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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Nice course in a lovely woodland setting. I believe this was the second ever parkrun event to start. Not that busy, despite its history. 500 average runners, which is busy, but lesser “historical” parkruns in London like Clapham or Hampstead have more than that.
Event 887 today, the run director warned next week’s event might get busy as people chase 888 for their number challenges.
Good morning Damien and other parkruners, volunteers and walkers, this morning for the 26th time I volunteered at parkrun, today I was a marshall at Palacerigg Country Parkrun, now my home parkrun, not too many runners this morning, only 59, I think that's due to a new parkrun not too far away which has been attracting 300+ runners since starting 3 weeks ago, it's flat compared to Palacerigg which is a hilly trail course, the weather was dry with light cloudy conditions, I managed to get a short glimpse of the solar eclipse at 10.45 am
As I don't drive I go to parkruns which are easy to get to by bus or train rather than the distance from where I live, for example Dunfermline is 25 miles away from where I live but I can get a bus there quite easily, this new parkrun although only 10 miles away from where I live is far more awkward to get to, I would have to get two buses, then a train and then a 25 minutes walk to get to that new parkrun OR get one bus and RUN according to Google Maps 13K to get to that parkrun, after that I would have to do all that in reverse, so I am not sure if I will go to that new parkrun, it's so sad that Keith the man who took me by car to different places died a few years ago, he and I had plans to go to different places in the future.
I’m sure the numbers will balance out in due course Al and in the meantime you have a new course to try! Well done for volunteering again, I know it will have been appreciated.
59 is low for Palacerigg, last week there were 100 taking part, 75 is about the average, yes they will get bored with flat parkruns and come back to hilly trails.🏃
This morning I got up early and relaxed over some overnight oats and a coffee. I then headed to a local parkrun called Porch Field parkrun in Trim to attempt another shot at getting under 25 minutes for a 5K. I’d followed a Garmin Training program on my watch for the last 18 weeks, last week I attempted it but blew up after 2K having gone off too fast. This time I set up a pace plan on my watch and tried to do positive splits. First 3K I felt comfortable but struggled with a headwind for the last 2K. But I managed the pacing better this week and managed to finish in a time of 24:44. I did it! I can confidently say that I did a sub 25 minute parkrun. All that winter training paid off. Delighted to have a new PB. Happy running everyone.
You sure did damienair ! When will it end? Not for a while I bet - you’re getting faster and faster and that’s fantastic! Big celebration for you! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🤣
Not just getting a PB but that sub 25 minute 5K at parkrun which you have been training for a while, a big congratulations to you Damien on that sub PB 25 minutes of 24:44, now go and celebrate your wonderful achievement✔️✔️✔️
Back on home soil and one of my NENDY which is a relatively new one in my old home town of Lewes. You may have heard of Lewes as very famous for its bonfire celebrations (it’s a bonkers & busy night always held on the 5th unless it falls on a Sunday).
Anyway a ParkRun in Lewes has been in the making pre COVID but finally course sorted and started last July. It’s a lap around a field (happens to be one of the 5 bonfire societies which they hold their bonfire & display) and then following the old railway line. This is done twice before heading to the finish. Thankfully the mud had dried up so made for an easier, but slightly lumpy run.
Beautiful morning and pleased with my time of 34:28.
Well done Beth, it’s always nice to see a new parkrun pop up. We are waiting for a new one within 30 minutes of us but it’s still a bit hush hush, and rightly so. I remember Lewes as a pretty town back in the 80s, and bonfire night being a bit scary with the number of people it attracted.
My regular venue today. Sunny with some very thin cloud that thickened post run. Felt pretty good and, coming up to the line checked what time I had on my watch. A big surprise but also very frustrating as I'm less than 10 seconds slower than my PB from New Years Day! I'll never be fast but I'm faster than my couch. Ah well, roll on next week.
Token sorting is part of the routine as well nowadays, we were well into the 600's this week which makes getting home a bit later ...
That is my 60th PR done, 17th volunteer credit as well. Sorry but I have got to say it and blow my own trumpet a bit - that replacement heart valve is still going strong obviously so many, many thanks to all in my local hospital and at Papworth for their efforts in looking after me in 2023.
Fantastic running and volunteering. Just over 3 years ago I used to sell Surgical Heart Valves, so I've seen plenty of Cardiac Surgery over the 7 years whilst I was in that position. The Surgeons, Perfusionists, Nurses and Physios are amazing people. So delighted that your new Valve is doing its job for you. Happy running.
