Hello parkrun - I'm back!!!

[Pianism]

Well I wasn't even sure I was going to do parkrun this morning after a heavy legs session with my PT yesterday and then a late night involving beer and pizza.

But by 7.30am, my heart felt its siren call and I knew I'd be lining up with them at 9am!

No expectations today... hadn't really set myself up for success so wasn't expecting anything other than to just get round.

And, sadly, I'm going to have to adjust my expectations for the year... I'd hoped to get under 30 minutes around Christmas but that's now not going to happen.

Because...

I've only gone and done it already, haven't I ??!?

I started off running with my parkrun buddy (pictured)... she's been consistently ahead of me but has not been well recently. So we ran the first 300 metres or so together but then I felt a surge of energy in my legs and off I went. Strange feeling, but I just kept overtaking people! At the 1k mark, my watch told me I'd run my fastest ever 1k (at 5.50), so I dialled it back a little, but not much.

So I just kept waiting for the inevitable moment when I ran out of steam, but it didn't really arrive. And when, by 4k, I realised I was on to break through the 30 minute barrier, the adrenaline really started to flow. I'm not sure I'd count the end as a sprint, but it was certainly a push.

And so I came in at 29.47 unofficial.

For those just starting out, it's taken me 8 months of intensive exercise, careful eating, weight loss, injury, massage and physio to get me here. But as a 20-year confirmed couch potato, I never, ever, thought I'd be writing posts like this.

Happy running folks... at whatever speed and distance you're at.

[SeeJillRun Graduate]

Whoop whoop! Congratulations, that’s fantastic! 🥇🏆🎉🎉

[Katnap Graduate]

Woo hoo! Welcome back Pianism 😁👏👏👏

There must be something in the air... I might have gone sub 26 minutes at our local parkrun.

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Katnap]

Well done! Fantastic time!!

[Katnap Graduate in reply to Pianism]

But yours is a landmark time. 😁👍

[RunaroundSue]

Well done.

We have just come in from Ellon parkun. My 32.01 pb from last year still stands.

The course was changed due to an incident in the park so the last km was uphill into the wind.

But a nice run and the expected heavy rain did not materialize (hope it holds off for the barbecue this afternoon).

We went with three of our friends, one running for the first time after an injury, the other two did their first parkrun and ran more than they expected.

[Pianism Graduate in reply to RunaroundSue]

Brilliant. More new people into the running fold!

[RunaroundSue in reply to Pianism]

It was only a matter of time. One parkrunner post injury tried a little run, success.

One part way through C25K but on hold due to aforesaid injury and very busy life. Planned to walk but "tried a little jog" and did better than expected, success.

Other is son home from university, a cyclist, orienteerer and sailor, not a runner. Planned to walk with his mum but also did some jogging. They finished together, success.

[Pianism Graduate in reply to RunaroundSue]

Fantastic! Well done everybody.

[RunaroundSue in reply to Pianism]

They were partly inspired by tales of your success.

[Mark1909 Graduate]

That is absolute fantastic well done, you really have done amazing 👍

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Mark1909]

Thanks Mark. If I can go from 42 in jeans to 32 in 8 months, you'll get into yours soon I'm sure.

[Sharuns Graduate]

Well done Ian! I ran my 3rd fastest at Cheadle Hulme today (my 1 year anniversary of Parkun). I'm convinced that alcohol fuels me round on a Saturday morning (despite a weird dream about that new bar).

[RunaroundSue in reply to Sharuns]

Well done Sharuns. Maybe I should have drunk more champagne last night

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Sharuns]

This morning we were wondering if it's the sugars in one's body that give.more fuel than normal....

[Debston Graduate]

Hooray! What a great run!

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Debston]

Thank you

[Buddy34 Graduate]

5k in under 30 minutes and sooner that you thought. You should be so pleased . Well done you 😊

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Buddy34]

I'm delighted! Time for new goals...

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

29.47, congratulations on that sub 30 minute 5k time for you today Pianism, you are the second person who have reported that they ran sub 30 today at parkrun, Kevtrev also ran under 30 minutes, perhaps I might do that some day.

Next Tuesday I plan to run on the same course that I ran for the first time a sub 33 minutes 5k last year, with my metromone app at 172 steps a minute I may be able to get closer to that magic sub 30. 😊 🏃

[Pianism Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

I don't know what it is about 30 minutes that's so tantalising... yet there it is. Next is to get it under 25.... haha

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to Pianism]

Age grading at parkrun is interesting, if anyone is +50% that could be treated as a pass, although I haven't ran sub 30 minutes, all the 4 parkruns I have been at have been around 54%age grading, I am quite happy about that. 😊 🏃

[Pianism Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Indeed. My sub-30 is only 47.26%...

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to Pianism]

That's a bit unfair, I am quite happy to get +50% age grading more than a sub 30 minute 5k, if I did, at the age I am, 73, the age grading would be around 60%.

Most, but not all men in my age group who can run sub 30 minute 5k's are seasoned runners who have been running for decades, not like me who only started with C25K in April 2018.

[Pianism Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Yes, indeed. Age grading of 50% + is impressive.

[SaskAlliecat Graduate]

Whoohoo! Congrats Pianism 👏👏👏. That is awesome!

[Pianism Graduate in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thank you

[Couchpotato2 Graduate]

Magic! (As in amazing). Wow. Fridge magnet update time!!

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Couchpotato2]

Thank you

[Rogie55 Graduate]

Well done. I don’t think i’ll Ever see under 30, but i’m Happy with under 40 lol

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Rogie55]

I didn't think I'd ever see it either. I couldn't even conceive of how someone could run at that pace! But somehow it creeps up on you and there you are.

[JonathanP Graduate]

Well done Pianism! Yes amazing how we can achieve things we would have sworn were impossible!👍😀

[Pianism Graduate in reply to JonathanP]

Thank you

[BaddieThePirate Graduate]

Woohoo! Brilliant Pianism. That's what I call a comeback. What a result. And fuelled by pizza. Must try that 👍

[Pianism Graduate in reply to BaddieThePirate]

'Tis the carbs...

[molly1973 Graduate]

Congratulations Pianism: that’s amazing!!

[Pianism Graduate in reply to molly1973]

Thank you

[Kevtrev]

Well done to you pianism on coming back to running after your injury and well done to you for doing a sub 30min that’s a milestone achievement you must be so happy 😀👏👏👏👏😉

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Kevtrev]

Thank you. Yes, it felt amazing I have to say!

[TailChaser Graduate]

Oh that is absolutely tremendous Pianism!!! Well done you! 👏👏👏👏👏🥳🥳🤗

[primaballerina]

OMG - Pianism that is just FANTASTIC!!! WOW kudos to you.... I'm amazed... particuarly as you were on the IC just a few weeks ago...

(I've been having a slow-down due to achilles issues after my PB of 38:19, so I'd been doing 2 to 2.5k runs at 10+ / k pace... today I returned to 5k and managed an average of just under 9. I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever be able to do that sort of 'distance' again... but then it has been hot here recently).

But, back to YOU... a 5:50 starting 1K - amazing! You can't have dialled it back much as you came in UNDER the 30!

So happy for you!

PB