Now I have almost kicked that lurgy into touch I wanted to see how I got on with running in my new trails in preparation for the planned Queen Elizabeth Country Park parkrun on the 15th. So UpTheStanley and I decided to head for the QECP and put them to the test. We asked Oldgirlruns if she wanted to check it out in her hiking boots too. So there we were, me in squeaky clean brand new Saucony Peregrine ISO trails. Coincidentally, UTS has the older version. I ended going for the men’s shoe as they felt better on my wide feet. I love the way Saucony match the laces to the bright colour of the soles - Beachcomber66 knows that I have a thing about bright laces on running shoes!
We parked up at the cafe and then walked 500m to the parkrun start as a warm up and gave Oldgirlruns a map to follow as a walk. I decided to just do the first smaller loop of the parkrun as I didn’t want to overdo it in the neutral trails for the first time, especially as I am used to the flat prom. This run starts with a steep hill, how cruel, so I briskly walked the first slope and then said goodbye to Oldgirlruns just before the turn right for a grassy (muddy) downhill run . I got up as much speed as I felt safe. Even with trails it was a case of slip sliding away so I was choosing my path very carefully . At the bottom I turned right onto a chalky path and I was able to run with more confidence until I got to mud glorious mud again on the downhill inclines. So I ended up doing some walking so that I didn’t end up on my backside. When I got to the parkrun finish I ran back along a leaf covered path to the car. 2.5k altogether in just under 22 minutes. There is obviously a knack to running in these conditions, which I hope to acquire. Being a bit of a girly girl, running straight into mud and getting splattered in all directions doesn’t come at all easily, but I did enjoy dipping my toe in for the first time. I decided that next time I would gently jog to the start line so that muscles are better prepared for that first incline and I’d be very happy to see no rain for the next 2 weeks so that it can dry up a bit, but QECP parkrun here I come.
UTS did the full parkrun route and the photo shows our shoes after I’ve banged the excess mud off after the run. Mine have the fluorescent yellow insoles. He had muddy splashes up his legs too, so must have got it right. Every day is a learning day with this running lark.
A meet up at the cafe afterwards for all day breakfast and coffee went down well.
Happy new week everybody. 🏃♀️🏃♂️
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Dexy5
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I am thanks Dexy. Had a lie-in until 9:30 yesterday morning and did very little all day. Today I popped to the gym and did a little 3k treadmill run because I felt better. Really enjoyed it. Good old First Defence, works for me every time. 👍
I think your shoes are day glo green Dexy, not yellow! What Dexy doesn’t say is that in the Cafe afterwards OGR was mithering about trail shoes - for goodness sake where did that come from?! But a good morning’s walk/run all round I think!
Good training run and a very fine pair of laces!!😎
I am used to squelching through mud on trails now. It doesn't take much time to clean it off shoes and the other stuff goes in the washing machine with a little bit of pre wash de-clarting. I just pretend the mud isn't there when I am running! Mrs BC may have different perspective😬.
Nice shoes by the way; I briefly flirted with idea of getting some Nike Vaporflies; decided it would be like buying my 94 year old (never driven a car)mother a Ferrari.....🏎
Ooh I’ve got shoe envy!! They look all the better with a bit of mud and the lovely bright colours shining through. Sounds like it was a good fun run with a very sensible destination!
Oh yes I Do like a run that ends at a cafe. ☕️. We were considerate enough to take a change of shoes although they are quite used to dirty hiking boots 🥾
New shoes don't look new for long in those conditions. But isn't it fun to run through mud and puddles. I had my first go at this at parkrun on saturday as we had lots of rain and melted snow. My shoes were similar to yours they were filthy and so were my legs up to my knees. Hope you all enjoyed your well earned breakfast afterwards 😊😊
Just heard on the news that some parts of New Zealand are having as much as 90/100mm of rain, not sure if that will affect the parkrun that our friend Lexi6 runs at.
Fortunately not Alan, down South has been inundated. I just had 80 kilometre gusts on my run today. Will be back at parkrun Saturday, which is lovely and sheltered.
