First (not)parkrun / Virtual 5K of 2021 - Bridge to 10K

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First (not)parkrun / Virtual 5K of 2021

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator
45 Replies

Good morning everyone and Happy New Year. It's that time of the week again. Saturday is parkrun day normally, but that awful COVID-19 has wrecked that part of our lives, for now. I hope for a return later in 2021. But for now a little group here on this forum are standing strong and we are running our own little private and personal 5K (not)parkrun. We might have a few new runners joining us this morning so remember to say a lovely big friendly hello at the first timers briefing.

So this is our first (not)parkrun / Virtual 5K of 2021.

For anyone who is new, we just run our own 5K, and report back here afterwards letting us all know how you got on. It is just for fun, you can walk, jog or run. I have had some runs where I have done all 3 in the same 5K. You can register on the parkrun website if you want and log your (not)parkrun.

I'll be a bit later starting. I need to go to a recycling centre and I am just about to start this evenings dinner, which is a campfire stew, done in a slow cooker. I'll be using the Christmas Ham which was never cooked due to change of plans. Anyway I'm looking forward to that and it usually produces about 4-5 other left over dinners which freeze well.

So good luck to all my friends. Happy Running. Looking forward to all the run reports.

Damien

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damienair
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45 Replies
AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate10

Hi Damien, I ran my 42nd virtual and 29th (not) parkrun around an unused football pitch only two minutes from where I live as some of the pavements are very icy, as far as the run was concerned, if it was a school report "could do better" would be on it, my recent left leg injury is completely better but I could only run it this morning in a time of 38.09, I was sort of hoping it would be sub 35 minutes, there was still a lot of snow and ice about, so if there is an excuse I was probably being careful that I did not fall, the temperature was around -3C and is not expected to go above 0C all day, otherwise it is a lovely sunny day.

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to AlMorr

Well done Alan. You did the right thing taking it a little easier. I went for a run yesterday around my local park. It was very icy. I was very close to falling a couple of times. So I just ran, jogged and walked my way around 5K. It took me 40:04 to do 5K. We will have plenty of time to do sub 35 mins when weather improves. Well done for getting out there in freezing conditions.

Damien

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate10

Morning Damien and all! I ventured out on a beautiful morning earlier and although it was very chilly (car said -2 degrees), I was thankful as at least the footing is better. Still gnarly in places, but no squelching and no sloppy mud.

5k in 37 minutes today. Didn’t feel inclined to try for any PBs and I thoroughly enjoyed it, as did 🐕 of course. 🏃‍♀️🐾

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to cheekychipmunks

Oh very well done Cheeky and so happy that you enjoyed your run. I’ll be going out later.

Damien

RunaroundSue profile image
RunaroundSueGraduate10

Happy New Year damienair and everyone else, of course.

That campfire stew sounds lovely. Wish you could share it with us :)

We ran our usual route so 6km in total plus the walk home. It was cold but sunny and lovely looking over the fields. Apart from a couple of dodgy looking places on the road it was fine underfoot because it was mostly track.

We also registered the run with Lanza Road Runners VRun 5K, so it was nice to get an "official " 5K time of 38.14 which I have used for my (not) parkrun time. It differed from my calculation by .01 seconds.

I have already signed up for next week.

On the way back from the run I was nearly mugged!

For our bacon, egg and mushroom toasties :)

She smelt them as soon as I entered the park and came to say hello. Her owner said that he is vegetarian so she doesn’t get bacon very often!

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to RunaroundSue

Ha ha, glad your breakfast survived the attempted mugging. Well done on your run. Campfire stew is on now. Loads of veggies to prepare. It is in the slow cooker now for 6 hours. I’m going to go to the recycling centre now and then I’ll go for my run. I have not registered a (not)parkrun in months on the parkrun website, but I will today.

Damien

RunaroundSue profile image
RunaroundSueGraduate10 in reply to damienair

Have a good run

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate10

Happy New Year Damien and all (not) park runners! Still very icy here but a lovely sunny morning. I had to take to the grass verges again and crisscrossed the roads to try to run where the sun was starting to melt the ice. 33.07 today, which will do for now.

Then home for YWA BREATH Day 1 - well, there are so many of you who follow her, I thought I’d see what it’s all about. How on earth do you follow her when your head’s pointing in a different direction from the screen though? 🤷‍♀️

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Sandie1961

Well done on your run Sandie. I’d be happy with that time in icy conditions. Nice start to the new year. Happy running for 2021.

