i headed down to Rye with the running club and finished 3rd on their hilly 5 mile race. Might be a small field but feels good to finish that high up in a race since my late teens early twenties, only a 30 year gap.
Alstervorland in Hamburg last weekend - my third time there, struggled to get around because I still hadn't quite got over the previous Thursday (and then getting up early for the trip out!)
Did Northala Fields today, over in west London, to run around mounds built from the rubble of the old Wembley twin towers. Good run, though a very muggy day. Was going to do it later in the summer, but brought it forward out of superstition...
Just a gentle run today to see if my knee problem would interfere with running - all good ! It was good to meet fellow addicks all the way from Maidstone.
Sixfields Upton today for me. Uneventful. Clearly had some rain overnight. Much needed, and it'll be much the same drive for me early tomorrow, bound for Northampton Station. I'm off to see a game of football somewhere in London. No prizes for guessing where COYR.
First Parkrun in my hometown Tønsberg today (by the Oslo Fjord). 108 runners. I was there with my family. A really nice and relaxed event. For me at least, my wife ran. I`m too nervous to do anything right now. COYR!
I started the new year with today on my to-do list for a Swedish one but then I started a new job on Tuesday so thought it might have looked a bit off, probs the same with the Dutch one in a couple of weeks too but hoping to do a German one later in the year…
Up in Cromer for the weekend and did Sheringham parkrun. A lovely out and back set in English heritage parkland, overlooking the sea. Thought that we had smashed the "who has come from a long way away? with the father in law over from South Africa, but no, some twat from Queensland had to pipe up. Bloody Australians!
Up in Cromer for the weekend and did Sheringham parkrun. A lovely out and back set in English heritage parkland, overlooking the sea. Thought that we had smashed the "who has come from a long way away? with the father in law over from South Africa, but no, some twat from Queensland had to pipe up. Bloody Australians!
It seems to the law that there has be one Australian at any given parkrun now!
I did Sittingbourne on Saturday - a country park on the edge of an industrial estate shouldn't be appealing, but it was actually really good and the volunteers were brilliant. The nearest cafe is a drive-through Greggs!
Chalkwell beach in Essex for me and my other half yesterday. A nice flat run along the seafront, with a gentle breeze pushing us along on the way out, which turned into a force 10 gale on the way back. The runner who finished in second place was pushing a child in a buggy. I can only presume that the buggy was motorized and was actually pulling the runner along. Nice place, friendly locals, no Australians. Would i go back? Yes i would.
Pacer week at Dorchester Great Field. Was hoping to follow the 23 min man, but he flew past at the start on the way to running a ridiculously quick first 3k, but I stuck with my own pace and came home in 23:11 for a new Dorch pb, and, three days after 68th birthday, 74% age grade 😊. After almost giving up last year, looking at maybe October marathon (Ljubljana perhaps 🤔).
Continuing the pacers theme, Shorne Woods had pacers this week. My rehabilitation from a knee problem is slow, literally ! Having hit 36 dead last week I was desperate to get back nearer to normal (33/34) so wasn't best pleased when the 35min lady sped past me. I plodded on and passed her near the finish as she slowed right down and waited for time to catch up with her.
The guy who was the 25min pacer was running well within himself, with a buggy !
Yeah, my 23 min guy was about a minute up after 3k, slowed down a bit and came in 20 secs early ... to be fair he did a much better job at 24 mins in May.
Was in the Netherlands over the weekend for the Dutch extra parkrun on Pinkersdag/Whit Monday. Rotten weather and serious transport issues meant it was an unpredictable adventure - I left off choosing Saturday's run until the last minute because of all the disruption.
Went to Schoterbos, in Haarlem, on Saturday and managed to get round in a downpour. On Monday I did Delftse Hout in Delft, between Rotterdam and The Hague - lovely run and course in a lovely town and the rain held off! Cycled there and back from Rotterdam to add to the fun/exhaustion.
Tried Catford for the first time today & fascinated to learn that the park it takes place in was briefly Charlton’s home ground. I love the titbits of local knowledge shared at the first timer briefings
Took a break from PR today to compete in the Market Harborough Carnival 10K race. Field of 600. Very hot. Took me just over an hour. PR's only for me now for the rest of the summer, and maybe the foreseeable as I'm going to do more hiking, and may give Pickle ball a try.
Tried Catford for the first time today & fascinated to learn that the park it takes place in was briefly Charlton’s home ground. I love the titbits of local knowledge shared at the first timer briefings
That part of Mountsfield Park gets *very* muddy after rain too - amazed any stand was erected there!
Really pleased with my time at Charlton today - turns out it was my seventh fastest parkrun finish. That bit of cycling during the week must have helped.
Maidstone 10k for me yesterday. Was warm but pleasant route mostly alongside the river. With a brutal hill around 8.5k. Pleased to knock 2 mins off my pb (I am not counting any pbs from my teens/early 20s) with a 45.24
Dartford Heath for me on Saturday. Nearly died due to heat exhaustion and pollen ingestion. Somehow, despite stopping twice on the way round, I managed a PB for this event. Best text message that I have had all week and worth the near death experience. No parkrun for the next few weeks as I am off on my summer holiday where I will be swapping my running shoes for flip-flops and a pina colada.
Have had a right horrible year, so far foot and ankle aren’t right 5 months on, tried running a couple of weeks ago and immediately got hit with man flu and then chest infection.
Trying again, 3.2k yesterday and 3.9k today. Found a good 3k of both hard work! Depressed how hard I’ve found it, but determined to battle on.
Hoping to finally do my first parkrun since 11th Jan on Saturday 🤞
Congrats. I’ve never been successful with the ballot. I’m quietly fairly happy about it tho. I’m going to do “my way” instead. Plan is to do the course starting at midnight but starting at the finish line and finishing in Greenwich park. I’m also doing Manchester the week before and Brighton the week before that. I did two in two this year so the plan is to do three in three next year.
Comments
i headed down to Rye with the running club and finished 3rd on their hilly 5 mile race. Might be a small field but feels good to finish that high up in a race since my late teens early twenties, only a 30 year gap.
Did Northala Fields today, over in west London, to run around mounds built from the rubble of the old Wembley twin towers. Good run, though a very muggy day. Was going to do it later in the summer, but brought it forward out of superstition...
It was good to meet fellow addicks all the way from Maidstone.
I was there with my family. A really nice and relaxed event. For me at least, my wife ran. I`m too nervous to do anything right now.
COYR!
I did Sittingbourne on Saturday - a country park on the edge of an industrial estate shouldn't be appealing, but it was actually really good and the volunteers were brilliant. The nearest cafe is a drive-through Greggs!
The runner who finished in second place was pushing a child in a buggy. I can only presume that the buggy was motorized and was actually pulling the runner along.
Nice place, friendly locals, no Australians. Would i go back? Yes i would.
The guy who was the 25min pacer was running well within himself, with a buggy !
Went to Schoterbos, in Haarlem, on Saturday and managed to get round in a downpour. On Monday I did Delftse Hout in Delft, between Rotterdam and The Hague - lovely run and course in a lovely town and the rain held off! Cycled there and back from Rotterdam to add to the fun/exhaustion.
No parkrun for the next few weeks as I am off on my summer holiday where I will be swapping my running shoes for flip-flops and a pina colada.
Trying again, 3.2k yesterday and 3.9k today. Found a good 3k of both hard work! Depressed how hard I’ve found it, but determined to battle on.
After 10+ years of entering finally got a place…