Not the fastest, but my fastest :)

[Ethelbert]

Virtual Vitality London 10k nailed!

First race, even virtually - I'm definitely a bit of a lone runner, only ever managed one parkrun pre-lockdown! Weather forecast wasn't great, and I'd almost talked myself out of going today, but my lovely daughter suggested I go for a run anyway, and carry on if I was feeling it. She knows me too well, once I'm out, I'll be pretty stubborn about achieving what I've gone for! I stuck to my tried and tested route, kept it slow and steady, and was surprised to see it was the fastest of my three 10ks to date.

Feeling quietly chuffed with myself, I must admit 😀

[Couchphoenix Graduate10]

Great time Ethelbert, 👏🏻👏🏻it’s great when you’re not expecting it and you discover a PB.....I use the NRC for my 10k’s too 👍

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to Couchphoenix]

Yes, I love those unexpected PBs! A bit of coaching alongside my playlist is my favourite mix

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Congratulations to you Ethelbert on completing the Virtual London 10K in a PB time of 1.19.18, well done, I bet your daughter is very proud of you, perhaps WHEN the parkruns return you might want to run in them.

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you. Yes, I'm sure I'll be more confident about parkrun now I know I can run further! My daughter is a great support - we do exercise classes together most days to build her strength (she has chronic fatigue) - she can't run herself atm, but is very supportive of me, and pushes me out some days when I'd have bottled out.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Brilliant stuff - well done!😀👏👏👏 Enjoy the bling when it arrives!🏅😀👍

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Oh yes, looking forward to that!!!

[CaptFrey 60minGraduate]

That’s great going and a fab pace 😁 I hope you are super proud of yourself 🤗

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to CaptFrey]

Thank you, yes I am feeling proud, we're all running our own race, and this is significantly better than my first 5k pace, so I'm happy 😊

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

You should be feeling chuffed with yourself! Congratulations on a great run! You can’t do better than a PB 👏👏👏🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️👍

Good you enjoyed your first (virtual) race 👍

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Well done to you too - reading your run report over my champion porridge (with seeds and banana) was one of the factors contributing to my decision to get out there today!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Ethelbert]

Oh, excellent! But the Breakfast of Champions is supposed to be consumed after the event 😊

What kind of seeds do you put in your porridge? Sounds good 😀

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Haha, mine is always before the event! I'm not really an early runner!! I use an omega-3 mix (pumpkin, linseed, sesame and sunflower) plus some chia seeds. Fruit varies depending on what's in our green box, but banana, apple or pear are probably the most common Honey or date syrup if a bit of sweetness is needed.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Ethelbert]

Thanks! I’ll try some additions to my porridge !

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Frozen raspberries too if I need it to cool down quicker! And always some ginger and cinnamon

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Ethelbert]

Ooh reminds me of the gingerbread porridge Dorset Cereals used to make 😋

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

I put dates in sometimes for sticky toffee porridge!

[RunBrianRun Graduate10]

Well done on completing your third 10km Ethelbert. And in pretty awful weather too 👏👏👏

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to RunBrianRun]

Thank you - I pretty well dodged the rain tbh, just a bit of refreshing drizzle at times. Rained properly once I was home and dry though! Would've been so cross with myself for not going out, when the nasty forecast didn't really materialise.

[PandaCory Graduate10]

Congratulations on a great time, and a PB! I ran it today as well, and also got an accidental PB 😀. Well done 🏅🎉

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to PandaCory]

Accidental PBs are my favourite 😍

[Fionamags Graduate10]

Well done on a great time - enjoy the bling when it arrives!!!🥳🥇🍾🥂

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to Fionamags]

It's not a bad time for short legs and an aging bod! Looking forward to my first bling 😀

[Mum22boys Graduate10]

Well done for getting out today and a pb, even better 👏 enjoy your medal when it arrives 😊

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to Mum22boys]

Thanks once I'd signed up for this , I decided I wanted to go for it early in the week to give myself a backup plan - i.e. plenty of time for a second attempt if necessary! Then once I'd decided that, I just needed to get out and do it!!

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

Congratulations on your virtual 10k and a pb as well. Well done you 👏 👏👏

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to Buddy34]

Thank you, it feels quite slow still, but so much faster than I could ever have imagined at the start of this journey! Mostly still gobsmacked that I can go out for a run knowing it'll be well over an hour!

[Cmoi Graduate10]

Well done, and how lovely to get a PB!

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

It was such a nice surprise after I'd deliberately decided to take it steady, to ensure I'd definitely do it. I'm still getting used to the notion that I'm actually capable of a 10k at all, but third time proves it!!

[Haughton]

Well done

[Lookslikejames Graduate10]

Congratulations on your first race. You did it in a really good time!!

[Queenie17 Graduate10]

Well done👋👋surprise pb's are the best👍😀

[Over62]

Great time and run and getting out there too. Congratulations 👏🏅👍

[Zee221b Graduate10]

Be loudly chuffed! Absolutely amazing, good on you!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10]

Well done in getting out there in those conditions. Great running and a PB to boot!😁👏👏👏

I'm hoping to do mine next weekend 🤞

[Tinytears60 Graduate10]

Well done! 👏👏👏👏 I’m the same once I’m out and I’ve set my mind to a certain distance!

I just won’t give up!

A fab time too - a personal best for you! 👏👏👏💕 woohoo! Brilliant!

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to Tinytears60]

I was doing a guided run for this one, and one of the questions Coach Bennett asked us to think about was what our best running strength was (probably not the exact words, but that's the gist!) I decided mine was probably stubbornness!!

[Tinytears60 Graduate10 in reply to Ethelbert]

Tenacity and stubbornness...

I hear you! 👏👏👏

Well done tho .. a fab PB 💕

[EThomas Graduate10]

Well done

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Congratulations Ethelbert, a great time and you get a medal and T-shirt!

[Ethelbert Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Teensy bit excited by that, not gonna lie!

[Tinytears60 Graduate10 in reply to Ethelbert]

Makes it SO worthwhile!

It’s addictive... virtual strava bling or real bling ... I’m like a magpie 👌🤩