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
Administrator
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
It was another beautiful Spring day here in Western Australia. My 40th park run & 27th for no.2 son. I’m trying to practice intensity discipline with all my runs at the moment. My new pace target for Park run is 10:18 but my average was 9:59 today & I may have caught myself running at 8:30 at the end. Oops! Goal fail for me and no.2 son who wanted sub 22 & came in at 22:10. Oh well - we will just have to try again next week.There was a pod of dolphin's in the ocean.🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬
A pod of dolphins is much better company than the Great White of a couple of weeks ago RW. Well done to you both on your runs; not every run needs to be a PB as you ‘know, and your unplanned additional pace was merely an expression of increased fitness fuelled by all of the slower runs you have been doing. That would be my story anyway!
Awful RW. I would guess the creation of safe swimming spaces versus preservation of the natural environment is a regular topic of debate, heightened whenever there is an incident. The greatest danger in the North Sea is the cold water!
Incidents are still very rare. “There have been nine shark incidents nationally so far in 2022, according to the Shark Incident Database maintained by the Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Flinders University and the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries. There has only been one shark-related fatality in Australia this year – at Sydney’s Little Bay in February”
what a gorgeous pic RW! Well done on your runs - the beauty of Parkrun being that whatever happens this week, there’s always next week to go for that PB!
It was a bit touch and go this morning as the cold that was threatening pre-marathon has turned up with a vengeance. And I know I shouldn’t be running but I just couldn’t help myself!
I only really went to show off my marathon top and medal, I’d much rather have stayed in bed feeling miserable but my ego got the better of me and off I went.
I was going to stay with Shake-and-run and run but I was finding a bit of oomph in my legs so I ‘speeded’ off. Finished in just around 31mins, my fastest in a while.
Actually, I feel a lot better now. I’m not advocating running with a cold but it probably helped me physically and mentally after last weekend. It’s been quite hard in both respects tbh (HU post will be incoming on this).
Don’t you just love parkrun 😍 Happy running all 👏👏👏
Ah TC , huge congratulations to you on your Marathon run last weekend. My apologies, I did not read your report. I’ll look out for it later. Super well done. And very well done on your parkrun this morning.
You wouldn’t have stopped me showing off a London Marathon T-shirt either TailChaser ! They say you can run if your symptoms are above the neck but not advisable if it’s hit your chest, so I’m sure you’ll be fine. Well done on that time. You can now enjoy short and fast again. 😂
Yes, it does seem to be everywhere today 🤧 not sure how that counts. Don’t think they’ll want me in work tomorrow that’s for sure. Let’s see how fast I can get rid of it 🤞
I’m not sure I’d have worn anything else, night or day, if I had a LM top and medal to show off TailChaser ! Great run today! See you next weekend. 😀🦋😀🦋😀
I ran my 40th Parkrun today at my home circuit in Stratford. Lots of sunshine and smiles. Nothing epic about my run as I was feeling the after effects of yesterday’s covid booster. Lovely to be out, so no complaints.
I had a lovely fresh Autumn 🍂 morning this morning. Myself and my doggie Ruby did a run/walk at our local parkrun. I took it very easy as I had not ran much in the past 3 weeks. I have got so unfit. Anyway we got out and enjoyed ourselves. I just love the social side of Saturday mornings at parkrun. It is great catching up with friends and running buddies. My time today was 37:44. Ruby really enjoys it too and everyone at my local parkrun knows Ruby now. She loves the attention 😀. Have a great weekend.
I love the way dogs always get so excited when we’re standing at the start. Is Ruby the same? I was saying to my friend who was trying to persuade me to join the local athletics club that parkrun is my club. It’s perfect.
Totally agree, parkrun feels so like a club. I leave Ruby off the lead until just before the start. She just very calmly walks around saying hello to anyone who shows her attention. Our course is just over 3 laps, so for the last lap I take her off the lead too and she runs or walks along with me. It’s been great for socializing her.
Maybe Ruby can earn the elusive Barkcode Scanner of the Year one day like Flossie did Damien! Isn’t it lovely when they become famous?! Flossie is far more well known at Eastville than I am. 😅
Good morning everyone, 35th PR for me today. A beautiful sunny and chilly morning on the east coast. It felt good today and the extra mileage I’ve got under my belt in the last few weeks is starting to pay off. To my surprise I finished in 35:46 which is a second off my PB! Whilst a new PB would have been wonderful, I am pleased as punch with that time. I haven’t been anywhere near that since the spring so I’m super happy. I’m off to my best friend’s hen do this afternoon so I’ll be enjoying a cocktail or two to celebrate! Happy Saturday everyone!
Well done Damien. Ruby will have loved her morning. Molly is sitting on my foot and making “take me out” noises….masters/mistresses of emotional manipulation!
