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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Morning Damien and everyone. 👋 A glorious morning here in the SW. Jenny and I considered Eastville, saw they were short of volunteers and were threatening the B course, and headed to Clevedon! So did lots of others as there was a huge turnout today. The weather couldn’t have been lovelier 🥰☀️
Like at Severn Bridge last weekend, it look forever to slowly run through the start after the hooter. At least 20 seconds I’d say.
Still, I lopped nearly 4 minutes off the last time I ran there 2 weeks ago and I’m almost myself again. Not quite, and there’s more to work on, but I’m very happy how things are progressing.
Jen ran her 2nd fastest 5k ever according to Garmin and she’s giving Mr Cheeky’s work colleague a good run for his money! It’s only a matter of time ….. 😅 We were thrilled with our runs today. ❤️
Thanks BC, I was getting despondent with my running after those bugs, but now I’m feeling way more like myself and my fitness is improving each time. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
It certainly is Dexy. I’m not a speed chipmunk, but I was getting mightily cheesed off with having lost all that fitness. I’m hoping I’ll continue to improve this summer. 🤞🙏🏻
Thanks Jonathan, it really was a perfect running morning, and it was nice to feel like my fitness is on its way back. Keeping everything crossed for you now. 🤞🤞🤞
Good to hear you are nearly 100 percent, there is hope for us all. I did Parkrun at my normal pace today and didn’t feel to bad. Still coughing well unfortunately but it doesn’t seem to be affecting my running.
That’s good to hear Shakes. 😀 My cough was so persistent, it made it impossible for me to run and I had 7 weeks off. It really took a toll on my fitness, but now it’s returning. 🤸♀️
Parkrun #50 for me! I started parkrun in January last year and I guess I'm hooked. As well as running 50 times I've also volunteered on 9 occasions. If you have never done a parkrun I'd really encourage you to give it a go.
Today I wasn't at my regular venue. I saw a Facebook message last night to say they had flooding at the wonderfully named "dog poo corner" but they still might go ahead. I decided I wanted to keep my feet dry so went to the next nearest place.
Over the past year I think my attitude to running has changed. I started off wanting to chase PBs but realised that was a thankless pursuit. I now run to enjoy being outside and am grateful that I can run. It hasn't all been smooth sailing as along the way I've had a few niggles and injuries. But I'm grateful I can still get out and run.
I'm coming back from some issues but today I ran in 21:25 which was my quickest this year. Thankful for this forum and the encouragement from others. We are all different and comparisons aren't fruitful but we do have one thing in common which is that we run.
Well done on your 50th 00marks! You’re right. If you’re going to be a regular then the PB thing has to go out of the window, there are many other reasons to do parkrun. It’s quite similar to this forum in the fact that it’s the community of similarly motivated people that is the thing. Here’s to many, many more 👍
Fantastic. Huge congratulations to you on your Milestone 50th parkrun. And congratulations too on your fastest run this year. I totally agree, the pleasure of running is being in the moment, outside and meeting people. Some of my most memorable parkruns have been when taking it easy and just chatting to someone whilst running. The elation of a PB is great once through the finish funnel, but the pain you endure during the run is not pleasurable.
Good morning Damien and fellow runners! After our trip away and the dreaded lurgy last week, my symptoms have improved significantly this week, although still wheezing a bit, so it was back to Market Rasen for my 72nd parkrun. After some really dreadful weather earlier in the week, there was no wind, it wasn’t raining and the sun was even making a valiant attempt to appear. First run of any sort for 2 weeks, so decided to keep it steady and thought if I could get under 35 mins I’d be doing ok. Garmin time 33.20, official time 33.28. That’ll do! Now to start running more regularly again and back to Trotters on Monday. Have a great weekend!
Hopefully the weather will play a bit more nicely from now on and we can all get some of our former fitness back. Mind you, I was beaten by a dachshund 🐶
I think Yarborough must have taken quite a lot of Market Rasen’s runners as it’s on the north side of the city. Only 114 today so it doesn’t take long!
