UpTheStanley and I arrived at the car park in plenty of time and went to register. It became obvious from our bibs that this was not the chip timed race advertised and I can only imagine that they had not got the expected number of runners, due to Southampton Run Through next week, and had to reduce their expenses accordingly. Still, a run is a run. We walked to the local pub on the edge of the common which had generously offered use of their warm loo facilities, before returning to the car to pin on race numbers and leave our snuggly jackets behind.
It was 5C, feels like 1C in the NE wind chill.
I had a thin merino long sleeve half zip, my GSR 2019 T-shirt, long leggings and gloves on, and wouldn’t have liked any less.
We think there were less than 150 runners there so it was the atmosphere of parkrun with people chatting and wishing each other good luck. The jolly organiser explained the course which consisted of almost 3 laps, each consisting of 3 left turns manned by a marshal.
I started my Garmin a bit late because I was faffing with starting coach Bennett on his 10k race guided run on my phone. It was good to have some company as I was running on my own much of the time trying to keep up within 50m of a lady in bright pink top. You can see from the route map that the path on the right is uphill (for me) and the one on the left is more downhill.
I can’t say I listened to every word CB said but I took on board that I should start steady and keep control of the run , and to stay alert during the 3rd quarter. All was going well until my 8 - 9km when I started run/walking on the uphill. Those long runs missed in rainy November were beginning to show. But I kept going and then really made up for it when I got to the last downhill . UTS was waiting for me about 500m from the end and ran me in . Foolishly, I stopped running at the beginning of the funnel (parkrun indoctrination) but everyone shouted to keep going to the finish line. So I did and collected my medal and paused Garmin.
After a quick slurp I realised I was short of 10km on my watch, so I passed the water to UTS and then ran an extra 30m to get to 10k. UTS thinks I’m absolutely bonkers . Official time will arrive in a few days but Mr Garmin says 1:14:50. I’m happy with that considering my 8th km was 9:07. UTS was around 55 mins - brilliant. Whoops, I mean 53:19.
The common is lovely at this time of year and there were lots of golden leaves still hanging on to the trees, but lots scattered on the paths along with acorns and twigs. Dogs of all shapes and sizes having a good sniff.
I did my first parkrun meet up here in 2019 and this brought back lots of good memories of times with TailChaser and Kat family, cheekychipmunks and Sandie1961 . I waved to your uncle TailChaser. We headed for the same cafe for brekkie and coffee.
Thanks for all your support folks, I’m now flopped on the sofa . That’s me until I have to think about dinner.and football
Written by
Dexy5
10 Miles
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Well done Dexy and UTS! Of course! I hadn’t twigged that the course was where we had our first PR meet-up. 🤦♀️ I’m not surprised there was a small turnout today, it was super chilly wasn’t it? Kudos to you for getting out and braving it. 👊 Nice bling makes it all the better. (And go England! ⚽️ 🏴)
A slightly different route to the parkrun but just as lovely. I think the Southampton Run Through is usually a different time of year (pandemic fallout) and people usually do both. Mudita11 will be there next week. But yes, very chilly - the house is just beginning to warm up.
Well done to both of you but I don’t know how we break you out of your Garmin “must finish it off” thing. If it wasn’t chip timed, will you get an official result?
But how can I keep track of my 10k times if I don’t do 10k? 😂😂
Yes they will notify us in 3 days so I guess they were using something like the parkrun app to record finish times and also writing down race numbers. Easy at my stage, and UTS’s.
Congratulations to you and UpTheStanley on your 10K run today, well done, I am sure both of you enjoyed it, I am a bit surprised that you have to wait a few days before you get your result, I thought at event runs, now with chip timings the runners got their results within minutes, anyway once again well done to both of you 😊 🏃🏾 👍
Thanks Al, although advertised as chip timed, I don’t think they could afford to buy chip bibs because of the low numbers. I will have lost a bit of time at the beginning, but not as much as parkrun.
Well done for getting round in the cold weather Dexy5 🥶 It must have been difficult for the organisers if there’s another big event nearby around the same time 😕 Have a good night watching the football ⚽️. I have to say I’m not confident but I’ve got an Amazon delivery due by 10:00pm so I have to stay up anyway! 😏
Good 10k Dexy5 and UTS. I am with you on Garmin. A 10k race has to be measured and timed over 10k on your watch. It may turn out to be a slightly different 10k to that measured out for the race, but the time and distance covered will be in sync. and that will be the enduring record. It sounds as though it was freezing, but I guess that the rain held off. Run completed, nice breakfast, short nap, sort out dinner and settle down for the football…..perfect! It rained all day here, and it is really cold…..glad it is a rest day. Clipping the fur from between Molly’s toes was my job for the afternoon….she hates it….more like all in wrestling! Has to be done though 🐶
It was probably warmer than oop your way BC, but it was colder than the fridge, after we’ve had such a mild autumn, but at least it was dry. We have only just warmed up. Helped by a hot meal and glass of wine.
