Discussion
irish boy said:
Managed to hit the 20 minute barrier this morning for the first time. It was pretty tough going tbh, felt like 90% plus for all of it. Been working toward it the for last month so pretty pleased.
Good going! 5k pace is often associated with being 90% or more of maximum heart rate, so you pitched it right if that's what it felt like.downthepub said:
Did the pilgrimage as was in London anyway yesterday. Fecking hell that parkrun is a whole different level in sheer scale. Volunteering count of 55 is staggering, especially when some runs I've done have bearly broken double digits in terms of runners!
Single lap courses and a few other course designs often need more marshals compared to lap courses. My home event consists of a small lap, then a large lap followed by a very long out and back section and a couple of complex junctions; 40+ volunteers are needed each week to deliver just the basics of marshals, timers, scanners etc for some 700+ runners each week.
john2443 said:
Yes, Bushy is another level - roster shows 11 
funnel managers and 11 marshals required (in bold)!
Did Bushy back in March and there was over 1400 people there funnel managers and 11 marshals required (in bold)!
which was about triple the next biggest event I’d done. Great course and was good to get another parkrun challenge badge. Really please with this weekends park run. About 8 weeks ago I was persuaded by a friend to do a brand new park run on its opening, with no training whatsoever, and limped round in 39.14. Since then I've been using the zenlabs C25k program and managed 34.20 yestersay, first time without any walking breaks too.
Plenty of work still to do, Im carrying the equivilant of a small child in extra weight which wont be doing any joints any good, once some of that comes off, im hoping to break 30 minutes, maybe in another couple of months.
Plenty of work still to do, Im carrying the equivilant of a small child in extra weight which wont be doing any joints any good, once some of that comes off, im hoping to break 30 minutes, maybe in another couple of months.
Well done James! You'll find time comes down easily for a few weeks, then improvement slows - after that it depends how hard you train/ how seriously you take it/how much time you can dedicate but it's fine to be going at mid pack pace than not at all!
I was at parkrun conference at the weekend, we did Kingsbury Water on Saturday, nice course, a bit busy with their normal 500 plus 250 of us! I ran a bit with Dave & Mrs Moorcroft, chatted to Jo Pavey, Bruce Fordyce and Chrissie Wellington - how many mega star runners can you fit in one sentence - plus PSH and the staff. Also someone who knows Cybertronian - Mary, I think it was - and of course photo Ninja, cousin Bruce.
Despite those people being there, the most inspiring were speakers like the guy who lost 7 stone and cured/put in remission his type 2 diabetes and the prison officer who talked about the positive impact of parkrun in a Young Offenders Institution.
No big news, just more events, forecasts of eleventy billion runners by 2029, coaches stuck in traffic, people getting off and playing 'race the coach' back to the conference centre, I think the runners mostly made it!
Some
may also have been consumed 
I was at parkrun conference at the weekend, we did Kingsbury Water on Saturday, nice course, a bit busy with their normal 500 plus 250 of us! I ran a bit with Dave & Mrs Moorcroft, chatted to Jo Pavey, Bruce Fordyce and Chrissie Wellington - how many mega star runners can you fit in one sentence - plus PSH and the staff. Also someone who knows Cybertronian - Mary, I think it was - and of course photo Ninja, cousin Bruce.
Despite those people being there, the most inspiring were speakers like the guy who lost 7 stone and cured/put in remission his type 2 diabetes and the prison officer who talked about the positive impact of parkrun in a Young Offenders Institution.
No big news, just more events, forecasts of eleventy billion runners by 2029, coaches stuck in traffic, people getting off and playing 'race the coach' back to the conference centre, I think the runners mostly made it!
Some
may also have been consumed john2443 said:
I was at parkrun conference at the weekend, we did Kingsbury Water on Saturday, nice course, a bit busy with their normal 500 plus 250 of us! I ran a bit with Dave & Mrs Moorcroft, chatted to Jo Pavey, Bruce Fordyce and Chrissie Wellington - how many mega star runners can you fit in one sentence - plus PSH and the staff. Also someone who knows Cybertronian - Mary, I think it was - and of course photo Ninja, cousin Bruce.
