Good morning everyone. 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. But 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.
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. Last week I was exhausted and did all 3 in the same run You can register on the parkrun website if you want and log your (not)parkrun.
I'll be a bit later starting. I am excited to be going to see my Mum and Dad and meet my 4 month old nephew for the first time. So I will be doing my 5K run down at my home town which is great. A change of scenery. Just packing the car and trying to get everyone loaded into it now. Chat later friends.
Happy Running. Looking forward to all the run reports.
Damien
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That's something to look forward to Damien, seeing your parents and nephew for the first time, good luck for your run as well.
This morning I ran my 44th (not) parkrun and for the first time since last December it was a sub 35 minute run, 34.23 which is exactly the same time as my first ever 5K a few months after I graduated from C25K in June 2018, lovely morning once again, the temperature was around 4C when I was running but is expected to go up to 15C later today.
The conditions were perfect CC, I notice that you ran this morning's not parkrun in a time of 34.16, that was the exact same time as my first official Parkrun in July 2019, this morning my time of 34.23 was the same time as my first ever 5K in September 2018
Thanks TailChaser, lovely sunny day where I live in Central Scotland, I had a lovely run this morning around the loch near to where I live, by the way this coming Thursday my Thursday walking group resumes, which is a 4K walk around the same loch as I run around, last year with the group I walked it in 42 minutes, 48 hours later I ran that 4K in 27 minutes which is exactly 15 minutes less than the walk.
That is correct BC66, it's about the 5th week in a row that my 5K not parkrun time has slightly improved from the previous week, although I walked a not parkrun in 55 minutes, my slowest ever 5K with running was 46 minutes due to my right sore leg, so things are going better for me now. 😊 🏃🏾
Wise, I mentioned on another post to someone a little older than 60 that if I was 44, not 74 as I am now that I would probably run 4 times a week, not the 2 I run now, the last thing I want not to happen is to get injured, that leg injury I had recently wasn't due to running, it was a stitch I got lying in bed early on a Friday morning, however, when I ran the following Saturday, it got very sore, at the end of that run I had to hobble home, luckily it was during that snowy weather we had in February, so I ran very close to home, not my usual run round the loch.
Ah! I knew I had forgotten something.I have updated my spreadsheet, (not)parkrun, VRunClub, Lanzarote virtual run map, this post, my personal blog, shared the breakfast photo with our local parkrun tourist friends, my brother, our Scottish pals. But I haven't added the run/walk to COGH yet !
Oh wow Damien, what a wonderful day you have ahead of you! Meeting your 4 month old nephew for the first time is so exciting! Enjoy your day and your run. 🏃♂️ 👶 💙
I decided to combine my quest run with (not) PR this week as I had a very minor niggle in my big toe pad due to partaking of a HIIT session outside, barefoot! I think I had a touch of toe joint concussion if there’s such a thing, although I’ve been running and walking pain free.
So this morning in sunny 2 degree temperatures, I donned my teeshirt and shorts and headed up to the chilly common, walked up, set JogRunSprint going and did my session. I jogged the warmup and cooldown and also jogged the pauses, and was surprised to complete 5k in 34:16. Happy to note each sprint was quicker than the previous one too, so happy days. 😀 Toe fine, so a happy chipmunk here 🐿
It wasn’t particularly pleasant walking up the hill to my start line RAS, but the moment I started running I was ok. I do warm up very fast - nothing to do with my age of course 🤥😅
I’m impressed that you’ve got your shorts out cheeky! It is a beautiful day though and it looks like it will be great for running all this week. Well done on your JogRunSprint- I told you it was fun 😉
I’d rather suffer a bit beforehand than get too warm Dexy. The moment I started my run I was toasty and I know I’d have been too hot in capris in the sun. 😀
No run today for me again. I did a 5km run on Tuesday and 6.5km run on Thursday that surprisingly contained my fastest 5km (29:38) segment. Yesterday was a short 3km run. Tomorrow I'm looking to see how 18km goes.
I'm looking forward to participating in my first real parkrun some time in June, assuming new variants of the virus don't derail the plans.
Great news about your family visiting plans today damien 👍, took the legs for a 5k spin, calf muscles both behaving (warner weather definitely helps them, and new calf compression sleeves 🥰) a not too shabby 29.25 so that'll do for me! Enjoy the visit, enjoy that run later
Fab Damien! Hope you have a lovely day seeing your family, how wonderful! 😍We spent our cool down walk discussing the logistics of visiting our folks and finalising a plan. They live on opposite sides of the country so it’s a bit tricky but I think we’ve worked it out 👍
Today’s run was a good one. The sky was the brightest blue, the air was cold but the sun was warm - perfect! Got to wear my shorts again but put a vest in under my apricot.
