Happy weekend. For any of you new graduates whom have started running during COVID-19 world you may or may not have heard of a thing called parkrun. parkrun is a free 5K which takes place every Saturday morning all around the world. It is for everyone, slow, fast, able, disabled, big, small and everyone in between. Oh and don't forget about the super Mum's and Dad's who push their babies in buggies. You can walk, jog, run, run/walk, it's not a race, just a run in the park and loads of us here on Bridge to 10K did it religiously every Saturday morning.
parkrun is back thankfully in Northern Ireland and England as well as some other Countries around the world. And as I write this our friends in England are running in their parkruns and the friends in Northern Ireland are gathering at the start line getting ready to set off.
Wales, Scotland and The Republic of Ireland are still awaiting a parkrun return. So until parkrun returns we take part on our own in a Virtual parkrun every Saturday morning. We post after our run and let everyone know how we got on. The little run report can be done over a post actual parkrun coffee and treat/cake. (parkrun is all about the after run coffee and cake, and meeting friends old and new). It can be run/walked on any route close to you which is 5K. Does not have to be done in a park, you can even do it on a treadmill.
If you are a new graduate and would like to start, all you have to do is run, walk or jog at an actual parkrun or a 5K run/jog/walk anytime today or tomorrow and write a little run report under this post. It's like a little community and it is good fun, sets you up nicely for the weekend. If you want to you can register on the parkrun website and you can log your 5K (not)parkrun. In fact you can log any 5K done during the week as a (not)parkrun on the website. I only log Saturday runs, when I remember.
For anyone whom has not done a real parkrun yet and if it is available to you, give it a try. It is the most wonderful community event. Saturday mornings will never be the same again.
Looking forward to my run this morning although it is wet, heavy wind and rain, and also looking forward to hearing from all of you running in real proper parkruns and (not)parkruns. Happy running and have a lovely weekend.
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damienair
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No run today for me. Still recovering (and taking the tablets). I'm going to try a bit of walking some time this weekend. If I can do 3 miles the one point earned will knock my Garmin points level up to the next one.
Well done to everyone who got out in the rain this morning.
It has been bucketing down here all morning. I'm still in my running gear and have not yet braved it. I've just hoovered the house and done a few jobs around the house. Looks like it has eased off a little so I'll go now. Wishing a return to normal soon. Get well.
No running for me this weekend Damien. Mr. Cheeky has been in hospital all week having sustained some injuries but thankfully now he’s back home.
It’s funny how our bodies work. I was full of adrenaline all week and didn’t miss a run, but now he’s home I feel wiped out. My body is telling me to slow down. I’m going to give running a total miss for a few days I think. My HM plan was for a second 10 miler tomorrow, but I’m happy to miss it. It’s not like I haven’t run HM distance before. I’ll pick it up again next week some time.
I’m not surprised cheeky, you must have been quite tense and not even realised it. Make sure you take care of yourself as much as you look after Mr C. You’ve got those miles in your legs and you’ll pick it up without any problems. Big hugs from all of us Kats 🤗🤗xxx
That’s just it TC, my running felt unaffected last week, but it must have been. No way could I have run this morning, so I’ll wait a few days and see how next week goes. Thanks for your hugs! 🥰🥰
Thanks Sandie, I think you’re right. I’m a really good “coper”, but it makes sense that there’s a limit. I’m treating my little break from running as a good thing for me. Mr C comes first. ❤️🩹🥰
We had pacers today at our Park run. I managed to stay ahead of the 30minute pacer and completed my 21st Park run in 28:39. Hubby was chasing the 25 minute pacer and got a PB of 25:23. I’m not sure I’m going to catch him…..Happy running to all who can ❤️🏃♀️🏃🏻♂️
Good morning Damien, I understand that parkruns in Wales and Scotland are resuming next Saturday, 14th August.
On Friday morning with my friend Keith from our Thursday morning walking group I ran my 60th (not) parkrun, I have now ran 80/5Ks altogether, that includes 17 official Parkruns and a few others, mostly ran locally, but one of them was on a Friday on the parkrun course of my home parkrun, 9 days before my first parkrun.
A PB time of 34.10 for my friend, same time for me, Keith is also thinking of running a parkrun, so that could be quite soon, have a great day 👍 🏃🏾
PS, I am watching a repeat of the women's Olympic Marathon, the leader got to the 5K marker in 18.14, they will keep that pace going for another 37 kilometers.
Yes I saw that Al - I got quite depressed about their time, 18:14 at the beginning of a marathon and I can barely do 5k in 48 minutes! Ah well, never mind!
