A fantastic Parkrun

[Yesletsgo]

Most weeks lately I've been treating Parkrun as a recovery run, just slow and steady as it's a bit more demanding than my usual route ie it has slopes

The other day I was looking for an NRC guided run to help me along and found '5k race'. Yes, I know Parkrun isn't a race but I'm normally on my own at the back so why not just race against myself and see how I do?

It was a perfect morning, 14 degrees so shorts weather lol but no sun so felt very pleasant. Coach Bennett was a bit more focused than usual, lots of emphasis on strength and form. I realised I was going faster than usual.

I decided to run by effort, trying for 6/10, and was quite surprised how long I could keep it up for. From time to time I'd walk a short way to bring my heartrate down but no more than every km or thereabouts.

By the last km Coach was urging me to not to let my effort relax but I was feeling a little sick so decided to ignore him and walk to catch my breath (he can't actually see me you know) so that I could speed up towards the end.

It's a 2 lap course and I normally see my husband ahead of me in roughly the same place each week. This time I could tell I was going faster from where we met.

I put on a burst of speed at the end to make up for all the walking and my time was 36:17, a new PB and and age graded score of 55.86%. I feel so pleased with this

More to the point, last time I ran a PB I felt exhausted at the end. Today I'm feeling great. All this beetroot and running must be helping

Only downside, now I'm thinking maybe I could go sub 36 minutes, noooooo 😱😂😂😂

[Newbierunner84]

Well done! Great way to start a weekend!

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

I was going to try that NRC run on Saturday but then my OH said he was going to run along with me (to give him a recovery run 😂). I will try it next time I’m on my own.

[Yesletsgo Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Go for it Dexy5 , it's been a while since I've pushed myself and good old Coach B certainly knows his stuff!!