Well done Dexy (and UpTheStanley ) - those blues and orange/reds are a dead giveaway as to the climbs/descents, aren't they! Sounds like a very pleasant run, even if rather on the parky side. Looking at the next few days, I've decided that tomorrow will be my long run this week, as Weds/Thurs look even worse!
Well done Dexy and UTS, on your 10ks. Lovely bling and photos too. 😍🏅 I love that you ran on to make the full 10 Dexy!👏
Yep, it’s certainly turned colder hasn’t it - definitely time to layer up! Love the sound of your merino top - I could do with something like that myself.🙂
Totally bonkers Sandraj39. I did the same at Keswick parkrun, much to the horror of the scanning volunteers who thought I was running off with their token.
The top is isobaa, they come in different weights.
Most of the time I was warm enough Dendev , but on the uphill slope it was more open to that NE breeze. The important thing is to put extra layers on as soon as you stop running as that’s when you really feel it. We had a bag of hoodies, hats, and track pants at the baggage drop.
Well done Dexy5 and UpTheStanley . Glad you enjoyed it! I must admit that I was not aware of the race until you mentioned it - I’d not seen any advertising at all which could partly explain the low numbers. I love the colours of the leaves - beautiful photos! X
I think I heard of it through the race promoter ‘Let’s do this’ after I’d signed up for a different race. I have to confess, it’s the tackiest medal I’ve earned, but it was fun. Your race next week looks like a much bigger affair. What distance are you doing?
I’m in the 10k race however I’ve got a minor op tomorrow 6/12 at very short notice, and I’ll have a general anaesthetic so I will play it by ear. Might have to miss it after all. I’ll decide on Saturday. But yes it’s quite a big race from the sound of it. Mr Mudita was looking forward to watching it as it’s a football themed one with a nice looking medal. Maybe I’ll get him to run in my place!
Go you two... very well done... and well done on rounding it right up to 10K... I had to do that on several Race For Life events... making sure we run the full distance. I hope I can match your 10K pace in April xxx
The route looks beautiful, but I do not envy you...it looks and sounded chilly! Brrrrr "
Ha ha, I knew it would be a bit short because I was late pressing my watch , but UTS found it short too. I do like a round number. The thing I noticed most was the water available was just like it had come straight out of the fridge
We put the electric blanket on the bed last night, so we slept well!
well done Dexy5, sounds like it was rather chilly. I’m out about to go out for a run in a mo and it’s 5oC outside, and raining about 30miles outside Dublin, and dark too.
I live a few miles from the common and sometimes pop down to do a long run there and also Parkrun, last time there were 750 people there 😳
A lovely place to run Bladerunner2049 and lots of runners and walkers were enjoying the park, with its enormous old trees.
It was spring when we did a parkrun there, and as you said, over 750 runners so I was surprised to see so few yesterday. I got lapped by the first runner before I’d done 3.5k, and he found the energy to say well done to me!
Getting lapped means you’re getting your moneys worth 😀
This mornings run was along the Green Way (Royal canal) near Enfield in the Irish midlands. I’m over her seeing my mum. It wasn’t too cold. It’s a great route to run. Flat flat flat 😀
Well done Dexy and UTS! A bit weird to have races on successive weekends, no wonder numbers weren’t quite what you expected! But a good run and very nice bit of bling! And the footie result will have warmed you up, along with the wine!
Yes the Run Through is back to February next year, but so many races got condensed to this autumn this year as a result of Covid restrictions. Flopping on the sofa watching the footie was just the job.
Well done Dexy5 and UpTheStanley What happy memories of that first meet up, way back in early 2019 😳 We have had some fun in the last 4 years haven’t we? I know exactly what you mean about running on to get to a full km. I do it all the time, even if it’s to 6k, 7k. Mad I know 😂😂 Mr S and I have been to see the seal pups at Donna Nook today and the wind coming off the North Sea was bitter, so I can imagine it was similar off the Solent 🥶
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xxx
1st ever organised run yesterday -Preston 10k
Half Marathon Plan: 10k race! 💥