Hello parkrun - I'm back!!!: Well I wasn't even... - Couch to 5K

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Hello parkrun - I'm back!!!

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate
β€’40 Replies

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.

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Pianism
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40 Replies
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SeeJillRun profile image
SeeJillRunGraduate

Whoop whoop! Congratulations, that’s fantastic! πŸ₯‡πŸ†πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‰

Katnap profile image
KatnapGraduate

Woo hoo! Welcome back Pianism πŸ˜πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

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

🐱 Katnap 🐱

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduateβ€’ in reply toKatnap

Well done! Fantastic time!!

Katnap profile image
KatnapGraduateβ€’ in reply toPianism

But yours is a landmark time. πŸ˜πŸ‘

RunaroundSue profile image
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 profile image
PianismGraduateβ€’ in reply toRunaroundSue

Brilliant. More new people into the running fold! :)

RunaroundSue profile image
RunaroundSueβ€’ in reply toPianism

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 profile image
PianismGraduateβ€’ in reply toRunaroundSue

Fantastic! Well done everybody. :)

RunaroundSue profile image
RunaroundSueβ€’ in reply toPianism

They were partly inspired by tales of your success.

Mark1909 profile image
Mark1909Graduate

That is absolute fantastic well done, you really have done amazing πŸ‘

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduateβ€’ in reply toMark1909

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 profile image
SharunsGraduate

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 profile image
RunaroundSueβ€’ in reply toSharuns

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

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduateβ€’ in reply toSharuns

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

Debston profile image
DebstonGraduate

Hooray! What a great run!

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduateβ€’ in reply toDebston

Thank you :)

Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Graduate

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

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduateβ€’ in reply toBuddy34

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

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate

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. 😊 πŸƒ

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduateβ€’ in reply toAlMorr

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 profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduateβ€’ in reply toPianism

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. 😊 πŸƒ

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduateβ€’ in reply toAlMorr

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

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduateβ€’ in reply toPianism

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 profile image
PianismGraduateβ€’ in reply toAlMorr

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

SaskAlliecat profile image
SaskAlliecatGraduate

Whoohoo! Congrats Pianism πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘. That is awesome!

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduateβ€’ in reply toSaskAlliecat

Thank you :)

Couchpotato2 profile image
Couchpotato2Graduate

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

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduateβ€’ in reply toCouchpotato2

Thank you :)

Rogie55 profile image
Rogie55Graduate

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

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduateβ€’ in reply toRogie55

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 profile image
JonathanPGraduate

Well done Pianism! Yes amazing how we can achieve things we would have sworn were impossible!πŸ‘πŸ˜€

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduateβ€’ in reply toJonathanP

Thank you :)

BaddieThePirate profile image
BaddieThePirateGraduate

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

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduateβ€’ in reply toBaddieThePirate

'Tis the carbs...

molly1973 profile image
molly1973Graduate

Congratulations Pianism: that’s amazing!!

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduateβ€’ in reply tomolly1973

Thank you :)

Kevtrev profile image
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 πŸ˜€πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ˜‰

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduateβ€’ in reply toKevtrev

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

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserGraduate

Oh that is absolutely tremendous Pianism!!! Well done you! πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ₯³πŸ₯³πŸ€—

primaballerina profile image
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

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