So now I've completed Week 6 of JuJu's plan, with a 9k run on Tuesday, 4k on Treadmill on Thursday, and a triumphant return to Parkrun today with a new 5k PB. Strava says my 5k time was 34:29 (previous best 35:52). The official Parkrun time was 35:00 and the distance (according to Strava) was 5.07.
It's a different parkrun from my usual - Abingdon was cancelled this week due to the rising level on the Thames (part of the course goes along the tow-path), so I went to Didcot - and my son came along too as he was home for the weekend (normally does Highbury Fields PR).
It's a curious route in what is not the most picturesque part of the country! The viewing highlight is a distant view of the one tall chimney that is all that is left of Didcot A Power Station. The six cooling towers, which for most of my working life have been a landmark visible for miles to say you're near home, have gone.
There are three laps that are half field half path, and then a long tarmac path for the final 2 km. The field got a bit muddy and slippery by the time the third lap was done due to over 300 people stampeding over it! There were many more participants than usual, as there were a large number of refugees from Abingdon!
The only other hairy moment was overtaking a mother and daughter who were blocking the home run path running side by side. The grass bit I ran on to overtake them was bloomin' slippery, but I survived OK. I have some trail shoes for Parkrun purposes which no-doubt helped with the grip.
I'm absolutely delighted with the 5k time! The first PR I did after (re)-graduating C25K was a shade under 40 mins. I think doing the longer runs in Bridge to 10k has improved my stamina and fitness.
For those interested in heart rate info, it stayed at around 155 for most of the run, but I speeded up for the final km and it peaked at 168 by the end. The average HR was 157, quite a bit lower than previous Parkruns (the worst was average 168 and peaking at over 190, so I suppose I'm getting fitter).
People might notice that the run cadence graph shows long constant stretches then an abrupt change. This is due to the Spotify playlist of songs all between about 158 and 170 bpm, so you can run in time. The long straight bit from 10 mins was Kashmir by Led Zeppelin, I think. As it changed to a new song my cadence locked in
I will definitely return to Didcot Parkrun. It's nothing like as pretty as Abingdon, but much more straightforward to run on!
Keswick Parkrun 3rd time, new PB.
Parkrun PB
Need help with cadence / pace etc.
Fun Fun ParkRun (with cheeky PB)
Longest run, parkrun PB, then.....?
