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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Good morning Damienair and all Parkrunners, it was a beautiful morning on Lancing Beach Green this morning. That's the first run I've finished without feeling really lousy at the end for a month, not fast but very enjoyable, I was joined by @Hapyhayes and my daughter and granddaughter walked it, all 3 of them did their first parkrun and by the time they finished they are hooked 😂😂😂
Morning everyone. 👋 Jenny and I took the coward’s way out this morning having seen Eastville’s sorrowful plea for more volunteers and thus the threat of the B course. We chose Ashton Court!
Being a beautiful morning, so did most of Bristol by the looks of things. ☀️ Bright sun with a distinct autumn chill in the air - perfect running conditions. 🙏
Whilst I’m still off pace by some way, I was relieved to come in around a minute quicker than last time I ran here. It did take a heck of a long time to cross the start line, so no idea what my PR time will end up. I don’t care, I ran the lot and had a blast as usual. Coffee and a pastry to follow. Jenny also had to run a fair way to the start as she came separately and the carpark was rammed. Kudos to her! 💪
Fabulous morning at Bracknell parkrun. I went to help encourage the new C25K graduates of C25K at my running club. On the way round, got chatting to another member of the club. He’s a seasoned runner and encouraged me all the way round the course. The result being that I didn’t stop to walk at all, not even up the hill (the one with the sign saying “What Hill?”) and shaved 38 seconds off my previous time. He said my running was very steady and my time can only improve, so very happy. The new graduates did really well and we were there to cheer them on at the end. Coffee & chit chat afterwards, a great start to Saturday! Love parkrun 😊
A very good afternoon to you Damien, on a bright cool Autumn morning, temperature around 5C I got the train to Glasgow and ran my 97th parkrun, #16 at Springburn parkrun in a time of 32:22, and an age grading once again at +60% of 60.76%, although I am running at parkrun a little slower as I get older my age grading is still a little higher than a few years ago when on average it was around 55%, there was cake at the finishing line today to celebrate another runners 100th run, overall I am reasonably satisfied with my running at age 77, next week for my 98th parkrun I will be the tailwalker at nearby Palacerigg Country Parkrun, by the way the tailwalkers time at Springburn parkrun this morning was a fast 42:01, it was a lady who must have ran, not walked.
Thanks Jools, it was supposed to be on Saturday 14th October, however, on the evening of Friday 13th October at 7.30 I am due to get my annual flu jab AND another booster shot for Covid-19, so no parkrun on Saturday 14th October, I will hopefully run #100 the following week, at parkrun this morning there was a cake for a man who ran his 100th parkrun, but I don't think that there will be a cake for me as I am not even sure what parkrun I will be at, whatever one it is I will tell the Run Director that this is parkrun #100 for me.
I think that’s a wise decision not to run after vaccinations, Al. I’ve been unwell after every Covid vaccination and booster and my heart rate has been high, too.
You could always take your own cake to share at whichever parkrun you decide to go to 😊
I could buy a cake somewhere if I decide which parkrun to go to for #100,
Next Saturday, 30th September at parkrun #98 I will be the tailwalker at Palacerigg Country parkrun which is the nearest parkrun to where I live.
The run director at the parkrun I ran at this morning, Springburn, told me that I will be the tailwalker there on Saturday 28th October, I applied for that volunteer role on Thursday, so #99 on 21st October could be at my "home parkrun" of Dunfermline and a big perhaps #100 could be as tailwalker at Springburn parkrun, that would mean not going to any parkrun on Saturday 7th or 14th October, the latter because of that double vaccination.
It’s normally up to the runner or friends and family that provide cake for milestones AlMorr , but it’s not compulsory. I usually get some boxes of bite size flapjacks and brownies from the coop and just make sure friends and the volunteers get some.
Well done on your run, it’s good to get 60% isn’t it? I was there with you today, although your time was quicker.
I know it's not compulsory for milestone runs for runners to have cake, I have been to many parkruns where a runner ran his/her 100th parkrun and there was no cake, most of the cakes I have had have been for the parkruns birthday, a volonteers 25th or for the parkruns #50/100+etc, after saying that there has been cake at several recent parkruns I have been to for the above reason, only today for a runner celebrating his 100th.