Just noticed the winning time for the women's Olympic Marathon, 2 hours 27 minutes and 20 seconds, won by Kenyan Jepchirchir, next year we'll go faster than that, by 🚙 car😂
Very well done Alan and great news about the return of parkrun to Wales and Scotland next weekend. I got an e-mail during the week to say that Junior parkrun is returning to Ireland. So hopefully the full 5K parkrun won't be too far away. Vaccine rollout has gone very well here, so hopefully we can join you all soon.
Thanks Dexy5 but like some other runners I am holding back a few weeks, I intend to run my first official Parkrun for almost 18 months on Saturday 28th August
We were supposed to have that weather this morning but it’s turned out nice and sunny with just a chilly wind.
Third week of the return at Stratford. I probably should have rested my ankle again but I’m too easily persuaded. It was nearly wrecked by a delivery that was due in a really awkward 2 hour window but it came with half an hour to spare (delivered by a fellow parkrunner!) so I took that as a sign.
The numbers are still down here but it’s just enough to feel like it normally does. The cafe by the bowls club is now doing an offer for parkrunners of a coffee and brownie for £2 so we’ll have to take that up next week as this weekend was a Pantry visit. The brownie may sway it as The Pantry seems to have stopped doing them 😢
Anyway, Katnap ran with me today as he’s feeling nearly as decrepit as I am. He still managed to shoot off and get a segment record at the end though. I was pleased with my time as it was still faster than my pre-COVID PB at 27:06. That last lap really hurt though so I made sure I stretched out really well and I’m now sitting in the kitchen icing it. Time to book a sports massage I think.
I know OG! It’s not on! Too much COVID running possibly though OG, although I did pick up Katnap’s bad habits of not stretching which hasn’t helped. He seems to get away with it, I can’t 😢
Windy here in Chichester, but thankfully dry 👍 I hope your run goes well later, Damien 👍
I tried to convince myself to take it a bit easier today and positioned myself much further back at the start than last week. I managed a fairly steady first 4K and then completely forgot about taking it easy as I saw runners ahead and wanted to pass them. 🙄 I ended up putting in a 4:19 final 1k 😂 I can’t help myself it seems 🤷♂️ 🙄
Very enjoyable run, but I’m looking forward to the Hove Promenade Parkrun soon, as it’s much flatter, and I am hoping to get a PB there.
Final Parkrun time today was 23:28, nearly a minute down on last week, but I’m really happy to be back out there at another Parkrun. 😊😀😁
Thank you SueAppleRun I still find it hard to comprehend how much quicker I am from when I started C25K, but I’m enjoying it very much.
We all, each of us, call on our inner strength and win battles, just to be out there running at all. I count my blessings and hope to enjoy this running lark for a few more years yet. Maybe I’ll get quicker still? 😅💪
We will never catch you but over time we’ve speeded up so much that our easy gentle start with no puffing and panting was 7.50 and we were amazed, mind you the wind on the way back slowed me down loads
Thank you Oldgirlruns 😀. We were very lucky this morning to dodge the rain! You can see the clouds around us in the picture. But mum and I got soaked later when we went shopping. 🌧
Different choice of location for our parkrun run today and headed further in-land instead of our usual flat coastal run. Mainly to run on a softer surface to protect my knee and thought the weather might be a bit kinder.
Well the surface underfoot was better but weather atrocious so it was a bit of a mud fest on the second lap.
Anyway a lovely steady run at 35:44 which I will take given the hilly finish 🥵 and having not run in over a week.
Not Parkrun for us today, 43 minutes, I was chasing a PB when I turned a corner and ran the rest of the way face on to the wind, thanks for keeping these posts going Damien
Great running. Sorry I am only replying now. Taking some time out on a lunch break to catch up. Happy running. You’ll get that PB again when the wind is on your back.
The rain was so loud last night I couldn't hear Mrs R's snoring... It was hosing it down from about 2am and stopped about 11am. It is raining again as I write. I did not run.
There were 373 runners at Tooting last week, this week there were still 206. I noted that over 10% forgot their barcodes!
I don't mind showers - but I don't want to have an actual shower when I go out.
I will get some trail shoes to run in the mud.
I did a slow (not)parkrun 5K on Monday and some intervals on Wednesday - hope to get a run in tomorrow or Monday - the forecast is awful. But to be expected - I am on leave for 2 weeks.
Next Saturday I will try a parkrun near my mum's in Bishops Stortford (looks like much more grass - and maybe mud!)
Well done all those who did parkrun today - you must be mad!
