parkrun

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GloverMart

12,298 posts

223 months

Monday 18th November
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john2443 said:
GloverMart said:
Master Bean said:
GloverMart said:
PB broken this morning, knocked 1.25 off my previous best which I'm pleased with. Didn't feel THAT fast but maybe my FAST has got faster than my previous FAST. (if you see what I mean!).

Was at the Somerdale Pavilion course in Keynsham and wore trail shoes so even more surprised to get such a good time.
I got a really good time there. 1 second off my all time pb. Course came up short but probably just gps struggling with the never ending bends.
Hi MB, it's an issue a lot of people get. I've only "measured" the course once as I've been running it and it also came up very short but as you say, I'm sure it's the bends that cause it to be out. And if they measure the 5km in the centre of the track, there are so many bends that you could knock off quite a distance when you take the racing line through corners.
The shortest line should have been used when measuring the course, it's very difficult to accurately measure an off road course and with the Curly Wurly section I suspect that GPS has very little idea what's going on!
Ah right, thanks for explaining John, that makes sense.

This is the course as it is run. More twists and turns than most other parkruns, that is for sure.


LastPoster

2,732 posts

191 months

Monday 18th November
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I have only bothered timing myself once at Somerdale as my GPS on my phone is so far out (total distance recorded at 3.52 km) it makes the splits pointless

I think the course is short though, my PB there is over a minute faster than anywhere else, whilst it’s dead flat there are several almost dead stops per lap and the rough nature of the trail means a bit of care there as well. Compared to Chipping Sodbury, which is almost flat and pretty much wide and smooth the whole way with only the start being a bit slow as it’s very popular. I’m about 1.10 slower at CS. I think the difference comes in just how tight you can hug the hundreds of bends.

ETA as it's a bit unfair to be critical, the course isn't short. The runner make it shorter

biggrin

Edited by LastPoster on Monday 18th November 21:12

Master Bean

4,035 posts

128 months

Monday 18th November
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Pegwell Bay is probably definitely short according to everyone.

Waitforme

1,259 posts

172 months

Monday 18th November
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My Garmin normally says my PR distance is about 4.95k , but someone has set a segment for the course and Strava recognises this as 5.02k.
I’m now convinced the course is correct and my GPS is very slightly out.

GloverMart

12,298 posts

223 months

Monday 18th November
quotequote all
LastPoster said:
I have only bothered timing myself once at Somerdale as my GPS on my phone is so far out (total distance recorded at 3.52 km) it makes the splits pointless

I think the course is short though, my PB there is over a minute faster than anywhere else, whilst it’s dead flat there are several almost dead stops per lap and the rough nature of the trail means a bit of care there as well. Compared to Chipping Sodbury, which is almost flat and pretty much wide and smooth the whole way with only the start being a bit slow as it’s very popular. I’m about 1.10 slower at CS. I think the difference comes in just how tight you can hug the hundreds of bends.

ETA as it's a bit unfair to be critical, the course isn't short. The runner make it shorter

biggrin

Edited by LastPoster on Monday 18th November 21:12
Hi mate, hope you're well. thumbup

I'd agree with the difference in PB's, my PB at Sodbury is 1 min 25 slower than Somerdale. I didn't bother with the app on Saturday, just ran with a stopwatch as the splits are daft. Think the last time I ran there with an app, it told me I'd run 4.38km. hehe

RizzoTheRat

26,048 posts

200 months

Saturday 23rd November
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Both timers had different errors this morning and the token handerouter didn't spot straight away that one batch of tokens was out of order. Glad I'm not RD today!

zorba_the_greek

867 posts

230 months

Saturday 23rd November
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Nasty out there. Manged a steady eddy 28mins.

Headwind into finish line was not fun

MesoForm

9,183 posts

283 months

Saturday 23rd November
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That's 100 parkruns done for me biggrin
Only taken 7 years... But it did take 4 years to get up to 25 runs so that's pretty consistent the past few.
My plan was to go up to my favourite at Blickling with some running mates but that was cancelled due to the wind (National Trust owned and they closed the site) so went to my second favourite at one of the smaller Norwich ones instead.
Utterly miserable weather and slippery underfoot, even with trail shoes as there were quite a few thick roots and rocks so took it steady. Quick cup of tea then home for a hot shower!
Onwards to 250, I'm trying to keep my volunteering percentage at 10% so not sure if it will the v25 or running 250 wristband I get next...

john2443

Original Poster:

6,394 posts

219 months

Saturday 23rd November
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We're in Yorkshire for a wedding, booked an Airbnb close to parkrun and the venue...it snowed and all the local parkruns are cancelled frown

Damn!

markh1973

2,175 posts

176 months

Saturday 23rd November
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Brain fail today - volunteered to do the pre event course check completely forgetting that given Tonbridge is one lap that meant running 5km before doing it all over again for actual parkrun. Ordinarily not a problem but as I haven't been well they were my first runs in 2 weeks. Nowhere near the recent 70% age grading today.