Ah, Mary! A proper gem, she is - part of the old school lot and probably had no idea parkrun would become what it has after initially kicking off with the Cannon Hill event. Embarrassingly, you probably now see my cousin Bruce more often than I do! What did you make of the Kingsbury Water event? I found it incredibly hard work a few years ago. It was the height of summer and I was running alone for pretty much the entire run, with people in front and behind at least 30 seconds away from me. Also very few marshals as it was (still is?) a single lapper, so I made a few wrong turns. The event also sticks out in my mind because two runners were bitten by dogs belonging to other runners during the run, before a fight broke out in the cafe because one of the offending dogs went on to bite somebody else again!
Was Vassos Alexander the compere at the conference like before? I know he's gotten a bit of heat of late for his part in the Free Weekly Timed podcast. I don't mind the guy, and he's obviously got the voice working in media, but I can't help but feel the podcast feels like it's wheel spinning now as they appear to have run out of things to talk about.
john2443 said:
Well done James! You'll find time comes down easily for a few weeks, then improvement slows - after that it depends how hard you train/ how seriously you take it/how much time you can dedicate but it's fine to be going at mid pack pace than not at all!
I was at parkrun conference at the weekend, we did Kingsbury Water on Saturday, nice course, a bit busy with their normal 500 plus 250 of us! I ran a bit with Dave & Mrs Moorcroft, chatted to Jo Pavey, Bruce Fordyce and Chrissie Wellington - how many mega star runners can you fit in one sentence - plus PSH and the staff. Also someone who knows Cybertronian - Mary, I think it was - and of course photo Ninja, cousin Bruce.
Despite those people being there, the most inspiring were speakers like the guy who lost 7 stone and cured/put in remission his type 2 diabetes and the prison officer who talked about the positive impact of parkrun in a Young Offenders Institution.
No big news, just more events, forecasts of eleventy billion runners by 2029, coaches stuck in traffic, people getting off and playing 'race the coach' back to the conference centre, I think the runners mostly made it!
Some may also have been consumed
I couldn’t go this year. Did they touch on the change in how the startup event funding is now being ‘pitched’ with the change in equipment policy?I was at parkrun conference at the weekend, we did Kingsbury Water on Saturday, nice course, a bit busy with their normal 500 plus 250 of us! I ran a bit with Dave & Mrs Moorcroft, chatted to Jo Pavey, Bruce Fordyce and Chrissie Wellington - how many mega star runners can you fit in one sentence - plus PSH and the staff. Also someone who knows Cybertronian - Mary, I think it was - and of course photo Ninja, cousin Bruce.
Despite those people being there, the most inspiring were speakers like the guy who lost 7 stone and cured/put in remission his type 2 diabetes and the prison officer who talked about the positive impact of parkrun in a Young Offenders Institution.
No big news, just more events, forecasts of eleventy billion runners by 2029, coaches stuck in traffic, people getting off and playing 'race the coach' back to the conference centre, I think the runners mostly made it!
Some
may also have been consumed Hoping to do my 2nd parkrun this year this weekend, did a New Years Day one and a hamstring injury flared up again which had put me off a bit.
But my 64 year old Dad has been getting into them this year and is running really well, his last one was 21:56 giving him a 75% age grading. Which means I need to get down to 17:35 for an equivalent %age! haha
No way I'll run that fast but I've done 19:30 in a recent (longer) run so hopefully could get nearer 19.
We had a week on the isle of White recently and while I was packing up the car the parkrunners literally came past the front door of the place we were staying in Appley park, ryde, gutted I hadn't realised it would be held there otherwise would have done it! My son (4) was loving shouting the runners on, so looking forward to taking him along to spectate.
But my 64 year old Dad has been getting into them this year and is running really well, his last one was 21:56 giving him a 75% age grading. Which means I need to get down to 17:35 for an equivalent %age! haha
No way I'll run that fast but I've done 19:30 in a recent (longer) run so hopefully could get nearer 19.
We had a week on the isle of White recently and while I was packing up the car the parkrunners literally came past the front door of the place we were staying in Appley park, ryde, gutted I hadn't realised it would be held there otherwise would have done it! My son (4) was loving shouting the runners on, so looking forward to taking him along to spectate.
