31 Minute Pacer: I ran at my local parkrun... - Bridge to 10K

Bridge to 10K

16,325 members25,906 posts

31 Minute Pacer

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator
20 Replies

I ran at my local parkrun yesterday morning. It was my 57th parkrun and I am nursing a muscle injury just above my left hip. So I had decided to run easy. As it was the first parkrun of the month it was a paced event. I volunteered to be the 31 minute pacer. I had a little gaggle of runners following me. I challenged myself to get as close as possible to 31 minutes finish time. I set my watch to average pace and my target pace was 6:12 min/km. I managed to pace myself well and finished in 30:59. I really enjoyed the run and it was also my first time doing a parkrun in December. So I’m now also an all weather runner on running-challenges.

Damien

Written by
damienair profile image
damienair
Administrator
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
20 Replies
RunaroundSue profile image
RunaroundSueGraduate10

Well done damienair That is brave to be a pacer, although I have had three friends say they would run with me to slow them down! Because they were suffering from asthma, cold or injury.

It is because I run at such a steady pace -a bit faster to start with then I settle down so that my cadence is almost a straight line. Even marshalls have commented that I am steady.

But I wouldn't like the pressure of having to keep to a set time.

RunaroundSue profile image
RunaroundSueGraduate10 in reply to RunaroundSue

Incidentally, how is your stopwatch bingo? I have 50 ticked off.

One that I need is .08 - I already had .07 and .09 but got them again on consecutive runs! How annoying :)

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to RunaroundSue

I have loads to tick off for Stop Watch Bingo. I keep landing on the same times. I am going to work on the Alphabet Challenge in 2020, and I want to aim for my 100 milestone T-Shirt and 25 Volunteer T-Shirt in 2020 as well. Hoping to start the year off with a New Year double.

RunaroundSue profile image
RunaroundSueGraduate10 in reply to damienair

It's addictive, isn't it?

It won't get me any badges or t-shirts but I am Tailwalker on Christmas Day and hope that will get me to 50 volunteers and 100 runs at my home parkrun. I have done 30 different parkruns but two of them more than once.

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate10

Good that you were the 31 minutes pacer, my PB is 30.55, my latest parkrun time was 30.56, I thought there would be a 29 or 34 minutes pace for runners hoping to get a sub 30 minute or sub 35 minute 5K respectively.

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to AlMorr

Thank you. There were loads of times available to choose from. I just picked the 31 minute bib. But there were a few other pacers. 22, 26,28, 30, 31 and 35 minute pacers were available yesterday.

Damien

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate10 in reply to damienair

👍 🏃🏾

Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Graduate10

Look at that pacing time, you did great. Hope your hip is better soon 😊😊

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Buddy34

Thank you. Yes I hope so too. It’s not too bad, I just need to keep my pace slower than normal so as I don’t agitate it too much and make it worse.

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate10

A gaggle of runners - love it! Good for you for volunteering and leading your little gaggle 🏃🏃🙂

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Irishprincess

Thanks. I loved it. I feel like I’m cheating when I Volunteer as a pacer as I get a volunteer credit and a run in.

Mummycav profile image
MummycavAdministratorGraduate10

Fantastic run damienair and to put yourself up for pacer is so brave!!! I would love to be one of the gaggle of runners round one of our Pacers but as soon as we set off I always lose sight of them!! Oh well, I'll have to work at it on my own!!

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Mummycav

I got my parkrun PB this year back in August at a parkrun in Dublin. They were doing pacers for the first time. My PB at the time was 26:13. So I followed the 26 minute pacer. It took all my concentration and strength to stay with him. I was exhausted and wanted to give up after 3.5K but I kept going. I’m so glad I did as I finished in 25:36. I’m a long long way off that pace now but I’d love to get back to it and go sub 25 next year. Pacers are a great way of chasing a PB.

Elisabeth3 profile image
Elisabeth3Graduate10

well done on pacing and having done so many parkruns.

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Elisabeth3

Thank you. I’m still only a parkrun novice. Although I am getting into more and more. I’ll be running on Christmas Day this year and I’m hoping to do a New Year’s Day double too. I’m aiming to get to 100 in 2020. I love parkrun

Elisabeth3 profile image
Elisabeth3Graduate10

Fantastic! I also love parkrun. Did 45. I am quite picky if it comes to weather. I hoped to get to the 50th this year but the weather and flood did not do a favour. Never mind. I am happy to do it in any pace.

I want to volunteer on New Year's day. I can only encourage you to do the double!

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Elisabeth3

Your so close to your 50th parkrun Milestone. It will be a nice way to start off the new year. I’m going to do a couple of volunteering stints in the new year. I’ll run Christmas morning this year and I’ll volunteer for Christmas Day next year. I’m looking forward to running a new year double.

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate10

Oh wow, good for you Damien! Helping yourself come back whilst helping others. 👍👏🏃‍♂️

And that’s impressive too, finishing just one second off your target pace. 👏👏👏

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to cheekychipmunks

Thanks Cheeky. It was really good. I was finding it hard to hold a steady pace as I kept picking up the pace and then would have to pull it back again. But I got very close to the 31 minute target.

Debston profile image
DebstonGraduate10

Amazing to only be one second out! Well done you!

You may also like...

Almorr 70 minutes pacer

a photo of Lorraine the 70 minute pacer who helped me get a sub 70 minutes time of 1:09:22 at the...

Pacers

followed the 30min pacer! Then I followed the 31 min pacer. Then I followed the 32 min pacer. Then...

First attempt at being a pacer!

I'd be doing a year ago - taking it easy by being the 40 minute pacer! I knew I'd have to be slower...

60 minutes goal achieved!

in the moment and challenging myself. When I initially started consolidation runs I’d set a timer...

Saturday 50 minute run 🥶

‘building run’ in my training plan. 5 minutes slow warm up jog, 40 minutes in effort zone 2 and 5...