After all the endurance events from last year just concentrating on the parkrun 5km's doing new events and revisiting old events I had done along with some follow parkrun tourists on some of these. Ranging from a new one in my home town plus day trips to Scotland and Wales from the south coast of England.
I also maintened volunteering at the events and have now got my volunteer t-shirt from 25 volunteering events :-)
Plus some an unofficial target of 50 different events and I have set some new PB's on some of the courses.
My next parkrun target is the 250th parkrun.
Showing posts with label Parkrun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parkrun. Show all posts
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Monday, May 26, 2014
100th Basingstoke parkrun
I finally have done my 100th Basingstoke parkrun, which I was one of the few that was there over 5 years ago for their event #1. I have done a lot of other parkrun events so I already have my 100 club t-shirt and jacket which I had to wear today.
I even beat a minion.
Photo (c) 2014 Emma Brown.
Even the rain and mud did not put me of, I am happy :-)
I even beat a minion.
Photo (c) 2014 Emma Brown.
Even the rain and mud did not put me of, I am happy :-)
Thursday, December 05, 2013
parkrun Castle Demense (Ireland)
The parkrun Castle Demense is in Macroom about 10 miles West of Cork (Ireland).
I got the first bus from Cork on a cold but sunny morning to this town for my 151st parkrun and first international parkrun :-)
This gave me 15 minutes to get to the venue if the bus was on schedule,as parkruns in Ireland start at 9.30am.
Luckily it is easy to find a castle entrance in a small town.
They had the use of the sports hall for leaving barcodes and a change of clothes as was just a few degrees above freezing, plus they had tea and biscuits already setup :-)
The other parkrunners, volunteers and event director were friendly it felt a nice community parkrun.
The 100 parkrun kit was a good ice breaker, as I was the first 100 club member at this venue. I even got a mention before the start of the parkrun, which meant I could not take it easy.
The course was a lap around the GAA (Gaelic football) pitch which even the locals were saying it was cold. You then headed out of the pitch gates on to pathway to the start/finish line.
The route then went down a hill before starting a 2 lap section.
This next section was along a footpath.
You had to make sure you did not hit the wall :-)
Then there was a sharp turn on to a hill before and out and back section past a golf course.
You ran than ran back to the footpath and started the 2nd lap which when completed you headed back along the to the finish.
However there was a nice steep hill at the finish which you ran down at about 0.5km. You just got to the top of the hill just about running before turning right and a few steps crossed the finish line.
I completed the parkrun in 22:35 which was a good time for me on a testing course on a cold morning.
I then headed back along the route as a cool down and supporting the other runners, while also taking some photos.
The barcode scanning was in the sports hall which was a bit warmer then a nice cup of tea and biscuits, I think I even saw somebody eat some of the fruit!!
After heading out of the castle gates I found another local cake shop as I was up early this was lunchtime :-)
Along with being one of the friendliest parkruns it has the best entrance to a parkrun being through a castle gate!!!
I think I will be back again when next in the area.
I got the first bus from Cork on a cold but sunny morning to this town for my 151st parkrun and first international parkrun :-)
This gave me 15 minutes to get to the venue if the bus was on schedule,as parkruns in Ireland start at 9.30am.
Luckily it is easy to find a castle entrance in a small town.
They had the use of the sports hall for leaving barcodes and a change of clothes as was just a few degrees above freezing, plus they had tea and biscuits already setup :-)
The other parkrunners, volunteers and event director were friendly it felt a nice community parkrun.
The 100 parkrun kit was a good ice breaker, as I was the first 100 club member at this venue. I even got a mention before the start of the parkrun, which meant I could not take it easy.
The course was a lap around the GAA (Gaelic football) pitch which even the locals were saying it was cold. You then headed out of the pitch gates on to pathway to the start/finish line.
The route then went down a hill before starting a 2 lap section.
This next section was along a footpath.
You had to make sure you did not hit the wall :-)
Then there was a sharp turn on to a hill before and out and back section past a golf course.
You ran than ran back to the footpath and started the 2nd lap which when completed you headed back along the to the finish.
