Hello Everyone and happy weekend. Today is parkrun day, a free 5K event 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 do it religiously every Saturday morning.
parkrun is back thankfully in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, and thankfully is starting back up in The Republic of Ireland this morning. I’m so excited.
So until parkrun returns fully for everyone some of us will continue to take part on our own in a Virtual parkrun every Saturday morning called a (not)parkrun. Or if you are away on Holidays, prefer to run on your own, or do not have a parkrun close by you a (not)parkrun is perfect, please feel free to join in.
Please post a little run report after your parkrun or (not)parkrun and let everyone know how you got on. The little run report can be done over a post parkrun coffee and treat/cake. (parkrun is all about the after run coffee and cake, and meeting friends old and new).
If you are a new graduate and would like to start, all you have to do is run, walk or jog at a parkrun or a 5K run/jog/walk (not)parkrun 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 hearing from all of you who ran in real proper parkruns and (not)parkruns. Happy running and have a lovely weekend.
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damienair
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Hi damienair , Park runners and (not) Park runners,
I had a school event on today with my boys so did my 5k as part of a 10k run so I could run earlier. I got a PB for 10k at 1:06:53 and wasn’t really pushing with a stop to take the below photo. I’m now keen to try at some point for a sub 60 10k.
For those that race both 5k and 10k do you run at a slower pace for 10k? My PB for 5k is 27:42 so I’m assuming I’ve got a sub 60 10k in me.
Hi RW, yes you sure have! My 10k pace is slightly slower than my 5k. It used to be a lot slower but I’ve found my old 5k pace is now my 10k and the 10k has become my HM! Probably about 15 seconds per km slower for 10km on average. My 10k PB is definitely not double my 5k PB!! Good luck 👍
It’s rather the other way around for me, RunWillie. I’ll run a 10k at my natural comfortable pace but I’m pushing myself faster on a 5k. My best 5k will always be significantly less than half the time of my best 10k.
The other factor is when I’m after a 5k PB, I’ll choose a flat course. Our local Parkrun is a relatively flat course too. When running a 10k or further, because of the duration I choose a more interesting route which inevitably includes more elevation gains. This obviously slows the average pace down.
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I think tactics begins to come into it. Knowing the course well and knowing your response to different segments. Negative splits - hills permitting - and tackling any hills, not too lightly but neither too much. Keeping some back for a final 1k dash.
I’m sure you’ll get a sub60 in due course. Good luck. 🙂
I’m used to running 10k up to HM at my comfortable pace but I’ve only ever pushed it for 5k which is why I was curious to hear people’s 5k versus 10k race pace. I do most of my runs in zone 2 but sometimes it’s fun to run as fast as you can! 🤣
Very well done on your 10K. I got my 10K pace down by working hard on my 5K pace. I found that mixing up runs worked really well. 5K interval training, 5K good attempt parkrun and a 10K every week worked for me. I got my 5K times down to about 26 minutes and could sustain a 6 min/km pace for 10K. After a while during a 10K race I got down to about 58 minutes for 10K.
Thanks damienair 👍🏻 I’m going to keep at it. A lady at park run last week reckons I can do a sub 25. I think I’ve been so scared of injuring myself that sometimes I hold myself back.
Good morning Damien, I hope you are out celebrating your first parkrun back whilst I’m typing this 🎉🎉🎉We were touristing today as we’re on a family visit. We went to Coldham’s Common in Cambridge and met up with Curlygurly2 which was fab!
The course was pretty flat but it’s all hard packed trail so it was hard work. They are also a speedy bunch so I was way back. Came in at 29:07 so at least it was sub 30. Achilles still behaving itself too which is a relief 👍
Now dreaming of bacon rolls but they’ll have to wait until tomorrow.
Well done TC, yes I was ordering breakfast whilst you were typing 💬 your reply. We had such a wonderful morning. I am floating on cloud 9 ever since.😀 Looking forward to doing some parkrun touring again.
My little parkrun buddy Oisin (12) and I ran this morning at Navan parkrun. It was absolutely amazing to be back. Everyone was so respectful for the pre run briefing, you could hear a pin drop. I must admit to having a lump in my throat for the welcome back round of applause 👏. But soon we were under way. Oisin after a few hundred meters steamed off into the distance. He was 50 places ahead of me. I finished my 74th parkrun according to my Garmin in a time of 32:41, in 96th position , I’m awaiting my official time. In a cafe now awaiting Eggs Benedict and coffee for my post parkrun breakfast. Wonderful to be back. I love parkrun.
