I'm going to do my second ParkRun

[JohnBlake]

on Saturday! There, now I HAVE to do it! I don't want to be last bloke again, so I'm going to run faster!

[Hidden]

That's the spirit ! Not TOO fast though...

[JohnBlake Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Haha! I'm not capable of too fast! lol

[Hidden]

I've signed up for our local one in readiness for graduation, so now I have to go too! I may do W9R3 there if I can get it to coincide with a Saturday

[JohnBlake Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Great, Ali! When do you think you'll be doing it? I'll get the banners and balloons out ready for your graduation celebration!

[Hidden in reply to JohnBlake]

I don't know yet John. I'd like it to be on the 17th but I'm still down and out with my poorly achilles, which is much better already but am still hobbling on it Still, gives you time to order the extra noisy party stuff cheaper from Hong Kong, lol!

[JohnBlake Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Lol! You think I'm cheap? I was going to get the Red Arrows to do a fly-by! With pink smoke, 'cause you're a girlie!

[JohnBlake Graduate in reply to JohnBlake]

PS Hope your achilles heals quickly!

[Hidden in reply to JohnBlake]

Nope, I was just thinking of everybody's post-Christmas wallets, lol! The pink arrows would be good though - they'll match my new kit!!

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

John

Just as an experiment -- try running Parkrun at a run/walk ratio of 4/1 or 5/1 and see whether you beat you last time?? if you do ( and you probably will) , you then have a target to aim for when running non-stop. If you can run a certain pace, using run/walk , then you "should" be able to achieve that same pace eventually running non-stop.

I have run a 14K race using 2/1 run/walk at a pace of 7:30 min per K -- BUT at this time, although I can run 10K non-stop, it is actually at a slower pace than that. So I have 10 weeks to get my non-stop pace for the 10K up to what I can do run/walk!! -- OR I could just run the race using a run/walk strategy!!

[JohnBlake Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

My word, Bazza! OK, I'll give that a try the time after next, as all I want to achieve on Saturday is to beat my PB for 5k, and the ParkRun has a competitive side to it that I don't get when I run alone. Thanks for the tip!

[lizziebeth57 Graduate]

Good for you John, nothing like a public announcement to make sure you go. As for finishing time/place, see if you can learn anything from your last time, e.g. did you set off too fast and run out of steam at the end? Otherwise though, the main thing is really just to enjoy it

[JohnBlake Graduate in reply to lizziebeth57]

Haha! Yes, Lizziebeth, it has a psychological aspect to it, rather like announcing to the world that you're giving up smoking - you look such a prat if you start again! Last ParkRun was my first, I didn't know the procedure or the course, and now I'm better armed to beat my last time. Er, enjoy? I'm sure that'll come, but at the moment it's hard work, and the only enjoyment is from finishing!

[lizziebeth57 Graduate in reply to JohnBlake]

I am going to be honest here and say that after 17months running I an still in the place where I enjoy about half my runs, the rest are still a real struggle. But I ALWAYS enjoy the feeling afterwards

[Hidden]

haha well done John good for you I will be at mine sat morning as usual now

[JohnBlake Graduate]

That's good to hear, Rob! I hope it's dry for us both, I'm not keen on slippy-underneath!

[ju-ju- Graduate]

brill...well done you, enjoy it!

[JohnBlake Graduate in reply to ju-ju-]

Thanks, Ju! I'm planning on running at Little Stoke for a few months before tackling the fearsome Ashton Court! That looks really scarey!

[agedsnailspace Graduate]

Does your Parkrun have a tail runner? A good way to build confidence is to volunteer for this role (then you are obliged to be last!), it gives you a chance to learn the route and to see who else is around.

[JohnBlake Graduate in reply to agedsnailspace]

No, where I did my first run they have a tail gunner. After the first lap he shoots whoever is last. This makes everyone else run faster, for fear of their lives, and it makes the results table look really good compared to other Bristol ParkRuns! lol