Lots of people out but petrol station corner was much easier than past weeks, possibly because locals will be travelling out of town so not so many families walking to the park.
Had a bit of a funny tummy again because of a chip shop veggie chilli last night. But nothing seemed to want to stop my legs this morning as they made the most of their freedom. I even felt the yogic breathing kicking in towards the end, coming up from my core rather than my chest. About time, I’ve been doing yoga for years and years!
So 26:33 today, my second fastest and my fastest in my long run Ghosts (Rosencrantz & Guildenstern). These are being semi retired now as I have a sparkly new pair of Ghost 13s, Swayzee & Moore 👻 👻
Speedy stuff TC. Great to be planning visits, although in our case it is the old folks thinking about visiting the kids. Ontario is shut down for now so daughter is out of reach, but our two sons are only about three and a half hours away....not exactly in the same direction unfortunately 🙂. Exciting 👍
I saw on the BBC website about Canada today. I hope your daughter is ok. ‘Only’ 3 and a half hours away 😱 So good we have so much tech to keep in touch with now. Let’s hope more vaccinations get round the world soon🤞3/4 of our parents have both jabs which is good. However one set is house bound and the other can’t drive too far so it’s down to us. It’s handy we’re in the middle really. Won’t be too long now 👍
The ice in the lakes our daughter is investigating should be melting about now. She is safe enough in her “ bubble” out on the water. Very tough capable woman 👍
My parents similarly are a 3½ hour journey away, in Wales. With the current restrictions, I'd only be able to meet them outdoors (which my mum can't do) and I can't stay overnight.
My nephew and his wife are in Toronto. They moved out there on 1st February last year and are dying to actually be able to see something of the country. Sadly they’ve mostly been staring at their apartment walls 🥲
Very frustrating! When we go over we book fairly basic lakeside lodges up north towards Algonquin and spend a lot of time in canoes and boats; loads of space there. Hope they can enjoy it soon.
We will be meeting Geoff's son and family for a walk tomorrow. They are not too far away. My brother and family are down in Somerset so no plans to visit just yet.Geoff's daughter is in Australia so no idea when we will see her.
As we walked up the hill after our (not)parkrun on Saturday 31st October last year I said "I just fancy a full breakfast this morning" (instead of our usual bacon & egg toastie). So we went into our favourite cafe in the village, little knowing that we were about to head into another lockdown and that this would be our last chance for five and a half months.
The cafe has not reopened yet but from this week they have also taken over the kitchen at the local golf course, so guess where we went after our run today. We sat at a table in the sunshine and placed our usual order of 2 x mini-mega breakfasts, no black pudding, extra mushrooms. The waitress said that as soon as she took it inside the owner asked "are they runners?", followed by "I know who they are" then came out to see us once she had cooked our breakfasts.
It was delicious and I have been smiling ever since. I hadn't realised just how much I had missed it (I have no desire to rush to the non-essential shops, but I miss my breakfasts and mid-walk pub lunches. Also camping trips and the ukulele/ music groups. And of course parkruns)
That made me chuckle Sue, as my little group are also known as ‘the runners’ in our local cafe and restaurant. No wonder I haven’t lost weight lately as we support our local independents. Our table is booked for 5 June!
We have also been phoning for a takeaway toastie while walking back from the Saturday runs. One day she took the order and said, "you are the runners, aren't you? No sauces required"
Have a great day out and family reunion damienair We will be meeting Geoff's son and family tomorrow, first time for a while even though they don't live too far away.
Hi Damien; fantastic to meet up with family. We need to get ourselves in gear!! My achilles was a bit sore last night, so plenty of massage and icing before bed. Felt great this morning, but I still covered in KT just for luck! A balmy 10 degrees, so no need for the duffle coat. I tried to keep at around the same pace as last week, and ended up being 7 seconds quicker; terrible pace management 🙂. Average heart rate had dropped a bit so VO2 max generously awarded me a point yay!! My right calf is a bit sore now....is there no end to this? Still, getting fitter again. 32:41 isn't bad. 👍
Send your Achilles and calf in my direction BC. I’ll give them a stern talking to!
Great run today for you though. 🏃♂️🏃♂️ You’re creeping up again which is brilliant news. 10 degrees is positively scorching compared to down here though.
