parkrun

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Discussion

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Monday 23rd September 2013
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RizzoTheRat said:
Makes sense to me too, I doubt I could keep up with most of the people on the running thread on my bicycle biggrin

I only started running this year with the C25K programme, and then started doing the Frimley Lodge parkrun. Due to having to be a few other places for various things at weekends I've done Basingstoke, Winchester and Guildford in the last few weeks. Not quite broken 30 mins yet.
Parkrun sounds like a really good idea. As above, I'm keen to do one or more of my local ones, although they all appear to be 5K (which sounds as if it could be painfully fast!), rather than 10k.

This thread has spurred me on to register.

...although I'm wary of going at it too hard at this stage in my return to running and living to regret it. Doing a few fast intervals at lunch (whilst clutching a lucky heather, horsehoe and rabbit's foot...) did seem to go well though.

I reckon cycling over there could be a good warm-up.

Edited by MC Bodge on Monday 23 September 21:12

Halb

53,012 posts

182 months

Monday 23rd September 2013
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Yeah. Those bloody whippets who lap you on your second lap!

john2443

Original Poster:

6,325 posts

210 months

Tuesday 24th September 2013
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MC Bodge said:
parkrun sounds like a really good idea. As above, I'm keen to do one or more of my local ones, although they all appear to be 5K (which sounds as if it could be painfully fast!), rather than 10k.
all parkruns are 5k

MC Bodge said:
...although I'm wary of going at it too hard at this stage in my return to running and living to regret it.. /quote]

There are always plenty of people who aren't fast (up to 40 mins) so you won't look like a loser if you take it gently at first. Have a look at the results page for the one you're going to do and you can check this. The aim is to have everyone running a 5k, not to have everyone running a fast 5k!

Halb

53,012 posts

182 months

Tuesday 24th September 2013
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john2443 said:
There are always plenty of people who aren't fast (up to 40 mins) so you won't look like a loser if you take it gently at first. Have a look at the results page for the one you're going to do and you can check this. The aim is to have everyone running a 5k, not to have everyone running a fast 5k!
This is true at the one I do. There are plenty enough older or larger people doing it. There are enough sticky whippets haring of, but there are enough lil old ladies trundling along.

Amateurish

7,697 posts

221 months

Tuesday 24th September 2013
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I've been going to MK parkrun regularly for the last three years. Love it.

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Tuesday 24th September 2013
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john2443 said:
MC Bodge said:
...although I'm wary of going at it too hard at this stage in my return to running and living to regret it..
There are always plenty of people who aren't fast (up to 40 mins) so you won't look like a loser if you take it gently at first. Have a look at the results page for the one you're going to do and you can check this. The aim is to have everyone running a 5k, not to have everyone running a fast 5k!
I wasn't concerned about finishing last, just about doing myself in by pushing too hard. I am motivated enough to run solo anyway, so the Parkrun would be about setting a benchmark and hopefully improving over time. I think I'll give it a couple more weeks before going along.

ps. sub-17 minutes appears to be significant on the results pages. That sounds quick! 20-25min sounds more achievable.

Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 24th September 20:25

ED209

5,740 posts

243 months

Tuesday 24th September 2013
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About 45 mins is the usual slowest time at my park run, its usally kids who do that though, somebody did take over 50 mins one day. Plenty of people around 30 mins so i really wouldnt worry about being slow.

I am itching to try a faster course as ours is meant to be one of the toughest with some steep climbing which is repeated 3 times. I have managed 21.55 but would hope to improve on a faster course. My partner tried another local run and was about 90 secs faster.

According to my strava theres 93 metres of climbing in my local run. Of course you have to come back down the hills but i am sure it would be easier maintaining a steady effort on a flat course.