Me too! Stratford take ages, I’m usually making lunch when they come in. Coldham’s Common were done by 10.15! Couldn’t believe it! (Not a criticism Stratford, I love you really, it’s just an observation 😍).
Congratulations to you and Oisin for completing your first 5k Parkrun in 18 months at Navan, elsewhere in this post I have posted a report of my 21st official Parkrun at Dunfermline.
Yeah he is well ahead of me now. He gave me a tough time when we were at the finish line. I had to remind him that my PB is still 1 minute faster than his. But I don’t think I will be holding that over him for too long more.😀
This morning's was at my usual place, but the numbers were swollen by refugees from Heaton Park, displaced because of the Parklife festival being held there this weekend.
As usual the watch under-recorded the run by 400m. I had a good chat with a few folks before and after, including at the end someone who was just walking through the park and was curious what all the fuss was about.
I'm getting better at pacing myself now. I allowed the bulk of the field (and it was a big field today) to rush off at the start, then over the course of the four laps gradually kept passing people who had run out of steam.
We had someone there who ordinarily runs road relay races, and he lapped me about a quarter of the way round my second lap. The volunteers said afterwards it wasn't a course record but it was close, and the guy had told them he wasn't even trying today!
My guess is that my time will be about 30'45"-ish, a bit slower than previous weeks. Today's parkrun felt easier than previous ones, too.
Official time 30'42". My guess wasn't far off. 8th in my age category (Male 50-54).
Once again there was a big gap in front of me. The previous finisher had come in at 29'55".
Also notable by her absence this morning was the sour lady in the disability scooter who doesn't reply to greetings who I've nicknamed "Lizzie". (After the character in the film Waking Ned.)
Morning Damien and all! This week saw my daughter and I I head to Ashton Court. She hasn’t ever done the PR there and was dreading it somewhat! 😅
Mr Cheeky and Flossie came along for moral support and found a place to sit on the steepest part of the hill. He cheered us on as we each passed - it was a nice boost at exactly the point where you’re thinking “why?”!! 🥵
Great running conditions today. Grey with a slight cooling headwind on our way up. Turned at the top, just about managing not to to hug the marshal in sheer relief, and flew done. It’s the reason I love that PR. The reward is immense.
Result - I got an event PB of 36:10 (Garmin 36:18 so I must have pressed start too soon 🤔), and Jenny was happy with her time in the 32’s. 👊🏃♀️👏🏃♀️
Coffee and pain au chocolate after. 😋 We will return!
I've done it once!I had an excuse for going down slowly, after a tumble over cobblestones on the previous Wednesday. No excuse for going slowly uphill - I just did!
It's one of Geoff's favourite parkruns, because he got a very good time running down.
Well done on your PB at Ashton Court Cheekychipmunks , and greatest respect on that course. How lovely that Jenny is enjoying parkrun too so you can go together and enjoy the experience. So glad too that Mr cheeky got to support you just when it was needed.
Thanks Dexy, yes it’s lovely to have a regular running buddy, even though we don’t run together. She’s a good few minutes quicker than me (she’s 30 years younger of course!). Mr Cheeky enjoyed coming along and it was definitely lovely to see him and Flossie. 🥰
Fabulous Jill and congratulations on the course PB! And to have Mr Cheeky there too. We will have to join you there one day, I’m itching to try that hill! 👏👏👏
After two years solo jogging, I'm running with a small group in the week and they are all park runners so I'm getting used to running with other people now, which pushes me on . My time was a 42 mins and a bit, few seconds over a PB.
Well done, everyone. I enjoyed Parkrun this morning and ran my fastest time this year at 32:43, and even felt quite good at the end. I think the extra runs with the Crossing the Bridge gang are starting to pay off Happy running!
I was worried about wearing it today in case I didn't get round. Everyone had instructions to drag me to the finish if necessary. And Geoff was Timekeeping so I said if necessary everyone could pack up and go for breakfast while he waited to record my time
It was only halfway round I thought "why didn't I wear my 100 to run and change into the 150 once I finished"
Decided to FINALLY give it a go this morning, the first time I've ran with other people and there was A LOT of other people, I was a little lost and wasn't offered much help or advice despite trying to catch peoples eye, I have all the gear so maybe people thought I looked like I knew what I was doing 🤣 eventually somebody asked for newbies(wasn't many) and gave a little intro, waiting for this meant I was way way back in the pack come the big start and was held back for much of the first lap weaving in-between walkers/buggies/kids/scooters, made me smile a bit seeing so many people making the effort, wished I'd been closer to front for a bit of a better start but hey ho we live and learn.