Thank you OGR. Me too! Back to Trotters on Monday, when I will hopefully be able to manage a recovery run with my club mates who are doing Lincoln 10k tomorrow
Yes, I've just posted to BC that the good news is that I saw the surgeon on Weds , the waiting list for the hernia repair isn't too long and because it's giving me some trouble she's going to book me in to the first available appointment - hooray!
Good afternoon Damien, for my 77th parkrun I travelled to Dunfermline, a lovely morning, temperature around 5C, my time today was 32.32, I always like those double type times, a few months ago at Dunfermline my time was 33.33, I like that, good run for me today.
That’s a natty trick Al, goes well with the 77 too! Similar temperature in Stratford except it said ‘feels like 2°C’ 🥶 I hope it warms up a little soon. Well done 👍
Thanks TailChaser and Beachcomber66, those double times are a sheer coincidence, my fastest (not) parkrun is another double at 31:31, that was achieved on 1st September 2021, yes #77:-32:32 today 👍
Just got back after our post run coffee and food shopping. A cold and fairly muddy run this morning but a successful one.
I’m feeling quite strong atm. The HM training is still in my muscles and I’m not getting as out of breath as I was. Legs are permanently sore but I can live with that, just keep rollering on.
This morning I ran to parkrun with the token bag and that felt tough, so I didn’t think the run would go well. I deliberately added the parkrun to my first run on my watch, so I wouldn’t be distracted by my time. However, despite the bottlenecks during the first two laps, I kept a good pace for the last 4km, overtaking people who weren’t expecting a small, older lady to pass them (I love doing that 🤣). In fact I passed one couple 3 times 😁. I couldn’t catch up with someone I knew though as I’d left it too late but, hey, I came in as 3rd in my age grade which I haven’t done for ages, so I’m very happy with that. And I got a Stopwatch Bingo number - only 6 more to go!
Chatted with a lady who is doing London next week who had just done Brighton. Hoping to either volunteer (probably too late) or spectate as I have severe FOMO at the moment. Note to self: get some actual Pom poms 🥰
Have a great runny week everyone, have fun out there 😀🙌👏👏
You are a terror TC, burning off and all of these unsuspecting innocents. Great work!! Overtaking someone 3 times is really rubbing it in. Taunting 😂😂😂😂
I was wondering how the London FOMO was doing TC! I can’t stop thinking how I could be running it this year too, if my charity had had its act together 🥺 (Oh, and my bug I suppose). So near, yet so far. I’m assuming you’re entering the ballot for 2024? I am! 😀
You really are super duper speedy nowadays aren’t you? I can imagine it’s fun burning off others - I wouldn’t know personally! 😂 Really well done superstar ⭐️❤️
Of course! My FOMO is off the scale Cheeky, probably very much like yours! I wish I could be looking out for you at Canary Wharf 😢 Next year? If I don’t get in I’ll be volunteering and helping you with your drop bag at Greenwich because the Stratford Half can stuff it! I’m just glad I can be involved somehow. Must get those Pom poms…
I’m not super duper speedy, I’ve just got some good shoes from watching too many YouTube videos and learning a bit more what to do. And I love picking people off of course 😂
Very well done TC. Great running. I have entered a Half Marathon at the end of August. I was training to do this one last year but got sick only about a month out from the race. I was so sick I couldn't run for a month. Never done a Half Marathon before. So looking forward to it. I can relate to the legs being sore, mine too, but enjoying it. Ran 15K this morning.
It’s so good to see you improving Damien, I bet you’re really chuffed. Katnap and I have a little mantra that ‘10 miles is the new 10k’. When that becomes true you know you can smash a half marathon - all the best to you with your training 💪
Just me and my pretty muddy woodland trail this morning. No cold wind and welcome sunshine.
I was a bit flat. We were at the football match in pouring rain last night, which might explain my lack of oomph this morning. Too much excitement for an older guy!!
I just jogged along, dodging the squelchy bits, listening to CB go on about runs which suck, which was informative but not uplifting !