Nice run BC! I wonder if your calf and Achilles are just going to be a grumbling thing that you’ll just have to make peace with? My Achilles are always grumbling now whatever I do to help them but they (thankfully and touch wood) just grumble.
I am hoping that this is temporary as I build up distances again. It is more lower calf than achilles in the right leg; just iced it for 20 minutes. The KT on the left ankle seemed to help my Achilles; not a murmur from it on the run. I wonder if the back of the shoe was rubbing/irritating it. Think I need new shoes 🙂
No, I have never tried compression socks. I use mono skin ankle socks. The really low cut ones don’t work too well with my trail shoes; the tongue cuts into my foot! I have managed to mangle the heel of my Hoka Arahis beyond the ability of super glue to repair; today’s 5k was in my trails. I need a bit of stability in my road/flat shoes so maybe the trails were not quite right. Will consult my superb running shop.
Happy shoe shopping BC. After trying lots of insoles in different trail shoes, UpTheStanley came up with a combination that works for him. When wearing them for the first time without insoles his Achilles objected strongly. But no problem together.
He also wears cheap karrimor compression socks on his runs and no longer gets the calf problems. So it might be worth considering.
Thank you very much Dexy5. I will research this today. I think that I have overdone my trails, mainly because I have damaged the heel of my road shoes; so they are IC. Wednesday’s 10k on the flat was too much with soft trails. Post yesterday’s run I wandered around in my 10mm heel drop shoes and everything felt fine; so it is a support issue. I have some unused inserts in a cupboard; won’t do much good there!! Similarly my son passed some socks on to me (didn’t fit his self image!) so I could see what they feel like, Everything feels good this morning so 🤞🤞🤞🤞
Phase 1 complete!! Wandering around the house in trails newly fitted with orthotic insoles bought about 2 years ago! They feel to be about midway between the existing insole drop (which I remembered to take out this time ;duh!!) and my la sportivas which are 10mm. They feel good so definitely worth a try. Now, where are those socks!! Thanks 🙂
As Dexy says, having run for a year or two with anti-pronation support built in to my road shoes, I discovered that running in unsupported trails did my achilles no good at all - with supportive insoles they are fine. And I always wear compression socks for runs over 5k, since I twanged a calf muscle when moving up to somewhere around 8k when first crossing the Bridge ....
Thanks UTS. This feels similar; the only thing which surprises me is that I have swapped between neutral trails and support shoes quite happily in the past. Thinking about it, I have probably increased the mileage with trails over flatter terrain recently, firstly because of mud and then because I have damaged my road shoes. Will try these inserts tomorrow on a 5k and then go to the running shop on Tuesday for some replacement support shoes. I will try socks if the shoe adjustment fails. I have already exceeded the monthly mileage for each of the last 4 months, albeit at a reduced pace, so there are a few factors operating together. I appreciate the info 👍
Beautiful morning here on the South Coast, so it was t-shirt & shorts on and off we go at about 8.30. Not sure where all the runners were today, and those I did see were steadfastly ignoring my friendly smile! 🙁
However I didn't let it get me down and ran on through the local roads and park, achieving (nearly) negative splits and 29.34.
Enjoy your family visit today Damien, and happy running one and all! 😀
We didn’t see one runner out this morning further along the coast from you, i suspect they are in the shops or the gym Great time for you and lovely in the sun
Hello Damienair, I hope you’ve had a brilliant day catching up with your family members today. It is so nice to have a bit more freedom.
I ran my (not) parkrun with UpTheStanley on Thursday this week. It was the first time in 4 months that we were also able to join Oldgirlruns , and Mr and Mrs Coddfish at our beach cafe for breakfast afterwards. It is very cleverly designed with a roof that folds back so it is perfect for this situation, so long as it stays dry.
The run was tough on the outward leg as it was into the cool ENE wind but then I got hot when the wind was behind me. It was a lovely sunny day and a pleasure to be running. My time was 33.33 which I thought was rather clever.
I was inspired by this site, and did my very first 5K last Saturday (after graduating C25K in March, but never reaching 5K, just 30 min.). Thanks for those who cheered and encouraged me - that motivated to do the same today. I did 5k in 38 minutes last Saturday. I was only focusing to complete it. Today was a perfect weather and I had confidence that I will finish. So, to my surprise.... I did it in 33:32. And with a dog on a lead (that I hold in my hand). Yes, honestly, I surprised myself, as I typically run only over 7 min/km pace. So, yes, 6:41 min/ km for 5K was really surprising. And yes, the dog started to run behind me, rather than ahead of me
Question: I noticed that music really helps me to run. I prefer a fast beat music that is at much faster pace than my running pace - that allows me to run at the pace I feel-like, rather than a timed pace, e.g. 5K+ podcasts with 150-160 per min.
