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ParkRun / Running Thread
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Lovely conditions today, think I got a 10k PB in 43 something.
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Nice. Same here, 43:17 for 10k on my Strava. A bit longer officially, as either the course is long or my GPS played up.WSS said:Lovely conditions today, think I got a 10k PB in 43 something.The organisation was bad. My sister didn't get her number in the post then had to queue for 2 hours for a number as 1000+ people had the same happen. Thankfully we only paid £10 thanks to Parkrun's email promo.3 -
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Yeah, those who didn’t get bibs in the post were buggered.0
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Some seriously fast 10k runners. Well done.
My squeaky bone relay was more squeaky bum by the time I set off. The holding pen, which has been crammed earlier, was worryingly empty with only me and two others left, so I started out 3rd last. For the first two miles I hardly saw a soul so far spaced out we were, but I caught a few up and eventually had someone from another team in my club in my sights and there was no stopping me. Reeled her in with half a mile to go and showed her a clean pair of heels.
Good fun. I averaged 8.56 a mile, to finish in 32.46, similar to last year's effort, but the course was running tougher as the grass in the fields was longer, so I was pleased.
And there's always next year to look forward to. 😉3 -
I didn't get the email but my GF did. In April parkrun sent out an email with a promo code or link and she signed us both up. I guess it was only a limited number of park runners so we didn't buy all 15000 places.AFKABartram said:I've been told the Asics 10k did a Black Friday deal so that may be a mailing list worth joining.0 -
Just as I came round the last corner, I saw the burger van shutting up shop!
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Was thinking of trying a Park Run at Maidstone at the suggestion of a mate but I thought it was 5km and it’s takes me 42 mins to do 5km let alone 10!I run just 10km a week with some free weights over three visits to a local gym and trudge around Moat Park and the village occasionally- have lost a couple of stone since the pandemic and toned quite a bit for sure but have avoided this previously because I didn’t want to be the slow plump (ish these days) guy at the back.
So my question is how broad is the participation at these events and is everyone super fit etc?I should say that I love running but I’ve got entirely the wrong build for it (long torso and short ish legs), and a short stride. I plod along listening to prog through my Beats and it’s me time! I managed 8km earlier in the year for the first time since 2001 but I absolutely wiped me out for the week0 -
All Parkruns are 5k mate and at 9am Saturday morning. The 10k boys are talking about other organised events (it was the Vitality 10k in London today).IAgree said:Was thinking of trying a Park Run at Maidstone at the suggestion of a mate but I thought it was 5km and it’s takes me 42 mins to do 5km let alone 10!I run just 10km a week with some free weights over three visits to a local gym and trudge around Moat Park and the village occasionally- have lost a couple of stone since the pandemic and toned quite a bit for sure but have avoided this previously because I didn’t want to be the slow plump (ish these days) guy at the back.
So my question is how broad is the participation at these events and is everyone super fit etc?I should say that I love running but I’ve got entirely the wrong build for it (long torso and short ish legs), and a short stride. I plod along listening to prog through my Beats and it’s me time! I managed 8km earlier in the year for the first time since 2001 but I absolutely wiped me out for the weekTo give an example, there were 295 at the Bexley parkrun yesterday (Danson Park). 62 of those finished between 36 mins and 53 mins. So you would be in good company. if you do 42 mins on your own I guarantee by your second one you’d be under 40 mins. Give it a go mate, there’s no better way to start your weekend, and it’s free.7 -
I agree @IAgree. All ages and standards are welcome. Some are really quick, others very slow, and most have a tail 'walker' as some walk. Prams and dogs on short leads not uncommon, but some local restriction might apply on those. We regularly have visually impaired runners with guides too, so you can see the aim is to make it all inclusive.AFKABartram said:
All Parkruns are 5k mate and at 9am Saturday morning. The 10k boys are talking about other organised events (it was the Vitality 10k in London today).IAgree said:Was thinking of trying a Park Run at Maidstone at the suggestion of a mate but I thought it was 5km and it’s takes me 42 mins to do 5km let alone 10!I run just 10km a week with some free weights over three visits to a local gym and trudge around Moat Park and the village occasionally- have lost a couple of stone since the pandemic and toned quite a bit for sure but have avoided this previously because I didn’t want to be the slow plump (ish these days) guy at the back.
