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.
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damienair
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Hi damienair & (not) park runners and Park runners,
I took it easy this morning & did a steady 7k to meet hubby at park run to complete another 50k week. Hubby came in 3rd in his age category at park run finishing in 25:58. Our speedster opted out totally from running as he has had mini man flu this week.
No running for me today, nor could I volunteer. Our elder daughter is off to a wedding so we’re looking after the little grandson for the day. So what better way to give him some fresh air than go and watch his Auntie run? 🥰
Popped him and Flossie in the car and off we headed to Eastville to meet Jenny. Great morning and a good looking turnout. My highlight was seeing a Ukrainian sunflower wearing Speedos!! 😅 He was a speedy one too, and he was still smiling at the end. 🌻 🇺🇦 🏃♂️
Flossie and I chatted to the volunteers and cheered the runners whenever they passed us. Plus Jenny was happy with her time of 30:29, especially as it was her 25th PR and she’s already ordered her new purple milestone teeshirt! 😀
Yes it made a nice change Dexy, although there was a complaint to the RD from a dog walker who hadn’t been spoken to appropriately by a volunteer. Quite an eye opener, and the volunteer in question is going to be spoken to.
Jenny loves her running. She’s starting training for the Severn Bridge 10k in August (5k is her max to date!), and that’s definitely down to me. 😅
Oh dear. Sometimes volunteer warnings can be misinterpreted by the public.
We had yet another dog runner with a waist harness, despite an off-duty RD reminding her to hold the leash before the run. Some people just don’t get it.
Unfortunately this was nothing to do with a warning Dexy. It was plain inappropriate language and rudeness. The volunteer was definitely out of order. 🙄
Good afternoon Damien, this morning I travelled by train for the first time to Springburn Parkrun in Glasgow, about 12 miles from where I live, it was Springburns 8th birthday and there was a Eurovison theme as tonight is The Eurovison Song Contest, sorry that Ireland didn't qualify, I liked that song.My time this morning was 31.54, I was wearing my new London Vitality Virtual 10,000 T Shirt, one of the volunteers thought I had run the London marathon when he saw my T Shirt, I told him it was 10K not 26 miles.
After the run I celebrated with eating a cup cake and a little bit of birthday 🎂 cake as well, I enjoyed that run very much, my time today was a little better than last weeks at Drumpellier (32:10)and my 100th (not) parkrun on Wednesday (32:28)
Just super my friends, you go from strength to strength!! My not park run took me longer this morning!! 33.49... Glad that you had a good time there ! x
Thanks Oldfloss, I am so happy that you enjoyed your (not) parkrun this morning in a time of 33.49.The Springburn parkrun where I was this morning the Run Director was dressed as Agnetha Faltskoo of Abba,
In the first time briefing the man quoted many song titles like "Boom Boom" you will enjoy your run, no one needs to be "Rock Bottom" and you don't need to pay any "Money Money Money" to run at this parkrun, so "Just Make Your Mind Up" and enjoy your run. 🏃🏾
Indeed Beachcomber66, the cup and birthday cake were delicious, could be the first of 3 birthday parkruns this year, in July Dunfermline celebrates their 5th and later in that month Drumpellier Parkrun will celebrate their FIRST birthday, although Drumpellier parkrun began in 2019, there were no 1st or 2nd birthday due to Covid 19, parkruns in Scotland resumed in August 2021, hence Drumpellier missing both 2020 and 2021
Thanks Doris8, I enjoyed my run this morning and sometimes when I am out walking and running I listen to Abba music, I heard them at parkrun today, it's just gone 8 o'clock and I am now watching The Eurovision Song Contest on BBC 1.
Hello everyone. Another beautiful day in Stratford. I set off a bit too quick but managed to keep going to the end, overall time not too shabby. Great coffee in the sunshine with TailChaser and Katnap afterwards.
Beautiful Saturday in Stratford today and made all the better by the COVID framework finally being dropped. It was lovely to see the milestone bibs being handed out once again.
I was going to try doing parkrun as a progressive run but my body had different ideas as I came down with Katnap’s cold yesterday morning. I feel fine in myself but all my little dodgy bits hurt. I’d volunteered for 3 different roles so I didn’t want to let them down, so decided I’d leave it until this morning to decide what to do. I was very, very tempted just to sit it out as I did a lap carrying out the course check but, as it’s my parkrun anniversary today, I gave myself a good talking to and walked it as fast as I could.
Feeling completely shattered now and might put my head down this afternoon but I came in at a not too shabby 46:09 😴 At least there was a reason to be 14th in my age category this week!
