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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A glorious winters day for Park run. I started right at the back as our Rat Terrier was running his first park run. My goal for Park run was sub 30. Hubby wanted sub 25 & no.2 son was taking it easier today and wanted sub 22. Our times were 21:28, 24:46 and 29:54 so mission accomplished. The rat terrier absolutely loved it. I think I’ve found his happy place.
Well done RW, as always! 🥳🥳🥳 There was a family running at Ashton Court this morning with 3 dogs; one held by an adult and two by tiny children. One was a little fluffball of a dog, probably best suited to rolling down from the top! 😅 Bit random steering-wise, but they seemed to be having fun. Lovely you can run with your little fellow. ❤️ My pup just runs off lead with me now, so no PRs for her.
Good morning Damien, no parkrun for me today, however, I did run a 3K "maintenance" run around a small nature reserve near to where I live, while running I saw a swan and around 6 cygnets swimming in the pond, by the way last Wednesday I ran my 30th 10K around another loch not too far from where I live, that is on my more regular course, have a lovely day.
Thanks Tasha99 and Damienair, next Saturday I intend to go to Springburn Parkrun, that's the parkrun that I go to by train, Springburn Park is on the highest part of Glasgow, on a clear day, while running I can see Ben Lomond and the Scottish Highlands in the distance, dispite being high up, the parkrun course isn't too hilly as my last two times at Springburn have been sub 31 minutes at 30.24 and 30.54.
Experiment complete. Walking the 3 main parts of the Ashton Court PR hill. Will I do that again? No. Did I enjoy it? No. Was I quicker than when I’m trucking slowly up running? No.
Two minutes slower I’d say, and there was absolutely no joy in reaching the top because I hadn’t earned it.
So next time I run here I’ll be reverting to my ‘engage first gear, listen to some great tunes, head down and trundle up’, all ready for the ‘weeeeeeee!!!’ feeling at the top.
Oh, Garmin said 40:09, and official time was 40:04 🤷♀️
An interesting experiment never to be repeated! 🙂 My walking involved hills I could never have run however hard I tried; a different proposition. Next time you are panting up there you can think “at least this is better than walking.”👍
Good morning everybody! Back to parkrun for the first time since going to France. Lovely morning, 17c with a cooling breeze. The scheduled training run in my HM plan was a 30 minute run at 6.10-6.22 pace, so perfect. Actual pace 6.07 and an official time of 30.56, my fastest 5k this year so far. Woohoo 🥳 5 weeks to HM and I seem to be on track 😃😃 Happy running 🏃♀️ 🏃🏻♂️
Fantastic running Sandie and best of luck for your HM next week. I was meant to be running my first HM next Saturday. But due to an illness I have not ran in 5 weeks. I struggled to run at parkrun this morning so as you can imagine the HM is out the window. My race number and T-Shirt arrived yesterday 🙀
Although it can be a bit uncomfortable, running with a group, even a sociable and forgiving one, definitely makes me push myself a bit. Much as I hate to admit it, the hills have probably made me stronger too!
I did my first parkrun in weeks. It was actually my first run in weeks. Well I’m using the term lightly. I seriously struggled. I went to do some parkrun tourism and ran at Donabate parkrun outside Dublin. It was a gorgeous parkland set on the site of a large country estate. My Cocker Spaniel Ruby joined me this morning. There were some serious parkrun tourists there having traveled over from the UK. One guy was wearing a milestone 500 T-Shirt. For me it was my 38th different parkrun course. I started off fine and managed to run at around a 6:30 min/km pace for 2K and then I was wrecked. I had to jog and walk the rest of the way around. I’ve gotten so unfit. But I still loved it and finished in a time of 37:32 and was in 121st place. Great to be back. I’ve just 3 left to do to have completed all the parkruns around and in Dublin.
Wow, 38 different parkruns is an amazing number! At least you got out and your fitness will come back even if you just stick to the slow and steady mantra
Well done to you Damien on your run today at Donabate Parkrun although you did feel a little tired at the end of the run, congratulations also on completing all but 3 parkruns around and in Dublin.
