Post grad W2R2

[David_G]

Hi all, just finished my latest outing round the mean streets of Croydon 😳 I know from your posts there are nice places to run out there, but this isn’t really one of them 😕

I managed to keep going to 5K and did it in 33:31 so not too bad. That works out at about 5.3 mph if my maths is correct, but that’s by no means certain! 😉

I’m pleased to have done it though as wasn’t feeling too healthy when I started out. ☺️ That improved once I got going and felt good at the end 😀👍

Enjoy your running everyone 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

[Ripcurlrana71]

That’s a great time! Average pace of 6.6/KM pretty good. 👏🏼👏🏼

[David_G in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

Thanks, I’m quite pleased with it anyway 😀

[sallenson Graduate]

I think that under the Rules you get extra mileage bonus points for having to run in Croydon. I think it's related to Tram-Awareness Danger Provision under the Human Rights Act.

One of the Admin folk will be able to confirm tho

Good for you anyway David!!

[David_G in reply to sallenson]

Ahh yes, there’s an idea! An extra badge for running in dangerous places. 😂😀

[sallenson Graduate in reply to David_G]

You might negotiate an additional "Kate Moss lived here" sympathy bonus too. Worth looking into. Amal Clooney's pretty good at this sort of Human Rights stuff - want to me to ask?

[David_G in reply to sallenson]

Another excellent idea and another badge for me 😂🤣

[sallenson Graduate in reply to David_G]

Badge Delirium Central around here

[icklegui Graduate in reply to sallenson]

Good point - I did cross a tramline on my last longer run. I'll give myself an extra 0.1 km!

[sallenson Graduate in reply to icklegui]

A friend of mine whose elderly father still lives in Blackpool used to regale me with stories of him sitting on a bench watching drunken Stag Do refugees get run over by trams. It's another world Up North... :-))

[Myrar Graduate]

Well done😊

[David_G in reply to Myrar]

Thanks! 😊

[icklegui Graduate]

Ahem! We have plenty of parks and lovely residential roads for house-ogling while running. 5K should get you to a nice bit from whereever you are!

[sallenson Graduate in reply to icklegui]

Is that a lone pro-Croydon voice?

[icklegui Graduate in reply to sallenson]

I'm not an estate agent but I will happily sell you Croydon, 'cos it's not all bad (and then I'll have more running neighbours!)

[David_G in reply to icklegui]

Yes, fair comment, but it’s not all good either 😊 I keep out of the town centre at nights, particularly Friday and Saturday, there’s just too many idiots about. 😳 I don’t suppose for a minute Croydon’s the only place that applies to these days 😕.

Maybe I’ll get a bus or tram somewhere nice next time I run 🏃‍♂️ That might improve the experience 😀

[icklegui Graduate in reply to David_G]

Yes! Do that! Many lovely parks in reach

And yes, I share your avoidance of the town centre on a going out night. Any town centre in fact if I can help it! I run through it when it's quiet though. Like at 5.30am!

[sallenson Graduate in reply to icklegui]

There's safety in numbers too

And let's be fair. You could be in Orpington or somewhere truly terrible. Croydon does at least have shops. And the Fairfield Hall

[David_G in reply to sallenson]

Fairfield Halls is closed now, for re-development apparently. 😉 Orpington was Ok last time I was there, but that was years ago 🙂

[sallenson Graduate in reply to David_G]

It'll end up a Weatherspoons then...

[David_G in reply to icklegui]

Do we? Are you sure you’re in Croydon? 😉😊 5K might get me to a nice bit, but I’ve got to run through less nice bits to get there and back 😀

[Bridget007 Graduate]

It’s not very picturesque is it 😂😂 still plenty of shops! That’s a very speedy run 😀

[David_G in reply to Bridget007]

Thanks! 👍😀 Yes, quite a few shops around town but also quite a few shut down. 😕

Still, we’ve got the new Westfield development to look forward to if the papers are to be believed 😳🤞👍

[Fabulous450 Graduate]

5K in 33:31 👀 That's brilliant David_G! 👏🏽👏🏽❤️

[David_G in reply to Fabulous450]

Thanks! 😀👍

[Jay66UK Graduate]

Well done!

[David_G in reply to Jay66UK]

Thanks Jay, I’m getting there slowly 😊

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to David_G]

It’s the only way to get anywhere!

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Well done 👏

Perseverance pays off 👍😉

[David_G in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Yes, I’m sure it will. Thanks! 👍

[icklegui Graduate]

5k now though, instead of making defensive remarks about our town I will comment on your excellent run! Are you considering ... parkrun? I guess also if you are running through town there's a bonus for dodging pedestrians, never mind tramlines and celebrities - I don't know how people do it, running through cities.

[David_G in reply to icklegui]

Thanks icklegui, I’ve registered for Parkrun but not plucked up the courage to have a go yet as didn’t want to show myself up. I’ll have a go soon though 😊

Thanks for your support 😀👍

[icklegui Graduate in reply to David_G]

I asked as someone who hasn't even registered! I am unsure about running with people I might know!! Go for it though, they do sound wonderful.

[David_G in reply to icklegui]

Thanks! I’ll post on here when I’ve done my first one, probably in a couple of weeks when I’m back from my hols 🌞😎

I love the picture of the cat, by the way! 😻

[southlundon Graduate]

Catch a tram to Beckenham and run round Langley park or Beckenham Rec, my old stomping ground (Elmers End poss the nearest tram stop rather than Beckenham Junction) 😎

[David_G in reply to southlundon]

Thanks Southlundon, I’ll give that a try and report back 🏃‍♂️😀👍

[Saartjie Graduate]

Glad you had a good run 👍

[David_G in reply to Saartjie]

Thanks 👍😀

[Gilliano666 Graduate]

Hi David, as a fellow pg week 2er, mind if i ask what device or app you used to measure your run? I'm tracking mine on my fitbit, but only know the distance when I've finished. Would like to set myself a proper 5k goal

[David_G in reply to Gilliano666]

Hi Gillian, I use Strava on my phone which I use for my music 🎵📱. 😊 It tells me every 0.5 K how far I’ve run and what my split time is for the 0.5K and pace per K and my overall elapsed time ⌚️It also gives me a map and loads of stats after each run, and tells me when I’ve done personal bests in sections 🥇 I’ve had no problems with it and found it easy to use 👍

Good luck! X

[Gilliano666 Graduate in reply to David_G]

Thanks David, sounds exactly what I'm looking for 👍🏃‍♀️

[Jhill66]

Croydon! Luxurious area that! You should try running in my old stomping ground of Wandsworth! Mugged and stripped to to your undercrackers before you got to the end of your road lol!

[David_G in reply to Jhill66]

Oh dear, that sounds horrible 😳😩 Hope it didn’t put you off running though - probably not, as you’re posting on here 😉😊

[icklegui Graduate in reply to Jhill66]

Pfft! I used to live in Tooting. Mind you the biggest hurdle to running there is the excellent curry establishments. I did get 'mugged' once by a child on a bike. I yelled at him and he dropped my wallet!

[Jhill66 in reply to icklegui]

When I moved away after my son got mugged and bashed up for a non existent phone I spent the first two years looking over my shoulder! You can take the old girl out of London but not London out of the old girl!!

[icklegui Graduate in reply to Jhill66]

Oh that's awful. I joke about my "mugging" but of course so many bad things happen - all over the city, I guess. But some places aren't half extra notorious

[Jhill66 in reply to icklegui]

And Tooting! Poor you! I feel for you it’s on par with Wandsworth! Possibly worse!