I found the run quite tough if I'm honest, much more tiring than i thought, partly due to the heat and partly to the stop start pace of first few km. Was very happy to cross the finish line and forgot to stop my watch for a minute or two as I was figuring out the system of waiting/scanning etc...
So my estimate is about the 27 min but official times have not been uploaded yet.
Overall I enjoyed it despite only managing to get about 6 words out of fellow runners 🤣 il certainly give it another go 👍🏻
Excellent and very well done. Congratulations on your first parkrun and you did very well. I know it’s a little weird doing your first one. No one would have known that you were running your first one. But I bet if you had asked someone that they would have been super friendly and would have talked to you and explained how it all works. But now you know and next will be a breeze.
Well done on trying out parkrun for the first time. That is always the hardest one. I did put a pinned post up to help anyone contemplating parkrun and hope it covered some of the questions people ask.
Whenever I go to a new parkrun I always say hello to a volunteer and tell them I’m new to that event and they are always helpful and friendly.
We have finally persuaded our Running directors to do the first time briefing earlier so that people can then find a place suitable for their running time before they start the run. But each parkrun is slightly different.
Surprised at the scooters, as they are not officially allowed at parkrun. , only buggies or dogs.
Official time will of course include the time trying to get to the start line, so I always start my watch when I cross it so I have a true running time for my own records.
I hope you return, as you will get to know faces and those who run at the same time as you .
We (well, me today) have our first timers briefing at about 8.50. I only had 5 people who were new to our course and no real first timers today. Last week there seemed to be dozens standing around the volunteer giving the briefing.We will see how many I get next week when I will be giving the briefing again, as well as scanning barcodes
Good afternoon Damien, I have just received the email from the Dunfermline Parkrun I ran this morning, which was my 21st, it's another PB for that course, after last weeks PB time of 30.09 at Drumpellier Parkrun I got a PB time of 31.47 at Dunfermline parkrun, on Wednesday I ran my 5th 10 miles run in a time of 2.04.30, my 5K split time of that run was 38.17 which I submitted as my 65th (not) parkrun.
PS, it's such a pity that there was no photographer at my parkrun this morning, there were several runners dressed as Spiderman, Batman and Superman, a most unusual site, I overheard them saying that they were running in The Great North Run tomorrow, such a pity that there are no photos of them running.
I do seem to have had a string of PB's recently, a (not) parkrun PB of 31.31, and 2 on consecutive weeks at Drumpellier Parkrun, then today a first sub 32 minutes PB at my home parkrun of Dunfermline.
Over the next few weeks the man who has been taking me by his car to parkruns wants to do a little parkrun tourism, next Saturday he intends to take me to run at the University of Stirling parkrun, that could be interesting.
Just ride the wave and enjoy it! 👍 Park runs extract the best out of me. I have only done 7 and every one was a PB ( the first one by definition of course). Looking forward to getting back to them.
Thanks Doris8, I have just watched The Great North Run, there was a 80 years "old" man who run that HM sub 2 hours in a time of 1.58.45, that's around 24 minutes 5K pace for a half marathon, wow.
That’s amazing . Have been watching it too , it looks a hard course . I get quite down watching it wishing I could run , partner says I shouldn’t watch it but I love watching it the stories , the atmosphere and the running. it will be on your list is it HM ? No chance for me . 😊
Glad you enjoyed your 8K walk this morning Doris8, talking about walking, this Saturday night my daughter Gillian is taking part in what they call a"Moonshine Walk" it's a 10K Cancer Charity Walk, beginning at 7.45pm, about 25 minutes after sunset, she told me she has been practicing that distance around her local park or neighbourhood.
Never heard of that one but just had a look, good fund raiser for charity especially cancer. There’s one called “the moonwalk “for breast cancer as well . Well done on your daughter taking part 😊
So after last week's sub-30, I was hoping to make further progress this week at Portsmouth Lakeside - I think my weekly long slower run and intervals session are helping. Excellent conditions - not too hot and no puddles around the lake!
Managed to maintain a fairly even pace throughout and was helped by a fellow runner encouraging me to pull out all the stops for the last km - I think she benefited too. The result was 29.34, with every k under 6.00 and the last fastest. I'm also heading back towards the top half of the field - 107 out of 211. Happy with that!
We’ve done Fellfoot in Cumbria, I think that was about 250 miles (ok, it was part of our holiday but we’d brought all our parkrun running stuff with us)…
That’s a great result JP! Always nice to see a set of sub 6 kms. Coldham’s Common must be a very speedy lot, my 29.07 was 228th out of 347. I know ‘it’s not a race’ but…. Even Katnap wasn’t in the top 50. We’ll have to come to yours one day, I’d love to be a bit further up the field!
