2.6 Parkruns - why not?

[UpTheStanley]

A day late as usual, but I thought this could be my gesture in support of the non-London Marathon 2.6 challenge. Not that I ever had any plan or intention of running the said marathon …….. At 13k, this would also be my first run longer than 10k since the Great South in October.

The plan was to run 10k at 6'00" pace (I now think of 5'20" as my "race pace" for 10k) and see if there was any scope to push the last 3k a bit. As things turned out, I hit a fairly steady rhythm around 5'45", despite a couple of attempts to slow down, which got me to 10k in 57'30", leaving very little scope for any kind of push, though I did manage the last k in 5'10" for an overall time of 73'48". So pretty well pleased on the whole.

I was about halfway through when I remembered that it had been the 13k run in last summer's Great South training plan that had seen me hit the wall at 11k. There was a gremlin sitting on a wall as I approached that milestone (Kstone?), but I gave him the rigid digit in passing and he stayed where he was, presumably waiting for someone else to happen along.

For those who know the area, 9k of the run was made up of 3 out-and-backs along the road to the Hayling Ferry, bookended with 4k on the prom. I have to report the only looking around I did was to attempt to maintain 2m separation from assorted pedestrians, cyclists and dogwalkers, but I'm sure everywhere looked perfectly lovely

Onwards and upwards!!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Congratulations, that was a fantastic run for you today UTS, 5.45 pace for 10K, very good, 🏃🏾👍Dexy5 should be very proud of you, I am sure she is, I hope her recent injury is almost healed now.

Recently I have been doing a mixture of walking, cycling and running, I am gradually increasing my running distance by 1 Kilometre a week back to 10K, this Wednesday I intend to run 8K, that will be my longest run this year. 😊 🏃🏾

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Hello Al, 👋 oh yes I’m very proud of UTS, and he achieved this on his own as I went into a whirlwind of spring cleaning this Morning. Not sure what came over me.

I’m speaking to my physio on Friday and hoping that will kick off a new set of exercises and a programme of run/walking. 🤞

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

👍

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Al, it was actually fairly comfortable as I'd backed off a bit from my usual training pace. Just wasn't sure how I would find the extra distance. Which turned out to be fine at the time - but 4 hours later going downstairs is a bit of a challenge

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to UpTheStanley]

That's the last thing you do not want to do, run a 13K with no problems then fall downstairs when you get back home, just be careful about those stairs.

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Fantastic effort in amazing times. I'm doing a marathon over the week for Alzheimer Scotland at half your speed, well not quite. who were you running for? Happy running 🤗

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thanks …. no way I could do a marathon at that or any other speed, I've crawled my way to the HM distance just once, not in a race, and don't see myself doing it again!

I don't normally run for charity, I would just be perpetually tapping up the same few people to give me money for doing something I enjoy - it's not like running (for me anyway) is some sort of scary challenge. If a charity like the RNLI actually organises a race that I want to run in, I'll make a donation on top of the entry fee, otherwise I just donate directly to the charities I do support when it seems appropriate. So this time I just lobbed some gift-aided cash into the 2.6 challenge pot to be divided amongst all the charities involved.

[Grannyhugs Graduate10 in reply to UpTheStanley]

Brilliant, this is my 1st time running for charity and although I know I can do 4 x 10k somehow I’m feeling the pressure. I’ll maybe lob money next time 🤣🤣

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Well done to you Grannyhugs on running a marathon over a week for Alzheimer Scotland, I have worked out on the calculator that is 42.195 Kilometers, the marathon distance, that means that you should run 6.02 Kilometers each day for a week, perhaps you are doing that way or running 4/10K's every other day and on the 4th day you would run 12.195K to make up the marathon distance.

[Grannyhugs Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Did 11.2 yesterday, that leaves 3 runs on Wednesday, friday and sunday. Tomorrow is going to be a really hilly day so may make that 10k see how it goes. Legs feel great after yesterday.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

You can do it despite the hills, once you have completed your marathon you will be very proud of yourself, just the same feeling as after you graduated from C25K, perhaps even more.

[Grannyhugs Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

My donations are over £500, I was only aiming for £260 so really delighted. This is the week I was due to move house so it seemed fitting to have me moving more while my possessions stay put 🤣🤣

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

👍 🏃🏾

[Sandie1961 Graduate10]

Sounds like a lovely run UTS! All the more impressive that you didn’t have Dexy with her loudhailer egging you on from her bike 😂😂

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

🤣🤣

[Katnap Graduate10]

A good cobweb cleaning effort! 🏃😃

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Katnap]

Yep, each to our own when it comes to cobwebs (though actual spiders do fall to me )

[Katnap Graduate10 in reply to UpTheStanley]

Tailchaser has no problems with spiders.

[MartinKH Graduate10]

That’s great going , well done 👍

Amazing times, especially that last k in 5.10. Wow.

Happy running 🏃‍♂️👍

[Coddfish Graduate10]

Well done, hope you aren’t feeling any negative consequences this evening.

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Great pace UTS. Favourable weather for it today I think, being not so hot and no wind to speak of - not even along the top of Portsdown Hill where I gave my new shoes their second outing.👍

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

Do they feel springy after your old ones Jonathan? I hope they help with your foot.

[JonathanP Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Yes very bouncy thanks Dexy! Any news on your tentative return to running?😀

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

Hopefully after friday’s chat with the physio 🤞

[Sparkey5000 60minGraduate]

Great run and a great pace with a great run report!! So many greats means you must be awesome!

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Sparkey5000]

You're too kind Sparkey, I've come out in a great awesome blush …….

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

That’s a good description of your run and a great time

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate10]

Congrats on fast times. Inspirational and something to aspire to. 👏