Cybertronian said:
Stuff
I only see Bruce once or twice a year. Waiting now for him to edit the 5000 photos he took!Kingsbury was very busy - we headed towards start and suddenly realised that they'd started and we were still, will loads of others, walked towards the 35 mins and above sign so no hope of a quick time, but as the crowd thinned out gradually moved forward, so did a 2k jog and 3k at proper pace which was fine - I don't expect a quick time at conference due to crowds, beer, late night, early alarm etc.
Marshals fairly regularly, but with 750 runners there wasn't much chance to go wrong, I think there was a lead bike to get the front runners on the correct route. I enjoyed it, one lap, countryside, no hills.
No fighting people or dogs that I noticed! There warnings of mosquitos but I didn't notice any.
Yes, Vassos was MC - he's very good at that. PSH presented him with barcode wristbands which was very funny, given that he said on the podcast that he'd forgotten his but had been added in, which resulted in Tom Williams having to be interviewed to re-iterate no barcode no time. Was good to see PSH taking the pee!
I made myself listen for a few weeks but neither of them have enough deep down knowledge and I find Louise is just dull. Why they picked her I have no idea.If I spend time listening to something I want to be amused, entertained or educated and for me they don't do any of those.
I listen to With Me Now which although can be a bit annoying, makes me smile and I feel part of the community - about 10 of us wore WMN t shirts and ambushed PSH for a photo
KTF said:
I couldn’t go this year. Did they touch on the change in how the startup event funding is now being ‘pitched’ with the change in equipment policy?
We noticed you weren't there! I was sharing with Malcolm from Southampton, I guess you know him.Can't remember if this was said at conference or I've read it, but the expression was that you're paying for a perpetual licence to operate an event, which was always sort of true. Scanners, timers, laptop were only a few hundred out of the £3000. No moaning about the change that I heard and everyone who uses the app say it's excellent, Germany are getting on OK being app only.
Some new sponsors coming on board soon, and good upgrade to the event map, can't detail here as it's part of the 'We'll announce this soon, please keep quiet". Sponsors didn't sound like they'll cause any drama, one is a car maker, it was joked that all ambassadors would get a free one, but as they aren't red and Italian why would we want one
Apparently won't be at Warwick next year, they have a venue lined up but couldn't announce it until more loose ends are tied up.
At the end of Saturday aft they started to show the Ugandan Crew film from Jessicas parkrun heros (it's on You Tube), just as we were beginning to wonder why they were showing it, the doors opened, there was drumming and yelling as they danced into the hall which was a fun diversion. Vassos interviewed them and they said 'while PSH, Nick and Tom are here, we think Uganda would be a good new country for pr to start so we're all planning our 2020 holidays.
No new countries announced, although I know that people who live in Spain and have previously asked HQ about it have been contacted recently to see if they are still interested.
john2443 said:
I only see Bruce once or twice a year. Waiting now for him to edit the 5000 photos he took!
Which is still more frequent than I see him! We're attending my brother's wedding next week, so will try and go out for a run together beforehand.john2443 said:
Yes, Vassos was MC - he's very good at that. PSH presented him with barcode wristbands which was very funny, given that he said on the podcast that he'd forgotten his but had been added in, which resulted in Tom Williams having to be interviewed to re-iterate no barcode no time. Was good to see PSH taking the pee!
I made myself listen for a few weeks but neither of them have enough deep down knowledge and I find Louise is just dull. Why they picked her I have no idea.If I spend time listening to something I want to be amused, entertained or educated and for me they don't do any of those.
I listen to With Me Now which although can be a bit annoying, makes me smile and I feel part of the community - about 10 of us wore WMN t shirts and ambushed PSH for a photo
LOL at the barcode wristband gift.I made myself listen for a few weeks but neither of them have enough deep down knowledge and I find Louise is just dull. Why they picked her I have no idea.If I spend time listening to something I want to be amused, entertained or educated and for me they don't do any of those.
I listen to With Me Now which although can be a bit annoying, makes me smile and I feel part of the community - about 10 of us wore WMN t shirts and ambushed PSH for a photo
Completely agree with you on wanting to be amused, entertained or educated from my podcasts.
With Me Now does all three of those things, though I was not a fan of the original parkrun Show whilst it was live. I think I found it difficult to listen to without starting right at the very beginning - far too many in-jokes made it rather inaccessible to newcomers. I jumped on board With Me Now from the start, and whilst some/all of the in-jokes and lexicon carried over from the parkrun Show, new jokes and lexicon also formed to make me feel like less of a newcomer and maintain my interest, also helped by several additional years of parkrunning experience under my belt. That and I've taken to parkrun tourism in quite a big way, recently running my 40th different event.