I agree with you Dexy that it is nice to get 60% age grading, four years ago I got 59% for running in a time of 30:56, today the 60.76% age grading was for a time of 32:22.
I remember a post from a runner years ago who was annoyed at having a age grading much lower than her mother who ran at the same parkrun, although the daughter ran in a time of around 27 minutes, her mother ran in about 34 minutes but the mother had a much higher age grading which the daughter was to say the least very jealous of
Mr S and I collected our new Motorhome from Hull yesterday and were given a free night on a nearby site to try it out and make sure everything works. I naturally had a look to see if there was a parkrun nearby, especially as we had the car with us too and, as luck would have it, Hull parkrun was just 6 miles away. It is 2.5 laps of the lake in a beautiful park on the east side of Hull and today was taken over by a local group, Fitmums and Friends, who were out in force. Plenty of free parking (needed with 486 runners!).
I finally went to see my physio on Tuesday about the pain I’ve had in my left thigh/glute for weeks, so now have a brutal exercise regime, which means everything now hurts, not just my left leg, but hopefully it will be worth it in due course. However, 34.14 was 12 seconds faster than last week and over a minute faster than 2 weeks ago. I was 9th in my age category (usually about 3rd or 4th) but there were 16 of us so mid point which is fine.
Back to the campsite for a shower and Full English cooked by Mr S 😍😋
The plan was that today would be my last parkrun before hernia surgery next week - but fate intervened. Last Monday I had my first ever fall (in pouring rain) in 5+ years of running. Not a problem in itself - my only injury was a grazed elbow - but at my pre-op I was told that any open wound could mean that my surgery was cancelled 😱. So I decided that I would give today a miss - just in case of a repeat performance! See you all on the other side!
Oh crikey you don’t want to jeopardise that op do you Jonathan? Super smart of you to give PR a miss ….. and here’s a whole boatload of ‘hope it goes well’ best wishes winging their way to you from Bristol. 👊
Sorry to hear about your fall JonathanP . When I had my first (and only 🫰) fall it got my elbow too as I tried not to let my wrists take the strain, and risk fracture. Very wise not to take any risks after that long wait for surgery.
All the best for the op. Let us know when you are back on the road again and we will try and get together again.
Hello damienair and runny people, perfect conditions at Southsea this morning brought out 478 runners, walkers and joggers. I came in at 33: 49 and was 2nd in age group , which I’m very happy with as I’ve never run the time of the 1st in my age group (30:07). Also I had an age grade score of 60.87%.
Southsea is the venue for the European Kite-surfing Championships this week so the east end of the prom is buzzing. Fortunately it will be over by the time we move parkrun to that end of the prom in 2 weeks time. You will have to zoom in to see them on the horizon.
I doubt it cheekychipmunks , it will be 1.5 laps instead of out and back, so I suspect it will slower, even though we will finish with the wind behind us. 31:38 is my PB and even getting back to that will be hard. 1st place lady is a triathlete so she deserves that spot.
Good run and time on Saturday for you Dexy5, I see what you mean regarding 60% age grading or more, I have just noticed that photo of the kite surfing, before I zoomed in I thought it was a wind turbine farm out at sea as there are many of them around the UK coasts.
No wind farm here AlMorr . The wind here is used for pleasure such as sailing, windsurfing, flying kites and if you can run with it behind you, boosting your speed. 😂
Irchester Country parkrun today, a 20 minute drive from the campsite (3 hours to drive home 😀) a lovely way to finish our holiday. It is a very nice parkrun with friendly volunteers, although the way out is mostly uphill so I did walk a bit. My philosophy is that I can really push myself and maybe be disappointed with my time, or run and walk if I feel like it and enjoy the run and the scenery. As the return was mostly downhill I did a decent time and enjoyed it all, especially approaching the finish to be cheered on by people sitting in the sunshine enjoying their drinks. We then sat there with our bacon butties and cheered the final finishers.
Oh yes, only O, Q and Z to collect now.
Oldham planned for three weeks time. The new Quakers Walk , maybe later this year.