A slightly quicker 10k today at 1:08:05, with the quickest/least slow 5k at 33:25. It was cooler this morning, and quite windy. Just what I needed I think. There were people, dogs, and horses around, but we all mixed in really well. A post lunch nap may follow 😴
I did Fountains Abbey parkrun near Ripon today with my running BFF. We’ve been wanting to do it for about 3 years now and we eventually made it this morning! It was definitely the most beautiful parkrun I’ve done. I’m enjoying parkrun tourism at the minute and have now done 15 different courses. Considering going for 20 parkrun courses and 150 parkruns by the end of ‘22 😍
If you're ever doing one in the Manchester area (or feel brave enough to try Pwllheli), drop me a line. It would be nice to meet up with you and your BFF.
I've never been to Fountains Abbey. We got to the gates once back in October 1996 but realised it was far too late to go in.
You are doing very well with parkrun tourism Tasha99, that is a lovely photo of where you ran at Fountain Abbey Parkrun today, I wish you luck for your ambition to run 20 parkrun courses and 150 parkruns altogether by the end of the year.
2 laps along the seafront with one way in the blazing sun and then a welcome breeze on the turn. It was really hot - much hotter than I expected it to be.
Very pleased to have finished in 34.02 and my best time since being injured last September.
Husband also did one of his best times this year in a speedy 23.28.
Parkrun #25 for me and a bit of parkrun tourism for me in Derby. I only started parkrun this year and have rather become hooked. Today I've reached my 25 runs level (and I've also volunteered 4 times). I've found it is a great event and brings together a diverse selection of people. This parkrun seems to bring out the quick runners. I finished 41st out of 324 with a time of 21:36.
Back to base for me today. A few familiar faces to chat with before the start, comparing notes, etc.
I was woken up at about 5.30am this morning with a very painful cramp in my left calf which caused me to do a raindance around the bedroom. It was still a bit tight at the start of parkrun. I joked that my bedroom raindance had brought on a light drizzle, and one of the ladies I often chat with was very concerned about the washing she'd put out to dry. By the end of the run we had sunshine.
Quite my usual parkrun: start at the back of the pack, warm up at a slower pace for the first 500m or so, then gradually move up the ranks. I felt I'd paced myself pretty well as I was able to put on a little spurt of speed at the end. I even overtook someone on the steep climb on the last lap. Afterwards I felt as if I could have probably gone a bit faster, but I didn't really want to today.
I hung around afterwards chatting with a few folk, then wandered off after the tail walkers came in.
We had some hazards on the course in the form of immature conkers (photo).
Official time today 28:45, 24th out of 56 runners.
Parkrun number 33 for me today and a trip to Southsea to meet up with a few lovely VRBs! Had the pleasure of meeting Mr and Mrs Coddfish , Oldgirlruns , Dexy5 and UpTheStanley . A good run with a bit of refreshing headwind followed by coffee, food and natter. Perfect 😍
Well after 2 tough trail parkruns I thought today should be a breeze. But after too much eating, drinking and hillwalking my body had other ideas. My run was the perfect example of negative (sorry positive) splits as a result of walk/running in the 2nd half . 6:17 , 6:24, 7:08, 7:37 and with a sprint finish in the final km 7:28.
Today we had a visitor from Southampton and it was so lovely to meet Mudita11 and hubby. Here she is with Southsea’s parkrun bear. 🐻 In true tradition, coffee and breakfast followed.
Now I’ve really got to get training for 10k in the New Forest again
Before the start of parkrun today, there was a 1 minute applause for a runner from Southampton who sadly died at Eastleigh after his 455th parkrun . He was a running and volunteering legend in the area and it was only right that local parkruns marked his passing. RIP means Run in Peace in his case.