However there was a nice steep hill at the finish which you ran down at about 0.5km. You just got to the top of the hill just about running before turning right and a few steps crossed the finish line.
I completed the parkrun in 22:35 which was a good time for me on a testing course on a cold morning.
I then headed back along the route as a cool down and supporting the other runners, while also taking some photos.
The barcode scanning was in the sports hall which was a bit warmer then a nice cup of tea and biscuits, I think I even saw somebody eat some of the fruit!!
After heading out of the castle gates I found another local cake shop as I was up early this was lunchtime :-)
Along with being one of the friendliest parkruns it has the best entrance to a parkrun being through a castle gate!!!
I think I will be back again when next in the area.
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Poole parkrun
This weekend I did Poole parkrun to see if it was as flat/fast as people (other runners) say it is, my opinion is at the end.
I got there really early, luckily the parkrun banner was out so I knew I was in the right place, I then spoke to some of the volunteers at the venue. I then had enough time to freedom parkrun which I took the photos during.
It was good to see the park was closed to unauthorised vehicles until after parkrun had finished.
Adidas even had a stand there with their latest trainers.
It's the first parkrun I remember that had a PA system for the pre-race briefing, other have had megaphone (or not so mega) or small enough just to speak to the runners.
I guess this is the Start line :-)
The course is simple, go post the two red phone boxes and litter bin...
Past the fountain on your right hand side...
Watch out for cycles and other park users....
Stay with the lake on your left handside and between the railway fence..
Stopping for extra exercise is optional.
Watch out for the the bollards on THE BIG INCLINE on the course :-)
Keep following the path around the lake.
Follow the path around the lake...
Past the boating club on the corner of the lake.
Then along the footpath..
Watch out for the dragon in the lake..
the eagle on the gate post...
And the swans.
If this is the end of lap 1 turn left and do the same loop again, if not turn right towards the finsh loop.
The finish loop is around the cricket patch.
All the way round the cricket boundary.
With the finishing "straight"..
Finally to the finish line.
They even had a sweeper vehicle :-)
From my run around the course it did seem really flat and fast course but I was taken it easy then stopping and taking photos. It was a bit on the cool side with a slight breeze which be headwind along the far side of the lake from the start.
I started about 1/3 from the front and started off at a fast pace which I hope I could maintain. As there was a lot of people at a similar pace I got in to a good rhythm, round the lake I took it slightly wider than most as the was some debris on the path next to the lake which I did not want to go for a swim on a cold day.
I went round the lake following the path and the 100 other runners that were ahead of me and the next thing I realised I had done over 3/4 of the distance already and was on the last section of the main loop. I picked up the pace a bit along towards were the start line was and then picked the pace up even more around the cricket pitch. This was further than I thought but there was no option of slowing down once I had kicked for the finish.
In the end I finished just over 23 minutes which was good pace for me, maybe it was not good idea as I had over 15 miles to run that day. From my GPS data I can see I went off fast then settled in to a pace before kicking for the end.
It was one of the more welcoming parkrun's that I have done with other 400 runners ranging from 15:20 for the winner to 45 minutes for the last person who completed the course, along with a lot of parkrun first timers as well.
The only problem I had was my parkrun barcodes did not like travelling across the county border and did not work so had to revert to the manual process.
I did not have time to stop and chat to the volunteers that much, as I off to the next race about 6 miles away which I had to register for on the day.
Based on the the winners time and how I felt the course was like, it was the flattest of the 22 different parkrun events I have done and I have done 5 different venues in East Anglia and Bushy Park. The only flatter course that I have heard about but not done is the alternative route at the Gorleston parkrun (norfolk) which is used when it is icy and they then run along the beach, as parkrun must go ahead.
However in ideal running conditions (training and weather) in addition to course flatness and running surface I think Poole would be the quickest.
I got there really early, luckily the parkrun banner was out so I knew I was in the right place, I then spoke to some of the volunteers at the venue. I then had enough time to freedom parkrun which I took the photos during.