Like you it was bucketing down last Saturday. I relaxed at home in my running gear until the rain stopped at 12. I could not face going out in heavy rain. Although, I would have done a parkrun in it. Madness. Enjoy your2 weeks off.
Sadly delays with landowner permissions means Wales won’t start until the 21st. ☹️
I wasn’t too sure of my niggly legs after last weeks 10k, so I did a slow 20/30 jeff around the River Walk. This is a 2 mile circuit, and one section is part of my local Park Run. My legs felt ok after the first circuit, so I went round again!
I stopped Strava at 5k and walked the rest back to my car. So 4 miles (around 6.5km) altogether, with warm up and cool down walks.
Splits: 9:28, 9:19, 9:25, 9:52, 9:19. Average 9:29, total 47:25. I haven’t been this slow since March! 😂🐌🐌🐌
It’s not about speed, it’s all about getting out there. Well done. Pity about the delay in Wales, but it won’t be long now until your running at parkrun. Junior parkrun is starting back here soon and things are opening up it by bit. Hopefully I’ll be back to parkrun soon.
I ran my 5K (not)parkrun on my usual 5K loop from home. Thankfully it had stopped raining and I did it in a time of 33:31. I feel a little stiff afterwards. But it was good to get out for a run.
Hello Damienair and fellow parkrunners, it was raining here as UpTheStanley and I got on our cycles at 8.15 to volunteer this morning. UTS was funnel manager and I was the marshal at the turning cone, a job I love because everyone is so pleased to be at the halfway point. I was wearing a walking jacket and over trousers and it’s a good job as it absolutely tipped it down as I cheered people on, shaking a tambourine. Their reactions when they turned around into the wind and rain was priceless. I was able to cheer on Oldgirlruns and Mr Coddfish amongst the 302 runners. My favourite moment was seeing a parkrunner skipping the course while videoing her journey on her phone, and enjoying splashing through all the puddles . That proves you don’t have to run fast to enjoy parkrun. It was my 24th volunteer today, so the next one I will qualify for the lilac shirt. I shall be so proud to wear that one.
Coddfish was volunteer timekeeping (also her 24th volunteer). 6 of us headed for the Southsea Beach Cafe for breakfast, including Oldgirlruns’s brother who also helped out the set up team.
Best wishes to everyone who has their first return to parkrun next weekend.
Sounds like our shower at Lakeside made its way down to you Dexy! Great to hear you and Coddfish are up to 24 - exciting! I'm only at 12 after today so a few to go.
I was volunteering at Portsmouth Lakeside parkrun as car park marshal this morning - there had been several heavy showers earlier but I was hoping they might have passed over by 8.30? Fat chance - as I got to my designated post the heavens opened and within minutes I was completely drenched! I did get a wave or thumbs-up from nearly every car though 😀
So when I got to the start at 8.58 the rain had stopped, but I looked a bit like a drowned rat, complete with squelchy shoes. The first half of our course is tarmac but when you turn off to go round the lake we have uneven gravel paths and we were all doing our Peppa Pig impressions (jumping in muddy puddles!), so everyone had squelchy shoes after that!
My time was 30.46, 3 seconds faster than last time, so I am still waiting for my first sub-30 since restart - next time perhaps? Happy running everybody!
Yes we had no benefits from our micro climate this morning JP. I was told by those at the start/finish that I was standing under my personal rain cloud which came straight from the Isle of Wight. Drowned rat indeed.
Well done for running after a soaking in running gear, and so close to that sub 30 too !
Hi All, didn't get round to posting on last week's Parkrun and (not)Parkrun post but had a great tourist run at Dalby Forest PR - see my post 'Park Run Tourist' (7 days ago). I like the idea of Park Run tourism.....where next?! Unfortunately didn't run this morning due to feeling very tired after a long and slow motorway journey yesterday and also a bit of a groin strain (Squiggy pulling on my harness during our long holiday walks) 😬
Well done. A great way to do parkrun tourism is to get the chrome extension called running-challenges.co.uk , it is fantastic. There are loads of challenges there, like the Pirate Challenge where you run at 7 different parkrun courses which start with a C and 1 which starts with an R. Another good one is the NENDY - Nearest event Not Done Yet. It’s good to do.
As ever I’m a bit slow posting Damien but I did my 16th parkrun this morning. With wet feet before we even set off, it seemed silly to try and avoid puddles, so I didn’t. Like last week it was a bit of a walk-run but as my walking speed is much improved now my hip is virtually better, I can almost walk faster than I run now so it didn’t slow me down! My Garmin time was 47:45 and my parkrun time 48:11, finishing 295 out of 302 ! But breakfast with Mr and Mrs Coddfish, Dexy5, UpTheStanley and my visiting brother, who also lent a hand setting up, was delicious as ever! Happy weekend folks!