Solo SB for me this week pals. Hopefully I’ll have Jenny back with me next week, as I do love a buddy! 🥰
It was a glorious morning with on and off bright sunshine. Definitely needed my 😎 as the outward leg is directly into it. There was a light, but extremely biting cross wind, but it didn’t affect the run at all (except for making my hair look a right sight)!
38:39 Garmin, 38:54 official. Felt great. Next weekend will be my 50th at Severn Bridge! I suspect it’s overtaken Eastville now.
I saw the partial solar eclipse on the way home in the car. The sun conveniently popped behind a cloud while I was waiting at some traffic lights which enabled me to look directly at it. So cool to see, looked like someone had taken a bite out of it. 😀
Well done on your run today CC, you cannot look at the sun directly unless you have special glasses, however, if there are thin clouds like where you were and there is a partial eclipse that's OK, after parkrun this morning at 10:45 I also for a very short time got a short glimpse of the eclipse due to high clouds and before the clouds thickend with rain by noon
Thank you AlMorr , yes I was pleased when the sun was behind the clouds as I really wanted to see the eclipse. I’m glad you got a glimpse too. It’s amazing isn’t it? 😍
The best solar eclipse I have seen was on the 11th August 1999, the moon covered three quarters of the sun, the weather was a little cloudy so you could look at the sun without getting blind, the temperature dropped a bit during that eclipse making it feel a little cold at 11 o'clock in the morning, what I think is amazing was that I read way back in the 1950's that that there would be a solar eclipse that day in 1999, I always remember that date as it's my sister's birthday.
Yes Oldgirlruns she’s in London this weekend, but plans on running next week. We’re running the Race for Life 10k in June so she needs to get a few runs in before then!
Well done cheeky! It’s that time of year when ears get sore holding on to different things like glasses, shokz, hat/headband. It gets very cluttered up there!
Thanks damienair , it was lovely seeing the eclipse. A nice surprise as it was mostly bright sunshine and I don’t own eclipse glasses! Shame the sky didn’t cooperate for you.
No eclipse for me this morning – too cloudy at 11am! I attempted to take a photo using a DSLR camera (using the LCD screen to monitor, not looking through the viewfinder) but the cloud thickness made it impossible to see anything.
But back to parkrun. It was a chilly start this morning at Chadderton... and then the sun came out.
No heroics from me. The inner left calf is still telling me not to push it.
A good steady run, and my HR didn't go into zone 5, which is an improvement on previous weeks.
Official time: 31:48, which is twenty seconds faster than last time here (two weeks ago).
And for those who like solar eclipses, here's a photo of the much more impressive partial eclipse of 20 March 2015 (taken at 9.30am).
A partial solar eclipse, taken through thin cloud.
I remember that eclipse - I took photographs of the sun through a colander and got multiple eclipses. Well done on your run Nowster, in spite of your tight calf.
Hello damienair , Southsea was cancelled again so we headed off to Salisbury parkrun to get our 6th S in the snakes challenge. It was 4 almost flat laps of a park with a glimpse of the spire of Salisbury Cathedral. It was a fairly slow start because of the narrow paths but once we had spread out a bit it was fine. I was lapped by the first runner at 1k! It was sunny and 7C so just perfect.
UpTheStanley came in 3rd in his age group and I was 5th with 35 min Garmin and 35:32 parkrun time.
We walked into the town and had breakfast then wandered around the shops after getting changed. UTS did quite well, coming home with a new jacket and shirt.
That’s a lovely location Dexy. I’ve done it once. Beautiful riverside park. Saturday used to be market day years ago but not sure if that still happens xx
Oh yes the river was glowing (that should be flowing) quite fast considering we haven’t had much rain this month. The market was also in full flow. In fact we overlooked it from our bakery cafe. I thought 4 laps would be awful but it worked well.
It’s rubbish that you keep having to cancel Dexy but it’s doing wonders for your touristing! Well done on your run and age placings - I was 18th in mine 🤣
Well spotted JP. Yes he lucked in when I spotted a jacket in the sale at joules. all I got was a set of socks from M&S because I’d forgotten to include some in my change of clothes!
