Abingdon Parkrun #5 - and headphone capers!

[iain-strachan]

Last week, I got a new PB - about a minute and a half faster than the previous, which was from a single parkrun I had done 2 years ago before injury intervened!

So last week I was anxious to make the PB in this era of running, and the previous week was only 15 seconds outside it. So I felt quite keyed up because I felt I HAD to beat it. In the end I was 1:23 faster, so the old PB was now history.

So this week I decided to take it easy, and not attempt a new PB. So I thought, as the PB was now 36:13 I'd aim for 37-38 mins. It never works out like that though, does it? On the day you tend to go faster than intended, so I was only 14 seconds slower than last week, and still faster than the 2017 PB.

The hilarious part was that my son was doing a Parkrun in London at the time. There is something the matter with his phone that causes it to "pocket-dial" random people on the Speed dial list on his phone, especially when he's running. During his parkrun he managed to pocket dial the home phone twice, and my mobile FOUR times! So I'm chugging along listening to The Who on a running playlist on Spotify, and the headphones start playing The Ride of the Valkyries (seems to be its default ringtone), while my phone starts playing Radiohead (my phone ringtone). I look at the watch and see it's my son and ignore it. At the end there are four voicemail messages 4 minutes long of heavy panting!

Then the useless headphones disconnected from the bluetooth - I lost the motive to carry on running and have to say I walked a little and reconnected them. Then later on it happened again!

I've yet to find running headphones that (a) stay in my ear and (b) don't disconnect randomly. Any recommendations? Am looking into these "headbones" that use bone conduction technology - also good for cycling as they leave your ears open.

The picture is the Thames just coming down from Abingdon bridge, on the way to the start of the Parkrun.

[Annieapple Graduate]

So annoying when headphones disconnect!! 🤣 great son story! Glad it was good overall & stunning location👍👏

[Granspeed Graduate]

🤣🤣 As a recent victim of “random occurrences including tech”, I chuckled mightily at this! Well done for surviving it with good grace. 👏🏼

My headphone issues were only solved (eventually) by Bluetooth and no wires. Has its own downsides (and not good for biking for me - too dominant) but works better than the wires for me when running, especially off road,)

Oh, and welcome back! 😄

[Tasha99 Graduate]

I love my Aftershokz Trekz titanium headphones! Can listen to music and have a conversation and hear traffic at the same time! They’re the only ones allowed at some races too as they’re the only ones approved by EA. If you’re only little the mini ones will be fine - I’m 5’11” and the regular ones were too big. There’s a measurement guide on the website but they maybe cheaper to buy elsewhere.

[iain-strachan Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

Yes, I'd looked into those. I might just order some. I use headphones for cycling as well. Does the traffic drown out what's coming out of the headphones? I normally listen to an audiobook while cycling, or classical music. When running, it has to be aggressive rock music though!

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to iain-strachan]

I think they go quite loud. I can’t remember not being able to hear my music but can’t be sure. Yes I need upbeat stuff for running too 🤣 You can answer the phone with them too but I haven’t done that yet. My friend has and said it was great as don’t need to get your phone out.

[iain-strachan Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

You can answer the phone with my ones today (when they work!) but if I'd answered when my son pocket dialled me it would have been an interesting ( ... and dubious ...) sounding conversation of two people heavy breathing at each other!

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to iain-strachan]

🤣

[iain-strachan Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

Did you mean 5'1''? 5'11'' sounds quite tall! Same height as me.

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to iain-strachan]

No I’m 5’11” well nearly, hate it. Depends on how broad your neck is I guess.

[iain-strachan Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

Well, I've ordered, and didn't realise there was a regular and a small size. Hope they're not too big for me! Guess I can get them changed. But I have a fat face so should be all right!

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to iain-strachan]

Hope you like them 👍🏽

[iain-strachan Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

They arrived today. They fit perfectly and sound pretty good. Remains to be seen how they perform on the bike ride into work. Thanks for the recommendation!

[iain-strachan Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

Tried them out on the bike commute today. Pretty impressive! I didn't even have to have the volume turned up all that much. Also far less wind noise as they don't stick out so much.

One of the reviews said it wasn't very loud and it tickled as it vibrated on the skin. I noticed that when I started, but that was because I had it to high up. When moved it down to about half way down the ear it was much louder and I didn't notice the vibration.

So .. a big thumbs up so far!

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to iain-strachan]

Excellent! Glad to hear you like them 👍🏽 Once you get them sitting right they’re fab. Took me a while to find the comfortable position. I was trying to lift the band up too high at the back initially.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Congratulations to you Iain on your parkrun today, a little amusing hearing four minutes of panting on your phone, glad you enjoyed your run today, I am also very pleased with myself regarding my PB 5K parkrun this morning time of 30.55, I am now relaxing in the brilliant not a cloud in the sky sunshine after my run this morning. 😊 🏃

[iain-strachan Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Actually it was sixteen minutes of panting - the voicemail cuts off after 4, and there were 4 messages! Congrats on your time! Be a while before I get to that level I think. My son did about the same time as you. Then sent profoundly apologetic messages to the family WhatsApp group after he realised what his phone had been up to!

[iain-strachan Graduate in reply to iain-strachan]

Clearly I didn't listen to all 16 minutes!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to iain-strachan]

Laugh of the day, I bet he is a little embarrassed about all that ".heavy breathing" 😂😂🤔👍

[iain-strachan Graduate]

Just meant to add that the highlight of the race was getting lapped by the 12 year old boy that won! Normally several people lap me before the second lap - at the end there is an exit straight to the finish line, so I was privileged to see this young lad turn off into it, to yells and cheers from the marshals and spectators at the corner, saying "Well run!". It was only his 5th Parkrun and he finished in 17:24. He was going like a bat out of you know where! Must have been a great moment for him!

[Dalmorangie Graduate]

🤣😂😂😂 technology eh? Never had these problems with Sony Walkmans did we?! Looks great spot for a Parkrun.