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
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Trains back to normal this week & for once our local one had a Saturday service so my daughter was able to get that train. Because of the timings we were able to go to our nearest Parkrun.
Gosh it was very hot and hilly so no PB today. Had been aiming for under 36 minutes but that wasn’t to be and made it in 37.24.
I actually ran 5k this morning! 3k of intervals at mile and 5k pace and 2k warm up and cool down. I was really pleased with 33.56. Best 5k for ages. A balmy 16C up here, no sign of rain; doesn’t get much better 🙂.
Well done BC66 on your 33.56 /5K time this morning, heavy rain and flooding prevented me from running my 99th parkrun today and no parkrun for me next week as I am getting my annual flu jab AND another booster shot for Covid-19 only 14 hours before parkrun starts on Saturday
Hi Al. I noticed that Scotland has weather warnings out today. No sense in risking a fall in that lot! I had my Covid-19 and Flu jabs on Thursday the 28th of October and didn’t run until Saturday 30th. The magic 100 is in sight for you; no need for any risks 👍
It would have been my 99th, not 98th parkrun today, however, with weather warnings and flooding I decided not to go to Drumpellier Parkrun, the parkrun did go ahead with a 100 less running than normal, perhaps people who live near the park, I managed to run a short 3K around the park near to where I live, even there, there was a large puddle I had to wade through but at least I got out for a short run.
Good morning Damienair and all Parkrunners, 536 of us ran along Worthing seafront this morning in glorious sunshine and I came in with a PB of 43:40, a whole minute off my fastest previous parkrun. Daughter walked it all and followed me in only 20 seconds behind, granddaughter was a little way back walking at 49 minutes. We sat on the beach after and daughter paddled, I knew if I paddled I'd have to swim so sat decorously on the beach. Run happy all
Today is parkrun’s 19th birthday, so I decided to come to Bushy park, the original parkrun. There were over 1500 runners and the atmosphere was brilliant.
Afterwards, I went for a walk around the park and observed the deer rut season.
Fantastic and amazing to be at the home of parkrun on its 19th Birthday. It is on my bucket list to make a pilgrimage to Bushy Park sometime to do a parkrun.
Morning (afternoon, oops) PR pals. Solo today. Jen has jetted off to Spain for a wedding, so I gave myself a treat and popped over to Severn Bridge. The long way round though, as the original (and best!) bridge is closed westbound for 6 weekends. It took me 45 minutes to get there over its big showy brother, but that wasn’t a problem - I was still parked by 8:20! 😇
B course (other side; virtually no difference), and I trotted a happy 37:08 (36:57 Garmin). Best time there since May, so 🎈
This morning I set off with my Cocker Spaniel Ruby to do my NENDY and some parkrun tourism. We departed at 7:50 to drive 1 hour and 20 minutes to Vicarstown parkrun. It was a beautiful morning, dry and approximately 16-18 degrees. It was an out and back course along a canal with 67 other runners, joggers and walkers.
I have not ran in almost 2 weeks so as you can imagine it was a bit of a struggle, but I still enjoyed it. We chugged along and finished in a time of 36:36. There was a pooper scooper moment and a few walking breaks.
That was my 50th different parkrun, my NENDY, my 150th parkrun and a V for the alphabet challenge. Great way to start a Saturday morning. There was loads of snacks , Tea and Coffee at the finish line. Lovely friendly community atmosphere. But I left after a couple of chats and drove home. My wife had a lovely coffee and sausage bagel waiting for me when I got in the door.
Love that time Damien, 36:36 and congratulations on your 150th parkrun, as I mentioned to BC66 today would have been my 99th parkrun but because of heavy rain and severe flooding in parts of Scotland I thought it was wise not to go to parkrun today, however, despite the rain I did run a short 3K in puddles and rain in the park near to where I live, still got soaked but changed quickly once I got home, next week no parkrun again because on Friday evening I am getting my annual flu jab AND another booster shot for Covid-19, parkrun #99 on Saturday 21st October.
Parkrun number 82, and visit number 55 to Chadderton.
Damp but mild this morning. Rain was forecast but didn't happen.
The course was muddy in parts and one section had slippery moss in the tarmac. There were lots of fallen horse chestnuts, with their spiky seed cases and red conkers.
There were a few familiar faces and some people who hadn't been here for a few months.
As usual I held back for the first couple of minutes, then picked off the people who had zoomed off at the start and had run out of steam when confronted with the hills.
I was nearly spent at the end and was overtaken on the finish straight.
Afterwards I chatted until I started to feel cold.
When I was walking back to my car, I was called over by one of the regulars who had a scraping sound coming from one wheel of her car. We prodded and poked at it for a bit. I'd suggested she drive it forward a little bit so I could hear the scrape, but asked her to stop before she'd started it moving. A change of angle meant I saw a twig wedged in a hole in the wheel arch, with the other end pressing against the face of the tyre. I removed the twig and there was no more scraping sound.
A gent indeed nowster! I’m sure your post parkrun assistance was greatly appreciated - something similar happened to me a while back when I was driving UpTheStanley and Dexy5 home. Fortunately UTS spotted the offending bit of branch and bingo, all was well again!