You must have loads of S’s now Dexy5 . I do too! Funny how certain letters are so commonplace here in the Uk and others not so much. Glad you had a fun morning. 😀
Hi Damien, I hope you’re well. It was a glorious morning for a visit to Arrow Valley parkrun this morning as I’m staying with family for the weekend. It’s a really nice route through the country park with one long and one shorter lap round the lake. Lots of geese, swans and ducks to look at while walking (not sure the 17:21 first finisher would have noticed!) and as I finished a heron flew overhead! I was walking again although I did try a few short slow running spells, coming in at 467 out of 476 in a time of 51:53. There were a notable number of shoutouts, including one person doing their 500th parkrun and one doing their 600th! Can’t see me ever making those numbers but I’m very happy with my 100 runs and today I also wore my 100 Volunteer T-shirt! And I forgot to look for the partial eclipse!
Great effort again from you Oldgirlruns , I am going to sign up to volunteer soon again and start working towards my 50th Volunteer T-Shirt. I am more proud of my 25 Volunteer T-Shirt than my 100 running T-Shirt. To wear a 100th Volunteer T-Shirt must feel fantastic.
Hi Damien et al. I did a trial run this morning for a new parkrun starting shortly. It was all organised and run exactly as a normal parkrun but without any official results. There were about 60 of us and I was 53rd. My watch tells me I did it in 43:22
It was a trail run in a most beautiful wooded location with a very friendly team of volunteers. The scenery was just gorgeous with river views as well as the forestry bits. Will definitely do this one once it’s officially running but I’ll avoid the inaugural. A local coffee shop set up a mobile coffee van for the parkrunners and they’ll do this every week if they get enough business. A delightful morning!
It’s in the south of England in a wood 😂😂. I don’t think the location is a big secret nowster but the RD asked us not to say publicly when the inaugural is. I’ve sent you a follow request on Strava so that you can see where I was today 😉
It's very unlikely I'll be going anywhere in the south of England in the next few months. It's likely to be Manchester or Pwllheli for the foreseeable future.
Though there is a possibility of one in Ireland at some point, depending on dates. (Mountbellew Forest is a possibility.)
Is this the one beginning with W that we have been waiting for Mudita11 ? I’m sure a coffee van will get lots of business from parkrunners - some of our runners have a pre-parkrun espresso!
Oh wow, very well done. I think you earnt the right to be at that inaugural parkrun. I love a Trail run and that will be a fantastic new course for the local community and coffee van. Sounds brilliant and just in time for the summer season.
I don’t think the location is that secret. It was splashed around some time back when they were looking to set up a core volunteer group. I am assuming it starts at the car park at the southern end and is an out and back. It should be lovely, it is very flat but a bit of stepping over horse manure may be required.
Last parkrun sandwich for a bit, thankfully! 3hr 15min training run, so just over an hour before parkrun, 35 min parkrun and then carrying on for the remainder until I met Katnap at our favourite cafe.
As usual I still didn’t go as slow as I should have done during parkrun but I did get to natter to our co-ED all the way round which made it much easier. By the time I’d finished my long run I was bang on target so it worked out really well.
This month has been quite tough with my longest cumulative distance run ever and a tough time at work. Running has been my therapy, to paraphrase the book title. My body feels fairly broken with my back playing up and my knees telling me that they would like me to stop! However, the hard part is done now. I’ve a relatively gentle week leading up to the Monsal Trail HM+7 miles next Sunday. That should be easier as I’ll be in my marathon shoes on and I’ll have had a bit of a rest. Also meeting up with loads of lovely HUers and youngest kitten will make it a fabulous day! 😍
Faster than you should have, whilst chatting all the walk round TailChaser ! You are definitely a machine! Couple that with being busy at work and your longest cumulative miles ….. well words fail me! 👊👏💥😍
Bring on MT next weekend. The excitement is getting rather intense here in Bristol. 😅
Good afternoon everyone! After a very active February, Mr S and I have been away in the Motorhome in Spain and France for most of March and I had only done 3 runs this month so didn’t have great hopes of getting a 4th successive fastest time for 2025. And so it proved, but at 34.30, I was pleased to keep it under 35 mins.