The out come was ok though; 33:53 was back to immediate pre virus time . I just didn’t fancy pushing it…maybe I left it all at the match last night and/or on Thursday’s tempo run. Another 10 miler on Monday coming in “pick up pace” mode. No late night out on Sunday!!
Coffee and brownie afterwards went down well. Some things never change 😋.
Running with others does speed me up TC. Extra adrenaline I guess. I haven’t run with others since GSR; bitbof a bloc there maybe. That said, while I am working my way through the HM plan it is probably better to do my own thing. I can respond to how I feel on the day rather than being pulled along. 🤷🏻♂️ we will see in a few weeks time!
Thank you OGR. A tree creeper popped out to say hello! Bird watching and running (well cooling down) at the same time is the nearest I get to multi tasking!
Was that the Suckcess run you did BC? It’s a good one if I remember rightly. And kudos to you for getting out after a drenching at the footie. Double points for you! Glad you had your post run treat as a reward. 😋
It was that run cheeky. In fairness, I can feel the plan working now. I was bothered about the 12k tempo run squeezed in between 2x10 milers in 8 days, but in the event, moving a bit faster felt ok. I do feel ready to pick up pace (a little !) on the 10 mile runs now to move back towards 7:00 pace. Hope I feel the same post run on Monday!
Unless I am running like a drunken two legged camel (feels like that on a bad day) I intend to try to up the pace a bit. I will draw inspiration from Sandie1961 ’s four legged nemesis; apart from the puddle stops obviously…
I really don’t think your body is 10x the length of your legs BC 😂😂 Pretty woodland trail sounds much nicer than plodding round a racecourse though 😊 You can do it, no doubt!
It will be quieter on Monday with kids back to school. I have had to buy a mobile battery charger/cover for my phone; it has been getting dangerously close to running out of power mid runs. Maybe speeding up a bit will help too.🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Hello damienair and everyone. UpTheStanley said he was going to do a slow run at parkrun today so you know what that means. Yes, he was running with me, after my failing to persuade Oldgirlruns and Coddfish to take him. There was a cool north easterly breeze which I was grateful for when the sun came out for the return leg.
It was 39 seconds to get to the start line and then I began picking off a few runners I knew had started too near the front. There were a couple of times I wanted to walk on the way back but UTS wouldn’t allow that. Another runner said she needed my motivator, so I asked her to take him away. 😂
The pace increased in the last 250 metres as a few of us aimed for that finish line. I was beginning to feel a bit nauseous but kept going. I managed to overtake one girl, but the next (19 year old) one heard me coming and put a spurt on to save her place.
It was an excellent parkrun and I am pleased to see the negative splits. Garmin 32:40, parkrun time 33:19.
It was the first 5k run in my new shoes and they added a nice bit of bounce.
You ate breakfast for four Dexy? Crikey! Sorry to leave you with UTS but his slow and mine sadly don’t match! But for a slow run you did alright! And brekkie was good wasn’t it?!
I am sure those new shoes got you to get that very good time at parkrun this morning Dexy5, well done, they look very nice and comfortable, congratulations also on your negative splits. 👍✅
Sounds like a lovely run Dexy. Trying to outpace a 19 year old shows great ambition! The shoes are great aren’t they, although I wore my trail shoes today, as I do find the Sauconys a bit lacking in grip on wet roads!
Lovely new runner Dexy and well done to UTS for pacing you through negative splits and getting across the line with a great time. Sounds like a perfect parkrun morning.
Ah, yes, heard of those. I’m on a bit of a shoe hunt at the moment, looking for the perfect marathon long run training shoe. My inner geek springs to life as soon as I see a pair of Sauconys at the moment 😅
Today I did Hampstead Heath, followed by a refreshing dip in the local ponds.
This was my third hilly parkrun in a row. I have to make sure I go to a nice flat one next time.