You still ran Dexy. No couches for you on Saturday mornings, ever again! Your 10k is soon isn’t it? I have Severn Bridge next weekend with Jenny. It’ll be her first time running 10k ever! 😅
Hello damienair and fellow parkrunners. I'm so glad you were able to get back to your running today even though it was a bit of a struggle. Hopefully you'll be on the mend really soon and find running easier again. They'll be other HMs. I'm glad you were only off for 5 weeks. Good luck with completing all the Dublin parkruns. Today I was a parkrun tourist at Coventry Parkrun. It's the largest parkrun I've done with 478 parkrunners. It was a lovely sunny day with a really nice atmosphere. All the volunteers I met were very friendly and welcoming. It was so well organised - they had posts spread out at the start line with expected finish times so we could position ourselves more or less in the right order. Before the run started I met 2 brothers who between them had done 856 parkruns. If that isn't mind boggling enough one of them has run over 400 different parkruns, most in the UK but some in exotic places too. There was a shout out during the run director briefing for an 81 year old lady who had reached the 250 milestone and another shout out for someone reaching their 500 milestone. During the run I spotted a young man with a guide who absolutely flew past and managed to maintain a normal conversation and who I later found out has done over 250 parkruns. My mind was truly blown! Today was only my 27th parkrun and I've just run at 8 different parkruns so I have a long way to go! I would like to find out more about the different unofficial parkrun clubs such as the alphabet list etc. Do you know where I can find this information? Is there a list on a website somewhere?🤗
Very well done. You sound like you are hooked already. I use an app on my phone called Running Achievements. You just download it and enter your parkrun number. It’s great for showing you the different clubs and tourist challenges etc. After I have the Dublin parkruns done I’ll have done all the parkruns within an hour of me. So I will start chasing after Pirates Challenge, Compass Club, Alphabet Challenge and my NENDY challenge. I have a goal to do all the parkruns in Ireland over the next few years.
No parkrun for me today - with the family at Center Parcs for the weekend. But I did manage to fit in 6+k around the site first thing this morning. Happy running one and all!
Edinburgh Parkrun for me today. Brooks were doing a promotion so I trialled a pair of Adrenaline GTS 22 running shoes. I liked them, not sure if they are better than my Sauconys🤔. Edinburgh Parkrun is dead flat along the side of the Firth of Forth but rain and a breeze gave their challenges.
I’ve been wearing Brooks GTS for a few years now. They suit me fine and I find them very comfortable. GTS means Go to Shoe. They are definitely my Go To Shoe.
I saw a lot of those mums and dads pushing their babies and older children in their sporty buggies, hats off to them. I got a pb in my 3rd Parkrun and that was due to me trying to keep pace with a guy in his 70’s (he’d done over 280 parkruns), he said I kept him going too which was sweet but probably untrue as his pace was slightly faster than mine - such an inspiration ☺️
The point of posting this is not the consistent times but it's what it doesn't show. The quality of the run has improved, the toxic ten has disappeared, I'm finishing with some spare fuel in the tank. I put it down to continuing to do my three slower runs a week. These times here are not great in themselves but for a 70 year old non runner until April this year starting C25K I'm just amazed. This week included a 45 minute run on the Ju-Ju plan which I am now following. Thanks to everyone for the science behind the plans, and the support of these forums. I'll be on an enforced break as I will be having a 7 day holter fitted on Tuesday, plenty of walking will be the order of the week!
Bit of a surprise for me. I went to West Links which is now my home event. My training has been, erm, patchy and I was hoping for a decent time to build some confidence for a 10K race next week but in the morning when I saw the weather forecast I thought I might have to jeff it. However, the wind wasn’t quite as strong as forecast and was across the course rather than being a headwind out/tailwind back as it usually is. It was actually quite a nice run - got soaked but ho him, keeps me cool - and I got my best parkrun time since lockdown, and a course PB since we only launched West Links in January.
But that wasn’t the surprise. I’ve been pretty slow this past year and my times are still a good bit slower than pre-lockdown so it’s to be expected I’ll get better as I train more regularly: I was still three and a bit minutes outside my PB.
No the surprise was when I checked Strava afterwards. As I say it was a comfortable run despite the conditions and I had something in the tank towards the end so I knew I’d speeded up on the last quarter of the course. But I was astonished to find I’d done my second best km and second best mile EVER! It really didn’t feel like I was working that hard. What’s more, this was on a flat course, whereas my actual best km and mile were the last stretch of the EMF 5k in 2019 and that’s all downhill. So you could say yesterday was my fastest mile that wasn’t gradient-assisted. Really surprised and rather pleased.
We had a Run Directors meeting straight after and some of the ones who were volunteering nipped home to change into dry clothes first - miserable conditions for standing still but actually fine for running. Of course the wind died down, rain went off and the sun came out pretty much as soon as the tailwalker got home, lovely summer day after that 😂
Fantastic running and congratulations on your new fastest mile PB. I’m way off my pre Covid pace, and after 5 weeks of no running I’m basically starting from scratch again. My legs are sore today. Best of luck to you on your 10K next week.
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week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
week 2 begins! 
