 50!! another VRB envy moment for me as you all get together!! What a great photo, you all look like the best of friends!! The treats afterwards sound well deserved...it would've been carrot loaf cake 4 if i'd have been there! Enjoy the rest of your weekend you brilliant runner you!!!
Congratulations on your 50th JonathanP!! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽! And doing it with those amazing VBRs! 🤩! Wonderful picture with big smiles to match the occasion! Well done! 🤗❤️
It certainly does... I’m still under 20 parkruns (I got addicted to volunteering, I’m over 50 of those) but the progress has been pretty amazing over the last year and a bit.
That's excellent 👏🏻 I'm nowhere near 50 park runs yet because I spent so long this year opting out and instead doing training for half marathon, I think that's just become my main running "goal" for next year, get my "50" T-Shirt 😃
Well done. 50!! 🎉🎉And a great photo. Don’t know how you managed to find non-rain today, as the New Forest was in full-on shower mode. Great team you’ve got there and all looking remarkably smiley. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Brilliant running and a wonderful occasion JP. Great achievement in fantastic company; doesn’t get any better really ....ok maybe no mention of triple chocolate brownie, but each to their own 😊👏👏👏👏👏🥇
Lovely photo and well done on your awesome times and your 50 parkruns JP! Sounds like you had a brilliant morning. I’d noticed cheekychipmunks had been touristing from her Strava feeds and just thought she was trying to get her Cow Cowell in super speedy time!
There’s nothing quite like running at your home parkrun in a new, shiny milestone shirt 👏👏👏🎉
I hope I can follow in your footsteps. I’m gradually knocking seconds off on each of my park runs. So hopefully when I get to 50 my time will be as good or as near to you (I’ve done 13) so a little way to go yet !
You might have to brave Southsea no matter what - no parkrun at Lakeside due to maintenance work on the bridge! I will be away visiting our son & daughter-in-law - which reminds me, I must research the Swindon parkrun😀
Yes - we bought a flights, hotel and semi final / final tickets package from England Rugby Travel about 18 months ago. Costs an arm and a leg but it’s a guaranteed way of getting match tickets. It was fabulous being there last week.
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Parkrun age grading bonus!
I did it! My 50th Parkrun today! 
