Well, it’s no good only using these forums to gloat about triumphs is it? So despite saying to Roseabi that I’d be sulking and not posting this week if I didn’t beat my parkrun PB yesterday, I thought I’d front up.
Hackney Marshes is one of the flattest, fastest parkrun courses in the country; and therefore a Mecca for deluded old runners in London like me to test their best time. It’s actually not the nicest route though, and out and back with a little extra ‘spur’ out and back near the end; so 2 very tight turns to negotiate. My previous best there was 20:00 last year, so I was looking for that all important second off that time.
I was feeling confident, even cocky yesterday. And so I went out too fast. 3m50s for the first km. Come 4km I was flagging badly at 4m22s, really feeling the earlier pace and feeling dehydrated. If I’d still been in good form I could have made the time back, but frankly I gave up. 20m51s and lessons learned. Don’t get cocky, don’t assume you’re getting faster over one distance just because you’re getting faster over a different distance. Some days it’s just not your day. And one PB has to be your last one I guess! 😁
Written by
Colinsmith
Half Marathon
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Makes the next PB easier to attain if that's any consolation? Bummer for you though. Hope you're not taking it out on those nearest and dearest to you As you say, we live and learn - better luck next time.
Ah no, I got home and my better half asked how it had gone. ‘I failed’ I said. Then she said ‘What, you finished didn’t you? So no you didn’t fail’ and just shook her head at how daft I am. We had a nice day after that.
Fully aware of how trivial it is to run marginally faster than the last time, but we all have to push ourselves one way or another I guess.
...I guess it helps when missing a new PB is still super speedy!! Well done on your run anyway - and here's hoping you bring that time down a little another day!🙂
Our home Parkrun is the equivalent 2nd easiest at Southsea, and assumed that our VRB from Portsmouth Lakeside (which has slopes and different running surfaces) would PB with us on Saturday. But it wasn’t to be. Maybe PBs are best achieved at a familiar Parkrun?
Having not got to sub 30 yet, I’m hoping my PBs will continue to follow and I think you are incredibly fast.
Thanks Dexy. These things are all relative I guess. I was pretty quick as an athlete at school but stopped due to dodgy knees, beer and music. I’m in my late 40’s now having done C25k a couple of years back, and although it’s fun to see how fast I can go, you can tell the people with real natural talent.
I did a hilly 10k race last week where I snuck into the top 20% at around 46mins. The winner was also in the over 40’s age group, in the frankly insane time of 33m13s! So it’s not about competing with the likes of him, just oneself.
Good luck getting to sub-30; got to keep chipping away! Does your parkrun have paced weeks? I find them really helpful in getting to new goals. I really enjoy the challenge of running as a pacer too.
No we don’t have pacers. I think they find it hard enough to find volunteers for the essential tasks for the run. Very sad when you think of how many people run it each week.
It’s always the 1st run of the month at ours. People are happy to do it, I think as you still run but get a volunteer credit as well. And a run at a slightly more comfortable pace! 🙂 Less volunteers at the quicker end though...
Being humbled does us good, although no one enjoys it while it's actually happening! I was cruisings to a sub 2hr HM recently with 10k, 15k and 10 mile PBs before the wheels came off! I only had to just jog the last 4k to smash my PB but I got bad cramp and had to walk/slow jog on and off to yhe line. Still posted a PB by 20s by some miracle, but lesson learned - I'll be targetting nibbling away at my PB only in future and not trying to knock great chunks out if it...
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As you say, we live and learn - better luck next time.
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