Damien

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate10 in reply to Sandie1961

You get used to the poses and how she describes them Sandie. It becomes (mostly) second nature after a while, promise! 😀

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks

I hope so - trying to see the screen while having one leg going in one direction and the other in a different one while holding my arm above my head was a bit of a challenge 😂😂😂

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate10 in reply to Sandie1961

Photo please! 🤣🤣

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks

Haha, no chance 🤣🤣🤣

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserGraduate10 in reply to Sandie1961

🤣🤣🤣 Don't need photos, I've got a great picture in my head!

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate10 in reply to TailChaser

Oh dear 😱

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserGraduate10 in reply to Sandie1961

😉

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserGraduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks

I was going to say the same cheeky. The last day is the biggest challenge Sandie, when she doesn't say anything and just moves into the poses.

QueD profile image
QueD in reply to Sandie1961

Hi Sandy - what is the YWA Breath day please ?

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate10 in reply to QueD

Hi QueD It’s Yoga with Adriene and her latest 30 day programme, which is on YouTube. Loads and loads of the HU runners follow her

QueD profile image
QueD in reply to Sandie1961

Thank you I will have a look

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate10

Having done a tough long run yesterday, I was only going out to do a mile in case I fancy doing RED January. Still not committing fully to it. Just in case 🤣 Anyway, I met my friend in the park to do a 2k lap. Felt ok so we plodded on in the snow for a happy, chatty 35 minute 5k.

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Tasha99

Oh very nice. Happy chatty 5K runs with a friend are the best kind. Well done.

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10

A frozen day. Icy paths. Frozen ponds. Tiny flakes of falling snow twinkling in the low sunlight.

8.1km run in 61 minutes. My first hour!

And then the snowfall strengthened as I walked home.

Time for some sausage butties as a late lunch.

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to nowster

Yum Yum, sausage butties as a late lunch, sounds perfect. Very well done on your 8.1K run and first 1 hour long run. Congratulations.

Damien

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10

Morning Damienair, and a very happy new year. UTS and I did (not) parkrun on New Year’s Day to follow tradition and ran at the same time but at different speeds with Oldgirlruns and Mr & Mrs Coddfish. It was a bit chilly with -1c but take away coffees were taken and then back home for a traditional English Breakfast.

We decided to run the parkrun course and saw a few familiar faces which was nIce. 33.30 for me.

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Dexy5

Very well done Dexy. I did the same yesterday. Took myself off to the park at 9:30 for a New Years day (not)parkrun. I also seen a few familiar faces which was lovely. It was freezing and paths were very slippery, so I walked and ran my way around in a slow 40 minutes. I did much better today, I ran with Oisin for the first time in months and we did it in just under 32 minutes. Happy New Year.

Damien

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply to damienair

That’s great that you both got out together. They were hoping to restart junior Parkrun soon but I guess that’s not going to happen for a while now.

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserGraduate10

Hiya Damien and a happy new year. Currently snowing here but thankfully it was beautiful, if bitterly cold, when we did our (not)parkrun this morning. Thankfully by the time we went out a lot of the ice had melted. Attempting RED January so this is my 2nd run of the year, so now I've done as many 5ks as I had on the first day of 2020 when we did the final double last year. Can't say I was over enthusiastic this morning as it's been a couple of weeks since I last did a fast run and, as usual, the gremlins were in my head. You'd think after 2.5 years of running parkruns I'd have convinced myself I can do this?! Anyway I can, whether my brain is convinced or not! Just logged my run on our local (not)parkrun and I'm chuffed to say that with 27:56 I'm currently second - never been that high up before!

Still the best way to start the year 😃

Have a good week all 🤗

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to TailChaser

Fantastic TailChaser , excellent running. I'm the same, I am attempting 5K everyday for January, but I will walk it every second day. I did a New Years Double last year too, it was my first and my last. You did a fantastic time today, great job and very well done.

Damien

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserGraduate10 in reply to damienair

Thanks Damien, and that sounds an excellent idea. That might be my solution if things go a bit awry like they did when I tried it in May. I'm going to do a shortish one tomorrow to try and bag a Local Legend.It's probably just as well they did away with the doubles but it's a shame as it was a fab challenge last year. Good luck with it all this year.