Edited by ED209 on Tuesday 24th September 20:45

Halb

53,012 posts

182 months

Wednesday 25th September 2013
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ED209 said:
I am itching to try a faster course as ours is meant to be one of the toughest with some steep climbing which is repeated 3 times. I have managed 21.55 but would hope to improve on a faster course. My partner tried another local run and was about 90 secs faster.
According to my strava theres 93 metres of climbing in my local run. Of course you have to come back down the hills but i am sure it would be easier maintaining a steady effort on a flat course.
Same with mine. It's a 3 circuit course with some horrible climbs, you can't go too fast (or I can't) down the downhill part because it's dirt and on a bend, I'd end up in the flash. I have checked on MMR and I can cover a lot more distance in the same time of my PR. Makes me think I would *SMASH* my time on a flatter one, hence me looking around. biggrin

john2443

Original Poster:

6,325 posts

210 months

Wednesday 25th September 2013
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York is supposed to be fast, as it's flat, as is Newbury (1 lap up and down Greenham common runway IIRC).My fastest was at Kings Lynn, although there is a U turn there and it's multilap but only a smallish number of runners so lapping isn't a problem, I think Leeds must be quite flat, but I've not run it.

All course records are here, http://www.parkrun.org.uk/results/courserecords/ you can order them by time, I think the fastest 2 men and 1 woman are wheelchairs so don't be panicked by them!! and some courses might be fast but have never had an Olympian run them, but it gives a guide.

RizzoTheRat

25,085 posts

191 months

Wednesday 25th September 2013
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MC Bodge said:
ps. sub-17 minutes appears to be significant on the results pages. That sounds quick! 20-25min sounds more achievable.
I haven't broken 30 mins yet, and not been anywhere near the back

Roger645

1,728 posts

246 months

Wednesday 25th September 2013
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john2443 said:
York is supposed to be fast, as it's flat, as is Newbury (1 lap up and down Greenham common runway IIRC).My fastest was at Kings Lynn, although there is a U turn there and it's multilap but only a smallish number of runners so lapping isn't a problem, I think Leeds must be quite flat, but I've not run it.

All course records are here, http://www.parkrun.org.uk/results/courserecords/ you can order them by time, I think the fastest 2 men and 1 woman are wheelchairs so don't be panicked by them!! and some courses might be fast but have never had an Olympian run them, but it gives a guide.
Bushey has had a couple of Olympians run it.

HowMuchLonger

3,003 posts

192 months

Saturday 28th September 2013
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Finally broken 22min at Bristol, 21:52. Faster at Brixton though the gap has narrowed.


Edited by HowMuchLonger on Saturday 28th September 18:51

RizzoTheRat

25,085 posts

191 months

Saturday 28th September 2013
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I've been bunged up with a cold all weeks so figured volunteering might be more sensible than running.

We had a pacing day at Frimley today, pacers running every 2 minutes from 18 to 34 minutes. 1/5th of the runners got personal bests so I reckon it worked.

Halb

53,012 posts

182 months

Saturday 28th September 2013
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Mine was called off today. A load of DAYLs had taken up residence in the carpark, shame.

markh1973

1,787 posts

167 months

Sunday 29th September 2013
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My 3 boys all did it today, they hsve all done numerous 2km runs but first time over 5km.

10 year old did 26:56

8 year old 28:08

4 year old 38:47

Eldest two are doing the Peterborough 5km fun run in a couple of weeks and both hope to go faster.

john2443

Original Poster:

6,325 posts

210 months

Sunday 29th September 2013
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Halb said:
Mine was called off today. A load of DAYLs had taken up residence in the carpark, shame.
What a pain! We had an email from one of our runners a few weeks ago that they had set up in our park, but fortunately they'd been moved on by Saturday.

Amateurish

7,697 posts

221 months

Sunday 29th September 2013
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Roger645 said:
Bushey has had a couple of Olympians run it.
Same at MK. Tim Don (the ex World Triathlon champion) held the course record for a couple of years.

944fan

4,962 posts

184 months

Tuesday 1st October 2013
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Amateurish said:
Same at MK. Tim Don (the ex World Triathlon champion) held the course record for a couple of years.
Now a days it just has to contend with my fat arse plodding round.

Amateurish

7,697 posts

221 months

Tuesday 1st October 2013
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944fan said:
Now a days it just has to contend with my fat arse plodding round.
Sounds like you and I had a very similar weekend (MK parkrun Sat, Roade Sun).

Halb

53,012 posts

182 months

Tuesday 1st October 2013
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Missed last week due to DAYLs, won't be around for my next one, I've got a wait. I'll try and try a new one next time.