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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Just home after doing my 40th parkrun of 2023. That means I have earned the silver level obsessive badge. 😁 Also I’ve not been running much lately, but this morning I ran 5K at a nice gentle pace in a time of 34:21 according to my Garmin watch, without any walking breaks. I’m almost 1 stone in weight lighter than I was 6 weeks ago which is also helping. 😁 Delighted with that. Ruby joined me this morning on the most beautiful frosty 🥶 cold but crystal clear morning. It was like a race horse paddock at the finish line with steam rising from all the runners.
Thank you. I put on a Covid Stone like so many others and an extra stone crept on for good measure. I’m working hard to shift it all now. Eating less and exercising more.
Well done on your run today Damien, in very cold weather I have seen steam rising from horses in a paddock and watching rugby players in a scrum but never at a parkrun.
I’ve been to parkrun for the first time in over a year! We’re staying in Derby and Markeaton park run is less than a mile from out hotel. It’s our favourite park here and where we had our first date. MrU was up for doing something active followed by a McDonalds breakfast (helpfully just opposite!). We were late up so didn’t make the briefing but we know the park well and thought it would be super flat. It was…at the start! There was a gentle hill about halfway round which was a surprise and a bit of a drain on the legs. I’m still coming back from a cold and MrU hasn’t run 5k since June so we agreed it would be a comfortable effort today.
Normally I don’t like two laps of the same course but it was nice to appreciate the scenery twice! It was absolutely freezing and I don’t think I warmed up until the second lap! I managed a sprint finish which I was super pleased with…until I realised I’d missed the funnel. After about five minutes of post run chat, I remembered I hadn’t picked up a finishers barcode and looked around to see I hadn’t actually gone through the finish. Doh! I’m so out of practice. I decided I’d like a time, even if it was going to be comedy slow. Next time a PB will be super easy! All in all, a lovely start to the day and I’m pleased with 31minutes for a chilled (and very chilly!) run.
Wow 31 minutes is super amazing especially considering how you missed the finish funnel and were therefore delayed in crossing the finish line and picking up your token.🤣 How lovely too for you both to be in the same spot where you had your first date. Well done on your first parkrun today in a long time.
Something similar happened to me too a few years ago. I was at a very busy parkrun with around 800 people at it. When I got to the finish line at around 27 minutes I joined a queue for what I thought was the finish funnel. 4 minutes later I realised that it was just a crowd in an orderly line applauding the finishers. 😁 So I realised my mistake and crossed the line 4 minutes later.
I’ve “trained” myself (mainly through disorganisation and failure to get up early enough) to run after a light breakfast of toast, a banana or oatcakes and a coffee but a McDonalds treat will definitely stay a reward for afterwards!!!
Good morning Damienair and Parkrunners, lovely photo, there was ice on my car this morning but not the grass. I went with my granddaughter to Worthing and part way round met up with the lovely RunKRun where we walked and talked all the way to the end. Then granddaughter and some of the friends we've made went for a hot chocolate and we had to run part of the way back to the car park before we got a ticket. Hope everyone else had as good a time.
It was 1 degree Cheeky, my granddaughter spent last winter in Malaysia and didn't know what 1 degree would feel like but she soon warmed up running and wore my spair hat and gloves 🤣🤣 but the bright sunshine was gorgeous
I just did my first ever PR in Scotland, 🏴Crichton, in Dumfries (would have loved a D for my alphabet but never mind!) Thankful for the 9:30 start as the day dawned very chilly indeed and it wasn’t set to get above 1 degree for the duration of the run. 🥶
I hadn’t packed very cold weather running gear, but ended up perfectly fine in 2 x teeshirts and long leggings. Had to tuck my thumbs in, and I had a cold nose, but apart from that the undulations kept me toasty. Not a flat course by any stretch; a bit like Eastville in that it wasn’t over until it’s over hill-wise, but it was a gorgeous course and I was pleased to run the lot, not having run since last Saturday. 😀 Time was 38:05. Fine in the circumstances.
Kept seeing my fan club of Mr Cheeky and Flossie which was nice!
Back to the hotel for a shower and now we’re in the car with 5 hours to go (more, as we’ll stop for lunch) until we’re home. It’s been a lovely week. ❤️
Haste ye back cheekychipmunks, I am very happy that you enjoyed your run today in Scotland at Crichton parkrun in Dumfries despite the frosty weather, well done ✔️✔️
Back on home soil this frosty morning for parkrun number 87. Started out earlier but defrosting the car took longer than I'd expected, so I arrived at about 8.58am. Thankfully the RD was taking her time with the introductions, so I was able to take my usual place with the tailwalkers at the back.
It was below freezing when I set out. Full winter kit: thick socks, running trousers, three layers on top (base, fleece, jacket), gloves, buff (tube scarf), and two layers on head. It was just the right amount this morning.
Even so, there were some there running in shorts and thin-looking tops.
I had no intention of going for a PB this morning. Given my recent performance at parkruns, just getting round without stopping was my intention. (My hope is that by increasing my distances over the next few weeks I'll get faster again naturally.)
The park was partly in sun and partly in shade. The usually muddy bits in the shade had turned into concrete.
My assumption that it wasn't going to be a fast one was confirmed when I was lapped earlier than usual.
There were a few familiar faces and some visitors. At the end I chatted a bit with various people, but had to bow out when the chill started to get through my (sweaty-damp) clothing.
😁😁😁 21:30 finish time and you were in 32nd place out of 54. That was one very fast parkrun crowd. Well done nowster . This morning I also wore gloves, a buff, T-shirt, top and a light running jacket. But I did wear shorts.