Thanks, it’s been 6 months so it’s about time! I’m more pleased that I can walk fast again - Dexy’s had to keep reminding me to slow it down and take shorter steps so as not to aggravate it!
Excellent 16th parkrun for you today Oldgirlruns, so happy to know that your hip is virtually better, I hope you enjoyed your run and breakfast after the run with the rest of the Southsea crew, well done 😀 🏃🏾
So glad your hip is finally almost back to normal Oldgirlruns . It owes you one. Great PR for you yesterday. Splashing through puddles is fun isn’t it? 🏃♀️💦😀
Good evening everyone! Sorry I’m so late posting but it’s been a busy day. Shake-and-run and I met at the lake as usual at 8.00am but decided to each go at our own pace. After 1.5k I stopped to chat to a dog walker but forgot to pause Strava. Then, for some reason my first lap of the lake recorded 2.5k instead of the normal 2, then round again and 1.5 times over the bridge for the next 2.5k. Bizarre! I’ve picked up a slightly dodgy hip so only 33.40 this week. Then Mr S and I went in to the market in Bergerac for the first time in 2 years, pétanque with Shake’s village team this afternoon and a BBQ at her house to finish off. Have a great rest of the weekend 😃
Dodgy hip? Nooo Sandie1961 . Send the dodgy brigade on its way. It’s not welcome. ➡️
Sounds like you had an otherwise delightful day yesterday though. 😍 Leaden skies and heavy rain here this morning - enough to lose our Sky TV satellite signal. I’m not running again today and I was getting right into the women’s Olympic boxing too (gold for GBR yes! 🏅) I love all things Olympic! 😀
Hope your Sunday is brighter and your hip improves. 🥰
I think it was a bit of overuse on Friday - 9k hilly run and 9k hilly walk. It’s starting to ease! We have been doing quite a bit of walking this week as it has been rather cloudy, occasional rain and temps only just in the 20s. Forecast for the coming week is wall to wall sunshine and back up over 30, so shade and pool I think
I did a grassy/trails parkrun last week Rennur and can imagine it would definitely be a mud fest after rain . But as I only ever seem to run on pavements I’ll look forward to the change! Mud? Bring it on! Enjoy your leave!
I signed up for park run ages ago but have never been. I didn't know about not parkrun until late on in lockdown when I realised why people were putting not parkrun on strava! I had an email yesterday for LottieMW 's park run saying it needed volunteers on 21st when it starts, but we are away that weekend. I haven't heard if a more local one is starting again. I'm going to try and get to one soon though...work depending!
You’d love PR CLR. It’s such good fun. Volunteering is also fun. I make a point of doing so once a month. So (obviously work depending) pop along to your local one whenever you can. It’s slightly (who am I kidding - very!) addictive so be warned! 😅
Pymmes Parkrun was off today because of a missing defibrillator so I went home on the bus to do our usual (not) Parkrun route. It had stopped raining so I dropped of my jacket and cap and headed out. It's a 20 minute walk to the starting point and by the time I got there it was raining again. It got heavier...and heavier...and heavier... by the time I got to the last k it felt as though my sodden clothes were weighing me down. It's _August_ FGS.
Morning. I managed my first ever park run yesterday in the torrential rain. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Heading up to Scotland on a touring holiday now but will definitely be joining in again when I'm back. Loved it !
Did my third Park Run yesterday , felt really tired as Id been up again feeding baby hedgehogs every 5 hours and so thought I'd be a bit slower than previous weeks, but I did it in 28mins, which may not be fast to some people, but its the fastest Ive ever run a 5km! I know what you mean about starting to look out for people who are a bit quicker and then using them as a guage to improve. Ive got my eye on a few people already and in weeks to come, I'm gonna beat them!!🤣🏃♀️
Ha Ha fantastic. Those people are known as your parkrun nemesis 😀. Congratulations on your new PB. Great running. I’m an awful long way away from running a 28 minute 5K at the moment. Happy running.
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so I went home on the bus to do our usual (not) Parkrun route. It had stopped raining so I dropped of my jacket and cap and headed out. It's a 20 minute walk to the starting point and by the time I got there it was raining again. It got heavier...and heavier...and heavier... by the time I got to the last k it felt as though my sodden clothes were weighing me down. It's _August_ FGS.
week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
week 2 begins! 
