Thanks to our “team of 5 million” to quote Jacinda, parkrun has been able to start again. Its been a while since I’ve posted, these have been strange and sad time and still are for many. It was a cool, dry morning after some pretty stormy weather we’ve been having, but it wouldn’t have mattered what the weather was like quite frankly I was going! So excited was I that my buff and cap got mistakenly left in my backpack in the car boot. A not too bad turnout of 165 runners and walkers today, I guess some runners may have been uncertain about returning as we normally have 200+. The barking dogs were deafening, but it was lovely to watch them back frolicking with their mates. I was a little concerned that in our 3 month absence possum bait had been laid around the park and hoped our furry friends wouldn’t be let off leash and would be OK. No overseas visitors of course, so our race director suggested that we might like to dedicate our run to those countries unable to return to parkrun just yet, Ireland, damienair was first, as one of the regulars hails from Dublin, UK for me and more countries followed, reminding me what a lovely, truly International community parkrun is.
We were off and when my watch buzzed before I had even reached the 1k marker it was to let me know it was going in to power save mode Doh! I’d set off running without waiting for GPS, told ya I was excited! It wasn’t about times or a PB today though. On the way back I caught up and ran and chatted to two runners for a bit 🤭 I know me! never been able to talk and run at the same time and then a little push to the end and it was over all too soon.
When the results came through, I was surprised to see a 37.46 mins time, might be going back next week then you think? for an improvement. Today was just fabulous and I feel so lucky that I’m able to run, but being able to share this with all of you is the best, as is this forum. Thanks for listening and I hope its not too long before I can read your parkrun reports/VRB meet ups again. My Sunday mornings aren’t the same anymore.
In the photo: snail Humphrey was given to me by my granddaughter for my birthday, I had admired him about two years ago sitting in her garden and now she’s become a runner ❤️ (my first and probably only selfie 😂 post run) Happy running everyone x
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lexi6
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Thank you so much for this brilliant post Lexi6, and for completing your run for all of us. Despite us doing our virtual and not parkruns, nothing can replace the thrill of meeting our local friendly rivals each week , listening to the director’s briefing and then setting off together on the hooter. I fear it will be a long time before we get back to that but knowing that you can do it gives me hope.
Oh if only I could step into a time machine and run with you .
A good time lexi, and conversation too! Very impressed.
Thanks Dexy, it was great being back at PR this morning and it did bring back such happy memories of running in the UK and the hope that we can run together again. With the easing of restrictions in the UK, (fingers crossed it goes well today) lets hope it won’t be long before PR is back. I think 2021 will be out for us but may be we’ll see you at Southsea in 2022. 🤞 🥰
Yayayayay Lexi, how wonderful for you. Little by little our world is starting to return to normal. Tiny baby steps, but your post is so encouraging. Now I know we’re far from being ready to return ourselves here in the UK, but reading your post is truly uplifting. 😍❤️🥰
Thanks Cheeky, I hope PR isnot too far away for the UK and today is the first step towards normality for you all . Meanwhile I’ll go back next week and try for a PB 🥰
A great post from you Lexi6 and really nice photos, so good to be back to parkrun for you thanks to as you say "team of 5 million" so glad that the weather was calm after the windy conditions recently.
Next Saturday marks my 1 year park runiversary and I will always remember all the barking dogs when I went on my first parkrun.
That was a lovely gesture of the race director asking to dedicate your run to countries unable to take part in official parkruns at all and you saying the UK, it is now almost 4 months since a official Parkrun was run in the UK, that is now why we have virtual and (not ) parkruns, this morning will be my 16th virtual parkrun and 3rd not parkrun.
No PB for you today but the main thing is that you enjoyed the company of all the other people running, a thing you don't get at a (not) parkrun.
It is possible that when official Parkruns return to the UK the social distancing rule of 1 meter will apply and we will have to wear face masks while running, that will be up to the organisation to decide.
It's now 5.35am in the UK, 4.35pm in NZ, the weather forecast for my not parkrun in 4 hours time is dry with a temperature of 14C,, enjoy the rest of the day. 😊 🏃🏾
Thanks Alan, yes the weather has been horrible here and too stormy to run outside, fortunately I’ve been given a treadmill, so on Wednesday I ran 10k on it, it will come in very handy this winter. I hope your not parkrun goes well this morning, that temperature of 14 sounds just ideal to run in. Happy lst parkrun runniversary next Saturday too. No PB for me today, but I’ll have a go next week, it was lovely just chatting to others and enjoying the atmosphere, first time since February 😊
Update, I have just come back from my 16th Virtual parkrun and 3rd (not) parkrun, good run and saw 10 other runners, one of which had 10K on her T Shirt, I was wearing my apricot Parkrun T Shirt, by the way I have now ran 10/10Ks and 1/11K.