Question for the regular parkrunners. They couldn't scan my finish token properly (it was faded) and they messed up my timings. I'm showing as number 362 with a time of 54mins when really I was 336 with a time of 39mins. I emailed them about it, but haven't yet heard back.
I know it's run by volunteers and they probably just haven't had the chance to check the email yet, but just wondering if anyone has any experience with this sort of thing?
hello Diogo, yes mistakes do sometimes happen with scanning etc but if you have emailed them, someone on the team is likely to get in touch in due course. Emails are sent on a special website so it might not be seen immediately.
Well done. Yes that same issue has happened to me before and after e-mailing the team my parkrun position and time was corrected. Also worth investing in a parkrun wristband they work great. Also when in the office one day I printed out my barcodes on paper from the parkrun website, cut them to size and laminated them. I have one in my car, one in my wallet, and one in my wifes car. I also sometimes wear my wristband. I have all eventualities covered. 😀
I was cold on the way down to parkrun this morning and wished I’d taken my gloves! It’s April for heavens sake, I shouldn’t need my winter coat to walk down there! But at least it was dry, the sun tried to come through and with the wind behind us on the return leg for a change, it was great parkrun conditions! I started off with Coddfish but she’s getting back to fitness and soon trotted off ahead of me. My usual slow plod at 48:44 but hey, it’s Saturday, I was up and out there!
Congratulations Oldgirlruns on your run today, I find that it is a bit of a balancing act wondering what to wear when going to parkrun, when I set off this morning there was frost on the roofs but I knew that the temperature would rise quickly so like you being cold at first I didn't wear anything very warm as I would feel too warm during the run, I hope you soon warmed up in time for your run today, well done.
Not too bad BC. The good news is that I saw the surgeon on Weds , the waiting list for the hernia repair isn't too long and because it's giving me some trouble she's going to book me in to the first available appointment - hooray!
You were way ahead of those still in bed OGR! The lovely thing about parkrun is that it really doesn’t matter about your time, just that you enjoyed it. And brekkie makes it all worthwhile 🥓
you were not the last in your age group Oldgirlruns , so don’t you worry. You are doing really well. As you continue to extend your distance, your 5ks will keep improving.
Very well done on your parkrun. I had a full day of garden renovation planned for yesterday. But I still have puddles in my garden. Usually it's all done this time of year. March and so far April have been weird.
Evening Damien et all. I went to do my 57th parkrun today accompanied by my 15 year old nephew. He is staying with me so I can help him with his English revision and I thought the fresh air and exercise would do him good. It was his 3rd Parkrun and he loved it. He just passed me as he was entering the funnel (I had my final lap to do) so I enjoyed seeing him finish. Oh to be so young and able to run so well when you have done so little exercise for 4 weeks!!
My parkrun went quite well, for the first time in the 4 weeks since I was ill, I felt quite comfortable on my first lap. I was moving forward through the bunch, making up ground. Half way through the second lap I did think I might have over cooked it but somehow I made it to the end. I still have the cough but it doesn’t happen when I’m running, so no idea what that is all about. Anyway my finish time was pretty much where I usually am on a good day, so happy with that.
Well done on your parkrun Shakes, especially if you don’t feel 100%. Those youngsters are amazing aren’t they, I don’t remember ever being that energetic when I was their age! But how lovely that your nephew was able to join you!
I was leaving yesterday morning to go to my local parkrun and my lovely Cocker Spaniel Ruby was crying at me in my running gear to take her too. So I took pity on her and brought her along. She had an initial run around, did her business and all was cleared up, then we went to the start line where she loves to go around and welcome everyone. We started off fine but after 1K she started falling back and I was dragging her a little. After 2K I decided to just walk a bit with her and from then we walked, jogged and walked. I will not be taking her again for a while. She runs brilliantly off the lead where there are no cars but I think associates the lead with walks on roads etc.
Anyway, another parkrun done and we crossed the line in a time of 36:43. I enjoyed the last 1.5K lap as I took her off the lead and we ran together side by side. I'm shattered now, ran 15K this morning, obviously without Ruby. 😀
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