I ran my 100th parkrun this morning at my local course which is Navan parkrun. There was a local 6K race yesterday evening So attendances were down. But the weather was lovely, perfect for running. Another lady Kathleen was also running her 100th parkrun and we both got a shout out from Olaf the RD who was doing his 100th volunteer day. I ran in a time of 30:58, my Garmin time matched the official parkrun time perfectly. My son No.1 ran this morning too and he got a new parkrun PB of 25:06 taking 42 seconds off his previous best time.
My wife, second son and Ruby the dog came along to cheer us on and we all went for breakfast afterwards to celebrate. Kathleen is in the yellow top and I’m wearing my red 50 milestone t-shirt.
Whoop whoop damienair and congratulations on reaching the big 100 and doing it in such style. Well done to Oisin on his PB too. It was a weekend for milestones on HU.
Another 5k today and the pace crept a bit , clipping 25 seconds off last week’s 5k for a time of 33:07. I am still trying to keep it steady, but as we all know, legs can have their own ideas. It was a beautiful sunny morning, people were laughing and smiling and there was a flat white, and glass of water, to finish off. Even VO2 max smiled on me and gave me back another of the points it stole from me over the last 6 months….that is 3 points clawed back ( not that VO2 max means anything of course……😉). I hope that the sun shines on everyone else, literally, and if not, certainly metaphorically. ☀️
An excellent time Beachcomber, I’m glad that it’s all going well still. I agree VO2 max on a watch isn’t very scientific, but I do like it telling me I have the fitness of an average 20 year old 🤣🤣
Thanks Dexy5 .The trouble is that the excellent 20 year old doesn’t seem to change when VO2 max drops! I haven’t regained the dizzy heights of superior; maybe I never will….so long as I can run 👍
Very true TC. The main problem was between my ears; apart from a damaged tendon, a bit of arthritis and a bit of weakness in my hip of course. It has just taken such a long time to mend. Still; onwards and upwards now.
I am experimenting with a higher knee lift JP. One consequence is a slightly longer stride; so my legs are not going any faster, but my times are improving a bit 👍
Achieved my 200th at my home parkrun today, there was a long time when I was working through my hip problem and replacement and I thought that would never happen. Did it as a nice brisk walk with Dexy5 today for a pleasant change and followed it with our usual local parkrun breakfast treat.
Hello from a beautiful sunny Lincolnshire. It was Market Rasen’s 100th parkrun today so there was cake 🍰 I had debated the Colour Run (very messy!) at the Showground, but the cake won 😂😂 Strava time 32.07 but I was quite a way back at the start so my official time was 32.20. Done some gardening since I got home and going to light up a barbecue and open a bottle in a short while. Have a great weekend, whatever you are doing.
Parkrun number 30 this week, and my 26th at Chadderton.
A bright, mild morning. A tiny chill in the air which made me glad I'd put the long sleeved top on (but with shorts).
I arrived just in time for the Run Director's speech. A couple of the regular volunteer team were running today. I heard a muttering about the previous week's RD's dog causing an accident last week.
I take my place at the back of the field. I did a brisk two minute walk from the car and some dynamic stretches at the start line, but didn't feel warmed up yet, so held back.
For the first half lap I chatted a little with a guy running nearby who was doing his first run since having a diagnosis of arthritis. About half way through the first lap people around me started to slow down for the incline but I kept going at the same pace. This meant I started to overtake people, including the RD with the naughty chocolate Labrador (notably absent today).
In the second and third laps I very gradually moved up the field, maintaining a steady effort, calling out "Good morning" to the other park users.
I was overtaken by the first finisher about two thirds round the third lap.
In the fourth lap on the steady up gradient by the river, a chocolate Labrador crossed the wooden bridge spanning the river and plodded up to say hello to me. The owner wasn't happy and was calling the dog back, but I was prepared, and the happy dog got a quick scratch on the back of its head as I passed. (I used to have a Lab.)
The final half lap is where I usually start to run out of steam. I think I paced myself well today as I didn't feel as bad as I had some other weeks. I also tried a little increase of speed approaching the finish line. However, the lady in front had the same idea and, although I closed the gap a little, I didn't have enough left to get level with her.
Afterwards I hung around and chatted a bit.
I heard the "incident" RD chatting with another about what happened. From what I could pick up, the dog had tripped up a lady (a regular) who today was wearing a sticking plaster on her forehead. But the thing that pricked my ears up was when the RD was saying that she thought about filling in the forms using her maiden name instead of her married name. I recognised the maiden name, and then realised I recognised her from elsewhere, and had even acted on stage (amateur) with her mother!
