Parkrun time - no improvement yet

[MadDave]

After this week’s training session with the local club, I thought my parkrun time might improve. Although I felt I was a bit faster, I think I lost my pace on the second bit of this unfamiliar route this week when my couldn’t see the end in sight. But once on the final 800m, I could see the finish and made a ‘sprint’ to the end. So I think the 800m parlaufs we did earlier this week in training maybe have helped?

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Did your parkrun time improve? It does sound as though the parlaufs may well have helped, given what you said about your final sprint. 5K is a difficult distance, because you're running fast for really quite a long way!! Keep it up, and I'm sure you'll see massive improvements eventually 😊

[MadDave in reply to roseabi]

I was a few seconds quicker, so a new PB 👍but I need to find a way to go a bit quicker - more training I think 🤔

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to MadDave]

Congratulations!!

Yep, more training 😊

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

I guess the faster you are, the harder it is to cut time - and that looks very fast to me

Stick with it and you will be rewarded

[MadDave in reply to linda9389]

Thanks Linda - I think it’s distance I want more than speed anyway - but speed would be nice on a 5k!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to MadDave]

I moved to distance because speed wasn't happening for me! In theory increasing distance might help with speed on my shorter runs....

I just looked through your posts to see where you are up to, and see you ran up the Great Orme. Sh*t! That sounds tough - it's so steep. Absolute respect I used to live local to there and went back for my first 5k last year - along the prom though, not up that there mountain!

[MadDave in reply to linda9389]

I used to like mountain climbing when I was younger, so maybe that helped? Yes the run to the top is very steep and slow but also worth it for the views! The run around the Orme is longer and pretty tough - half uphill, half downhill, but also a great route with the views out to sea🙂

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Congrats Dave! You’ll be cracking 27 in no time. Park runs look like a lot of fun.

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Brilliant... and just curious... why do you want to be fast?

[MadDave in reply to Oldfloss]

Well, I kind of made a bet I would do the Cambridge Town & Gown 10k in October in under 55mins, and to do that I should be doing 5k in about 25mins😧But on the plus side the 10k run is in the flat so should be quicker (I hope!). 🤞Today’s run was definitely trail shoes only, with lots of unevenness, so maybe I shouldn’t be so worried?

[benwill Marathon]

Well done on your time even if it is a couple of seconds quicker it all counts and training can take a little of time.

My tips for a parkrun pb which has worked for me everytime I got a new one is do a warm up. Start slow and build up to the pace you want to be at and then do a couple of short sprints.

But I might just need a warm-up because i am old but it has worked for me

[mandm65 Marathon]

We all want to run fast and get PBs, but we all know its not easy, as you found out.

Your training session with the local club will pay off, you just need to be little bit patience, remember any training you do you need to allow a few weeks to reap rewards.

To get faster you need to concentrate on speed sessions, you need to get your legs moving faster so invest in speed sessions if you can, speak to some faster runners in your local club for some tips.

Whatever you do keep smiling.

Cheers

[Whatsapp Half Marathon]

Yep intervals are definitely the way to go. Pace out your run. Ideally you are looking for negative splits.

[MadDave in reply to Whatsapp]

Thanks for the tip - I’ll need to find out more about negative splits! It would also help if I had a better watch that could show me my pace I think?

[Whatsapp Half Marathon in reply to MadDave]

Yes definitely, I just use my phone which I hold in my hand.

This may give you a start on the negative splits: running.competitor.com/2016...