31 Minute Pacer

[damienair]

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

[RunaroundSue Graduate10]

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 Graduate10 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 Administrator 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 Graduate10 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 Ambassador Graduate10]

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 Administrator 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 Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

👍 🏃🏾

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

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

[damienair Administrator 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 Graduate10]

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

[damienair Administrator 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 Administrator Graduate10]

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 Administrator 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 Graduate10]

well done on pacing and having done so many parkruns.

[damienair Administrator 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 Graduate10]

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 Administrator 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 Graduate10]

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 Administrator 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 Graduate10]

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