Couch to 5K

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Who runs on grass?

Today I went to a new parkrun, Coldham's Common in Cambridge. It was only their 5th event, and the last Saturday of each month is an invitation to cancer patients/sufferers/survivors and their family and friends.

I really enjoyed it, but it was ever such hard work! It was all on grass, not one bit of pathway...

Who runs on grass? Can you give me any advice?

26 Replies

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Hi Curly, it is energy sapping and the only way to conquer it, like so many things, is to keep doing it.

That said, I don't think I have ever done 5k solely on grass.

Good to see you out there.

Thank you Tim, energy sapping is right! I ran out of energy at about the halfway point, but I had had to walk a mile to get there....it was bloomin' cold too! Still it was a lovely venue and I'll go there again.

How are you doing?

I'm okay, knocking out a 10k each weekend but not having much energy to push beyond that at the moment. Keep plugging away........

Yes, the energy issue is the worst part for me. Still, I think it's getting better...

Me!

Great job. Grass is a strange thing, and it’s in that time of year when it gets a wee bit slippery around 9am. If you’re gonna do that lots, trail spikes help a lot, but soon that grass will be hard as concrete, especially in the winds that Cambridge gets in the winter, so spikes won’t give you much. In the spring it’s like a treadmill but with scenery! I can’t give you too much advice I run it all the time and it only gradually changes, and I adapt to it as it does. The most important thing, as with any run, is to just enjoy the fact you’re running and love the moment. Cross country events will help, if that’s the way you’d like to go.

Maybe someone has adapted to grass and can answer the question better.

Hi CG!

My first Race4Life was all grass. I knew it would be so I ran on grass always for weeks before. In my experience you have to train for it the same as any other training. Its a bit like hills, run hills to run hills. It does take more energy but will build running legs.

So glad you enjoyed it!

Cg!!!! Long time no see

I hope you are planning on going to th C25KGC2020 Meet ? 😊

Ummm, what? Tell me more...

I din’t know the answer to your question Curly, as I’ve only run on paved roads or trails, but it’s great to see you here again!

Thank you Roger!

No advice for grass..but you look fabulous, my friend😊 I have those leggings too!!!

Huge well done to You xxxx

Hey Curly - most of my runs are on grass or tracks. I find the roads hard on my knees. Not sure that I can give any advice other than stick with it. Anything new takes some adjustments. My closest park run is flat whereas home is all hills - I find the park run very tough -odd isn’t it??? Good luck with your running. Well done for heading out in the cold. 😊👍🏁🏎👏

Roads are so hard on my knees,

And shins,

And achilles-es

Definitely prefer grass and trail. 😆

I prefer grass / tracks to roads, for which you need trail shoes. Try Advanced Performance in Huntingdon Road for advice on the right shoes.

You should try Wimpole Park Run if you get a taste for it?

I very well might, I think Madge does that one sometimes. Do you do Wimpole?

Yes that’s my favourite park run - it’s got a bit of a hill in it which makes it more interesting. It’s also one single lap which I prefer. There is a winter route which is flatter and less ‘interesting’ but you will need trail shoes at this parkrun whatever the weather.

Good to hear from you and great news about the new parkrun. I've been put off going out to the Milton one whenever I've been visiting family in Cambridge sure to huge numbers & distance but C. Common would be much easier to get to. I used to do a parkrun which was all grass (have swapped to a field/trail/path combo now) - felt I was always slow on it but it is easier on my shins! Guess you just have to stick with it!

OOh! Let me know if you are going to do either and we could meet up! I think Milton has far fewer runners now, some have transferred to Coldham's Common.

That'd be fun! I did wonder if the balance of runners might shift with another starting up. Will let you know when I'm next in Cambridge on a Sat!

Fab leggings btw!!🙂

Trail shoes. And I find a slightly lower stride helps, I don’t know how to phrase it properly... you’re not aiming for a flying feet, knees high ‘sprint’ action, if you know what I mean?

Blimey, I never manage flying feet or high knees anyway! I'll look into trail shoes if I think I'll do this one often.

They really are a godsend, especially as the weather gets wetter and the grass gets muddier. Of course, your feet will also weigh more by the time you get to the end when that happens.

Hi Curlygurly2 it's been ages since I've seen one of your posts. Lovely to see you. Hope all is going well with your treatment. I love the idea of the last Saturday being an invite to people affected by cancer. If it was a little closer I would think about coming over (I'm in Luton so a bit of a trek).

I sometimes run on grass, but it is harder work, and watch out when it gets wet, especially if it's long as it can be slippery... and then there's always some muddy bits to look forward to later in the year!!!

Hi Razouski

My treatment is over, finished in March, except the hormone pills. I'm doing ok, it's a long process which I hadn't really expected, and I still sometimes struggle with fatigue, but all in all it's not too bad really. How are you doing?

I took part in a fashion show last week, fund raising for Addenbrooke's. Have a look if you're on facebook.

Hello you!.. Looking very smart there..my local PR is a lot of grass but with trail going through some of it, so am lucky, but then there's the hill, which makes it one of the hardest in the South.

I like to vary the terrain, road, grass, trail, thinking about the knees... grass has very slightly more give than road...think it's just a matter of getting used to grass, as Tim says, keep doing it..