I know there are all kinds of paid options, but I would prefer to stay free-of-charge. So far, I was using BBC workout downloads, but they are a bit too much 'rap' for my taste. Any other suggestions where to get good running music?
Why not make your own playlist of favourite tracks in your phone?
I've run to a classical music station, to audio podcasts, and to a totally random mix of music genres. As long as the tempo isn't close to my cadence, I don't lock on to it.
This sounds like a great idea! I wasn’t aware of this virtual park run but after two weeks of consolidation running after completing Couch 25K I wanted to introduce a new challenge. A fellow runner BaddieThePirate recommended I try both distance and speed so yesterday I went for the long run. I used the Nike Running app and used the 42 minute long run on there which had some common sense but good to hear gems about starting calmly. I was ready to stop the run when I reached 5K distance around 38 minutes but I decided to carry on and complete the run and all good! Best advice was starting relaxed and that way the timings were good for me! Jumping from a 30 minute to 42 minute run was ok. Good luck to everyone with their own personal goals it’s great to be part of a running community again
Well done StringsandKeys. In the good old days before COVID, many graduates of C25k would naturally move on to parkrun the following Saturday . I took Jo Whiley with me and ran just 30 mins of it then stretched it out over the following weeks. And I feel for all those who have missed this opportunity. (Not) parkrun allows us to do this virtually together though.
Just bear in mind as you finish consolidation that it’s advisable to increase distance by no more than 10% a week.
Have you registered for parkrun and printed your barcode?
Great thanks. I loved hearing Jo Whiley’s encouragement she was just the right encouragement for me. I used to run a lot more than 10 years ago and Im amazed at how much things have moved on. I’ll see about registering as you say probably won’t be every week but could give it a go thanks
Sorry I’m a bit late this week. I had a dreadful run on Thursday (planned 10k but felt quite poorly after about 6.5, carried on until 8 then gave up and walked the rest). Yesterday I just couldn’t face it but this morning I have given myself a stern talking to, the sun is shining, the grandchildren are coming over for a barbecue this afternoon, so I donned my Vitality London t-shirt and headed out. 32.18, over a minute slower than last week, but hey, I did it! Enjoy the rest of your weekend whatever you have planned 😃
Well no records or PBS but I did my (not)park run today. And it took 45 minutes exactly!!! But still a lot better than my disastrous 16 minutes struggle on Thursday where I walked more than ran and hated every minute.
Today’s run felt better ( for most of the time) and it was a gorgeous, warm, short sleeve Tee and capris morning too. Felt glad to be alive!! 😄
I managed to get in to see my mum the other day in the residential home, not sat with her for 13 months and then I ran home, Its only 6km but was a lovely run.
Anyway, today's run was glorious, sunshine and brown hares everywhere!!
I really can't wait for the actual park runs to start, so excited to do my first one!!
How fab for you to be finally seeing some family again, Damien.
We drove over to see our son and his family Saturday afternoon. We sat in his west facing front garden, with a gorgeous view of the mountain. (It’s a quiet terraced street facing the local railway branch line...so no houses opposite). Son D, and partner R...plus 14yr old L all run...so Mr. L was outnumbered as we chatted about running. L is in training for a HM! We discovered that we’ve all entered the Vitality London 10k...so we may meet up and run it together...but they’ll have to give me a head start! 😂🐌
Anyway, did my run Sunday...ended up running 6k along the canal as it was so lovely. Splits all sub 9 minutes, and Strava awarded me a 5k PB of 42:51 🥇☺️ I’ve entered it as my 34th (not) Park Run.
Sounds like a great family day Lottie. Vitality seem to be taking their time in telling us where and when the race will be this year. I do hope we will hear soon as I can then enter other races.
Oh yes that’s the week when the real race was to happen. I did the virtual last year when the London race was cancelled but this years has now been postponed, to a date unknown and a place unknown.
It will be great to run the virtual with your family as you get to wear race numbers and some people do cheer you on.
PS when we did it as a group we aimed to finish at the same time- much nicer for the slower runners
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You can register on the parkrun website if you want and log your (not)parkrun.
