1st parkrun... running wellies anyone?

[simonwilliamstutor]

Well, that was quite an experience! Hundreds of people, lots of dogs, lots of yellow and an obscene amount of mud.

I ran Leamington pr this morning with a good friend who has done several prs and is helping to set up the Bromsgrove one. Right from the off the mud was ridiculous... or rather my footwear was. I ran in my old Nike cross-trainers which had NO grip whatsoever and every time I planted my foot at a bit of an angle I slid slightly - it was really disconcerting! I could barely find any rhythm and only halfway around did I realise that running through the puddles was going to be a lot easier than dodging them. That and finding my way past people (difficult with the mud and the narrow width of the path in places) slowed me down somewhat.

Got a bit of space in the final stretch but I must have looked a right prat in the final few hundred metres when I found a bit of space and overtook 6-8 people at pace; only to nearly slip on the mud and had to slow to a crawl to avoid falling!

Anyway, my official time was 29:06 and I was 184th (not 100% confident of the time or position at all as the funnel was a bit of a melee). I reckon there was at least 10 seconds of shuffling to get to start line after the whistle went and Lime Green Laura said I'd been running for 28:46 so I'm pretty sure I was underneath 29 mins for the 5k. Pretty chuffed with that given the conditions. And I was only about 20 seconds behind my friend too.

Will definitely do pr again but I am not going back to Leamington until there's a drought.

[poppypug Graduate]

Well done Simon, thats a fantastic time !

I didnt do parkrun today, as it was a swamp last week and I needed a break from the mud for a bit ,so I ran into the local town instead

Glad you enjoyed it, despite the conditions . It certainly does strengthen the legs though , I think , as long as you manage to keep upright ! xxx

[simonwilliamstutor Graduate in reply to poppypug]

Yes, I think I used every muscle and ligament below the knee trying to stay upright. On the walk over to the start line I was thinking "I want my lovely Asics and my clean dry pavements" but I coped with the mud and even managed to run up the big, nasty hill.

I believe Evesham is flat and dry (flooding permitting)... might try that one next.

[poppypug Graduate in reply to simonwilliamstutor]

Im really looking forward to the drier weather now to be honest. The mud nearly sucked my shoe off last week , plus I did a full frontal body slide too.

Not one of my best parkruns ! Ha ha ! xxx

[jojo57 Graduate]

Excellent time - well done!

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

Well done on your first parkrun! I keep saying I must start doing them and still haven't got round to it! Sounds as though lots of them are tough going at the moment, so well done for staying upright and with a great time too!

[susie_bourne Graduate]

Hi , I had a really similar experience at the Bournemouth Parkrun yesterday. A few of my fellow runners actually did fall over completely, though I did manage to stay upright, PB's were never going to happen !! I think as other people have said, its a good workout at least !!

[Madge50 Graduate]

Yes ours was a mud bath yesterday, very few pb's, it does take a bit of getting used to, that slight slip under foot. Well done on a great time. There was a lady next to me with very, very clean trainers on, I did say to her, they won't be that colour when you've finished, but be very proud of them!

The puddles are great - as long as they're not vicar of dibley ones! - I draw the line at swimming in it!

😄

Mx

[simonwilliamstutor Graduate]

Updated with a pic of me... I was trying to smile!

[poppypug Graduate]

Aw thats a really good pic !

And yep , youre right , that IS muddy

Well done xxx