Not sure about Z, it doesn't seem right to fly off just for a parkrun. All of our tourist ones have been incorporated into a holiday so we can justify the travel (okay, we do have a lot of holidays )
Only 3 letters to go, well done! It’s a shame you aren’t closer to Queen Elizabeth Country Park RunaroundSue . It’s a toughie on the South Downs Way, but beautiful on the right day.
Only 3 letters to go? Wow that’s impressive RunaroundSue 😀 Yes, as Dexy5 said, QECP is definitely worth a visit. It’s mostly tourists getting their Q! We had the most entertaining 1st timers’ briefing ever.
Good luck finding your Z. I’m sure you can find an excuse for another holiday! 😅
I did Zuiderpark in the Hague, Netherlands. The Hague itself is a nice place to visit, but you can always pair it with a cheeky trip to Amsterdam. I don't know where you're based, but if you feel awkward about flying for the sake of a parkrun, there's always the Eurostar from London (you could also go to Brussels which has more regular services and then from there to the Hague).
Other than that, there's a few Zs in Poland, but that definitely has to be done flying and maybe with a car trip. Be careful though, as there is one called Zary where the Z has an overdot. That doesn't count for your Alphabet challenge because of the accent.
I’ve been following the Nike Run Club 5K guide. They have 5 runs a week and I thought I had to do them all. 5 weeks in and my hamstrings and calves couldn’t take it anymore. I’ve since read 3 is enough and one of them could be parkrun.
Monday was my last run. My calves are better but my hamstrings are still sore.
I was meant to meet a friend but overslept and wouldn’t have made it on time, so I went to my local one instead. Didn’t get a PB, but managed to run it all and my legs feel fine, all things considered.
Crikey, I couldn’t do 5 runs a week either. It might be worth booking up for a sports massage DiogoC . Not a pleasant experience but will do wonders at getting those legs sorted.
I am doing that as well but just 2 runs a week plus parkrun!It is just to give myself some structure to the runs rather than to do a specific challenge
I did my second returning Parkrun yesterday after an absence of two years due to illness. Last week I managed it in a better time than I expected, but yesterday I really felt I was even slower, but actually came in 5 seconds faster. I’m still 10 minutes away from my personal best but that was 4 years ago, my data tells me. Who would have known!
I expect I have to accept I am now 4 years older and recovering from illness, so I am pleased with that. I came in 3rd in my age category with a graded score of just 50, but at least I now have a baseline I can build on.
And whilst ill, I still managed to do a fair bit of volunteering, including a tail-walker a few weeks ago, just to see if my stamina was up to the distance yet, it wasn’t then!
welcome back BarbieW , you must have missed your running. parkrun is the perfect way of getting back to the running community. Just take it easy and your stamina will come back
Hi damienair, for various reasons I haven't run since parkrun 2 weeks ago, feeling under the weather being the main reason so I was determined to run yesterday. After checking my blood pressure which has been fluctuating over the past couple of weeks I started with a 5 minute warm up walk and decided to jog the remaining 1.5k. About 200ms from the start a pain in my left calf made me pull up and no amount of stretching or even slower jogging made it go. So no parkrun and an uncomfortable walk home. Not hurting so much today but I'll give it until Tuesday before trying again 😔
A very late report from me. I didn't touch my laptop out all weekend.
Visit twenty to Hafan Pwllheli for parkrun number 81.
I probably overdressed a bit. I wore a long sleeved, slightly thicker top, but with shorts.
The morning was bright with scattered clouds. The air was totally still. The tide was out. The sand was mostly firm with a bit of shingle.
In other words, ideal conditions at Pwllheli.
I kept a lid on the pace at the start, knowing that I've pushed too hard too early in previous weeks here. The sun came out about half way through and made me regret my choice of top.
Apart from a few seconds' pause at the turnaround to snap a couple of photos, I ran this one continuously. My HR was climbing to 180bpm by the end, but I completed it.
A little chat with the marshals, then clapping in the second last group, then I bid my farewells and went off to pick up a parcel for my sister from Asda, various things from Lidl and then the final visit to the excellent butcher's in Sarn (they're closing).
My time? 29:06. My fastest there since April.
People gather on the beach for parkrun. A crepuscular ray picks out the breakwater's end.
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