For those of us missing ParkRun

[sTrongFuse]

I suspect it's not the actual running we're missing; since many of us can just go out and run when the mood takes us so long as we are fortunate with our health and the COVID-19 restrictions in our particular part of the world allow us to do so. It's possibly not even being able to run in a group; since as much as I enjoy the social side, I tend to be a solitary runner.

For me, what I actually miss is being able to have something to judge my performance against. Not my overall position on the weekly email (although that has its own value), but the arcane calculation that is the age adjusted performance and how it varies from run to run.

Then I discovered that Running Heroes has a weekly 5k challenge ( uk.runningheroes.com/en/cha... ). OK, so it's on a Sunday rather than a Saturday, but it gives you a leader board and age tables and all of those little things that turn a run into a "non-competitive" competition. It's not really the same, but it is nice to feel that you are part of group, doing something we all "enjoy" and providing something a little more than just comparing our own performance run after run.

If that kind of thing appeals, it might be worth checking it out while we're all waiting for the real thing to start again. If it's not your thing, then just keep getting out there and running anyway.

Stay safe.

[linda9389 Graduate10]

I kniw what yku mean! The new facility to log (not)parkrun times gives you an age grading - are you plugging your 5k times into it?

[sTrongFuse Graduate10 in reply to linda9389]

I've only just discovered that today too...

[linda9389 Graduate10 in reply to sTrongFuse]

It has the definite advantage for me that I can run it any day of the week and can then save Sat and Sun for a long run and a long ride.

[sTrongFuse Graduate10 in reply to linda9389]

Monday tends to be my "long" run, so less of an issue for me in any event, but at least I can plug in my 5k runs as I go along.

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

I've been using the (not) parkrun to log a 5k for the past 2 weeks. But you know I'm like you in being quite happy running on my own. 😊👍

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

For anyone who is interested in (not) parkrun:

support.parkrun.com/hc/en-u...

[sTrongFuse Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

I'm doing that as well, but as there are only about a dozen people on my home (not)parkrun, the "competition" is a bit limited. Especially since 5 of them are from one family and are neighbours of mine.

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to sTrongFuse]

A very exclusive parkrun. I can see Why you Want a bit more competition 😂

[sTrongFuse Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

The "real" version attracts about 150-200 runners, but the "not" version is very limited in its participation. My other local one, which generally only has around 40-50 runners each week would probably only have 2 or 3 of the "hardcore" group signed up to the "not" version.

It is a great idea, but for the really small parkruns (like a couple near me), I suspect participation is sparse.

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to sTrongFuse]

Yes we only have around 30 at ours out of up to 500. I guess some people don’t get the emails and some think “what’s the point?” But it’s been really good for us as 5-6 of us run it to end at the same point at the same time So we go for breakfast afterwards, just like the real thing.

Are you able to referee again now or soon?

[sTrongFuse Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Not yet. There are tentative moves for the new season to maybe start in late September/Early October, so we'll just have to see what happens.