Once upon a time, Me & UpTheStanley, Oldgirlruns and Mr & Mrs Coddfish used to catch up on a Saturday morning at something called parkrun, and then have breakfast together. That was until COVID-19 went and spoiled it all. Recently we had been chatting about the need to get (not) together for a run, but due to my time on the IC and Coddfish finding it difficult to reach 5k during lockdown, it hadn’t happened . Then the perfect incentive came along - parkrun announced a (not)parkrun weekly event where we could enter our 5k times each week.
It only took a nano second for Coddfish to contact us and we set a day and time. Given our varied running pace and different locations in town, we would not start together. The aim was to reach the Southsea Beach Cafe at 1030.
Today was the day, and I will leave everyone to post their individual stories.
So parkrun red shirt on, I set off from the start of the road closure at 9.44 guessing that it would take me around 45 mins to do my 4k run, 500m walk and 1k run. UpTheStanley, in his black shirt, ran about 200m with me and then turned around as a warm up because he would be setting off later. I came across Oldgirlruns running towards me in her lilac shirt before I had completed 1.5k so I thought she would be reaching the finish way before me, unless she had changed her planned route. I could see Coddfish in an apricot shirt in front of me for quite a while but didn’t actually catch her until she was turning at her halfway point.
Mine is a story of various blonde moments as I’d calculated rightly that I had to go 2.75k before turning round but just before that point I realised that I had forgotten to set my music going so started my playlist a bit late! That’s better - a rhythm to run to. Further confused when my turning point coincided with meeting the dustmen so they cheered me on as I passed them and then I reappeared on the other side of their truck just as they were leaping out at the next collection point! No 2m margin there then. I was still running as UTS approached me and he thought I’d decided to run it all. Was it him who was confused or me?
I started my 500m walk, UTS overtook me and then i ran, whilst trying to work out whether I got my running and walking times right. Running and mental arithmetic doesn’t seem to work at the same time! Anyway, I ran a bit faster to make up for the dithering and reached the target finish at 10:25 with everyone else already there doing their stretches or nattering .
It was so good to run (not) together and have a takeaway coffee and pain au chocolat at a distance afterwards. From Saturday Oldgirlruns became part of our social bubble which makes life easier, so we were in 2 groups instead of 3.
Parkrun hasn’t come up with the (not) parkrun facility yet, but I’m left with the dilemma, do I calculate the times for the running 5k part , or do I enter the time of the first 5k? And do I get a prize for being at the target place closest to the target time?
Written by
Dexy5
Graduate10
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Oh well done you lot! Everything is so complicated these days I’m not surprised you got confused! Good to hear you’re getting those miles in now Dexy, how’s it feeling? Hopefully it’s much fresher on the coast too x
It doesn’t take much to confuse me at the moment TailChaser, at the cafe UTS convinced me that I’d only run 750m in the end lap, but I was glad that Mr Garmin thought otherwise. My leg felt fine but in the excitement I forgot to do my post run stretches so I might regret that. I was also pleased to finish with a 5:30 pace. Yippee 😀
I think enter whatever you like; it isn’t competitive as you know . I would hesitate to post a Pb which wasn’t all run; but that is just about my hang ups.....just do your thing Dexy5.🏃♀️
I think I’ll enter the first 5k, which is easier to calculate, and as it includes 500m of walking it allows room for improvement next time when I get to run my first full 5k since February. Also, it captures the idea that you are allowed to walk as much as you like at parkrun.
Closest to time deserves a medal I’d say! Reminds me of a car rally I went on once as a teenager - remember those? They took into account your mileage against the perfect route and when we went wrong the driver (not me!) decided to reverse for part of the remainder. 😱 It was rural Scotland and it was the early 70s. 😳 Never told my parents. 🤣 Sorry to digress - glad you got your (non) parkrun done as a (non) group. Congratulations
I’ve heard about rallies where you had a specified amount of fuel in your tank and had to get from A to B by perfect driving. 🤣🤣 never tried it though.
This was my first run on my own since the (not) Vitality London 10k, as I’ve been trotting alongside Dexy as she builds back towards a non-stop 5k. So perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised that when I repeatedly asked my legs for a bit more effort to get my time per k down below 5 minutes, they repeatedly told me to sod off ☹️. Then on the other hand, I did pig out on cheese last night😋, which I’m seriously beginning to think screws my energy levels 😝.