Not yet! Quiz (funny name) is a really chilled out bearded collie belonging to our elder son and his partner. He is fairly new to them, but is about 6 months old. We met him today over a pub lunch. Molly and he will no doubt meet in the open air sometime soon. Made us smile.
We’ve recently acquired our son and partner’s year old cat as they couldn’t take him to their new flat. Flossie and (don’t laugh) Biggie Smalls (you’re laughing!) our cat - 10 and 12 respectively, have accepted him with no problem. 🙏🏻
I managed my physio prescribed gentle 5k this morning. My calf complained a bit, but it was bound to be sore after Thursday’s treatment. Feels great at the moment and my achilles has, apparently, gone back to sleep. Lots of exercises to do this week, and one more short run, but things are looking hopeful. Time was 34:20. Capped off with a flat white or two and a natter with my running buddy. All good 🤞
Good morning Damien, No. 60 parkrun for me today at nearby Palacerigg parkrun, my second there, on a dry but cool morning I ran and walked a little in muddy conditions in a time of 33.41, I wore my trail shoes with not my usual running socks but the socks I usually wear when going long walks with walking boots, the shoes held up well despite all the puddles and mud, my socks were not saturated, just a little damp, so a reasonable run and time for me for my 60th parkrun. 😊 🏃🏾
Yes time flies Week7, it doesn't seem so long ago that I ran my 50th parkrun at Dunfermline, I now have a choice of 4 parkruns I can go to, 3 years ago when I began parkrun I only had a choice of one.
congratulations on your 60th parkrun Al! It’s a shame it was a bit wet underfoot but you still managed a great time so we’ll done you! I hope the socks and shoes are drying out now!
Thanks Oldgirlruns, considering the underfoot conditions my walking socks underneath my trail running shoes weren't all that wet, a little damp but not saturated, I managed to dodge the worst of the puddles.
well done Almorr on your 60th parkrun. My walk 7.66 km this morning was my 99th (not parkrun). Something snapped on bottom of foot so hoping not plantar fasciitis 😒
A very good morning to you Doris8, thanks for congratulating me on my 60th parkrun yesterday, well done to you on your 7.66km walk today, I hope that snap wasn't plantar fasciitis.
This morning I went a short slow 7K walk after yesterday's 60th parkrun, interesting comparing my 5K split time today with yesterday's run, 5K yesterday was 33.41, this morning my 5K split time on the walk was 58.54, enjoy the rest of the day 😊
Parkrun #28 for me. Quads still aching after the London marathon last week so I didn't want to totally push. However, you know how it is when you are in with a group of runners and there is a chance of them running past you 😉 Finished in 21:44 so I'm treating that as a recovery run.
I got a pb of 33:47 today as it was only the second time I’ve done this park run but it’s tougher than my usual one as it’s got lots of hills (undulating?) - all good for building up the stamina. I’ve now finished week 6 of 8 on the magic plan so hoping to get to run for 60 mins in a couple of weeks 🤞🏻
A seventh visit to Pwllheli for parkrun number 46.
I looked at the forecast (cold, 8-10°C) and the tide tables (just after high tide). I dressed for a cold morning. Then the sun came out. I was overdressed with no alternative kit with me (nor anywhere to change).
There were 40 running there today, more than you might expect when almost all of them were visitors. There were a few dog runners and one guy who was doing his first ever parkrun (a baptism of fire to do it here).
The sea was totally flat and was gently washing the edge of the beach. As usual the sand around the start/finish area was soft.
I possibly set out too fast. There's the usual problem with running on sand in that it absorbs a lot of the energy from your legs. You lose your bounce. I try to find some firmer sand, which involves me running up and down the slope a bit until I find something I'm comfortable with.
There's a bit of passing and being passed, and by the end of the first km we're pretty much set in our places. Except, an older guy with a thick beard and a stoop, and the worst gait I've seen in a while comes crunching past me at speed, and gradually proceeds to disappear off into the distance.
I get to the turnaround cone, having run continuously to that point. I walk a little, then run again. I almost catch up with the lady in front of me with a "PUSH" acronym on her back. I then settle into a pattern of walking and running, letting the same lady get away a bit, then catching up with her.
I'm faster on the runs when doing intervals than I was running continuously. I continue on to the finish.
I'm 14 seconds after the lady in front. The following pair (possibly a married couple from Widnes, given their tee shirts) come in 26 seconds later.
The first finisher does it in 16'33"!!!
I hang around chatting. It looks like there's a group of college age youngsters, who take a group photo.
An older guy finishes, gets scanned in and drops to his knees to recover. This isn't the first time I've seen that happen.
