How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go? - Bridge to 10K

Bridge to 10K

16,325 members25,903 posts

How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator
77 Replies

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.

Some of us may not be able to do a parkrun at the moment 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.

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.

Written by
damienair profile image
damienair
Administrator
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
77 Replies
RunWillie profile image
RunWillieGraduate10

Hi damienair & (not) park runners, and park runners,

Last park run of summer! 26:02 for hubby and 29:17 for me.

Happy running everyone ❤️🏃‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️

The run down under crew 😍
damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to RunWillie

Well done. Great running both of you and nice sub 30 minute parkrun.

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserGraduate10 in reply to RunWillie

Do you ever get clouds?! 😂 Great runs RW 👏👏

RunWillie profile image
RunWillieGraduate10 in reply to TailChaser

Never! 😜

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserGraduate10 in reply to RunWillie

🤣

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply to RunWillie

Great shirts runwillie.

JonathanP profile image
JonathanPGraduate10 in reply to RunWillie

It doesn't look as though your autumn will be very different RW!😜

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply to RunWillie

I’ve just read that WA is getting its freedom back . Enjoy RunWillie, it must have been so hard for you all.

RunWillie profile image
RunWillieGraduate10 in reply to Dexy5

Thanks Dexy5

I haven’t seen my mum for nearly three years so it’s wonderful to see the borders opening. 😍

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate10

Good morning Damien, no parkrun for me today, however, I did run a short 3K around a scenic area with swans and a small pond very near to where I live, on Wednesday I ran my 89th (not) parkrun in a time of 35.36, next week back to running my 37th official Parkrun.

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to AlMorr

Well done Al on your 89th (not)parkrun and your 3K.

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate10 in reply to damienair

Although I wasn't at Dunfermline parkrun this morning I noticed on the result page that there are two men older than I am running a sub 35 minute 5K, one of them turned 80 four weeks ago when I was there, the other man who I have spoken to when there told me he used to run marathons and half marathons until recently, he ran every Saturday during lockdown on the same course, I often visited Dunfermline on a Saturday when the parkruns were off to walk around the course and sure enough he was running, one time he asked me to run with him but I was wearing my thick jacket and walking boots 👢 and told him that I was inappropriately dressed for running 🏃🏾, he laughed and kept on running and lapped me as I was only walking, ha, he doesn't lap me when I am running but usually finishes around 30 seconds ahead of me.

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate10

Good morning everyone! Mr S and I are in Almeria today at a place called Cabo de Gata. It is like somewhere out of the Wild West and also cloudy, cool (15c) and very windy, quite a change from the rest of our Spanish tour to date. I finally achieved a long held desire to visit the Alhambra on Wednesday and it well lived up to my expectations. Stunning! Anyway, (not) parkrun this morning was on dirt tracks past some of the 26000 hectares of plastic greenhouses in this area that produce most of our out of season salad vegetables. Time 33.55! Happy running 🏃‍♀️ 🏃🏻‍♂️

Dirt track across scrubland
nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10 in reply to Sandie1961

Being like the Wild West of the films is not at all surprising, as many Spaghetti Westerns were filmed in Spain, especially Almeria.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spagh...

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate10 in reply to nowster

Well, you learn something new every day. The Cabo de Gata Natural Park is specifically mentioned in the article you sent 😳

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961

That looks a great route Sandie, welcome to our world of running in the wind.

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Sandie1961

Well done Sandie. Living life to the full, I’m only ever so slightly jealous.

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate10 in reply to damienair

The joy of retirement!

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator

I had a busy week in work this week and was away a lot from home. As a result I did not get to run and yesterday evening when I got home I was exhausted. I ran this morning at my local parkrun and it was lovely to see familiar faces again after a good bit of parkrun tourism lately. Official results are not in yet but my Garmin watch recorded a time of 32:13. I had to take a few walking breaks.

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate10 in reply to damienair

Well done to Damien, that's a good time for you considering that you were very tired after a busy week at work.

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate10 in reply to damienair

Well done 👏 Good to have a leg stretch after a hard week!

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply to damienair

Your time has definitely improved since parkrun returned damienair, even if you had to take a walking break.