OK, my take …. Marines and Pongos always tell you time spent on reconnaissance is never wasted, so this was a spot of Naval intelligence gathering ahead of Saturday week's operation. I was keen to discover two things - could I actually maintain a jog up that first hill, and how happy and stable I would feel going relatively quickly downhill in heavy going.
The answer to the first was yes, on the first lap, and no, on the second. Which raised a supplementary question, 'cos building back up to a respectable pace, from the point where the gradient eased, was much more difficult coming off the jog (about 30 secs) than off the walk (almost immediate). On the other hand, I was 40 secs quicker over the first section on the first lap compared to the second (but obviously fresher). What to do, what to do on the day of the race …. hang on it's a run, not a race, isn't it?
On the second question, reasonably happy but always aware an ignominious pratfall turning me into a Pompey mudlark (google it ) was only a step away. Nonetheless, I expect I'll take a few more risks on the day ……
Didn't know exactly where the parkrun starts or finishes, but looking at the course map now against my Garmin track, it looks like I added 70 uphill metres at the start and 20 downhill at the finish. Garmin gave me a total distance of 5.24k in 31'06", and a time to 5k of 29'41". So I guess I'll be aiming for 30 minutes when it happens for real - I'm really getting quite excited, in cheekychipmunks style
I think there will be several posts from different angles and speeds and lots of HU running buddies David. I now have appropriate shoes for Beckenham Place Park , should we return.
Brilliant Dexy, you’re all prepped and ready to go! So what was the footing like on the first uphill? I’m hoping it’s not as brutal as Lyme Park. 🤞🤞 Whatever it is, we’re going to have a ton of fun. 👏👏👏👏
Niiiice shoes too. Were they comfy? It’s lovely having that feeling of stability in trail shoes. 👍🏃♀️
Good walk/short run for you today Dexy5, glad you enjoyed it, although I don't have any photos, this morning I had a good walk along the (as they say in the song) "The bonny banks of Loch Lomond" it was blowing a gale, some of the waves were coming onto the muddy footpath along the side, actually I enjoyed that walk, just two short showers but the waves were quite spectacular, I also had my walking boots on and sadly did not see any runners, probably the wind put them off going for a run along the side of the loch.
Thanks Al, yes I saw that you had gales forecast in Scotland today. I hope it brightens up for you soon. When we drove back to Southsea it looked like we’d missed torrential rain with enormous puddles on the road.
Thank you Oldfloss. Oh yes it is definitely a challenge. Although I only did a small part of the parkrun route, I think it included the most challenging sections. I was enjoying it so much I forgot to put my music on until the last 500m.
OldflossAdministrator60minGraduate in reply to Dexy5
We seemed to have missed a total downpour on Portsea island while we were on the hill Jonathan- It’s usually the other way round. You’ll be fine on those hills .
I wish I could do such run myself well done. I now down to walking and short jogs. That will do for now. Not sure about this morning walk as my toes are sore. Lets see. It is very hard to please wide feet.
Hi Dexy, Each to their own! I just haven't got my head around the idea of running in mud!! So good to try new places and new things, so good for you. 😊🏃♀️ I like the sound of the breakfast afterwards. 🍳Do people really feel that they can stride out while wearing trail shoes when running on slippery mud? I can hardly walk on the muddy routes round here, hence my keeping to roads or hardcore paths. Keep safe 😊Happy running 🏃♀️
Running in mud is definitely not easy, and not something I will choose to do once I have conquered this challenge over61. Was it you who tried to run around a newly ploughed field? I’m with you on preferring the more solid paths and I suspect the weekly parkrun is probably making the matters worse on this course.
What a memory you have! Yes it was me, probably others too. One of my normal paths is right across a field which has been put to various uses. Sometimes sheep, some times arable. Happily only about 1/10 of the field was ploughed and I was a breathless wreck after 'running' over it. It wasn't wet though. Wet slimy, slippery paths and I turn back! 😊
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) was only a step away. Nonetheless, I expect I'll take a few more risks on the day …… 
week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
week 2 begins! 
