Did Wimbledon Common this morning and they had tweaked the course due to hornets being active near to the normal route. First non-weather re-route I've come across!
Haha, that was the bit of the briefing I missed this morning then but I can confirm there were no hornets on the old route otherwise I’d have done a better time!
^Apologies, I get what you mean now. Yes Maidstone gets very narrow, I've only visited one that's less narrow (Ifield).
Malling and Shorne, I think your next local-ish ones - after Mote - are also far better for overtaking. Maidstone is also far busier, but a very good parkrun nonetheless.
Yes got Shorne on the list and might try Whitstable
33:47 for me at Georgengarten parkrun in Hannover yesterday - muggy conditions but a gorgeous place to run, nice people. (The sun is now out here and it is a lot cooler this morning, naturally.)
Mote Park in Maidstone- Loverly wide paths and beautiful surroundings but several killer hills! Very enjoyable but I think my time will be around the 41 - 42 mins mark.
Tried a new one for me an hours pleasant drive from home today, which is at the limit of how long I'm prepared to go to get to one. Belvoir Castle, pronounced either Beaver or Bovver, or even Bugger given some of the long uphill stretches 😟
A bit over length too at 3.19 miles, which was unwelcome and got reflected in my time. Lovely course though with some great views. It was the first weekend of the winter course through to April next year, all inside the castle grounds, which the summer one isn't.
First parkrun of the year today, Dorchester Great Field, about 31:30. Pretty pleased with that time given how difficult running has been post COVID. Four weeks tomorrow will be running (and walking) New York City Marathon 🫢
Mote Park in Maidstone- Loverly wide paths and beautiful surroundings but several killer hills! Very enjoyable but I think my time will be around the 41 - 42 mins mark.
Definitely a great way to start the weekend
42 27 although I think it was over 5km
Disappointing after last weeks 38 mins but it’s a very hilly course and I’m pleased I kept going and finished. Have recovered faster too.
34:39 at Harrow Lodge, over in Hornchurch - a tougher-than-expected one-lapper. That's 38 out of 62 London parkruns done now.
That's a good few you've done. Can't match that! Can anyone on here I wonder?
Of the "London 62", I've only done one run at Orpington a few years back, when I had a head cold and set an abysmal PW that remained until I ran at Hunstanton promenade earlier this year after a long lay off. The 31 different courses I've run to date are mostly found in the Midlands, as are the next few on my target list. Dallas Burston Polo Club looms up unappealingly soon 😉
Got stuck on the M20 (closed) so was late starting. Very pleasant day to run on however I did miss running with people, which was unexpected. I passed the tail walkers on the way out, got lost 😂 and added .7km to my run! My office time was 67 mins 😂 but my watch said 39:30 when I hit 5km.
Very enjoyable and I’ve realised that this is most definitely addictive!
The only downside is what to do with my gym membership- I find after 2/3 days in London a week, during which I walk an average 8 - 10 km walking I don’t feel much like a gym visit and then I hold off a midweek in preparation for the ParkRun.
So question (s)
Do you you run in all seasons?
How? Practicalities? Clothing etc?
How do you recover? Currently I have coconut water pre & post and a light carby breakfast
Also shoe wise what do you recommend? I used to use Brooks Beast but brought the Adrenaline line just over a year ago
I Agree, I wouldn't worry too much about shoes unless you're going to do some grassy/muddy ones and so trail shoes will help. I like this site for reviews and sizes
Clothing is personal, I can run in all seasons in shorts and t-shirt but some people need to wrap up from now onwards. Summer running is harder and your speed and especially endurance is lower. Most Parkruns have somewhere to leave a coat during winter events.
I'll leave other to comment on diet...
We went to Bedgebury Pinetum and it's gone straight in as a favourite, it's such a nice environment. I took it fairly easy as the Lullingstone 10k is tomorrow. That's basically 2 laps of the golf course
I Agree, I wouldn't worry too much about shoes unless you're going to do some grassy/muddy ones and so trail shoes will help. I like this site for reviews and sizes
Clothing is personal, I can run in all seasons in shorts and t-shirt but some people need to wrap up from now onwards. Summer running is harder and your speed and especially endurance is lower. Most Parkruns have somewhere to leave a coat during winter events.
I'll leave other to comment on diet...
We went to Bedgebury Pinetum and it's gone straight in as a favourite, it's such a nice environment. I took it fairly easy as the Lullingstone 10k is tomorrow. That's basically 2 laps of the golf course
Thanks - Bedgebury is a favourite location to visit but didn’t realise they did a park run.
How do you recover? Currently I have coconut water pre & post and a light carby breakfast
Toast with marmalade ! If me and Mrs Hex want to treat ourselves we get bacon sandwiches from the Shorne Woods cafe (recommended). If recovery is really important to you then I guess you could ask for a couple of extra rashers ;-)
How do you recover? Currently I have coconut water pre & post and a light carby breakfast
Toast with marmalade ! If me and Mrs Hex want to treat ourselves we get bacon sandwiches from the Shorne Woods cafe (recommended). If recovery is really important to you then I guess you could ask for a couple of extra rashers ;-)
Well currently I feel knocked out PM but less so each week.