After a two week break, one as we were at a gig in Hull (didn't wake up in time to get to Cleethorpes) and a second due to a lousy cold from which I still have some after effects (a terribly runny nose) I was back at my home run today.
Set another PB, shocked myself, improving by 98 seconds from three weeks ago. That was my 9th parkrun ever, now at 42.8% of age grade. At 71 years on this earth I am delighted.
Congratulations on your silver medal Damien, that’s pretty impressive. That is also a very appropriate photo for today, it was freezing at Stratford: when I did the course check it was -4ºC and it wasn’t much warmer when the run started. I think I got my layering right but it’s very difficult to manage after when you’ve cooled down.
Eldest kitten was RD today, his second stint. Well done son, you did brilliantly! I gave him some help to get stuff out of the cupboard and get the first pre-set up person on their way (he’s not used to this bit as he’s usually in bed still!) but then he ordered me to get on with the course check (& so he should!). There is a lot to learn and he’s already doing better than me by doing the run briefing, that takes guts 💪 He also helped out with a non-parkrunner who had fallen over and bashed their face - what a 🤩
I’m starting to run more again. The speed isn’t there but I’m not feeling so raw at the end. Today was a bit slower than last week but I’m still very tired so I should really just be happy I’m doing it! Doesn’t work like that though does it? - head is telling me off for not going sub 30 again. I know it will come but you all probably know how it is, with the gremlins telling you that you’re past your best etc etc. It’s the first time in all the time I’ve been running that I’ve struggled though so this is all new to me. It’s completely different to an injury, much more nuanced.
Next week we’ll be off to Suffolk again. Katnap is going to go off on his own (Great Cornard probably) and I’ll get on with sorting the house out. I’m on 149 runs and 199 volunteer roles (as opposed to credits) so I really want to reach those milestones at home.
I’m not a competitive type TC, and never have been! If someone is passing me during a race or at PR, I’m more likely to slow down to let them go by than to try to remain in front! I have every faith in your ability to run fast again. 👊
Thanks Sue. He is surprisingly unconfident everyday but seems to come into his own when volunteering. I’m trying to find the magic bullet that puts this into all parts of his life! And I don’t really do giving up, it’ll come 😂
Well done to Eldest Kitten. Great to hear 😃 As for your running, you are too good and too dedicated for a little blip to set you back for long. You’ve had a tough time recently, which is bound to have an effect. Just keep running for pleasure, forget time, pace, distance and have fun and I have no doubt your mojo will return xxx
Very well done to Eldest Kitten. Being an RD is great experience and will be great to have on a CV. Well done to you too on your parkrun. You’ll get back there and so will I. I’ve decided to just enjoy every second of parkrun, as a walker, jogger, runner, volunteer or tourist. I’m not going to worry about times etc. I’ll just train on my own and bit by bit I’ll get a little stronger. I’m just going to enjoy the process.
Southampton today for my 95th parkrun. Was hoping to join SueAppleRun at Worthing but all trains that way were replaced by a bus service making it impossible to get there on time. One day soon! Southampton was lovely and sunny with a frost covering the grass, looking beautiful. I joined almost 900 runners and got round in 31:40. Rushed back home to be with the newest member of the family, Daisy. Pic attached 😍
Fabulous run Mudita, but as important (more) is that darling cat! Welcome Daisy. ❤️ I’m missing my two, but we’re on our way home now to see them. 🐈 🐈⬛
Daisy is so beautiful, oh and well done on such a super toke too 😀 I'm not around the next 2 Saturdays but if it's not torrential rain I'll drive down to you xx
A cold one today, luckily we had put the silver screen on the car windscreen. Arrived to find the person who was due to set up the finish area hadn't arrived so we did that. If we had known we would have taken thicker gloves. Then I welcomed the First-timers before a lengthy RD/ED/ local legend briefing. Lots of applause to warm our hands!
It was busy today because the 86 year old local legend doing his 700th parkrun and 500th volunteer. For over 10 years he set up the course single handed so had already walked 2.5 km before starting the run. These days he is the parkwalker, accompanied by a member of his family (I think the grandchildren have a rota!)
The course was good, not muddy but frosty, the sun came out so we didn't get too cold waiting for him to finish and eat the celebratory cake.
Then as a bonus I got home to find three more offers in the email to marshal at juniors tomorrow so I have a full roster
Hello Damienair and parkrunners. UpTheStanley and I decided to cycle on this bright and chilly morning, but we were half way there, when UTS remembered there was a cone bag in the boot of the car, where we’d taken kit home to dry last week. So I sent him ahead and cycled back to retrieve it and got there at 8:50. Just time to hand it to the marshal, lock the bike, remove my hoodie and set up my watch and music..
That cycle ride might have been a good warm up because I ran my fastest time this year at 32:56. 63.46% age score and top of my age group of 3.
No parkrun for me this week as some friends decided to the Red Run instead, a local 5 or 10K run raising funding and awareness for HIV charities. We all did 10K.
It was super fun and my second ever 10K. I need to keep it up 🏃♂️
It was 0° when I arrived at Portsmouth Lakeside at 8.15 this morning to car park marshal (glutton for punishment methinks!). However it wasn't too bad with the sun, lots of layers and jumping around to warm up - in both senses of the word. I felt confident enough to start a little nearer the front than I have recently and it paid off by coming in at 32.50, one minute faster than last week. Next step, back under 32!😀
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