Free Weekly Timed only occasionally piques my interest, and that's it. There are several problems with the show, some of which are magnified due to With Me Now's existence. The show started off well enough, but they quickly ran dry of having anything particularly enlightening to say; the last couple of episodes featuring interviews with only a tenuous link to parkrun only reinforces this. Podcasts and radio shows often work well when there are two expert hosts in discussion, or when there's one expert educating the newcomer - in this case, it's Louise as the expert and Vassos as the newcomer/audience surrogate. The problem is Louise is far too advanced in terms of her parkrun experience compared to Vassos, to the point where the mismatch regularly makes them sound like a frustrated adult trying to teach a child that repeatedly makes the same mistakes, or has little genuine interest in the subject matter. There's no chemistry between them.
Edited by Cybertronian on Tuesday 9th July 16:21
A thing with Louise is that although she's done a lot of parkrunning and touristing and her fair share of ordinary volunteering, she's never been core team so doesn't understand what goes on behind the scenes - she can't properly explain why the rules matter.
It's unfortunate that With Me Now isn't the official pod - Danny did discuss it with HQ but they couldn't come to an agreement, I suspect he wanted more editorial freedom than they wanted him to have, so he is free to be critical of HQ, although mostly isn't. As the official show he might have to toe the line more.
Whether FWT is official or not I don't know - they say they are independent but are publicised on official emails and I assume Vassos doesn't do it for free!
For anyone who doesn't know what we're talking about -
With Me Now - http://withmenow.libsyn.com/
Free Weekly Timed - http://www.freeweeklytimed.com/
parkrun adventurers - https://parkrunadventurers.podbean.com/ Latest show includes an interview with Tim, the Oz country manager, about conference.
It's unfortunate that With Me Now isn't the official pod - Danny did discuss it with HQ but they couldn't come to an agreement, I suspect he wanted more editorial freedom than they wanted him to have, so he is free to be critical of HQ, although mostly isn't. As the official show he might have to toe the line more.
Whether FWT is official or not I don't know - they say they are independent but are publicised on official emails and I assume Vassos doesn't do it for free!
For anyone who doesn't know what we're talking about -
With Me Now - http://withmenow.libsyn.com/
Free Weekly Timed - http://www.freeweeklytimed.com/
parkrun adventurers - https://parkrunadventurers.podbean.com/ Latest show includes an interview with Tim, the Oz country manager, about conference.
john2443 said:
No new countries announced, although I know that people who live in Spain and have previously asked HQ about it have been contacted recently to see if they are still interested.
Similarly with Netherlands, dunno how long it takes from initial interest to getting something up and running but can't wait.john2443 said:
We noticed you weren't there! I was sharing with Malcolm from Southampton, I guess you know him.
Oh yes, I know Malcolm. Our offspring is nearly 18 months now and in to everything. Had I disappeared for 3 days it would not have gone down well and who knows what state everything would have been in when I returned Thanks for sharing the details, once you say you can’t attend, you get cut out of any of the communications and they never distribute the slides to people who couldn’t make it.
What was the freebie this year? Good job I wasn’t holding my breath for in anticipation of the mug launch from last year
I guessed you couldn't come due to child issue! Luckily, our kids were teenage by the time I started parkrunning so I've always been able to get away.
No mugs this year! Kit bag, Contra hat, Filofax sort of thing for notepad and hand out.
I'll try to share slides/docs with you when they come out, depends if they are hosted somewhere you need access to - they should really be available to all who are invited.
No mugs this year! Kit bag, Contra hat, Filofax sort of thing for notepad and hand out.
I'll try to share slides/docs with you when they come out, depends if they are hosted somewhere you need access to - they should really be available to all who are invited.
Used the app for barcode scanning today for the first time, and I don't think I will use it again, at least not on this phone. Way slower than using the normal scanner, but my Mrs reckoned it was really quick when she used it some time back so hopefully it's just something odd with my phone.
I've also not been able to email the results. but have managed to send them via WhatsApp.
I've also not been able to email the results. but have managed to send them via WhatsApp.
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