It was good to see the park was closed to unauthorised vehicles until after parkrun had finished.
Adidas even had a stand there with their latest trainers.
It's the first parkrun I remember that had a PA system for the pre-race briefing, other have had megaphone (or not so mega) or small enough just to speak to the runners.
I guess this is the Start line :-)
The course is simple, go post the two red phone boxes and litter bin...
Past the fountain on your right hand side...
Watch out for cycles and other park users....
Stay with the lake on your left handside and between the railway fence..
Stopping for extra exercise is optional.
Watch out for the the bollards on THE BIG INCLINE on the course :-)
Keep following the path around the lake.
Follow the path around the lake...
Past the boating club on the corner of the lake.
Then along the footpath..
Watch out for the dragon in the lake..
the eagle on the gate post...
And the swans.
If this is the end of lap 1 turn left and do the same loop again, if not turn right towards the finsh loop.
The finish loop is around the cricket patch.
All the way round the cricket boundary.
With the finishing "straight"..
Finally to the finish line.
They even had a sweeper vehicle :-)
From my run around the course it did seem really flat and fast course but I was taken it easy then stopping and taking photos. It was a bit on the cool side with a slight breeze which be headwind along the far side of the lake from the start.
I started about 1/3 from the front and started off at a fast pace which I hope I could maintain. As there was a lot of people at a similar pace I got in to a good rhythm, round the lake I took it slightly wider than most as the was some debris on the path next to the lake which I did not want to go for a swim on a cold day.
I went round the lake following the path and the 100 other runners that were ahead of me and the next thing I realised I had done over 3/4 of the distance already and was on the last section of the main loop. I picked up the pace a bit along towards were the start line was and then picked the pace up even more around the cricket pitch. This was further than I thought but there was no option of slowing down once I had kicked for the finish.
In the end I finished just over 23 minutes which was good pace for me, maybe it was not good idea as I had over 15 miles to run that day. From my GPS data I can see I went off fast then settled in to a pace before kicking for the end.
It was one of the more welcoming parkrun's that I have done with other 400 runners ranging from 15:20 for the winner to 45 minutes for the last person who completed the course, along with a lot of parkrun first timers as well.
The only problem I had was my parkrun barcodes did not like travelling across the county border and did not work so had to revert to the manual process.
I did not have time to stop and chat to the volunteers that much, as I off to the next race about 6 miles away which I had to register for on the day.
Based on the the winners time and how I felt the course was like, it was the flattest of the 22 different parkrun events I have done and I have done 5 different venues in East Anglia and Bushy Park. The only flatter course that I have heard about but not done is the alternative route at the Gorleston parkrun (norfolk) which is used when it is icy and they then run along the beach, as parkrun must go ahead.
However in ideal running conditions (training and weather) in addition to course flatness and running surface I think Poole would be the quickest.
Tuesday, June 05, 2012
Four Parkruns over the Jubilee Weekend
Over this Jubilee weekend I did 4 Parkrun 5km's with two being today with the start times 90 minutes apart and about 20 miles away. I decided to do them all away from my local parkrun and all different events.
The first started at Reading on the regular time. However there was a lot more people (370) their than the last time I ran this event, which explained why I had to park over half a mile away but allowed a warm up. The route is out along the river and then do two loops near a woods and then run backand is virtual all flat. During the race there was a lot of children still ahead of me even at 4km, so I gave it a lot more effort than normal. This meant I got a PB by 17 seconds, that's a good start to the weekend, only 3 more to do.
Sunday was parkrun rest day.
On Monday I headed down to Eastleigh on their new course on a disused golf course which I had previously done. It is 3 laps of a W shape course that loops back on its self. At this event they had the Parkrun founder there as well plus a lot of other clubs and 250 t-shirts, mainly due to this being the only parkrun on the Bank Holiday Monday.
I decided to go of fast and see how long I could last for. I was ok until each time I got to the slope which got a bit harder with each lap. At the end I out sprinted a child that was ahead of me all the way round go a fast pace but luckily he did not have enough for a sprint finish so I edged ahead of him. I ended up with a new course PB by over 100 seconds.