Hello damienair and everyone, a lovely morning in Southsea today. UpTheStanley was volunteering , Oldgirlruns is with her family, Coddfish in on the IC after her hip op this week, and Mr C is looking after her. So I was representing the motley crew today.
I arrived at the finishing line in a race with 2 others, which is always fun. But the gentleman insisted I cross the line before him. As it happened we got given the same time so that’s good. Parkrun time 33:47 , Garmin time 33:13 and 4th female in my age group. I can aim to catch no 3 in future but the first two are 27 mins so no way I can get there.
I volunteered for token sorting while RD-in-training UTS was learning the ropes of processing results.
So 2 ticks today.
Oh, and a journalist from the local newspaper was in attendance and captured my group finish. I’m sure JonathanP will let me know if this appears in the local paper. 😱
Great run for you again today, even though you were the sole representative of your crew. I hope UTS is enjoying his RD training. It would be fun to see him in action one day. Maybe when damienair comes to do his south compass run! 😀
In my experience, running photos don’t look good cheeky. Either the camera lens makes me look wide, or I have a trick mirror at home which makes me look slimmer. 🤣🤣
Well done Dexy5 great running and great finish time. I can’t go next weekend as my other little man is making his First Holy Communion next Saturday morning. But on the following week I will be back. I’m going to be tailwalker that day so I’ll get 2 ticks as well.
I’m famous! Yesterday’s edition. Both feet off the ground too. I do wish The News wouldn’t describe parkrun as a race with winners though. It gives the wrong impression.
So exciting for you being back at parkrun damienair and congratulations to you and Oisin for two great runs. I did my 65th (not) parkrun along the seafront on the Ile de Re this morning, as we head back to the UK tomorrow. Sad to be leaving France after just over 8 weeks, but excited to be able to start back at proper parkrun next week to build up to hopefully number 50 on New Year’s Day. Time today was 33.36 even though it was flat because I kept stopping to take photos and admire the scenery 😂😂
Beautiful scenery Sandie and very well done on your run. You’ll be back to parkrun next weekend and I’ll be doing a (not)parkrun again. But after that it will be back to parkrun.
I was a Marshall today - more of a Cheerleader and warning other park users of the oncoming tsunami of 450+ runners - some runners are a bit nippy! I guess unofficially I was also making sure no-one took a short cut either! (No-one did!)
It is great seeing all the running styles (no fancy dress unfortunately!) Met one of my former neighbours (who is a gazelle compared to me!)I then did an 11K. It started getting warm by then: 18 degrees rising to 21 by the time I finished! It was under 110 minutes at least, but I didn't want to push it too much as I want to stay injury free so I can try harder for my 10K next Sunday - looking at the route next week I just want to finish and get under 100 minutes (OK just finish). Mrs R will be walking it with her titanium knees. My mum might even come to watch me finish - I told her to bring a torch.
Bit of a long winded reply but, I was 19.5 stone (6ft 2 53yrs male) last Halloween, and decided to take up walking instead of weight lifting in the gym to lose weight, when they all closed. I did 2 x 5k fast walks each day throughout winter and spring, and also cut out all wheat and bread. I lost 1 kg a week on average and was down to 15 stone by April.
I started to jog a bit during my walks and my wife told me that there was a programme for this, so I did some research and started the C25K and graduated in July.
I damaged my knee quite badly running and had to take a day or so off when it go too bad, but continued on with knee supports and got myself a suitable pair of trainers after a gait analysis.
My 5k time at graduation was 32.00 and is now at around 26.45 (2.5k run each way starting off with an incline).
I read up on the park runs here and found one in Sligo and thought I'd go today to see what its like. I didn't sleep too well last night and was quite nervous going there. I did my 5 min walk to get ready. Everyone else was jogging or stretching, but I thought that I'd follow Laura's route because it was the one I knew...
Your meant to position yourself at the start according to your estimated finish time, but I couldn't hear the man at the front giving instructions with the megaphone so moved a bit closer to hear. He finished talking and then said GO! I wasn't quite ready but had to start with everyone else...
I quite crowded around me and the only decent gap was past a few people in front of me so I sped passed them and and settled down a bit. The course starts on a bit of an incline which wasn't so bad as I am a bit used to that.