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator

Just back in from my 5K. I convinced my 11 year old Son Oisin to join me. He wore his White Junior 10 parkrun T-Shirt. We ran 2.5K, took a short walking break and ran again for about 1K before another short walking break and then ran the last kilometre at a good little pace. Oisin has not ran with me in months. But he did really well and we were both happy with a total time for the 5K of 31:57. I'll take a shower now and relax for the evening.

Damien

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserGraduate10 in reply to damienair

That sounds a really good time Damien. My eldest can't go at that speed, he sounds like he'll be very speedy when he's older. Enjoy your evening.

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to TailChaser

Thanks TC, like me he is out of condition. His parkrun PB is about 26 minutes. He can run faster but is out of practice. I'll try and convince him to come out with me more.

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserGraduate10 in reply to damienair

We’re trying to do the same with youngest kitten as he’s slowed down too. If schools have to close again at least we’ll be able to get him out more. Good luck 🤞

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate10

Hi Damien

Happy 2021 to you and your family. That Christmas ham campfire stew sounds delish! 😋

I wasn't really up for it today, but I forced myself out about half an hour before sunset. It was hovering just above freezing, but we've been lucky with no ice to speak of. My legs just weren't playing ball though and it was my slowest 5k for a while - 40:38.

But that's the first run of the year under my belt and I'm glad I went out.

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Birdlady64

Well done. I had a slow one yesterday due to ice and slippery conditions. But like you I was happy I got out for a run. Happy running to you throughout 2021.

By the way the Campfire stew was yummy. It had 8 hours on high in the slow cooker. There are enough portions left for another 5 dinners at least for the 4 of us. It is a great dinner to batch cook and freeze, and really tasty and healthy.

Damien

MoliJ profile image
MoliJGraduate10

Hi Damien, happy New Year and I hope you had a lovely Christmas. I have been running three times a week 5k each time. I ran Christmas Day and New Year’s Day which was great. My time on New Years Day was 37.32. Still having the occasional twinge with my ankle. Someone did tell me that ligament damage can take ages to heal. I doesn’t hurt now when I run, it just tells me something is not quite right when I haven’t moved about for a while. I hope all of you in this little group have a much better year than last year. Looking forward so much to having the vaccine so I can rejoin my old life once more. Happy running everyone xxxx

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to MoliJ

Thank you. We had a lovely Christmas and Santa brought the requested gifts which was good. 2 happy boys. Well done on your running, I had taken a break only running 1-2 days a week for a few weeks. But I'm back on multiple weekly runs now. I am attempting 5K everyday for January. I'll walk 5K every second day. So I'm looking forward to popping on a podcast and walking tomorrow. I am looking forward to a vaccine too. I am sure it will take a good few moths yet, but hopefully parkrun will return in 2021.

Damien

MoliJ profile image
MoliJGraduate10 in reply to damienair

Good luck with your challenge. 🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️

Week7 profile image
Week7Graduate10

Hi Damienair and fellow virtual (not) park runners.Wishing you all a safe and healthy New Year.

I did my 5k late this afternoon. Started off really slowly but after warming up I was feeling quite good and sped up ... until I found the ice. From then on I ran very cautiously, even slowing to a walk around the icey bits.A bit disappointing but better safe than sorry. My main aim this year is to try to keep running regularly so need to be injury free!!!

5k time was 33:53.

Safe running everyone.

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Week7

You were wise. I ran yesterday and it was very slippery and Icy. Very dangerous, I almost fell twice. So I took it very easy, walked, jogged and ran the 5K in 40 mins. So you did an awful lot better than me. Yes being injury free and running regularly is my goal too. Well done.

Damien

A cracking turn out as normal Damien 👍 bit late out of the blocks but I guess I showed up today 🙂 I may be there next week, and so on

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to

You are always welcome along.

JonathanP profile image
JonathanPGraduate10

Happy New Year Damien and all (not) parkrunners! I've got a bit out of sync with my running over Christmas/New Year - I still usually stick to running every other day and as I'd done a rather chilly 7k on New Year's Day, my (not) parkrun was this morning.

As it wasn't quite as cold(2°!), it was back into shorts after 2 runs in leggings. I decided to do an intervals(fast/slow run) session, accompanied by a 50s r'n'b soundtrack, and ended up with a very pleasing 28.10.

Great to get Oisin out with you yesterday Damien and your campfire stew sounds delicious! 😋 I'm a real fan of the slow cooker.

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to JonathanP

The campfire stew was yummy. And there are another 3 family portions in the freezer now. It’s a great one for batch cooking too.Great time and very well done on your run. I did a 5K walk today. I’ll run again tomorrow.

Damien

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