Eventually the last group with the tail walker and the turnaround marshal come in. I bid my goodbyes and head back to the car. Drat! I've forgotten to pack the towel. I change out of the dampest bits of kit and put something more substantial on in its place.
Official time 28'02". My PB here is not much faster at 27'49". If I'd paced myself better (and hadn't also done a similar run the previous evening) I might have been able to better it. No matter! It's still a run.
Tedious now. I’ve never experienced post viral fatigue before, but this has to be it. I also wonder whether my negative covid tests (nose and throat) should have read positive this last 3 weeks, as I’ve never EVER been affected as long as this after a cold or flu.
That grizzle was to excuse my 38:30 (38:16 Garmin) result at Severn Bridge in absolutely perfect conditions this morning. I didn’t feel bad, nor out of breath at all, but my legs aren’t mine at the moment. Almost numb. Today’s feeling was like I was running on hollow drain pipes! (😅) No pain, just the lack of ability to go any faster, even down hills. Enough already!
In my haste I forgot to mention Jenny who did her first run in a couple of weeks and did it in 29:21 (Garmin 29:16) ❤️
Still PR no 97 in the bag, GSR next weekend. Anyone want to lay bets how long I’ll take to drag myself around 10 miles? 😵💫🤣
Congratulations CC on your 97th parkrun this morning, sorry about your cold lasting so long, good luck to you for next weekends GSR, you ask "how long I 'll take to drag myself around 10 miles"? answer, don't worry about time, enjoy the run, good luck 🤞 🏃🏾
Talking about fast female runners, one of the fastest female runners in Scotland took part in the parkrun I ran at this morning, I don't think she has ever ran a parkrun +20 minutes and on many occasions has been first finished, this morning she was second in a time of 18.59.
I’m definitely improving in that my cough is way less and I no longer need a constant supply of tissues, it’s just weakness in my legs Dexy5 . I’ll pop in to see the pharmacist if things don’t improve, but I’d like to avoid antibiotics if possible. I can still run, just slower than my usual slow! 😅
Thanks W7! I’m not worried about the GSR, as even if I have to crawl I’ll get round! I’m good at slotting into a Forest Gump kind of gear and trotting for a long time! 😅
Yes, there are some VRBs coming to join me at Severn Bridge for my 100th! I keep checking to make sure I’ve calculated the date correctly, and all is looking good! 😀
If someone told me it was covid I wouldn’t have been surprised Sandie1961 But the tests all came back negative so who knows? You know me though, and I’ll get round that course by hook or by crook! I absolutely can’t wait! 😀🦋 🏃♂️🏃♀️😍
According to Tim Spector, if you have cold symptoms, you are currently 3x more likely to have a cold than covid. It’s rocketing away! I’ve felt worse this week than when I had covid 🤧 But we won’t let it stop us. We’re made of stronger stuff 💪🏻
Mine started as a classic cold about 3 weeks ago Sandie1961 . Nose like a tap, sore throat etc. Then the hacking cough, then sinus pressure. That all went, leaving a tickly cough (now diminishing 🙏🏻) and the fatigue, especially in my legs. So weird and, like you, worse than when I had actual covid in 2020. But you’re right, we’ll beat this and have a blast at the GSR! 🥳
oh dear cheeky, I’m so sorry to hear you’re still suffering - I really hope you’re recovered by next week! We need you in fine fettle! Well done to Jenny on her run too, what a speedster she is! 97 eh? Not much further to go now! I’m on 47 - I never thought I’d get to 50 but it looks as though I just might! Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Thanks OGR, I’ll be fine, don’t worry. I’m promising no records, but the lure of the bling will carry me over the line, as will the support of all you wonderful VRBs! Can’t wait! 🥰
I know what your going through. I was sick back in July and it really hit me hard. Took about 6 weeks to get over it. Very well done on your parkrun and not far to go to reach 100. I have you have a lovely Run at GSR next weekend.
Still nursing a couple of niggles in left knee and right Achilles, but luckily they don't seem to get any worse after running (not complaining!). Beautiful conditions at Portsmouth Lakeside this morning - only 9° but stuck to shorts and my 100 parkrun t-shirt made its first appearance 😀
Upped the pace just a little bit and came in at 31.25 - 130th of 203 runners and my best time since 2 July. No ill effects but will take it easy now in preparation for GSR next Sunday!
Sounds like you’re peaking at just the right time JonathanP . 😀 Tell those niggles they needn’t bother you any more, and see you next weekend. 🤸♀️🤸♀️
Hello everybody, oh what a beautiful morning in Southsea today, with a sky resembling that in WA. The breeze was north westerly for a change but not enough to affect the return run. I ran most of the 2nd half with a friend/neighbour of Coddfish , which encouraged me to keep running all the way through. She left me standing with a sprint finish, but next time I’ll be ready for her 😈. 33:02 Garmin and 34:05 parkrun time. Next week I will enter a new age group so I hope to get promoted from today’s 4th place in my current age group.