I actually ran a parkrun today, first time in a few weeks. Just a smidgen under 30 minutes but my legs were tired: tapering doesn’t seem to have made a difference yet, although maybe 38km in a week isn’t quite tapering yet 🤭 (I may have added 10km to the total somewhere with a couple of extra 5ks…). Note to self, make sure you do it properly next week! Shake-and-run is under orders to make sure I only run with her on our Thursday run next week, not before and after like I usually do 😬
We had a late call to do pre-setup last night so we all wandered down to the Rec early to put signs and cones out. I combined it with the course check - lots of chestnuts to sweep up. Can’t stop them landing on runners heads though! We’re having unusual difficulty getting volunteers again. Still, we have a new Run Director in eldest kitten as he started his training today 😀
Next Saturday’s parkrun will be at Amsterdamse Bos, a 5 minute walk from our hotel. Good or bad planning? I’ll let you know next Sunday Evening 😬
No OG, thankfully only heard about one and they couldn’t have been badly hurt as there was no incident reported. Eldest kitten seems to be relishing the responsibility; he did really well with the First Timers briefing today as well 👍
Now that really is exciting Sandie! I got my race top yesterday with my name on it - must remember the parkrun top to go with it. You’ve got some brilliant weeks ahead of you 😍
I haven’t posted much lately damienair, not sure why. But I’m staying with family this weekend so thought I’d go along to Arrow Valley parkrun as it’s close to my brother’s house. It’s a very pretty twice round the lake course and it’s very friendly. Even the lappers give me encouragement as they zoomed past on their second lap as I puffed my way round the first! But definately recommended! And a slow 48:53 walk/run on a very warm morning!
Gee it was a busy one. UpTheStanley is co-Event Director and Run Director and as such I run around doing whatever I can to support him and make him aware of anything he should know. Today was first run in new location so all of the volunteers and runners needed briefing from scratch. Despite, lots of info at previous runs, message on website and social media, some turned up at the old start and had to run 2.8 k to get there. But 409 people ran, jogged and walked in the autumn sunshine.
Feedback was mainly good , but a few more things to work on. I handed out the brand new set of finish tokens, and we’ve lost 3 already. 😩
As you know, the council were worried about the impact on our residents and disabled people. I was heartened to read this on Facebook:
“I was on my way to have my flu jab when I got caught up with the runners. It was great to be alongside the runners as I was going along on my mobility scooter and I kept well to the left. Oh to be able to run or even walk again but I absolutely loved going along with the runners. Nobody minded me being there. Fabulous. 😀”.
There were bound to be some issues, but it sounds like you dealt with them in your usual unflappable way. Well done and congrats on getting the new course set up 👏👏
No matter you’ll always be some Dexy. Hope they enjoyed their warm up runs! As for the tokens, yeah, I feel your pain. I replaced 2 missing new ones with their old counterparts yesterday 😢
Most likely will be on my own this time. That sweet innocent little guy I had with me the last time has changed, 14 year old now. Could be a tough couple of days
As you know, BC, you can take part in parkrun at any speed. But it’s great to see you building the confidence to take part again. The way you’re going, you could replace me at the GSR next week.
🙂…I am only 6k short of 10 miles!! Sadly we seem to have a few with injury doubts…there is always the possibility of comfort eating and drinking the night before instead ….we are a resourceful team 🙂
Imagine a parkrun but with 12000 runners. I'm in Chicago and I ran the 5K this morning. The route was downtown and I had to pinch myself - nothing like this in the UK. An amazing experience. Now off for some pizza!
Back to Portsmouth Lakeside this morning 10 days after hernia repair surgery. You'll be pleased to know that I'm sparing you all the gory details(!), but suffice it to say that all seems to be healing well. Obviously too early for running (surgeon suggested gentle jogging after about 4 weeks) so it was timekeeping today and catching up with parkrun friends and acquaintances - feels great to be back!
Lovely to hear that everything went well with the op JP. It must be great to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Well done for volunteering while you build back up.
Brilliant. I am so happy to hear that you have had your surgery and that you are healing back to full recovery well. You'll be back to sub 30 soon again.
Got back to running after being a Marshal last week. Today was my 7th run the weather was perfect, sunny but not too hot. I recorded a time of 36.05, last time it was 37.14. I’m getting better at pacing I think and my deeper appreciation for the Marshals - I think giving them smiles - does smiling helps push you along ?!? 🤨
Very well done and that is a great improvement in a week.
I realised yesterday morning that I was at my usual route and parkrun was just starting at the other side of town. I really must get over there as it sounds great, I finished couch to 5k about 4 weeks ago and have been consolidating steadily. I think i run about 4.5k each time over 30 minutes, thats just a rough estimate based on measuring the route on google maps. I think I'll give it a try next week l, it'll be a new experience and I'm interested to see an actual measured time, not that it really matters to me, I'm just happy to be getting out and getting the exercise.
Just wondering actually what to do for warm up, coming from C25k Laura has instilled in me the importance of that 5 minute warm up walk so maybe I'll get there early and get that in then...
I walk for a while at the beginning of parkrun, it helps me not go too fast and not get puffed out, then when the crowd has thinned out a bit I run, mind you this week I parked about 1.5k away from the start so that was my warm up walk
You should definitely go next week. It is a great way to kick off a Saturday morning. It is not a race, just a walk, jog or a run with others. My advice would be to start at the very back for your first one and not to worry about time. Just start off easy and work your way along at a comfortable pace. You will work your way along through the field of runners and it will give you good confidence. Just enjoy it.
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week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
week 2 begins! 