Whatever, I ended up with a reasonable 4’48” last k and an acceptable 24’44” overall, so mustn’t complain too much 😀. And a good time was had by all, which was the point of it. Dexy really shouldn’t be let out without a coach, though.
I really miss Parkrun but I’m glad I managed to get my 50 Parkrun landmark t-shirt just before lockdown!😊👍 I’ve only got a few more stints to get my 25 Volunteer landmark t-shirt so that’ll be a priority once it restarts.
In the meantime I’m studiously avoiding the local Parkrun venue, particularly at 9:00am on Saturday🙂 I’ll be doing a (not) Parkrun over the weekend and hoping to upload it to the website when it goes live.
Well done on your red shirt David. I was hoping to qualify for the volunteer shirt while on the IC but I only managed to get one in before lockdown- another 5 to go.
Well I think you should get a medal for covering the most options, and definitely one for arriving nearest the agreed time. 🥇🏅, plus a challenge cup for that 500k Walk you mention near the end. 🏆
Mad jealousy here over the coffee, pain au chocolat and (not) cosy fun. Well done all! 😀
Aw thanks Granspeed. And thanks for pointing out my error on the length of walk. 😅 I think I will edit that.
One day you will be able to tell us you are going out for a run, and we can descend on the New Forest to join you. Your time will come . Might have to end with a picnic instead though. 🧺 🏃♂️🏃♀️🏃♂️🏃♀️
Oooo well done guys! Great run there Dexy5 👏👏👏👏 You’ll soon be running the lot and smashing out PBs again. 🏃♀️🏃♀️
It doesn’t take much to confuse me either, which is why I haven’t even contemplated how to run and/or log mine. I never do the same route twice up on the Common and I’m not keen on running in town again just yet. I’ll fudge my way through it somehow I’m sure! 🤪
Thanks Cheeky , I’m not sure about the PBs yet, but my first full 5k is not far away now. The FAQs say that you don’t have to run the same place or same time so I think it will be fairly simple once they’ve let us have the Tech, and being (not) parkrun you can take Floss along too.
Despite the confusion, it sounds remarkably co-ordinated to me! Seems as though all had a great time and I'm sure you benefited from there being no wind to speak of.
Brilliant, I love this. How wonderful for you guys to all get together. A great read and thank you for posting it. I’m enjoying the other posts as they come in 😊
Well done everyone. I’m looking forward to my (not) parkrun on Saturday morning. I’ll be running in my local park where my local parkrun takes place. But not at the same usual time.
Fantastic Dexy and so nice that you and Oldgirlruns have been able to form a bubble, but I sense some messy evenings to come 😂 Great plan which worked brilliantly for your first one. I’m going to do my first one on Saturday with Damien as usual!
Our first get together was UTS birthday so you are right there 🥳🥴🤪but it is trips to NationalTrust in the same car which will help too.
You can do more than 1 (not)parkrun a week so we will probably do one group one and one virtual one with Damienair while I consolidate my 5k.
I’ve just found the (not)parkrun link on my profile page, and made my first entry. They will work out the quickest entry each week and then do an event results sheet just like parkrun.
I grew up in South Yorkshire and we had an annual school trip to Clumber Park (assuming we are talking about the same place - this one would have been in Nottinghamshire). I remember a nice place.
Yes it is the same one, near Worksop. It’s National Trust so only opened again a couple of weeks ago. Took the dog and walked round the lake. I think everybody else who was there said hello, which was quite different. It’s normally only other dog walkers who speak!
Yes that was Coddfish ’s brilliant idea. It didn’t quite work to plan as the boys got a bit bored waiting for their start times.
The facility is on parkrun now and I was shown as fastest female in Southsea and UTS the fastest man - that is a short term situation I am sure as there were only 6 results in. 🤣🤣
I think it’s an excellent move by parkrun as we can recognise our usual running contacts and see how they are getting on. It was good to delay it too so that everyone can get used to not being in the usual route at the usual time.
Oh how lovely to read your post and also to hear that Oldgirlruns has been able to join your bubble...it may be a little step back towards normal, but a wonderful step it is 💕
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
week 2 begins! 