So my question is how broad is the participation at these events and is everyone super fit etc?I should say that I love running but I’ve got entirely the wrong build for it (long torso and short ish legs), and a short stride. I plod along listening to prog through my Beats and it’s me time! I managed 8km earlier in the year for the first time since 2001 but I absolutely wiped me out for the weekTo give an example, there were 295 at the Bexley parkrun yesterday (Danson Park). 62 of those finished between 36 mins and 53 mins. So you would be in good company. if you do 42 mins on your own I guarantee by your second one you’d be under 40 mins. Give it a go mate, there’s no better way to start your weekend, and it’s free.
Not done Maidstone myself, but if a section of the route is along the banks of the Medway, it sounds like a good one. Definitely give it a go. Biggest concern is getting addicted, but it's not a bad addiction to have.
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Thanks both, I feel suitably reassured and it’s arranged for next Saturday!
To my surprise it’s not around Mote Park, which does have a 5km route with some pretty steep hills, but as you say along the Medway and into Whatman Park (near Maidstone Utd).
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71 mins was the last finishers at Maidstone yesterday @IAgree
good luck, let us know how you get on.1 -
Don’t forget to go online to parkrun.org.uk and register. You don’t have to but you would be silly not to. Print off your barcode and take it with you. At the end of your run you get it scanned and you will be sent a text or email with your time etc.IAgree said:Thanks both, I feel suitably reassured and it’s arranged for next Saturday!
To my surprise it’s not around Mote Park, which does have a 5km route with some pretty steep hills, but as you say along the Medway and into Whatman Park (near Maidstone Utd).2 -
Will do!AFKABartram said:71 mins was the last finishers at Maidstone yesterday @IAgree
good luck, let us know how you get on.Just registered and have set up the results texting. My mate runs 5km in 29 mins and is younger but I’m hoping to engender at least some competition in terms of the age grading.
I did 3km two weeks ago and 5km last week - both around the village I live in. I’m sure it’s should be no surprise but no matter now much I run on a treadmill when I get outside bits of me ache I didn’t know could ache!
I like the all weather comfort of a gym but the feel good factor of running outside is definitely in a different league1 -
Scored 1:10:48 at the London 10,000 - not far off my parkrun pace. Was expecting about 1hr15 - had never run that far in one go before - so am made up with that. A mouthful of jelly babies just before 9k seemed to do the trick!
Good thing my race pack arrived when they said it would - the queues at 9am were horrific and there were a lot of fast runners trying to snake their way through the slower pack. Amazing experience, though, might even do it again some day!8 -
Just set up the password/ username and was reading about this - Looks fairly straightforward?Hex said:
Don’t forget to go online to parkrun.org.uk and register. You don’t have to but you would be silly not to. Print off your barcode and take it with you. At the end of your run you get it scanned and you will be sent a text or email with your time etc.IAgree said:Thanks both, I feel suitably reassured and it’s arranged for next Saturday!
To my surprise it’s not around Mote Park, which does have a 5km route with some pretty steep hills, but as you say along the Medway and into Whatman Park (near Maidstone Utd).0 -
Maidstone is a really nice parkrun plus has parking, loos and a cafe nearby (on the far side of the river).
Mote Park is almost as nice but as I'm sure you know, it's a lot hillier. The Malling one nearby is flat and pretty quick but entirely on gravel.
The parkrun community is genuinely one of the friendliest, least judgemental communities you'll find. I was time keeper at Hoblingwell yesterday and enjoyed it almost as much as running - no Steve Gritt sightings, sadly.2 -
Yes, it’s that simple. Every parkrun operates to the same template so once you’ve done one you will know how they all work.IAgree said:
Just set up the password/ username and was reading about this - Looks fairly straightforward?Hex said:
Don’t forget to go online to parkrun.org.uk and register. You don’t have to but you would be silly not to. Print off your barcode and take it with you. At the end of your run you get it scanned and you will be sent a text or email with your time etc.IAgree said:Thanks both, I feel suitably reassured and it’s arranged for next Saturday!
To my surprise it’s not around Mote Park, which does have a 5km route with some pretty steep hills, but as you say along the Medway and into Whatman Park (near Maidstone Utd).
