Hello Everyone. 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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hello damienair and fellow parkrunners, only 4°c. But beautiful sunshine at Portsmouth Lakeside where we met up with JonathanP . UpTheStanley was volunteering as timekeeper as he isn’t allowed to run at the moment. It was a bit muddy in places but not the enormous puddles of last week. It was a lovely day to be running round the lake . I’m a bit out of practice on the ups and downs of the course, but came in with Garmin time 35:39 and parkrun time 35:49. Have a great weekend everyone.
It was gorgeous wasn’t it ? Yes he is doing well, although looking at his tiny phone with his sunglasses on was probably not the most suitable job for him.
Good afternoon Damien and other parkruners, today I was at the parkrun I ran my first run in July 2019, namely Dunfermline parkrun, this morning was my 48th there, #133 altogether, I got a age grading of 60,71% due to my time of 33:05, there were 189 runners, I was #115, the weather was cloudy but dry with a light south west wind, the temperature was 6C, it was nice running where it all began.
By the way when I got home there was a leaflet behind the door from the council saying there will be a new sports facility only 5 minutes from where I live, it will include a synthetic football pitch, basketball hoops, hockey goals AND a RUNNING TRACK, that running track probably won't be more than 50 metres, sounds good to me.
White Rabbits and happy first day of Spring (in the northern hemisphere anyway)! Today was the day of reckoning after my February Health Reset (separate post to follow!). It was 1c at Market Rasen but bright sunshine and no wind. I was determined to try to get my fastest parkrun time this year for the 3rd consecutive week but decided not to look at my watch and just judge it by feel. I was amazed to finish in 32.45, a whole 1.20 faster than last week and 3.15 faster than a month ago. It was my fastest Rasen parkrun since 27 May 2023 and I finally got back above 60% age grading with a 60.87. There must be something in this healthy living lark 😂
Back in Manchester this week, so Chadderton Hall this morning. Once again the "all kitted up and need the loo" thing happened, so I was barely in time for the start, especially as I had to scrape the frost off the car windscreen.
Since last week's parkrun on the sand/pebbles at Pwllheli, I've been struggling a bit with a sore left calf, particularly the lower inner bit, the soleus muscle. I'd put it down it being strained keeping my ankles stable over the pebbles.
I was wrong. It was actually my day-to-day shoes which I'd put on after the run, and had been wearing most days. I'd laced them too tightly at the front of the foot and that was putting a strain on the arch which the calf muscles were compensating for. It wasn't until I was limping around in rehearsal in a church hall on Tuesday evening that I realised what the problem was.
On Friday evening I did a short run to test the leg muscles. Soreness at the start but it passed as the muscles warmed up, and barely any complaints after the run.
Emboldened by that I kitted up with compression leggings this morning (and two thicker layers on my top half as it was touching freezing).
I lined up with a little uncertainty, and started slow. The muscle was making its presence felt but it wasn't painful. After a couple of minutes it had warmed up and was less noticeable. I plodded on, noticing it less and less.
There was no ice on the course itself. There were a few puddles with a skin of ice and a dusting of frost where the sun hadn't yet reached.
I found myself overtaking a couple of the regulars (who I'd deliberately started behind). I kept going, saying "Good morning" to the other park users.
I was overtaken on the third lap (always a sign things are going well).
And then it was over. No heroics to finish.
I hung around chatting a bit. The sun was out and it was getting warmer too.
After driving a bit (first to top up the car and then to get things from Lidl) the leg muscle had tightened up a lot, but it's nowhere near as bad as last weekend.
Official time: 31:06, 24 seconds faster than when I was there two weeks ago.
The run director's briefing at Chadderton Hall parkrun.
We were due to go to Babbs Mill with Shake-and-run today but having been reminded that we had visitors for morning coffee we had to change our plans. In the end it was for the best as I needed some extra rest after a very busy week at work and I really appreciated the extra hour or so in bed.
The weather was cold and frosty but beautiful. A gorgeous start to spring - March is always one of my favourite months as everything comes back to life, and the running comes easier with warmer and lighter days.
A gentle pootle around Stratford upon Avon with 480 others. Katnap ran with me and I said we’d aim for 32 minutes. I was very chuffed to come in at almost exactly that according to my watch. Maybe I could be a pacer after all!
With 8 weeks to go to Manchester Marathon, Katnap is again joining me tomorrow on the first of a few 3 hour runs in my plan. Normally I’d volunteer more whilst marathon training but with only 8 parkruns left to get to 200, I’m determined to fit them in before my parkrun anniversary in May. If Katnap can do it, then so can I!
Have a great runny week everyone, it’s perfect running weather time! ☀️ ☀️ ☀️
Wasn’t quite dead but close enough. I have to say, after thinking I’d not like training for a spring marathon, now we’re in March it’s not so bad. Better than the heat of July/August.
It was great to welcome Dexy5 and UpTheStanley back to Lakeside after a 2 week break for me. Our start is a little slower than it used to be, as we have been 'encouraged' to stay on the path rather than spreading across the surrounding grass, so it can be a few minutes before runners sort themselves out, pace-wise.
It was a beautiful morning and with the sun streaming down, I almost regretted the hat I'd worn to keep my ears warm. A steady pace without pushing it resulted in my fastest time this year at 31.17 for my 198th parkrun - 2 to go!
Went to my local parkrun this morning Shroggs Park Halifax, out of all the parkruns in West Yorkshire it's definitely the toughest course two hills and it's a killer I find. My time was 31:19 today but my foot has been playing up after so hopefully will be better after some rest. Well done if you volunteerd ran or walked at parkrun today
I went to Southampton today for my 150th parkrun. I’ve been a bit hit and miss with my attendance at parkrun these last few months but glad I went today. My dodgy knee held up pretty well and I managed a few trots in amongst the walking and finished in an official pr time of 44:24. There were 1222 runners/walkers today! Crazy numbers 🤪 but good fun.
It is so difficult when you want to run parkrun but are not allowed to Mudita11 . I hope you get your knee sorted soon. Those numbers are amazing in Southampton, I’m hoping ours don’t go up too much when we move location again.
Back to my Oxford parkrun home at University Parks where I volunteered for course check, setup, and report writer - first time on the latter. Today I did setup for the Pinner Village Junior parkrun.
It was my 56th since September 2023, it felt OK but it was a lot slower than of late. Really felt some aches and pains in my thighs later on in the day, almost comparable to when I started cycling 35+ miles a day. Still I got round, did my token sorting (we didn't have any go astray for once) and I'm still here.
Still want to get out to a nendy or two but that will be as the days warm up.
Hubby and I set off on a frosty and misty morning for a new (to us) parkrun location some 50 mins drive away at Babbs Mill. This is my nephew’s home Parkrun and we were going to meet up. The Kats were hoping to come with us but other commitments kept them in Stratford.
The mist had burned off when we arrived but the grass was still frosty and there were icy puddles. The volunteers were busy setting up and made us very welcome. Nephew arrived with his wife and daughter and then we were joined by another half dozen family members, some of which I had not seen since nephew’s wedding 12 years ago! A couple of them were here for their first parkrun, nephew has clearly been spreading the word.
The course was delightful, two laps around a very pretty lake, mostly flat and mostly tarmac paths.
With so many extended family members taking part we were quite a crowd cheering everyone home, so we gathered at the sign for a photo.
Babbs Mill’s after run refreshments are at the Connection Church Cafe. The waffles are incredible and everything is incredibly cheap.
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