Discussion
It was damn hot and muggy at Bushy Park today. I was well off my PB - over 40 seconds off - but i felt completely exhausted at the end.
I find the runkeeper stuff quite a motivating factor in that I'm always trying to improve. I've long since stopped listening to music / radio / podcasts as I get more out off just enjoying being out and about.
I find the runkeeper stuff quite a motivating factor in that I'm always trying to improve. I've long since stopped listening to music / radio / podcasts as I get more out off just enjoying being out and about.
Found myself at Cardiff Parkrun yesterday and given it's such an optimal course (ie flat and fast), I decided to absolutely go for it. Was blowing towards the end where my 4th k was 15 seconds slower than my 1st, but managed to bring it all together in the last stretch for a PB and sub-19 finish of 18:56! Also came second in my age group which is bonkers considering the amount of talented club runners at the event.
Cos18 said:
Flat compared to PV! Have you tried Preston Park? I hear it's a PB course, I need to try it out in the near future. Hove is so convenient though, being (almost literally) on my door step
The general opinion is that Hove is faster than Preston for slower runners because the hill is less, but slower for faster runners due to the 3xU turn - you can get round the U turn at a slow 'race pace' but not at fast pace. Maybe only 15 secs difference though, compared to Haywards Heath and Tilgate which we reckon are both about a minute slower.This isn't based on scientific proof but just a general feeling from me and some of the regulars who do both.
Cybertronian said:
Which courses are generally considered the fastest the UK has to offer? My local at Cannon Hill used to be quite good but they went and added a cheeky hill at the end, slowing everybody down by 5+ seconds.
York is supposed to be fast, Bushy has the world parkrun record, is a 1 lapper so to slower runners to get in your way, I think Newbury is flat - was Greenham common runway.My outright PB is at Kings Lynn, 1 sec fasted than at Hove but when I was in less than PB shape - very flat and not too crowded, but does have a U turn, I think Norwich is flat and tarmac, haven't run it yet, it's on the list for the next time I go up there to see my mum.
If you want to run a fast 5k, enter a track 5k at an open meet. My road PB of 14:54 was from the Serpentine Last-Friday-of-the-Month 5k in Hyde Park.
The 5k race that generally produces the fastest times is the Antrim International 5k.
Parkruns are not generally fast courses but of course that's not the point.
The 5k race that generally produces the fastest times is the Antrim International 5k.
Parkruns are not generally fast courses but of course that's not the point.
grumbledoak said:
My second Auckland Parkrun today, at Cornwall Park this time so both 'ticked'. Cold but fine weather and reasonably happy with my time. 
Well done future boy. 
Back to the local at Fountains Abbey today. No run two weeks ago because of Le Tour then last week I was doing a triathlon in the afternoon so did a very leisurely Parkrun with the wife and one of the dogs. Looking forward to a normal one today.
john2443 said:
York is supposed to be fast, Bushy has the world parkrun record, is a 1 lapper so to slower runners to get in your way, I think Newbury is flat - was Greenham common runway.
My outright PB is at Kings Lynn, 1 sec fasted than at Hove but when I was in less than PB shape - very flat and not too crowded, but does have a U turn, I think Norwich is flat and tarmac, haven't run it yet, it's on the list for the next time I go up there to see my mum.
I've heard good things about King's Lynn - a colleague of mine runs fairly regularly there. I've always wanted to do a run at Bushy but I've often wondered if the grass straight at the start hinders other runners despite the world Parkrun record there.My outright PB is at Kings Lynn, 1 sec fasted than at Hove but when I was in less than PB shape - very flat and not too crowded, but does have a U turn, I think Norwich is flat and tarmac, haven't run it yet, it's on the list for the next time I go up there to see my mum.
ewenm said:
If you want to run a fast 5k, enter a track 5k at an open meet. My road PB of 14:54 was from the Serpentine Last-Friday-of-the-Month 5k in Hyde Park.
The 5k race that generally produces the fastest times is the Antrim International 5k.
Parkruns are not generally fast courses but of course that's not the point.
A local club I've been thinking of joining used to hold a couple of open meets at Birmingham University until they tore the track down. Will have to look a few others up. Roughly speaking, what's the expected difference in times between a track 5,000m and a flat, fast road 5k?The 5k race that generally produces the fastest times is the Antrim International 5k.
Parkruns are not generally fast courses but of course that's not the point.
Some Gump said:
Finally done my first parkrun - but lost the bloody ticket part way round the course. Oh well...
You don't need to have your barcode with you when you run, I always leave mine in my tracksuit to be sure I don't lose it!Well done anyway for getting along there, we have had people who go off for another lap to find their lost barcode!
Knocked a massive 34 seconds off my PB this morning to 27:11 and my fist time over 50% age grading. Still not good enough to bump me up a place on the PH Wiki though. Almost annoyed that I took that much off it as it'll be a real struggle to get another PB now rather than nibbling a few seconds off each week. I've started doing some other races (a couple of 10k's and several cross countries) which I think has made a big difference.
I cycled to parkrun down the towpath this morning and as we were running late were going a bit quicker than usual. I find it vaguely amusing that our 3:45/km pace means if I'd cycled round parkrun at that speed I'd have been 15th, nearly 2 minutes behind the winner and 3 minutes behind the course record
I cycled to parkrun down the towpath this morning and as we were running late were going a bit quicker than usual. I find it vaguely amusing that our 3:45/km pace means if I'd cycled round parkrun at that speed I'd have been 15th, nearly 2 minutes behind the winner and 3 minutes behind the course record
Cybertronian said:
A local club I've been thinking of joining used to hold a couple of open meets at Birmingham University until they tore the track down. Will have to look a few others up. Roughly speaking, what's the expected difference in times between a track 5,000m and a flat, fast road 5k?
There are loads of open/league meets going on during the summer. My track PB is approx 30s faster than my road PB, but I've no idea if that is representative in general. The advantage of track is it's flat, bouncy, predictable and you tend to get faster people to drag you round/hide behind 
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