While I’m here I will put in a plug for Shorne Woods. Gently undulating on mostly gravel paths. It has paid-for parking, toilets and a cafe. What more could you want ?1 -
Todays lesson: Always listen to the safety briefing.For reasons I don’t know (as I chose to go directly to the “start line” to stretch this morning rather than listen to the briefing which is out of sight about 600m away) my Parkrun ran a different route this morning, well all except me who at about 9:08 got a bit suspicious that I was on my own at the start line so wandered back to the briefing area to see people running a different way.Grrr, totally my fault of course but not knowing where they’d started or what they’d done, I felt compelled to run the old route so at least it would be 5k but I just looked like an individual lost in the woods criss-crossing the current Parkrun course and seemingly doing my own thing.Anyway I ran pretty much my normal disappointing current regular time but will interested to see if my “official” time will be a PB or a PW after that kerfuffle…4
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So 38mims accompanied by Rush! V pleased!
(last around the Village was 44 - average previously 42 mins)
Did get a tad confused about where to present my barcode however!Definitely enjoyed and running with others and the overwhelming majority of people there were v friendly.
Definitely didn’t enjoy about the first 50 runners who passed us slow horses still on the way out. At points the path narrows to a metre / metre and a half and wasn’t impressed with a small number of runners almost two abreast. On a couple of occasions I had to take evasive action and did comment…. Loudly! It’s a park run not an olympic trial!
I may try the central maidstone one again once the nettles have died back but will be trying the Mote Park route next week (was delighted to see Maidstone has two). I know the route and the paths are well maintained and nice and wide all the way around.
So I’m hooked for sure, loved the overall experience, & people, think I have now worked out the barcode thing, but wasn’t into the competitive element of a small number of the fast runners.7 - Sponsored links:
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And definitely a v good way to start the weekend!0
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Unless I’m getting running etiquette wrong? Should I have stopped and gotten out of the way?0
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I think Maidstone normally call out the fast runners to the gate, so there's minimal traffic. To be honest it sounds like you started too far forward, but that'll come with experienceIAgree said:Unless I’m getting running etiquette wrong? Should I have stopped and gotten out of the way?
And Maidstone is very narrow. I sometimes check the prior week's results so I know where to position myself.I was at Chelmsford, ran a really good pace but everyone had the course 65-80m too long, always annoying.2 -
If faster runners are coming through where it's narrow, they should shout so you can pull in to the left normally (not stop!!!!) Definitely give way to other park users who aren't taking part though. Don't think I've ever ground to a halt, but had some slow congested starts plenty of times.IAgree said:Unless I’m getting running etiquette wrong? Should I have stopped and gotten out of the way?
My first run at Irchester Country Park today, within a 25 minute drive of home for me and nice to discover a hidden gem so close and tick off an "I" 😉 Lovely route through the woods. I'll be back for some more of that!
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Officially retired from running I think. Can't maintain more than a run a week.0
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I started right at the back, the problem was the slower runners hit the same stretch of narrower tow path on the way out as the fast ones on the way back. Most were great but there were three or four running on the shoulder of other runners and out. Effectively they were just under double spaced. Personally I think they should have briefly moved over and ran behind, especially since the path is much wider for the last 1km and there is plenty of space to race.swordfish said:
If faster runners are coming through where it's narrow, they should shout so you can pull in to the left normally (not stop!!!!) Definitely give way to other park users who aren't taking part though. Don't think I've ever ground to a halt, but had some slow congested starts plenty of times.IAgree said:Unless I’m getting running etiquette wrong? Should I have stopped and gotten out of the way?
My first run at Irchester Country Park today, within a 25 minute drive of home for me and nice to discover a hidden gem so close and tick off an "I" 😉 Lovely route through the woods. I'll be back for some more of that!
My mate, who ran 28 mins, said he had similar, although at a wider part of the path.
Nonetheless we both greatly enjoyed it, both reduced our times and are looking to try some of the other courses. Mote park is where I normally run outdoors most (on the rare occasions I do) and the paths are nice and wide. Will try this and wider courses until I have some more experience (and the nettles die back!) and try the Maidstone course again
Overall it’s a very enjoyable experience and I had no beef with 99% of the people running. There was an incredibly welcoming atmosphere and those involved were amazingly varied!2 -
nah, you shouldn't need to get out the way; if there's only room for 2 then everyone should be single file if passing others going the other way. people aren't perfect though and they'll forget themselves, especially if racingIAgree said:Unless I’m getting running etiquette wrong? Should I have stopped and gotten out of the way?
Normally with an out and back course the run briefing, or the first timers' briefing, will indicate whether you should be on the left or right when passing1 -
^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.
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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!4
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PB’d at Avery Hill this morning with a 20.48. 13th overall and top of the 40-44 category. Felt really good after 3 months off of ParkRun.Getting better as I’m getting older.6
