288 of us at Avery Hill. Felt I struggled from halfway but turned out of was my 2nd quickest in my last 40 Parkruns and due to the Covid break, 2nd quickest in over 4 years. Just got to find another 30 secs for a post Covid PB, but feels achievable now. Just wished my breathing could make it more enjoyable.
Having to stop halfway to do his laces up, Jnr learnt the lesson of checking all these things before you start!
Anyone done Footscray Meadows or Hoblingwell? I’ve seen only ever done Avery Hill and Danson which have 200-400 runners, while these only really get 40-80. What’s it like?
Hoblingwell has free parking, loos and cafe all by the start. It's deceptively tough, no big hills but loads of small ones.
Foots Cray is probably back on the flat summer course by now. It's alright, the (free) car park and loos are a long way from the start so allow extra time. Both are all trails + grass and worth doing, though not ones I'd visit regularly.
I went to Highbury Fields today. 5 laps with over 500 people was chaotic but surprisingly fun. Next week is parkrun #100 for me - so many years wasted where I was running occasionally but had no idea about parkrun.
Anyone done Footscray Meadows or Hoblingwell? I’ve seen only ever done Avery Hill and Danson which have 200-400 runners, while these only really get 40-80. What’s it like?
Hoblingwell is good and if you’re lucky Mr Gritt will be there (and beat you)
Anyone done Footscray Meadows or Hoblingwell? I’ve seen only ever done Avery Hill and Danson which have 200-400 runners, while these only really get 40-80. What’s it like?
Ran the Darent valley 10k this morning. Finished it this year after dropping out with injury last year. Slower than I wanted but did the first mile a little too fast and then hit a tough patch in the heat around half way.
Was disappointed until I realised that was my fastest 10k in about 10 years.
Am running the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon in memory of my dad on Sunday May 12th for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. He was a life long Addick and is the sole reason I am a Charlton fan because he brought me and my brothers along since we were old enough to stand.
My first ever marathon and I am getting quite nervous about it!
Here is the information for any lifers interested 👍
Successfully completed this beast on Sunday in a time of 4 hours 25 minutes in memory of my dad and fellow addick. It was my first marathon and it was very hot and very hilly. My left leg started really playing up after about 22 miles as well.
I am humbled to say we’ve so far raised really close to £4,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association as well, which is amazing. Thank you so much if there were any lifers who have donated.
Hoblingwell has free parking, loos and cafe all by the start. It's deceptively tough, no big hills but loads of small ones.
Foots Cray is probably back on the flat summer course by now. It's alright, the (free) car park and loos are a long way from the start so allow extra time. Both are all trails + grass and worth doing, though not ones I'd visit regularly.
I went to Highbury Fields today. 5 laps with over 500 people was chaotic but surprisingly fun. Next week is parkrun #100 for me - so many years wasted where I was running occasionally but had no idea about parkrun.
Agree with all of the above - Hoblingwell's a tough old one but worth doing. Nice people there too. Haven't been to Foots Cray for ages; it's great but plenty of ankle-twisters! Is the farm shop cafe still going?
(I did Highbury Fields just before the pandemic, on a morning when it was chucking it down with rain. Like you say, it's chaotic but fun.)
So I did Mote Park in Maidstone a couple of weeks ago - really nice course, loved the lake.
And on Saturday I got up early and went over to Crane Park. I wasn't expecting much - it's a bit of a nowhere place between Twickenham and Feltham - but's it's a brilliant course in an amazing little park. The end is by an old shot tower which you can wander up to see the view from the top (which is probably better in winter). It's a slightly fiddly trip by public transport but well worth it.
No parkrun for me on Saturday, I'll be in Hamburg and plan to spend Friday night watching football and having a drink.
But there'll be parkrun for me on Monday instead - it's the Whit Monday holiday in the Netherlands, their extra parkrun day, and I'll be doing Stadspark in Groningen. And that'll be my 249th...
After running the 2 London marathons post covid I really lost motivation but am finally getting back out regularly. I've applied for 2025 with a time goal in mind, most importantly I'm really enjoying the time out running, just got in from a 7k run and it's getting slightly easier every run.
Hoblingwell has free parking, loos and cafe all by the start. It's deceptively tough, no big hills but loads of small ones.
Foots Cray is probably back on the flat summer course by now. It's alright, the (free) car park and loos are a long way from the start so allow extra time. Both are all trails + grass and worth doing, though not ones I'd visit regularly.
I went to Highbury Fields today. 5 laps with over 500 people was chaotic but surprisingly fun. Next week is parkrun #100 for me - so many years wasted where I was running occasionally but had no idea about parkrun.
Agree with all of the above - Hoblingwell's a tough old one but worth doing. Nice people there too. Haven't been to Foots Cray for ages; it's great but plenty of ankle-twisters! Is the farm shop cafe still going?
(I did Highbury Fields just before the pandemic, on a morning when it was chucking it down with rain. Like you say, it's chaotic but fun.)
The cafe has been taken over by a new company and much improved, got a 9/10 rating on parkrun breakfasts Facebook group
Intended to do Irchester Country Park again today, where a dinosaur footprint was found earlier this week, but I ran at Brixworth Country Park instead, and if they had any running there, I Don'tthinktheysaurus! Don't Say a word!