Oldgirlruns wore one of the new parkwalk vests today, and here she is.
Ps, the 2nd issue of the parkrun magazine was out at parkrun (uk) today. UTS a great read so do check it out next week if you didn’t see it today!
What a lovely photo of OGR in her new parkwalk vest, I was thinking of inviting my daughter or my neighbour to a parkrun to walk, not run but if I did that I would be "itching to run" it wouldn't look good me walking for a short time and then run leaving my daughter or neighbour to walk with the park walker or tailwalker.
That is just what parkwalk is all about Al, to encourage people who think that only runners can take part. Oldgirlruns talked to the walkers as she went along. They need to register first though to be included in the stats.
Thank you Al! I’m sure your daughter or neighbour would be fine if you went off and ran, especially if they know ahead of time that’s what you’re doing and you bribe them with a coffee afterwards! Parkrun is really hoping that this new initiative will encourage people to come along and get the same enjoyment out of walking as others do running it.
That looks like me, about to be run over by a ferry! It was good to wear the blue tabard for the first time at Southsea; I hope the parkwalk initiative has the desired effect!
No Parkrun for me today. I’m the latest victim of the non Covid stinky cold and really didn’t feel like it. Started on Tuesday and am starting to feel a bit better (less sniffly). It just needs to clear off before GSR 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
Oh no Sandie1961 , UpTheStanley has it too and didn’t run today. We’ve just had our flu jabs this morning to top up the symptoms. Good luck with your recovery.
ok folks, that’s it - we need fully fit GSR types next weekend, got it?! So get gone all you germs and sniffles, you’re not welcome here! Ooh and don’t forget to pm me with your running numbers so I can track you on the day and shake my bells at appropriate places along the course!
Greetings Damien! It’s been ages since I put anything onto the forum; having hurt my foot while on my diving holiday in September (only I could do that!) I haven’t actually run since 27th August! So I thought I’d walk Parkrun today and also volunteered to wear Southsea’s first ‘Parkwalk’ blue tabard as well (double tick!) ; we didn’t have too many walkers but I chatted with some who were tourists and having enjoyed his walk, one of them said he would consider joining his local Parkrun, so job done there! It’s amazing what a warm sunny morning, flat calm, a swan bobbing around on the briny, lots of yachts to see etc etc, can do to get the enthusiasm going! Happy running folks!
I volunteered in a new role - 37 minute pacer. I helped a guy take 3 minutes off his time of 41 minutes the week before. So although I finished closer to 38 minutes, I still had the warm fuzzies.
NENDY at Forfar Loch. Took it easy practising pacing for my first half marathon. Enjoyable run. Missed my traditional post parkrun bacon roll though, just had to stop for one on the way home! We’re lucky in Angus to have three parkruns that are totally different types of course - but all three are flat 😀 New NENDY is Loch Leven so that’s next month’s tourism day but I’ve got an ‘extra’ at Aberdeen before then because I’ve got a course to attend that afternoon.
My NENDY was actually twenty minutes walk from my house for six weeks because as Event Director I had too much else to do getting it off the ground to actually run it myself 😂 As a possibly controversial aside that’s why. I get annoyed when extreme tourists insist on their ‘right’ to descend mob handed on inaugural events: the forget that the people who spend years setting the event up don’t get to run the inaugural themselves so when they ask for a soft start it should be respected. Forfar Loch is one of our two nearest neighbours but started a month after us - plan was to launch both on same day but they had storm damage which delayed their launch - so never managed to get there till now.
Here in Ireland there are only a handful of Uber tourists who visit inaugural parkrun events. I’ve been to 2-3. They are usually great events which are supported by the local community with perhaps 5-10 Tourists thrown in for good measure. Personally I would rather visit a new event after the first 3-4 weeks so as to let the team settle in. But only if it is close enough to my home. I’m not going to travel long distances just to try a new parkrun. After COVID restrictions were lifted and parkrun started back up there were 5 new events launched on the same day. So that would have drove the Uber tourists crazy.
Yes the soft start policy only applies in the U.K. Inaugural bagging doesn’t seem to be the same problem anywhere else and if you don’t have the problem you don’t need the solution. Only Irish parkrun I’ve done is Malahide (twice) as I have family there.
I’ve done every parkrun in Dublin and surrounds except for Malahide. It’s now my NENDY as well. Malahide parkrun was the first one in the Republic of Ireland. I’m planning on doing it in the next 3-4 weeks.
Congratulations and super well done to you too on helping to set up a new parkrun.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.