JonathanP profile image
JonathanPGraduate10 in reply to damienair

Hopefully that parkrun set you up for a more restful weekend Damien

Newbierunner84 profile image
Newbierunner84

Morning parkrunners!I had my tail walker debut today. Swapping the pink hi vis for the orange! Glorious morning on the east coast today. I overdid it on the layers! 🥵 I plan to do a (not) parkrun tomorrow if this weather continues. I hope everyone has a lovely weekend! ☀️

Lowestoft sunshine
Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply to Newbierunner84

Lovely pic of Lowestoft parkrun.

Hedgehogs123 profile image
Hedgehogs123Graduate10 in reply to Newbierunner84

looks glorious, how I miss not living by the sea!

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Newbierunner84

Well done for Volunteering as Tailwalker. It is such a popular job and lovely to do.

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserGraduate10

Good afternoon Damien and all, we’re just tidying up today’s results and sorting the volunteers out after the morning’s RDing. A very pleasant day in some decent spring sunshine and just a bit of a cold breeze. It brought around 300 to Stratford upon Avon today including quite a few tourists.

That’s me done for all through event volunteering for a bit as during March I’m on the big final push to 100 runs. Only 18 months late 🤣

Have a great runny week everyone 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♂️🏃🏽

JonathanP profile image
JonathanPGraduate10 in reply to TailChaser

Well done on your RD'ing TC - we look forward to your 100 report!

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserGraduate10 in reply to JonathanP

Uh oh, no pressure 😁

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to TailChaser

Well done TC and enjoy your final push to 100. I’m on my countdown too. Yesterday was my 91, 9 more to go.

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserGraduate10 in reply to damienair

Nearly there!

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10

Parkrun 23.

Last week I felt really guilty as the duvet won and due to storms I did no runs at all at the weekend.

I was talking to one of the regular volunteers this morning, and it transpired they had a group of very slow ladies last week. The tail walkers were getting a bit frustrated as the weather had turned to snow and they were getting really cold, and it was worse for the RD and the other volunteers who were standing around at the finish line.

Today's parkrun was bright with a little chill in the air. Good for running. I wasn't sure what would happen as I was coming off having run a HM distance yesterday morning. I was also running late and didn't arrive until five to.

The visually impaired runner was here again this week, with a running buddy. We were instructed to run past on the left of them.

Get the tech all on standby, wait for the signal, and we're off. There are a few more than usual today.

I do something different. I start moving up the field almost immediately rather than plodding for the first half of a lap. I don't know why I did. I think it was possibly that the pace I was initially doing felt wrong. My calves moan at me for a bit for waking them up.

I did suspect I might regret this by the end.

I eventually settle in a small group of me, a lady with a dog and another gent. At one point we pass a pair of dog walkers, and one of the dogs (a hound) pokes its head towards us and I can't avoid catching it lightly with my shin. I shout out an apology.

I'm overtaken by a pair of gazelles about half way round lap 3. I eventually overtake the group I'd been running with, and for the last lap find myself creeping up on a regular who I usually chat with after the run. By the final straight I'm just behind him.

I was already near max HR and the adrenaline was making me feel like I needed the loo.

He finds that little bit extra that I'm now lacking and to add to that, a lady I'd passed about half a lap back has also found her second wind and zooms past me just before the finish.

Token collected and registered, I chat with various groups for a while. Eventually I wander off to take a photo of the crocuses that I'd seen growing to one side of the path, catching up with the tail walking group as I do.

Official time: 27'44", a new PB for this parkrun (by 23 seconds). Finishing 30 out of 93, and just five seconds after my "rival". The first gazelle (a visitor) finished in 19'20".

Crocuses
Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply to nowster

I bet you are a stealth runner coming up behind people in your barefoot shoes nowster.

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10 in reply to Dexy5

Sometimes I'm a "flap flap flap" noisy runner.

Hedgehogs123 profile image
Hedgehogs123Graduate10 in reply to nowster

Brilliant time well done and I loved your post, especially the gazelles! I always take comfort when that happens to me , because usually they look half my age and so should be quicker!!🤣

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10 in reply to Hedgehogs123

Going by the age categories, the first five were half my age. Two of them had done fewer than 10 parkruns!

Number six (finishing in 21'58") is in my age group, but he's a regular here and has been a runner for many years. He was doing his 100th parkrun today.

JonathanP profile image
JonathanPGraduate10 in reply to nowster

Those crocuses are really brightening up the verges everywhere at present!

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to nowster

Great running and great effort. 27:44 is a brilliant finish time. Well done.