Arthritis guy came in later and I chatted with him for a while. He was getting conflicting advice. His physio (used to working with army guys) was telling him that movement was nature's lubricant, and the guy at the hospital (overweight, reek of cig smoke) was telling him he mustn't do any exercise on it. We then discussed my shoes and overpronation, and how I had a forefoot landing in them.
By this time, the "glow" from the run activity was fading and my damp kit was feeling quite chilly. I bid my goodbyes and said I'd probably see folks in a fortnight. (Probably Pwllheli again next week.)
Hello damienair and fellow runners, as I’m tapering for a race on Wednesday, I decided to walk with Coddfish today so I can do an easy short run tomorrow . Along with Damienair, we were both celebrating milestones: Coddfish 200 runs today and me completing my 50th volunteer by sorting finish tokens after the run. By coincidence, we both wore our lilac volunteer shirts
It was a perfect day for running and walking with bright blue sky and gentle onshore breeze, and good to enjoy parkrun from a different perspective with chatting along the way. UpTheStanley was supporting our new RD and was number checker in the funnel.
Thanks Jonathan. Volunteering has increased since UpTheStanley became an RD, and I adopted the finish tokens . 106 runs and 50 volunteers is a higher than average ratio.
It was back to home territory today after last week's jaunt to Portsmouth's newest parkrun. A pleasant run with a nice breeze, which was very welcome by the end. The aim was another sub-30 so when 2 'Vegan Runners' overtook me after the first k, I settled in behind them and managed to hang on until the final k. The outcome was 29.59 Garmin time (hooray!) and...... 30.02 official time (doh!). Next week perhaps?
So many milestone runs today. Congratulations to all of you. Also some fast ones. Mine wasn't fast. We have a bottleneck at the start at Tooting caused by fences protecting the grass replanted last year - surely the new Council can remove them now! It means that I start right at the back and end up over minute faster on Garmin compared to the PR time. I was slow, at the back a lot chatting to the tailwalker (on his 250th PR) but left him with 300m to go on my sprint home. I then carried on to complete 13K. That first 10 mile run is now in my sights!A lot if reading done this afternoon in the sun! Have a lovely weekend everyone.
Parkrun no.19 for me today in warm and sunny Lowestoft. Finally a chance to wear my new sunglasses and also my Alzheimer’s Research t-shirt which I forgot to wear last week. I haven’t experienced warm Parkruns yet as I started them last October and it was definitely a warm one! Lots of people out and about today and more volunteers than usual, which meant lots of encouragement all the way round. One man was running with a blindfold on (with a guide) to raise money for the RNIB. I crossed the line in 37:02. Happy with that in the warm conditions. Had to find a spot of shade afterwards to do my stretches in! 🥵
A nice warm and sunny morning here in Essex. I left the house a bit late then realised I didn't have my barcode so had to go back and get it. After this it was plain sailing. This week there were a few more of the usual faces at my pace than last week so I didn't feel like I was running on my own.
I started slow and then sped up a bit, though it felt very warm in the sunshine and I appreciated the trees and grass in the park. Every time I noticed my heart rate creeping up I'd walk for a short way until it came back down to something a bit less effortful.
I overtook a woman I see most weeks. A huge gap between me and the next runners. It closed.
I overtook a man with his daughter, then an older lady with a little boy, then a woman who'd been way ahead of me at the half way point. There was one woman still in front. I thought I'd try and catch up with her but she seemed a long way off. The gap closed and I overtook her, this was only a couple of hundred metres from the finish and I expected her to put on a burst of speed and overtake me but she didn't.
Finally I finished, puffed out, heart racing, all my moderate approach of the first 9/10 of the run abandoned
My time was 38:24, respectable. Checking my stats it seems I did the last couple of hundred metres at a pace of under 6mins/km. I felt very chuffed about this until I looked at my friend Andrey's run stats - this morning he ran 11.33 km at this pace. No way I'll ever catch up with him but then it isn't a race, is it?
No it’s definitely not a race, but it’s still nice to overtake a few people to get a better time for yourself. Well done you.
Luckily, Don’t Forget Your Barcode is a bit easier now the old scanners have been replaced by smart phones. Although physical cards and wristbands are first choice, there are lots of options if you forget it. If you have a smart phone, you can take a photo of your barcode so that it’s always there, or you can log in to your parkrun profile and retrieve your barcode. I have the running achievements app on my phone which records all your parkrun stats in one place and also includes a barcode. When you touch it , it becomes a QR Code which scans well. But you then have to remember your phone. 😂
Yes it's on android too. Brilliant app. A few months ago I went to a parkrun and realised that I'd forgotten my barcode. But then remembered that the app had my barcode. So after the run I went to my car, got my phone and went back to the finish. The barcode from the app scanned perfectly. Phew
Parkrun 42 and nendy week at Hyde. Looked on the strava segment and saw 20 metres elevation so assumed it would be a pretty flat one and convinced mum to come along with me. This is definitely not the case! It's actually hillier than glossop with 57 metres over the 3 laps compared to glossops 56. No idea where the 20 came from.