At this point I was half way through with 2 new course pb's :-)
I then went off with my local tri club and did a hilly 64 mile (103km) bike ride, my legs were aching by the end of it.
On Tuesday as my legs were still aching I decided to go to Andover, as is flat and on grass and used it as a recover run. This is 2 laps with 2 short inclines which I took it easy pace and walked up two of the inclines. To test my legs I gave a bit of a sprint for the last 100m which was ok but not 100%, so th e last run would be interesting. This run was 5 minutes over my course PB.
I then drove to Newbury to take part in the last parkrun of the weekend. This race was one that I was aiming for a PB but was not sure now on tired legs. This course is a single lap on gravel pathway with a short section of tarmac across a disused runway, with the finishing straight being over a mile long which has a steady incline for a part of it. For this I positioned myself near the front and to the left, as I know the start was along a narrow path and turns left. I went of fast and was starting to struggle about 1 mile in as their was a bit more wind in the exposed elements but I managed to keep the pace only slowing down by 15 seconds per mile. Then once I turned on to the finishing straight I picked up the pace slightly to quicker than my average pace and even managed to out sprint somebody in the last 100m's. The records show I managed to beat my course PB by 62 seconds, however they don't show that run was in -11c and in snow!!
To celebrate the completing the 4 Parkruns, 3 course PB's and 2 parkruns in a morning I had 1 cake to celebrate :-)
The first started at Reading on the regular time. However there was a lot more people (370) their than the last time I ran this event, which explained why I had to park over half a mile away but allowed a warm up. The route is out along the river and then do two loops near a woods and then run backand is virtual all flat. During the race there was a lot of children still ahead of me even at 4km, so I gave it a lot more effort than normal. This meant I got a PB by 17 seconds, that's a good start to the weekend, only 3 more to do.
Sunday was parkrun rest day.
On Monday I headed down to Eastleigh on their new course on a disused golf course which I had previously done. It is 3 laps of a W shape course that loops back on its self. At this event they had the Parkrun founder there as well plus a lot of other clubs and 250 t-shirts, mainly due to this being the only parkrun on the Bank Holiday Monday.
I decided to go of fast and see how long I could last for. I was ok until each time I got to the slope which got a bit harder with each lap. At the end I out sprinted a child that was ahead of me all the way round go a fast pace but luckily he did not have enough for a sprint finish so I edged ahead of him. I ended up with a new course PB by over 100 seconds.
At this point I was half way through with 2 new course pb's :-)
I then went off with my local tri club and did a hilly 64 mile (103km) bike ride, my legs were aching by the end of it.
On Tuesday as my legs were still aching I decided to go to Andover, as is flat and on grass and used it as a recover run. This is 2 laps with 2 short inclines which I took it easy pace and walked up two of the inclines. To test my legs I gave a bit of a sprint for the last 100m which was ok but not 100%, so th e last run would be interesting. This run was 5 minutes over my course PB.
I then drove to Newbury to take part in the last parkrun of the weekend. This race was one that I was aiming for a PB but was not sure now on tired legs. This course is a single lap on gravel pathway with a short section of tarmac across a disused runway, with the finishing straight being over a mile long which has a steady incline for a part of it. For this I positioned myself near the front and to the left, as I know the start was along a narrow path and turns left. I went of fast and was starting to struggle about 1 mile in as their was a bit more wind in the exposed elements but I managed to keep the pace only slowing down by 15 seconds per mile. Then once I turned on to the finishing straight I picked up the pace slightly to quicker than my average pace and even managed to out sprint somebody in the last 100m's. The records show I managed to beat my course PB by 62 seconds, however they don't show that run was in -11c and in snow!!
To celebrate the completing the 4 Parkruns, 3 course PB's and 2 parkruns in a morning I had 1 cake to celebrate :-)
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Fritton Lake Parkrun
On Saturday I took part in the inaugural Fritton Lake Parkrun.
For some reason I put on a short sleeve top and not hat, despite the maximum temperature being 8c not taking in to account the wind-chill which I think made it 4c. Normally I would have had multiple layers on.