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate10

No PR running for me this week Damien, which pretty much sums up my woeful week! Nearly 8k on the treadmill last Sunday and a horrible, horrible, non-enjoyable 5k yesterday.

But I did volunteer at Eastville this morning on Flossie’s birthday (whole separate post over on the Marathon/Race forum 🐕), and it was a lovely happy morning. My daughter ran, and was happy with her official time of 30:40.

I shall be back to running properly next week, promise! Might treat myself to Severn Bridge ….. 🥰

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks

Have you returned to your old gym for the treadmill session cheeky? No complaints from the residents about running so long I hope?

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate10 in reply to Dexy5

No, a different gym Dexy. I stopped my membership to the other one. I still remember that grump! 🙄

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks

There’s always one.

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to cheekychipmunks

Happy Birthday to Flossie. Well done for Volunteering and well done too to your daughter, great finish time.

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10

Hello damienair and VRBs. Well UpTheStanley declared that he wouldn’t play hockey this week because of a niggle, but he could try an easy steady run. That means running with me 😱. The wind was blowing off the sea this morning which made a nice change from the headwinds we’ve been having but it was a little chilly and I forget to take off my hoodie before the start. Big mistake and at 500m I needed to take it off. UTS said he’d carry it but ended up wearing it (inside out) as he wasn’t as hot as usual due to the slower pace. Garmin time 32:58, parkrun time 33:26 and because of UTS I walked only a few steps today.

A really enjoyable run in the sun today , followed of course by breakfast with the motley crew.

One of our lovely regular volunteers has produced a Southsea parkrun bear ( who may go on tour to parkrun near you) so we had to say hello.

Southsea parkrun Bear
Hedgehogs123 profile image
Hedgehogs123Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5

lovely pic of the 3 of you!😆

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply to Hedgehogs123

Thank you hedgehogs

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Dexy5

A great photo. Very well done Dexy and UTS on your parkrun and post parkrun breakfast. What a great way to kick off a Saturday.

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply to damienair

And rugby 6 nations to follow. Not much else happening for us today!

JonathanP profile image
JonathanPGraduate10 in reply to Dexy5

The bear must be due at Lakeside soon Dexy!

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP

I think you are right Jonathan. I will have to see if she has a waiting list I can join. I think I’ll have to return to Lakeside on my own if not. It’s been too long.

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate10

Lovely photo of you and UpTheStanley with the Southsea Parkrun bear, nice run as well, that bear could be the mascot for Southsea Parkrun as the other photo of Flossie, she could be the mascot for Eastville Parkrun where Cheekychipmunks runs.

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr

Thank you Al. It was a lovely idea from a regular volunteer. I think the bear will be very popular, just like Flossie.

00marks profile image
00marksGraduate10

Parkrun #6 for me and I was at a different venue - at Sandringham on the Queen's estate in West Norfolk. The first time I have been to that Parkrun although I know the area extremely well.

A fairly cold start to the morning. The run was a bit different for me for a couple of reasons. First, the route was not on tarmac but rather more like a trail run through the woods on paths, some of which were a little muddy. Second, I had something of a technology failure. My watch didn't want to pick up GPS right at the beginning and when it did report something back to me said my pace was just over 5 min/km which for me at a Parkrun is quite slow. I wondered what was going on, whether I was having a bad day or something because I felt I wasn't going that slow. I tried putting my foot on the accelerator but still Garmin said my pace only got very slightly quicker. At the end my watch said I'd only run 4.7km which I thought odd.

When I got my Parkrun time I was pleasantly surprised and relieved to find I'd actually been running at an average of 4:40 min/km pace which I think was more in line with the effort I was putting in.

Perhaps all this goes to show what can happen if you rely too much on technology!

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to 00marks

Wow super pace and fantastic running. Very well done.

Rennur profile image
RennurGraduate10

Took off my jumper for my PR today as it was so sunny. I needed it afterwards though. Still slow but enjoyable. Some big puddles for part of the route - not my favourite thing without wellies!

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Rennur

Well done on your parkrun today

Hedgehogs123 profile image
Hedgehogs123Graduate10

Ours was cancelled this morning because last weekend they found a body or rather bones belonging to a body, so there is an ongoing investigation. Its awful, poor person whoever it turns out to be.

So me and another chap were the other ones not to have checked the website and turned up! So we did a run along with the lady who was going to be the RD for this week, she had kindly still come along incase wallies like me (!) had not checked to see if it was on.

