parkrun

Author
Discussion

madbadger

11,563 posts

244 months

Saturday 26th November 2016
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Pb for me today on my 150th run. 8 seconds off my previous pb at Fountains Abbey.

Cybertronian

1,516 posts

163 months

Saturday 26th November 2016
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john2443 said:
Nice to get another PB after nearly 7 years of parkrunnning
Congrats on both the PB and for 7 years!

markh1973

1,795 posts

168 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
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Halb said:
smn159 said:
Since upping the distances in the week in preparation for a Half Marathon next month my parkrun times seem to have taken a hit - 23 mins this morning, down from a PB of 21.55 a few weeks back. I guess that your body becomes accustomed to whatever you are currently training for - longer runs at a slower pace n my case.
I read an article this week about LSD and speed. If you train for LSD then your speed will maintain itself over distance. One has to add interval/fartlek/hills to maintain or up speed.
I have spent most of the year training for marathon/ultra distances and I don't do speedwork at all. Despite that I took nearl 1:30 off my parkrun PB recently taking it down to 20:01.

In my experience the long stuff gives you the endurance to push yourself hard at all speeds.

ED209

5,746 posts

244 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
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What do we all make of Parkruns decision to get rid of the points leagues from February?

personally i think its a bad idea.

egor110

16,858 posts

203 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
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markh1973 said:
Halb said:
smn159 said:
Since upping the distances in the week in preparation for a Half Marathon next month my parkrun times seem to have taken a hit - 23 mins this morning, down from a PB of 21.55 a few weeks back. I guess that your body becomes accustomed to whatever you are currently training for - longer runs at a slower pace n my case.
I read an article this week about LSD and speed. If you train for LSD then your speed will maintain itself over distance. One has to add interval/fartlek/hills to maintain or up speed.
I have spent most of the year training for marathon/ultra distances and I don't do speedwork at all. Despite that I took nearl 1:30 off my parkrun PB recently taking it down to 20:01.

In my experience the long stuff gives you the endurance to push yourself hard at all speeds.
I also do longer distances but i find it's the fact there's no other plan than running fast for 20 mins , no easing into it , just run in discomfort and 20 mins later it's all done.

RizzoTheRat

25,155 posts

192 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
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In 150 parkruns I've never looked at the points tables, I have a vague idea what it's about but no interest in it. The people who get the most points are the fastest people who are obviously the keenest runners so I can't really see how it's an incentive to anyone.

Cybertronian

1,516 posts

163 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
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ED209 said:
What do we all make of Parkruns decision to get rid of the points leagues from February?

personally i think its a bad idea.
I finished 4th or 5th at my local event earlier this year, and as much as I enjoy seeing the table movements, the implementation is somewhat flawed in my opinion.

As Rizzo said, it's often the fastest runners that usually end up being the keenest runners that place in the top spots. Volunteer points only apply to 3 runs, so those that are slower, but volunteer more often, are kneecapped from placing higher. The women's table at my local event is much more accessible and has often been topped by consistent attendance, rather than speed.

john2443

Original Poster:

6,336 posts

211 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
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I think most people don't realise there was a points competition although ours has been quite competitive for the men with people trying to win it even though most years there hasn't been prize, just a certificate.

Personally I don't have a view one way or the other, but as HQ have made the decision there's no point worrying about it - when it was suggested at the annual conference it was received very positively.

It does leave a bit of debate that if we're becoming less competitive whey are we giving times, but I suppose the distinction is that the points comp is only relevant if you're there most weeks and are fairly quick, whereas your time is important to you whether you run 15 or 50 mins.

Overall (as Event Directors) my co-ED and I always look at changes and think "Does it make a difference to the feel of the event for someone who walks into the park on a Saturday morning, runs, chats, has coffee etc" and in this case the answer is that it doesn't change anything.

KTF

9,804 posts

150 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
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I can see why they have done it as it removes an element of competition. At the pointy end of the field, there is a lot of interest in the top 3 places. Currently in forth at my local one, I can see that I can grab third based on the third place guy skipping a few over Christmas, etc.

Removing the table may promote more tourism as well as there is nothing to tie you to a particular parkrun any more.

Edit: If they decide to remove the times then it goes back to being a race imo.

john2443

Original Poster:

6,336 posts

211 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
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KTF said:
If they decide to remove the times then it goes back to being a race imo.
That's a good thought...I was thinking that without times it's less competitive but you're right that it's more competitive.


john2443

Original Poster:

6,336 posts

211 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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Another good week, Bevendean Down, where my pb was 26:28 (it's a hilly course!) got 25:39 this week, pleased with that.
Not quite the 22:48 of last week on a flat tarmac course, but I'm usually about 3 mins slower.

Trabi601

4,865 posts

95 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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Lanhydrock for us this morning.

That's a brutal course!

Cybertronian

1,516 posts

163 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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My normal event was cancelled so popped over to another nearby event (Perry Hall).

With the local cross-country leagues in full swing, I found myself battling for second place, eventually pulling away around halfway. First place was well beyond me at over a minute away and also would have been a 5k PB if accomplished!

Edited by Cybertronian on Saturday 3rd December 19:05

northandy

3,496 posts

221 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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Trabi601 said:
Lanhydrock for us this morning.

That's a brutal course!
Did that a month ago, was very tough... those hills... even the downhill section is very tricky.

I did Parke in Devon this year too, that's just as bad!

Trabi601

4,865 posts

95 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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northandy said:
Trabi601 said:
Lanhydrock for us this morning.

That's a brutal course!
Did that a month ago, was very tough... those hills... even the downhill section is very tricky.

I did Parke in Devon this year too, that's just as bad!
My home parkrun is flat as a pancake, so it came as a bit of a shock! Fortunately, we'd read the recommendation for trail shoes.

Smitters

4,003 posts

157 months

Monday 5th December 2016
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Buggy push PB for me this weekend. Also wowed by a tourist runner who's done over 300. Judging by his run stats, he's going round the country running once at each event.

Came into work today to hear of a colleague who is put off from his local by the lead runners yelling and shoving their way through. He got pushed over! Not quite the image parkrun are looking for methinks.

KTF

9,804 posts

150 months

Monday 5th December 2016
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Smitters said:
Came into work today to hear of a colleague who is put off from his local by the lead runners yelling and shoving their way through. He got pushed over! Not quite the image parkrun are looking for methinks.
Did your colleague tell the RD about this?

Smitters

4,003 posts

157 months

Monday 5th December 2016
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KTF said:
Did your colleague tell the RD about this?
No. Nothing to do about it now really. I've suggested he comes to my local instead. We had a FB post from a runner who said one of the quicker finishers was doing a cool down lap, got chatting to her and paced her to a PB. That's more like parkrun.

KTF

9,804 posts

150 months

Monday 5th December 2016
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Smitters said:
No. Nothing to do about it now really.
They should email the parkrun office email address to let them know. How are the team meant to put a stop to it if they don't know about it?

Smitters

4,003 posts

157 months

Monday 5th December 2016
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KTF said:
They should email the parkrun office email address to let them know. How are the team meant to put a stop to it if they don't know about it?
Fair point - I'll suggest it.