Nice cool morning for a run. Stayed with my dear widowed mum last night for supper and a sleep over as she lives just by the park, which was lovely, and like I’d never left home, she woke me up with tea and toast! Love her!
So off to giant park run...only 551 in the field today! Great memories as it’s obviously the park I grew up by, learnt to ride my bike at, played footie and hockey on and took my school sweetheart to the swings!
Usual friendly park run atmos, far more Lycra than my already elevated heart rate should reasonably be expected to cope with and a 5km trek around the lake awaited. Set off at what I thought was an ok pace, but was quickly overtaken by the majority of the 551 trotters. I shouldn’t try to be competitive but it’s tough amongst the crowd, but I have to remind myself, I’ve only ever limped over the 5k mark twice before!
The run went well, for me. And I guess that what matters most. My best pace over 5k yet. My best time yet. So I’m really pleased with that. But it’s pretty chastening when an arse the size of a double decker bus and wheezing like a steam train with asthma goes past you like you’re stationary! Still plenty of work to do yet!!
The arbitrary 30 minute milestone is looking in reach.. did 33 today and had a bit left. The winner did under 17 minutes!!
He must have been on that bus!
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Marvo69
Graduate
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Ha! - Well if it makes you feel unemasculated, ( that really doesn’t sound too good 😂) I would be 10 mins slower than you. .. and I happily don’t care! I am so much faster than the couch. 😃
Well done Marvo. I bet your mum was really pleased to be able to spoil you. I am on IC at the mo so I volunteered at Parkrun today. It makes you realise how much effort some people put in.
Well done for volunteering Dexy - what did you do? I'm going to volunteer in a couple of weeks time. Would like to be the tail walker eventually but I suspect you have to marshall a few times before you're able to do that?x
Hi Pianoteacher- I passed the tokens to someone else to hand to the runners. So glad I didn’t drop them or get them in the wrong order! All the Marshall slots had gone by the time I volunteered. I don’t think you have to be a Marshall for tail walker . It was fun to be involved as I couldn’t run. I think finishing line clicker is probably the most stressful.
What I’d like to say to all Parkrunners is show your appreciation to the volunteers - most people are really grateful to those that make it happen but others are so focussed that they forget their manners.
I think I'm a bit ditzy to do anything like time keeping as demonstrated this morning when they put me in charge of getting the kids to the right pitch at the right time at the football tournament - I did warn them! Only two pitches that were right next to each other as well 😂
I did just that on Saturday on my walk cool down - I backtracked to personally thank a lovely lady called Jo who always bring so much energy right up to the last person. I have volunteered lots of times at other events: motorbikes, Horse competitions, committees, rallies... and it all runs because of only a few people. If you volunteer then ‘thank you’ too, your efforts are really appreciated!
It really appeals to me because people's biggest fear seems to be coming last and that would be my job! Most enjoyable one I've done so far is also the slowest one - getting my teenage son round for the first time. Also I love a chat
The back of the pack is where it’s at! 😃. There is so much happening at the back, and you’re not aware of it til you volunteer as tail runner. The less able, the injured, lots of stories to be listened to 🙂
Yep, mum loved having me over and the company. Well done for volunteering, couldn’t happen without you! I make a point of saying thanks to all the marshalls I run past.
Hi Bridget, well I thought the ankle was much better as a result of the physio exercises, but when I did Parkrun last weekend I had to stop running at 3.5 km with suspected tear in my calf (v painful) so back to physio on Friday. Walking and cycling are fine so keeping fit in other ways, but so frustrating as I’m going to have to go backwards and graduate again I think.
I did my first Parkrun in 40 mins and there were 30 or so people behind me. But it’s not really a race ; you just want to do better than you did last time.
Parkrun is full of slower people like us. I did it in 38 minutes yesterday and the slowest was something like 55. That’s the first time I’ve done it without needing a couple of very short walk breaks and it felt great! I’d do it in less time if I did 10 mins jog, 3 walk but I’m trying to keep jogging to build stamina. And it’s working! And I finally think I found my rhythm yesterday.
Everyone is so encouraging at parkrun it’s briliant. And I will definitely volunteer if I can’t run - like if it’s too hot. Yesterday was cool and I was still dripping and red faced at the end. But smiling 😀
Got to the semi-final. Lost 1-0 conceded a goal with about 1 min of extra time left Nothing he could have done about it (he's keeper) just a shame because he was looking forward to facing pens x
He was fine. Used to take conceding really badly even if his team were 5-0 up but after what happened to poor old Karius in the Champions League I told him if he plays in goal for the rest of his life he'll never make a mistake as bad as that - seems to have done the trick
Your mum sounds lovely if my mum was still here I would stay with her at every opportunity 😍😍😍 you did 5k in 33 minutes?!?!! Wow you are fast! Must be the go faster stripe on your shorts! 🤣🤣 I did a 30 minute run today and was very pleased with the way my legs whizzed along but they were nowhere near as fast as yours!
Well done! My local park run has a huge number of runners too. Going to try the course before actually doing the park run. Am nowhere near as fast as you!
Someone mentioned hula hooping for the hip pain 😉😂I don't know what truth is in that though but I will pop to the garden shed and give it a go when I'm not hurting so much 😊😉
I did my first park run yesterday having completed week 6 on Friday. Brilliant atmosphere and so friendly with 263 runners. I was overtaken by a granny pushing a jogging pram! Amazed at my time of 34.35 considering how I was on week 1. To those worried about being seen running in daylight don't worry, there were all shapes, sizes and ages and everyone is so supportive, especially the wonderful volunteers.
Well done, this made me feel sad for your widowed mum, laugh at the fat bum bit, feel pride for your effort and time, must of all inspiration for us all to carry on with running no matter how fast/slow we are . Nice post
Haha your post has tickled me this morning! I’m building up to a 5k and aim to do a park run when I graduate! I’m sure looking forward to seeing double decker arses on the day! 😂😂
Don't wait! Start going now. There are lots of people who use parkrun as one of their regular c25k runs right from the word go and just walk/jog to the end once their podcast has finished.
Lol 😂 I think there’s a good chance that you’ll be passing the person with the big butt and wheezing at some point in the future. Everyone there was doing more than most! Well done! ❤️
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