Consolidation week 2... and a parkrun smash!

[Pianism]

Week 2 of consolidation has been amazing!

Run number 1 on Tuesday was the C25k+ Stepping Stone podcast, which is a tempo run, gradually increasing in cadence. Found that satisfyingly challenging. Hopefully that will be the last run that ends in the dark for a while.

Run number 2 on Thursday was a lovely gentle run along a new route in a country park near me. Nothing spectacular in terms of stats - but thoroughly enjoyable. A bit hilly in parts, which demonstrated to me that I need to work on hills at some point in the future, as I've not run any at all up to this point!

Run number 3 was parkrun today and I took 5 minutes (read that again... 5 minutes!!!) off my pb to come in under 35 minutes. Given that a few weeks ago, my time was over 47 minutes, I'm completely chuffed to pieces. I've managed to convert my neighbour to parkrun, and we are similar running speed so this definitely spurred us on to keep going!

Also, on track to achieve 2 stones weight loss at my weigh in next week.

I'm enjoying parkrun so much that I'm setting off on a Grand Tour - a different Parkrun around the Manchester area on the first Saturday of each month (for 2 years, can you believe?!). If anyone wants to join me on any of these these, I'd be delighted. Either drop me a comment or send me a private message.

The schedule is here: iangoughmusic-my.sharepoint...

Happy running

ps - the picture is me and my neighbour after our run... that's my "feeling shattered" face!

[DiscoRunner Graduate]

Absolutely amazing. Well done indeed! And what a fantastic epic mission!!

[Pianism Graduate in reply to DiscoRunner]

One parkrun to rule them all.....

[Couchpotato2 Graduate]

I would have sworn that was a pre-run face!! I end up like 🍅

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Couchpotato2]

I think the colour balance was kind to us! And we'd done our 5-minute warm-downs too.

[SeeJillRun Graduate]

Fantastic! I have the C25K+ podcasts saved ready for after graduation - not long now!

Love the idea of Parkrun touring. I may well be tempted once I have wheels again, it’d be great to meet up with some fellow C25K people n some of yours aren’t that far from me

Well done on the PB! 👏 🏃🏻‍♂️

[Pianism Graduate in reply to SeeJillRun]

No, you're not far off graduation at all - brilliant running!

If you can get to Stockport easily, you're welcome to a lift from there.

[SeeJillRun Graduate in reply to Pianism]

Thanks, that’s very kind of you. I’m not ready for Parkrun just yet though, only just scraping 2k at the moment n haven’t run in the morning yet. I like to have plenty of food under my belt as my blood sugar sometimes drops so I usually run later in the day. Need to try running at different times n see how I go before I try a Parkrun

[Pianism Graduate in reply to SeeJillRun]

Go at your own pace. Remember, you don't have to run parkrun - you're OK walking. But equally, it's easy to get carried away and get injured if you're a long way off 5k.

[SeeJillRun Graduate in reply to Pianism]

My thoughts exactly. I’d much rather wait until I’m closer to 5k than run the risk of doing something daft n injuring myself

[Pianism Graduate in reply to SeeJillRun]

Very sensible!

[DiverIzzie Graduate]

Awesome achievements - good luck on the Grand Tour!

[Pianism Graduate in reply to DiverIzzie]

Thank you

[Cfc55 Graduate]

Wow that’s a massive improvement 🙌🙌 well done 👍! Your lucky having all those runs nearby to choose from! If I’m ever down Manchester way I’ll hit u up for sure 🙂! Mind u you should try one up here, u get an extra half hour in bed 😂

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Cfc55]

Brill. What's the thinking behind starting later?

[Cfc55 Graduate in reply to Pianism]

Dunno 🤷‍♂️ to be honest! If you listen to MB it’s coz us Scots are soft apparently 😂! But then again who listens to MB 😜😂

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Cfc55]

I sincerely doubt the Scots are soft... perhaps sensible!

[Katnap Graduate]

Photo comment: Ain't got time to smile...

Brilliant time Pianism! 👏👏👏🏃🏃🏃🏆

😸 Katnap 😸

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Katnap]

Thank you. Probably won't beat that for weeks, now!

[molly1973 Graduate]

Pianism I love your spreadsheet! I’m usually not a fan of the things but that is indeed a thing of beauty 😊

[Pianism Graduate in reply to molly1973]

Now I just need to run it!

[Ethelbert Graduate]

That's really impressive! I've still not braved a parkrun, I would definitely be closer to your original time though! That's a handy list of ones I could try in time too

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Ethelbert]

All in good time. I did a parkrun every week of C25k, but I genuinely don't mind being last and just running my allotted time and then walking the rest.

[Hidden]

Fantastic achievements!

Park run sound fun. I only know of one near me. At what point did you start running them? Was it after graduation from C25K or at some point during the later weeks?

I think your idea of a Grand Tour of park runs is a great idea! Enjoy 😊

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I did my first parkrun before I did week 1 run 1! Then I did parkrun as the third run of every week, sticking to the podcast and then walking to the end (with perhaps a short run to the finish). I ended up walking a bit this week as I got to 4.5km and then ran out of steam... too fast at the start. But still, it was a great time for me.

[Jogunlikely Graduate]

Fantastic job 👍

I especially like your r2 comment, "nothing spectacular but thoroughly enjoyable"

5 mins off the pb defo earns you a medal 🏅👏👏👏

Happy running x

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Jogunlikely]

Thank you

[Aspire24 Graduate]

Wow well done, that’s a time to be proud off👍👍. My first parkrun today but there were 836 runners! Like that you have a plan, will ponder on that 🤔. Happy running 🏃‍♀️ I

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Aspire24]

Congrats on the parkrun... first of many, I'm sure.

[Hidden]

Brilliant post, I have a similar look on my face after first park run this weekend. Well done on the weight loss too, very inspiring!!

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. Hope you enjoyed your parkrun as much as I did. I might just stop aching in time to walk to work tomorrow!