Oh, and "BINGO!" Stopwatch challenge completed at last 🙂
Intended to do Irchester Country Park again today, where a dinosaur footprint was found earlier this week, but I ran at Brixworth Country Park instead, and if they had any running there, I Don'tthinktheysaurus! Don't Say a word!
Oh, and "BINGO!" Stopwatch challenge completed at last 🙂
Evidence of prehistoric Parkruns?
Walked one this morning in Omagh, as part of my hip replacement recovery (very, very slowly, I should probably volunteer to act as the last person marshall).
Whole family doing Calgary Park Run this morning - there are a few in Canada, this one is on a big hill in the City - quite exposed to the weather and it’s bloody cold at the moment!
Whole family doing Calgary Park Run this morning - there are a few in Canada, this one is on a big hill in the City - quite exposed to the weather and it’s bloody cold at the moment!
There's one in Whitby, as I learned to my cost a few years back assuming it was in North Yorkshire and didn't realize they didn't have one there then until I got there. Big mistake 🙄 I felt a bit of an Inuit that day.
258 at Avery Hill. Good morning all round, rain held off, my fastest for 2 years while AFKA Jnr chipped another 12 secs off his PB to finish a brilliant 13th.
234 at a sunny Avery Hill Park this morning. Warmer morning and I had sweat dripping before I’d even completed the first lap. Tried to push a bit quicker than normal and paid the price on the third lap, had to stop and walk for the first time in ages, so peed off about that.
Jnr chipped another 8 secs off his PB for a second consecutive 13th finish.
I infiltrated the Dartford park run for a short while on my long run the morning. Was warm out there but pleased to get a two hour run under my belt as my last long run before a half marathon in two weeks.
Did my 249th in Groningen on Monday - an extra for the Dutch Whit Monday/Pinksterdag holiday - which was great. Only a handful of tourists (I wanted to avoid the mass parkrun tourist invasions you get on those days) and some very friendly locals.
So that means (drumroll)... I did my 250th at Hilly Fields yesterday.
Really good to be back to where it all began for me back in October 2016 - and barely believable that I've not only done a Saturday 5k 250 times, but that I've managed to get up on time to do them... hopefully I'll be back there in 2029 for my 500th (and a few more times in between).
Did my 249th in Groningen on Monday - an extra for the Dutch Whit Monday/Pinksterdag holiday - which was great. Only a handful of tourists (I wanted to avoid the mass parkrun tourist invasions you get on those days) and some very friendly locals.
So that means (drumroll)... I did my 250th at Hilly Fields yesterday.
Really good to be back to where it all began for me back in October 2016 - and barely believable that I've not only done a Saturday 5k 250 times, but that I've managed to get up on time to do them... hopefully I'll be back there in 2029 for my 500th (and a few more times in between).
Pleased for you, but a bit envious too. I started my Parkrun journey in 2016 too and should have got to 250 by now, but I dallied too long post covid in getting back into it. Seldom miss a week now but 20 short at the moment and 5 short of 50 different courses. Working to a plan to hit both targets later this year though.
Well done and I admire your ambition going forward. I don't like the sound of "Hilly Fields" though! 😟
Peaky Blinders Parkrun today. Well it's actually called Oakland's but it's very close to Smallheath. I didn't fancy stopping for post run coffee in the Garrison and made a quick getaway after posting my fastest run of the year to date 🤣 Was home by 10.30.
In my quest to conquer middle England, I'd steered clear of Birmingham to date, but it wasn't as bad getting there as I feared. Plenty more to go for in the vicinity.
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I am humbled to say we’ve so far raised really close to £4,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association as well, which is amazing. Thank you so much if there were any lifers who have donated.
And on Saturday I got up early and went over to Crane Park. I wasn't expecting much - it's a bit of a nowhere place between Twickenham and Feltham - but's it's a brilliant course in an amazing little park. The end is by an old shot tower which you can wander up to see the view from the top (which is probably better in winter). It's a slightly fiddly trip by public transport but well worth it.
No parkrun for me on Saturday, I'll be in Hamburg and plan to spend Friday night watching football and having a drink.
But there'll be parkrun for me on Monday instead - it's the Whit Monday holiday in the Netherlands, their extra parkrun day, and I'll be doing Stadspark in Groningen. And that'll be my 249th...
Oh, and "BINGO!" Stopwatch challenge completed at last 🙂
Walked one this morning in Omagh, as part of my hip replacement recovery (very, very slowly, I should probably volunteer to act as the last person marshall).
Jnr chipped another 8 secs off his PB for a second consecutive 13th finish.
So that means (drumroll)... I did my 250th at Hilly Fields yesterday.
Really good to be back to where it all began for me back in October 2016 - and barely believable that I've not only done a Saturday 5k 250 times, but that I've managed to get up on time to do them... hopefully I'll be back there in 2029 for my 500th (and a few more times in between).
Well done and I admire your ambition going forward. I don't like the sound of "Hilly Fields" though! 😟
In my quest to conquer middle England, I'd steered clear of Birmingham to date, but it wasn't as bad getting there as I feared. Plenty more to go for in the vicinity.