Abingdon@South_Oxhey virtual Parkrun - Bridge to 10K

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Abingdon@South_Oxhey virtual Parkrun

iain-strachan profile image
iain-strachanGraduate10
5 Replies

So, my first "Virtual Parkrun" was done this morning, organised by South Oxhey Parkrun. They counted down the start on a live Facebook feed, and afterwards had a virtual popup coffee via Zoom, which was a splendid social event, well organised as the host regularly split people up into breakout rooms of 3 to 4 people so you could get to chat without everyone talking at once.

In the "main session" we also did a clap for key workers (there are several who do South Oxhey), which they recorded and will put on Facebook later.

The run - gradually building up to my previous "comfortable" pace of 7:30/km. By January this year I was a bit quicker at around 7:00/km, but due to a fall and broken finger I had 8 weeks not running - amazing how fast your fitness dissipates!

I had plans to run from my home to the village of Sunningwell and back (2.5 km there) but took the wrong footpath on the way out and had to go back along the ring road before crossing the field, so didn't get all the way to Sunningwell before it was time to turn back!

I know of two "virtual parkruns" like this using Facebook and Zoom - Melton Mowbray and South Oxhey - and the latter is near where I grew up, so I knew all the places where people lived. Does anyone know of other Parkruns that do this? The Zoom socialising afterwards is memorable.

Just goes to show what a great social experience Parkrun is, and what we can do with a little inventiveness.

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iain-strachan profile image
iain-strachan
Graduate10
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5 Replies
Grannyhugs profile image
GrannyhugsGraduate10

What a great idea, glad you had a good run, and especially that you are now recovering form after your time out. Happy running 🤗

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate10

That's a great idea, doing it by zoom, I have now been running 6 "virtual 5K parkruns" since the official ones ended on 14th March, but I only do them at the same time as parkruns are ran in Scotland which is 9.30 am, no zoom, just a 5K ran locally around a loch near to where I live, I managed my quickest time of the year this morning so like you I am pleased on how it went, I am so glad that you have recovered from your recent injury.

MarkyD profile image
MarkyDGraduate10

Ahh, you live very close to my brother Keith. Not sure if he is parkrunning (virtually) at the moment.

iain-strachan profile image
iain-strachanGraduate10 in reply to MarkyD

Is your brother an Abingdon Parkrunner, when it's on? Abingdon had to cancel a lot during the awful wet winter. One week they inspected the course and found a heron fishing in the finishing field!

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate1060minGraduate

What a great thing to do during this time of social distancing

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