Yeah gorgeous morning for it. 4th run in 5 days paid off and my fastest Parkrun for 12 months. Was still disappointed with time as felt I was running stronger and faster than I obviously was, but was nice to get back into a finishing positioning that was two numbers and not three!
Target remains a post-Covid PB, got to chip another 45 seconds off for that.
How do you recover? Currently I have coconut water pre & post and a light carby breakfast
Toast with marmalade ! If me and Mrs Hex want to treat ourselves we get bacon sandwiches from the Shorne Woods cafe (recommended). If recovery is really important to you then I guess you could ask for a couple of extra rashers ;-)
Well currently I feel knocked out PM but less so each week.
The bacon 🥓 sounds my sort of recovery 😂
What’s the Shorne route like?
Shorne Woods is 3 laps along gritty paths through the woods. On lap 1 only there is an out and back section on mud, sometimes slippery. Most of the paths are 3/4 runners wide and gently undulating. The start is quite congested. There's plenty of parking (at a price). I would say it's a nice, gentle course.
How do you recover? Currently I have coconut water pre & post and a light carby breakfast
Also shoe wise what do you recommend? I used to use Brooks Beast but brought the Adrenaline line just over a year ago
For winter running - base layer, leggings, snood, woolly hat (and a pocket to put the hat in after the first 2km). Decathlon will sort you out for all of those.
Shoes - the Asics outlet store at the O2 has been very handy, though might be worth getting your gait tested at a specialist running shop, as I had big problems with one pair I bought a couple of years back. I've been running in Asics Pro Nimbus 24/25 for the past couple of years and they've been great. Worth considering trail shoes if you're thinking of any muddy courses.
Recovery - it's got to be a cinnamon bun and a hot chocolate (no cream), of course, then back home to a hot bath.
How do you recover? Currently I have coconut water pre & post and a light carby breakfast
Also shoe wise what do you recommend? I used to use Brooks Beast but brought the Adrenaline line just over a year ago
For winter running - base layer, leggings, snood, woolly hat (and a pocket to put the hat in after the first 2km). Decathlon will sort you out for all of those.
Shoes - the Asics outlet store at the O2 has been very handy, though might be worth getting your gait tested at a specialist running shop, as I had big problems with one pair I bought a couple of years back. I've been running in Asics Pro Nimbus 24/25 for the past couple of years and they've been great. Worth considering trail shoes if you're thinking of any muddy courses.
Recovery - it's got to be a cinnamon bun and a hot chocolate (no cream), of course, then back home to a hot bath.
I swear by base layers, or rather at them when I'm struggling afterwards to peel the damn things off 🤣
Summer: shorts and T shirt plus baseball cap (CAFC). Winter: base layers, shorts, 6 or 7 tops (1 or 2 long sleeved), gloves and wooly hat (CAFC). Gotta keep warm somehow.
Comments
Also off for a German unity day parkrun - going to be in Hannover on Tuesday.
Mote Park in Maidstone- Loverly wide paths and beautiful surroundings but several killer hills! Very enjoyable but I think my time will be around the 41 - 42 mins mark.
Definitely a great way to start the weekend
A bit over length too at 3.19 miles, which was unwelcome and got reflected in my time. Lovely course though with some great views. It was the first weekend of the winter course through to April next year, all inside the castle grounds, which the summer one isn't.
Disappointing after last weeks 38 mins but it’s a very hilly course and I’m pleased I kept going and finished. Have recovered faster too.
Might try the Whitstable one next week
Off to the game!
Of the "London 62", I've only done one run at Orpington a few years back, when I had a head cold and set an abysmal PW that remained until I ran at Hunstanton promenade earlier this year after a long lay off. The 31 different courses I've run to date are mostly found in the Midlands, as are the next few on my target list. Dallas Burston Polo Club looms up unappealingly soon 😉
But the woman who was using me to pace herself got herself a PB, so all good.
Got stuck on the M20 (closed) so was late starting. Very pleasant day to run on however I did miss running with people, which was unexpected. I passed the tail walkers on the way out, got lost 😂 and added .7km to my run! My office time was 67 mins 😂 but my watch said 39:30 when I hit 5km.
Very enjoyable and I’ve realised that this is most definitely addictive!
The only downside is what to do with my gym membership- I find after 2/3 days in London a week, during which I walk an average 8 - 10 km walking I don’t feel much like a gym visit and then I hold off a midweek in preparation for the ParkRun.
So question (s)
How? Practicalities? Clothing etc?
How do you recover? Currently I have coconut water pre & post and a light carby breakfast
Also shoe wise what do you recommend? I used to use Brooks Beast but brought the Adrenaline line just over a year ago
The bacon 🥓 sounds my sort of recovery 😂
What’s the Shorne route like?
Shoes - the Asics outlet store at the O2 has been very handy, though might be worth getting your gait tested at a specialist running shop, as I had big problems with one pair I bought a couple of years back. I've been running in Asics Pro Nimbus 24/25 for the past couple of years and they've been great. Worth considering trail shoes if you're thinking of any muddy courses.
Recovery - it's got to be a cinnamon bun and a hot chocolate (no cream), of course, then back home to a hot bath.