The guy I ran with usually does Park Runs in about 24 mins (couldn't do that in my sleep never mind in reality!) but I kept up with him most of the way and was actually pleased to see that we almost ran 7km and that was at my 5km pace, so no wonder I was tired at the end!!

🏃‍♀️😴😴

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Hedgehogs123

Ah pity you missed out on a parkrun, but fantastic that you were able to run 7K with company. Great running and well done.

JonathanP profile image
JonathanPGraduate10

Car park marshalling again this morning at Portsmouth Lakeside - a bit chilly but some running on the spot and warm waves from arriving parkrunners soon changed that!

The sun shone and the puddles had (mostly) dried up thank goodness - happy to get a creditable 29.10.

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP

Well done on another sub 3o Jonathan.

JonathanP profile image
JonathanPGraduate10 in reply to Dexy5

Thanks Dexy

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to JonathanP

Very well done Jonathan, volunteering and running credit with a great sub 30 minute parkrun time.

JonathanP profile image
JonathanPGraduate10 in reply to damienair

Cheers Damien

sTrongFuse profile image
sTrongFuseGraduate10

Vogrie Parkrun today for #28. Time was 29:22/but given muddy conditions as a result of the recent weather, that wasn't too bad. Position was 61/122.

Main thing was not the time, but the fact that it took me through 125 miles for the February #MilesForMind challenge.

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to sTrongFuse

Wow super running for the month of February and well done on your sub 30 minute parkrun time.

Megbird profile image
Megbird

It was walking for me yesterday no running. I did 3miles walk. Well done everyone 👏

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Megbird

Well done, that’s almost a 5K walk.

Megbird profile image
Megbird in reply to damienair

Thanks Damien, unable to run as much as I would like to do. Now and then I get pain under my feet.

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Megbird

I used to get pins and needles as well as pain under my feet when running. I was wearing normal neutral runners. Then I went to an independent running shop and had a proper gait analysis and I was found to be over pronating. I got stability shoes, Brooks GTS and never had a problem since.It might be your running shoes causing discomfort.

Megbird profile image
Megbird in reply to damienair

Thank you. Last year I visited world runners. It did cost but the comfort of was worthwhile. Right now I have another pair from another shop. The comfort is not the same. I will definitely take your suggestion.

Bobbydazzle profile image
Bobbydazzle

Did my 1st ever parkrun yesterday in 33.27 really pleased with myself as I was just hoping to get round in under 40 minutes! I was tired by the end but loved it! See you next week

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Bobbydazzle

Ah fantastic. Huge congratulations to you on your first parkrun and well done on your finish time. Pop back again next week and let us know how you got on.

Raisemeup profile image
Raisemeup60minGraduate

A beautiful, sunny afternoon in Kent among snowdrops, crocus and early blossom, we set out to do a 5 k run/walk. I was comfortably running 5k prior to Christmas but, after a long layoff, have recently started to get back out. I was pleased to cover 3.6 miles, without too much walking and felt like my groove was returning. My friend who is a strong. Marathon runner, was with me and inspires me to do my very best, and had me pressing on to find my second wind.

Overall a good 5k+ return run. I came away feeling that a straight 5k is not far off and truly lifted by the outdoors, nature, friends and a loyal German Shepherd! Best wishes ☺️

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Raisemeup

Well done, yes this is a lovely time of the year to be returning to running.

Hargo profile image
Hargo

Went to macclesfield this week but unfortunately my brother was away so it was just me and 175 others. Good lord that short incline is steep. Thank god we only have to run it twice now eh! Pushed harder than I should have really and came in just over 25 minutes in 47th. Next Sunday I'm running the 10 mile Ashbourne seesaw race so planning on plodding the nice and flat monsal trail parkrun.

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply to Hargo

Brilliant effort and great running. 25 minutes is super. Best of luck on your 10 mile event next weekend.

You may also like...

How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?

on. The little run report can be done over a post parkrun coffee and treat/cake. (parkrun is all...

How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?

on. The little run report can be done over a post parkrun coffee and treat/cake. (parkrun is all...

How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?

on. The little run report can be done over a post parkrun coffee and treat/cake. (parkrun is all...

How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?

on. The little run report can be done over a post parkrun coffee and treat/cake. (parkrun is all...

How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?

on. The little run report can be done over a post parkrun coffee and treat/cake. (parkrun is all...