So at the start I decided to go of fast to keep warm. The course was two laps and was a multi-terrain course which had been made a lot muddy by the recent rain and a horse that appeared to have recently been though the course.
The start was on some gravel path until going over some grass to the edge of the lake that followed the path back for 1.5km before joining a the gravel path for a few 100m's back to the start and then repeat it.
However the route was now a bit more muddy in places and the section near the end was also slippery so I did not have enough traction for a sprint finish. However I was pleased with my time and position.
I enjoyed this parkrun despite it having more mud than our XC races this year.
It was too cold for me to do a lake swim but other times it will be a good option to add to the training. Also did not go on the swings and slides :-(
For some reason I put on a short sleeve top and not hat, despite the maximum temperature being 8c not taking in to account the wind-chill which I think made it 4c. Normally I would have had multiple layers on.
So at the start I decided to go of fast to keep warm. The course was two laps and was a multi-terrain course which had been made a lot muddy by the recent rain and a horse that appeared to have recently been though the course.
The start was on some gravel path until going over some grass to the edge of the lake that followed the path back for 1.5km before joining a the gravel path for a few 100m's back to the start and then repeat it.
However the route was now a bit more muddy in places and the section near the end was also slippery so I did not have enough traction for a sprint finish. However I was pleased with my time and position.
I enjoyed this parkrun despite it having more mud than our XC races this year.
It was too cold for me to do a lake swim but other times it will be a good option to add to the training. Also did not go on the swings and slides :-(
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Andover Marathon and Parkrun
The day started early in time for breakfast and then to de-ice the car before travelling to the venue. When leaving it was still -1C (30F) and when I got a few miles in to the drive it start to lightly snow but luckily it was not settling on the ground. It was a tropical 2C when I arrived at the venue.
I got out of my car and promptly slipped on the ice all on the car park and landed on my right gluteus maximus (back side). It was sore but luckily I did not land on part of my car and nobody was around to see me fall. I then went round on the grass to avoid the ice.
For the parkrun it was too icy in places they changed the route to avoid the paths and just on the grass. As I was pacing somebody round running their non stop which we did and 1 minute quicker than their previous best. It was a comfortable pace for me as a warm before the marathon but was glad to have on a few layers to keep warm and avoid the mud.
Then carefully making it back to the car I changed some outer layers as was starting to warm up in the sun but was still cold but would hopefully I would warm up on the marathon. I also had a can of high caffeine drink to get a bit of a kick pre run.
The 35 of us doing the marathon listened to the race instructions and then we started the 105.5 laps!!
I lost count of my laps after about 4 laps in to the run and ignored the advice to disable the GPS on my watch. I was just focussing on and following the line between lanes 1 and 2 as per the race briefing.
The sun was out and clear blue skies but was bitterly cold made colder with the occasional cold wind but looked ideal conditions.
The first part of the race I went of faster than planned, which I think was not helped by the fact that I was being overtaking after 3 laps and there was people always around you. I found that I was trying to catch people up instead of sticking to my own pace, hopefully that would not catch up with me.
I liked the fact that I was only 200m from an aid station. So I had one isotonic drink on the table on opposites sides of the track and one of the sides I had my gels. This allowed me to stick to my nutrition plan of drinks and gels every 15/30 minutes after an hour, as I could tell when I need to get a gel or drink and return the bottle or gel bag the next lap. This meant I did not need to carry any nutrition for more than 400m.
I was glad of the two toilet breaks I took an hour and 3 hours in, especially as the it was the main track building which had a heater in, it was worth the 100m extra each time.
When I got to about 3 hours in my muscles were already feeling fatigued due to lack of training and the distance but my right glute was also sore from the fall on the ice earlier in the day and the fact we were running anti clockwise direction on the track meant more force would be used on my right side, doh!!
When I got a 4 hours in I thought I was nearly at the finish going by my GPS, apparently I was not that was a bit of a blow but I carried on but a slower pace, I should have listened to advice at the start.