No PB for me today as my time was 34.40, I would have preferred it to be 32.40, nevertheless I enjoyed my run this morning, sent my time to the Dunfermline not parkrun website, enjoy what is left of Saturday 👍🏃🏾
Very well done Alan thats a great time none the less and an impressive tally of 10ks, you’re well on target for 16k by end of July. Saturday nearly gone here, the day for you to enjoy. 👍
Hi Lexi, we’ve had some Cambridge NZ ‘tourists’ at our Cambridge UK ’#notparkrun’ , so excited for you, I watched the short video at the Cambridge NZ start, brought a tear to my eye, brought home to me, just how much it is part of my life and I miss it and my parkrun friends, I can’t imagine how I will feel when ours gets the go ahead again.
Let’s hope it won’t be too much longer, but somehow I feel it’ll be a while yet.....
Milton Country Park hosts Cambridge parkrun, that’s my ‘home’ run, we also do Wimpole Hall - if you fancy trails and a (big) Hill..... - when we’re feeling brave....and Coldhams Common , and Fulbourn Hospital, we’re very lucky, we have several to choose from, plus there’s others a little further afield, March, Littleport, Ely, Pocket - (St Neots), Huntingdon
We’re on the west side of Cambridge, so those are closest to us....
If and when it happens again, more than happy to meet up if you’re feeling a bit nervous about going, it’s always a bit daunting going for the first time, but you’ll quickly see there’s nothing to be concerned about 😁
Excellent I knew of milton and often encountered the wimpole folk on my walks. No way would i be able to run round there😬 Thank you may take you up on the offer when things are more normal 🤗
😂Hoohaah do a 10k, 10 mile and half marathon around Wimpole.....not for the feint hearted I can tell you, but they are fun, especially if there’s mud and livestock! 😱🏃♀️........maybe for the future......😉
Aaaw! Madge ❤️ you hang in there, keep the faith, you’ll be back and I’ll be back next week running for the UK, until you’re all running again. A virtual parkrun hug right back at you 🥰
Wonderful Lexi! Thank you for sharing this with us, I’m sure we all really, really appreciate it. It’s so nice to see normality (as much as it can be) returning somewhere. They look beautiful surroundings for a parkrun too.
Thanks TailChaser, still buzzing 12 hours later. It is a lovely park and I’ll feel comfortable going back to run midweek now. No concrete or asphalt in sight, whoo hoo!. The long hill at parkrun not so good, but I know its good for me.
Fantastic post lexi - I’m so pleased for you! Thank you for giving a shout out for tourists at the start! Never mind the tech - you’ve got Parkrun back, yippee! Until we can join you, we’ll carry on with our (not)parkruns and the weekly quiz and look enviously at our VRBs on the other side of the world! Happy running!
Whoop whoop ! Lovely post Lexi 😍, I'm pleased the weather was better for you, especially as you left your cap and buff behind... and can hear how excited you were to be back at Parkrun.
Super pictures too, you look very happy in the photo!
Thanks BBr, the weather was perfect, popped the cap on for the selfie, (post lockdown grey hair I’ve decided to keep, but not share - just yet😂) I’ll be back next week 🥰 xxx
I loved this and how lovely to dedicate the run to others around the world too. Although I'm not a park runner myself I love to hear all about it. Now you are back the only way is onwards and upwards 😊
Thanks GTFC I was surprised at lockdown how I felt when my choices and freedoms were removed and something simple like going to parkrun could make me so happy. Missed the support and giggles (not getting up in the dark though, waking up to Emeli Sande on my alarm helped a little 🇬🇧
Wonderful to see you back at parkrun again in NZ and lovely to have a shout out for us back in the UK and Ireland. Starting to get a bit more back to normal from today, but I suspect parkrun is still some way off. Hoping for when I get back from France 🤞🏻
We have a third choice after the Marple run now. The Norfolk Arms started to open for Saturday Breakfasts. Maybe not quite as good as the other two places but much more room to fit everyone in which is great for our growing WhatsApp team or for anyone celebrating birthdays and milestones.
Or for visiting dignitaries - Paul Sinton-Hewitt enjoyed his full English breakfast after his run with us last year.
I loved that cafe and its fantastic you have so much choice there now, all we have after our parkrun is Maccas, which is why I’ve never been afterwards. I remember seeing the photo of PS-H that was so special hosting him.
Delighted to see parkrun NZ back up and running, it pleases me almost as much as Super Rugby Aotearoa. Porirua will be on my list if I am ever able to make a 5th visit to your lovely country. Enjoy!
Thanks Coddfish. Wow! I didn’t know you’ve been here 5 times. Porirua is a lovely parkrun compared to Lower Hutt, (not that I’ve done either like you have) and not as hilly as Dunedin. 😊
Only been 4 times so far. First two times were business trips in the late 90s when I spent quite a few weeks mostly staying in Wellington and working in an office in Petone. Then 2011 for the rugby World Cup and 2018 for another holiday. When we visited in 2018 we picked Lower Hutt rather than Porirua for our Wellington parkrun largely because I knew the way, having worked in Petone.
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Parkrun number 22 for me today,