My average 1k pace is about 5.20 and I was somewhat shocked when my watch told me that I had just done 1km in 4.54. I felt kind of ok and carried on at same pace and was 5.00 for the 2nd km. We then ran into a field with a very good pathed path around it but boy it had some incline and we had 2 run around the track twice. The views were great and I could see all the young expert runners way off ahead. Anyway, I felt that I had to reduce my pace as I was running too fast and out of my depth. My watch started to tell me that my heart rate was at 172 and I needed to take action, I slowed but kept on getting same warnings. 3 km pace went down to 5.37, 2 or 3 runners passed me. A lady running with her dog passed me and I tried to keep pace with them so 4 km pace was 5.28. I was really feeling it towards the end and 5k was 5.59 (I did forget to stop the run so it should be about the same as the 4k).
I collected my token at then end of the race and got my barcode scanned and then found a volunteer with an app to get token scanned ( I can't clearly remember it all because I was in a bit of a fuzz). I then went to the car and did a couple of stretches and got into the car to drive home with air conditioning on full power. It's a 15 km drive home and the back of my legs felt very tight so I gingerly got out of the car and went straight to cooldown exercises when I got inside.
I kept on checking website and Facebook for results and then saw that I had received an email with my result
"Congratulations on completing your 1st parkrun and your 1st at Sligo parkrun today. You finished in 34th place and were the 23rd Male out of a field of 93 park-runners and you came 2nd in your age category VM50-54. Take a look at this week's full set of results on our website. Well done on your first parkrun. We have set this as your PB."
The person who came first in my age category was only did a time of 26.02 and was 3 places in front and has done 118 park runs since 2015. He passed about 2k form the end and went off into the distance. So not bad for someone who has only been running 3 months :).
I have to say that I did thoroughly enjoy the experience, it was very well run and the volunteers were brilliant and cheering us on at points around the course.
l hope to be a regular there every week, the course is quite near my work so I will switch my other two 5k runs to there during the week and the 3rd will be the parkrun. I'll obviously have to work on my pace and tackle the hills.
All in all I am very glad I did it and am still buzzing writing this, and never thought that I could get to this stage and feel that I have done so much since last Halloween, It's such a good feeling and I do actually allow myself to give a big smile when I am running and doing my 30k bike rides.
Amazing story. You have done so incredibly well, and your pace is fantastic for your first parkrun. Congratulations also on your weight loss. I have done a parkrun in Westport, Claremorris and Galway, not done Sligo yet. I’m working through some around Dublin and then will start moving into the country. I love running at my home parkrun in Navan and once or twice a month I would do a different parkrun. I have done 21 different parkruns so far. I lost 3 stone in weight about 3 years ago, all due to running and mindful eating and managed a parkrun PB of 25:36. But I’m a long way away from that now. I’m carrying a Covid stone along with a few extra pounds. Now that parkrun is back I have a mission. Well done again to you.
Did my first park run at Frimley Lodge, loved it. Time 32.50 I recently graduated, not going to lie I found it harder than my usual 5k route but the time came out similar 🤷🏼♀️ however that said great fun and I will be going again
I did my first Parkrun at Pymmes park yesterday. It had been on my radar when I graduated c25k but then lockdown happened so it was put on hold. Over the summer I wasn’t running as consistently but knew I needed to get to Parkrun quickly to incentivise me.
I was nervous even though I knew a friend would be there. I found a friendly soul as I arrived and then received a warm welcome at the newcomers chat. I was able to position myself near the back but still went out too fast, I suppose that’s normal when running with a crowd. Slowing down helped.
Got great encouragement from strangers as I ran the final metres which was super and posted a time of 40:12 - faster than I’ve been running for a while.
It was lovely and great to be back. I’m going to miss parkrun next weekend as like you we have a family gathering. But the following week I will be back and volunteering. Enjoy the family gatherings and enjoy the wedding.
I was volunteering again. This week: timekeeper. Eek! Not done that before and what a responsibility. The run directors were really nice and helpful and the chap who was my partner in crime was lovely. Exciting news is that in a bit 9f a crisis situation later on in the day I had to run (not even in my running shoes). I didn't even think about my ankle so looks like I might run again soon (though not too much at once!)
Morning damienair,Well, after months and months of trying I’ve finally broken 50m for 5K. I did it this morning in 49m and 58s! Only two seconds under but I’m ecstatic! I’m trying to get fit enough for the final op after getting the Big C and I think finally, I’m starting to get there. Off now for a lie down!!
Ah fantastic and congratulations on your PB for 5K and pushing through the 50 minute barrier. Wishing you every best for your final op and wishing you too every health and happiness.
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