Dexy5 told me yesterday that there’s a new parkrun in Lincolnshire at Horncastle. Somewhat off the beaten track and it is 4.5 laps of a school field, on grass, which doesn’t sound too exciting. They had about 200 for the inaugural run last week and 265 today. It will get very popular though, because its official name is Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School Parkrun 😃 Woohoo 🥳 A local Q and my new NENDY, just 25 mins away. Planning a running club outing in the near future, but first is Monsal next week. So excited 😆
My childhood home phone number Sandie1961 - 3430 ❤️ Oh, you and me both with little running - apart from my HM, all I’ve been managing is a PR per week. We’ll be fine next weekend though; the excitement will see us round that 10k. 👊
Car park marshalling this morning at Portsmouth Lakeside. Kept me busy as with Southsea still non-operational we had our largest ever number of finishers - 473! Coddfish (timekeeping) and Mr C (running) came up to join me. The perfect weather for a spring run led me astray and I started off rather optimistically, with the first couple of kms under 6 mins, but eased off after that and came in at 31.36 - what more could you want!😀
No Park Run for me today, just an interval run on a trail. I was underdressed; the weather looked good when I started out, but the wind was icy. 5:15 km in 31:50 felt pretty good in the circumstances. Best part was the post run shower! Getting warmer next week 🙂👍
I was aghast at how bitter the wind was too on the Severn BridgeBeachcomber66 . Very light at 7.9mph according to Strava - although that surprised me a bit - but it was so cold I needed gloves. Did I have any? Course not. 🥶
It was an interesting experience timekeeping away from home. Southsea actively manages discrepancies between timekeepers and tokens, in order to try to produce more accurate results. Lakeside adopts the parkrun standard of ‘noting’ the discrepancies. Perhaps so they can then be ignored. The last few results were incorrect thanks to someone coming through the funnel for a second time and the corresponding token not being taken out, despite knowing it had happened. Suffice it to say I think the Southsea approach is the better one, even if some of our core team can get a bit obsessive about it.
Lakeside does what the guidance says you should do - make note of discrepancies. But that needs the results processor to work out how to solve it - or indeed results in it being left to stand, as happened on Saturday. At Southsea we choose to take action in the funnel by having a number checker ensure timekeepers and finish tokens are in line. Discrepancies are less likely to happen as the number checker will ask for a token to be taken out, or the timekeepers to click one on, whichever is needed to remain in line. It’s particularly important towards the end when the gaps are greatest, (The double entrant was about 6 or 7 from the end). We have evolved our approach at Southsea because some of those in charge (and I) have nerdish tendencies. You can guess who I mean!
I've been doing parkruns since I completed Couch to 5K in mid January, this year.
Over that period I've gone from 30 (age average 31+) minutes to under 26. That's on a slow course, with narrow paths, loops and tight bends. My fastest time so far had been at 'Edinburgh parkrun' - actually on the outskirts of Edinburgh, and run along a wide coastal path with great views. It's a straighter, flatter run and gave me a personal best of 25:16.
I had the chance of a lift there yesterday, so I was hoping I might achieve my first run under 25 minutes this time. A few obstacles included not getting my running app to start (so no time/speed reports), and my parkrun wristband falling off mid-race when I removed a layer of clothing. Perhaps picking it up amongst oncoming runners was foolish!
My usual run has a time-streamed start (because there's not much overtaking room), so if you start at say 26 minutes and keep up, you know you're paced to finish then. Yesterday, I had absolutely no idea how fast or slow I was going.
I had been doing 5Ks three a week, but I've been building to 10K with one shorter and one longer run each week, and building up. That's going well, but the slower pace has affected my 5K times.
Despite all that, I timed at 25:01, tantalisingly short of my goal, but leaving that to aim for on my next visit.
For a 60+ beginner, whose previous fastest running was away from gym class, I'm still very pleased with my results.
Map of Edinburgh (Crammond Beach) route, from parkrun official site.
Well done Overnight_Oats_99_ , to do 25:01 with the tech issues and dropping your barcode band is very good.
The advice I’ve seen is that 80% of your running should be at easy pace so if your running your parkrun fast, it is good to run your other runs nice and easy. Over time you will probably find your parkrun time improves again.
Wow fantastic running. You have done so amazingly well considering you only just finished C25K in mid January. You are going to smash the 25 minute goal very soon. I am running 8 years now and I only just managed to break 25 minutes yesterday. Congratulations on your new PB.
It was the day for our 5KYourWay meet up but I am not allowed to exercise at the moment due to a small surgical procedure last week, involving stitches, so I volunteered. Still took part! We all went for a coffee afterwards, very nice.
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