Glad to get it out of the way I suppose with this one. I did like the forest section but the toilets were a disgrace unfortunately so I don't think I'll be back.
New nendy is cheadle hulme so planning to do that in 3 weeks. Hopefully it's nice and dry as I see the course is entirely on grass and it doesn't take much rain to turn it into a bog fest.
I think Cheadle Hulme will definitely be better in the dry. As I came round towards the finish, there was a big gap between me and the runner in front so I struggled a bit to figure out the course. Might be worth checking before the start.
Hi park runners! I joined in with Munster's newish park run as I'm on holiday in Germany. It was really hot but a flat route and a guy running with his children (and me!) helped with my pace so I managed my fastest time so far. There were 30 runners more women than men and very enthusiastic volunteers.
My 11th ParkRun yesterday! I've seen a few posts about it so I thought I'd have a go at Lyme Park. It's definitely a long climb to start with (80m, covering the first 1k). There's then a lengthy decent although it's either a Stony path or a narrow grass track so it needs a bit of care. The final section is uphill although it's not as long or as steep as the start.
Just tried to post a screenshot of the elevation profile but the top was crowd off making it pointless!
That's the first time that I've encountered a single loop ParkRun. It was a really nice sunny day and great scenery (although most of my focus was on getting my footing right!) I'm sure I'll be back again some time.
Spent the rest of the day walking up from Hazel Grove to Buxton (a route which includes part of that initial climb in Lime Park).
Well done SM. I’d love to go back and do it again. I loved the climb up to the Cage. I remember grinning all the way and telling the marshals how much I was enjoying myself! 😂
I'm a newbie runner, I've yet to do a parkrun and wondered what a (not) parkrun was! Thank you for explaining! Not being a morning person (9am 😯) I will register and do a (not) parkrun 😊
It's really great. You make lovely friends too. It's not at all competitive, just a lovely way to meet people and have a run in a park. I did my 100th parkrun yesterday. So I'm properly hooked.
You'll love it I'm sure. I only joined last July when ParkRun was officially allowed to restart. I thought I'd go maybe once a month, but I'm now totally addicted! Great place to meet like mind people and always great banter afterwards. Give it a go, I'm sure you won't regret it .
I'm sure I'll love it if I can get my lazy bones out of the door so early! An afternoon park run would be good! It does sound fun and would make a change from solo running though, so I'll register. Thanks for your positive comments!
Running with other people definitely improved my speed. Before I joined ParkRun I had maybe done a couple of 5km runs under 30 mins but not many. Now I'm either 26 mins or just under. I like a bit of ' friendly ' competition, so once you go, you will soon get to see who runs around the same pace time as you. You can then stay with them or choose someone who runs slightly faster to increase your pace.😆🏃♀️
Sounds good, I usually do 5k in 33 mins, although I did a 5 k race once last year in 32 but it nearly killed me! I thought I was going to be physically sick! Running with others did spur me on to push myself.
Non Park Run 5k yesterday for me... but not the beach run ! Legs needed a bit of a rest from the sand! Just a gentle local run, up a bit here and there and down again. A little burst along the Esplanade at the end gave me a reasonable 33.49 . That will do me just fine.Met my friendly snail Sam again... always a joy!
Hi well, 2 weeks ago, it was my 34th Parkrun and I came 34th and got a new PB of 25:48, but then had problems with the balls of my feet and so had to rest for a few days, so I volunteered the following week. Yesterday after missing one week's week, I got another PB 25:40!!!! Whilst I realise this is not something that will happen on a regular basis, I was so thrilled, never ever thought I'd get under 26, and then get two PBs in succession!
I had a lovely run, the temperature was around 16 degrees, straight out of the starting stalls I ran flat out, normally I keep the first kilometer slow at 5:44, Saturday I ran the first kilometer at 5:28, my heart rate was around 173 which is nearing my maximum, the end result for the 5 km was 28:29, which is my fastest time for the past three years. I was so glad as I have over the last five months been very constant with either a daily walk or run. Most of my runs are slow and easy with the exception of the parkrun. I am looking forward to running all out. I have a good base to work from. I have had less aches and pains with no muscle soreness from the race.
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