Then I was told I had just 2 laps to go and picked up the pace and when the bell went for my last lap I then picked up the pace a bit more. As I crossed the finish line in 4:39 I was glad it was over and even got a great medal.
My average pace for the marathon was 10:40 per mile according to my GPS (some issue on a track) the second last 1/4 mile was at 8:23 pace the last 1/4 mile was at 6:15 pace. It was a bit of a hobble the short way back to the car with my muscles aching.
After putting some warm clothes on and had a sports recovery drink but there was still a few people left out on the track with the lights being on for about an hour.
The race T-Shirt with a Lion and Oak leaf, I found out they are part of the town crest.
Even the medal had a race t-shirt on.
Don't mess with me I survived the first Andover Marathon, GRR.
I just need to do a summer marathon without the swim and cycle warm up "bit" then run a marathon in all seasons. Also a trail/off road marathon would complete the set after doing a number of road and now a track marathon.
I got out of my car and promptly slipped on the ice all on the car park and landed on my right gluteus maximus (back side). It was sore but luckily I did not land on part of my car and nobody was around to see me fall. I then went round on the grass to avoid the ice.
For the parkrun it was too icy in places they changed the route to avoid the paths and just on the grass. As I was pacing somebody round running their non stop which we did and 1 minute quicker than their previous best. It was a comfortable pace for me as a warm before the marathon but was glad to have on a few layers to keep warm and avoid the mud.
Then carefully making it back to the car I changed some outer layers as was starting to warm up in the sun but was still cold but would hopefully I would warm up on the marathon. I also had a can of high caffeine drink to get a bit of a kick pre run.
The 35 of us doing the marathon listened to the race instructions and then we started the 105.5 laps!!
I lost count of my laps after about 4 laps in to the run and ignored the advice to disable the GPS on my watch. I was just focussing on and following the line between lanes 1 and 2 as per the race briefing.
The sun was out and clear blue skies but was bitterly cold made colder with the occasional cold wind but looked ideal conditions.
The first part of the race I went of faster than planned, which I think was not helped by the fact that I was being overtaking after 3 laps and there was people always around you. I found that I was trying to catch people up instead of sticking to my own pace, hopefully that would not catch up with me.
I liked the fact that I was only 200m from an aid station. So I had one isotonic drink on the table on opposites sides of the track and one of the sides I had my gels. This allowed me to stick to my nutrition plan of drinks and gels every 15/30 minutes after an hour, as I could tell when I need to get a gel or drink and return the bottle or gel bag the next lap. This meant I did not need to carry any nutrition for more than 400m.
I was glad of the two toilet breaks I took an hour and 3 hours in, especially as the it was the main track building which had a heater in, it was worth the 100m extra each time.
When I got to about 3 hours in my muscles were already feeling fatigued due to lack of training and the distance but my right glute was also sore from the fall on the ice earlier in the day and the fact we were running anti clockwise direction on the track meant more force would be used on my right side, doh!!
When I got a 4 hours in I thought I was nearly at the finish going by my GPS, apparently I was not that was a bit of a blow but I carried on but a slower pace, I should have listened to advice at the start.
Then I was told I had just 2 laps to go and picked up the pace and when the bell went for my last lap I then picked up the pace a bit more. As I crossed the finish line in 4:39 I was glad it was over and even got a great medal.
My average pace for the marathon was 10:40 per mile according to my GPS (some issue on a track) the second last 1/4 mile was at 8:23 pace the last 1/4 mile was at 6:15 pace. It was a bit of a hobble the short way back to the car with my muscles aching.
After putting some warm clothes on and had a sports recovery drink but there was still a few people left out on the track with the lights being on for about an hour.
The race T-Shirt with a Lion and Oak leaf, I found out they are part of the town crest.
Even the medal had a race t-shirt on.
Don't mess with me I survived the first Andover Marathon, GRR.
I just need to do a summer marathon without the swim and cycle warm up "bit" then run a marathon in all seasons. Also a trail/off road marathon would complete the set after doing a number of road and now a track marathon.
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