Ooh I'm a runner, no wait, I'M A PARK RUNNER 😁

[ChrisAllen1]

So the day finally dawned for my park run debut on a bright but very cold north east morning. A beautiful setting looking north from Whitley Bay towards St Mary's Island. I was freezing at the start and can only wonder what the local loons swimming in the north sea were feeling!!.

Not sure I really got the full park run experience as due to the fact that it was -3 at the start only a handful turned up and I was running by myself most if the time.

Still the run itself was my best yet by far with 5k achieved in 32 and a bit minutes, breathing felt good even at a faster pace and i feel I will be able run the distance in the thirty minutes once the weather warms up!!

Continuing to really love this journey and my next park run will be Newcastle on the 30th, hopefully warmer with more competitors.

Happy running weekend everyone 😁

[Elfe5 Graduate]

Well done for braving the low temperatures- and great pace too. You will be well settled in when the fair weather runners appear!

... and what memories you have stirred up-my childhood home is on your map! I had forgotten the daily swimmers in the North Sea. I remember an lady who swam in the sea every single morning of the year & had done for decades. 😃

[ChrisAllen1 Graduate in reply to Elfe5]

Thanks, it's a beautiful spot and also the Spanish city is finally being renovated after years of neglect.

[Elfe5 Graduate in reply to ChrisAllen1]

I had forgotten the Spanish City - it was the one place that was completely banned by my mother! - Otherwise we had great sea front roaming freedom. 😀

[Lottie_C Graduate]

Well done and a great time 👍

[ChrisAllen1 Graduate in reply to Lottie_C]

Thank you so much

[misswobble Graduate]

Well done! It’s good int it 😃.

[ChrisAllen1 Graduate in reply to misswobble]

It's lovely!!!

[misswobble Graduate]

I was up near there in Saltburn and I noticed quite a few more mature ladies swimming in the sea, one of whom was a veritable dolphin, ploughing horizontally across the seascape. Good on em 👍😃

[Snodi Graduate]

Awesomeness! Well done ChrisAllen1 😁😁😁 It's a shame that you were among so few other Parkrunners, but I am guessing that you are right about the temperature playing a part in that! I've not been out running since my 1st Parkrun 2 weeks ago due to a week of back pain and then been in bed all this week with a flu virus and chest infection 😷 Hoping to be back running by next weekend as I'm planning to do the Christmas Day Parkrun!

Way to go, you! Keep it up! X

[ChrisAllen1 Graduate in reply to Snodi]

Thanks, sorry to hear you haven't been well, you will soon pick it up

[Elfe5 Graduate in reply to Snodi]

Oh Snodi, sorry you are poorly- get well soon. The running will wait for you. 😄

[Millsie-J Graduate]

Brilliant run, such a great time too!

Dont forget the New Year Parkrun if the 30th is cancelled due to weather. Just check your local parkrun page to see if they will run and check start time.

Enjoy🏃🏻🏃🏻🏃🏻🏃🏻🏃🏻

[ChrisAllen1 Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

Thanks and will do

[HeleneCorsa Graduate]

Well done, and a cracking time!

Swimming in the sea though... I am sure there must be a great reason why they do this in sub-zero temperatures, and that I just don't get it... but it would still be a resounding NOPE from me.

[ChrisAllen1 Graduate in reply to HeleneCorsa]

Thank you and couldn't agree more, brrrrrr

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to HeleneCorsa]

It is good fun.. I did it every New year's Day.. up to 2014...until Mr OF said he was worried I might collapse..( I think he thought he would have to save me..

[Madge50 Graduate]

Hey there fellow parkrunner! 👍, yes, ours was pretty cold too, and you only get the hardcore lot in these temps, so well done! Great time too....

I love parkrun.....😍🏃‍♀️ Best invention, ever....!

Mx

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done Chris, a new parkrun career started!

keep running, keep smiling.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Very well done you!

[runswithdogs Graduate]

Congratulations on what I am assuming will be the first of many.

Our local Parkrun has numbers ranging from ~12 people to 120 depending on the occasion and the weather. I can say I love running on both ends of the spectrum. On the weeks that are cold you not only get bragging rights, but your number ranking skyrockets. I came 14th place as tailwalker a few weeks ago, which sounds very impressive if you don't know that only 14 people showed up.

[Bridget007 Graduate]

Well done that is brilliant and a really good time 😀

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

Oh - dear!! You have committed an unforgivable sin , for which you must pay the penance of returning to parkrun..... parkrun is ALWAYS spelt as one word and with lowercase letters.

[Hidden]

My god your moving quickly! I'd be so pleased with that time. Well done!

[Chairmanoftheboards Graduate]

Fantastic effort , well done 👍👏