GloverMart

12,298 posts

223 months

Saturday 23rd November
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Had to do the most local parkrun I can do today as I was working at a lunchtime kick off so with Somerdale waterlogged, it was a newbie for me at Pomphrey Hill this morning.

Have previously givent his a swerve as it's renowned for being a bit hilly but it wasn't too bad apart from the one killer hill that's the steepest I've seen on a parkrun. Managed to get up it running on each of the three laps but on the second and third, I had to walk for a minute to get my breath back. Hence it was a slow time, 35:59 this morning but I'm pleased with it considering the conditions.

yellowjack

17,276 posts

174 months

Saturday 23rd November
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parkrun #24 for me today. All at Bournemouth (King's Park).

00:37:21 official finish time, but I crossed the start line 6 minutes late. 00:32:17 for the 3.16 mile Strava segment. Happy with that, given only four hours sleep last night, a fatboy Kebab for dinner yesterday, and a few days of "unbalanced" HRV according to Garmin Connect. My "coach-in-a-watch" suggested 'Rest' for today, so obviously I took that on board and ran a mile to get to parkrun, the event 3 miles, and 6 miles home via Sainsbury's. 10.01 miles total, cramming all my weekly distance goal into a single activity.

'Storm Bert' affected the course this morning. Wind in my face up the "feature" hill, gusty around the sports pitches at the top, and quite slippery under foot on the non-tarmac elements of the course. I think it knocked a good number off the average field of participants too. But thankfully it was mostly dry, so I only got mildly damp instead of soaked through. I'm definitely glad I made the (last minute) decision to lace up my shoes and take part.

LastPoster

2,732 posts

191 months

Saturday 23rd November
quotequote all
GloverMart said:
Had to do the most local parkrun I can do today as I was working at a lunchtime kick off so with Somerdale waterlogged, it was a newbie for me at Pomphrey Hill this morning.

Have previously givent his a swerve as it's renowned for being a bit hilly but it wasn't too bad apart from the one killer hill that's the steepest I've seen on a parkrun. Managed to get up it running on each of the three laps but on the second and third, I had to walk for a minute to get my breath back. Hence it was a slow time, 35:59 this morning but I'm pleased with it considering the conditions.
Good going that Mart. I still walk at the top sometimes. I ran locally today but would have gone to Pomph if I had known you would be there.

GloverMart

12,298 posts

223 months

Sunday 24th November
quotequote all
LastPoster said:
GloverMart said:
Had to do the most local parkrun I can do today as I was working at a lunchtime kick off so with Somerdale waterlogged, it was a newbie for me at Pomphrey Hill this morning.

Have previously givent his a swerve as it's renowned for being a bit hilly but it wasn't too bad apart from the one killer hill that's the steepest I've seen on a parkrun. Managed to get up it running on each of the three laps but on the second and third, I had to walk for a minute to get my breath back. Hence it was a slow time, 35:59 this morning but I'm pleased with it considering the conditions.
Good going that Mart. I still walk at the top sometimes. I ran locally today but would have gone to Pomph if I had known you would be there.
Ah cheers, would have been good to see you too, mate.

Was as tough as I'd expected it to be, but the aim in time is to be able to go right around without stopping, that might shave a minute off I think. Also had to take it steady going down the hill too as wet and covered in leaves and didn't want to end up a casualty.

GloverMart

12,298 posts

223 months

Wednesday 27th November
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Two of my local courses have already cancelled Saturday's runs. Somerdale is under water big time and even the following week's parkrun must be in danger if we get any more rain. And Chipping Sodbury cancelled this morning stating that Storm Bert had damaged the path used by runners and it's in a right state.

LastPoster

2,732 posts

191 months

Wednesday 27th November
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Are you running locally Mart or off somewhere due to football shenanigans?

GloverMart

12,298 posts

223 months

Wednesday 27th November
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LastPoster said:
Are you running locally Mart or off somewhere due to football shenanigans?
At the moment, locally, probably will be Pomphrey Hill - after avoiding it for as long as possible, doing it two weeks running by the looks of it. Could try Three Brooks, haven't done that yet.

However, always the chance I might get re-distributed elsewhere, hopefully not though.

LastPoster

2,732 posts

191 months

Wednesday 27th November
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Might see you there then smile

GloverMart

12,298 posts

223 months

Wednesday 27th November
quotequote all
LastPoster said:
Might see you there then smile
thumbup

Not if I see you first! To be fair, I do want to go back to see if I can run the whole thing instead of walking after the hill! hehe

5pen

1,962 posts

214 months

Thursday 28th November
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markh1973 said:
Brain fail today - volunteered to do the pre event course check completely forgetting that given Tonbridge is one lap that meant running 5km before doing it all over again for actual parkrun. Ordinarily not a problem but as I haven't been well they were my first runs in 2 weeks. Nowhere near the recent 70% age grading today.
I was at Tonbridge on Saturday too. Pre-event course check would have been more interesting on Monday. Post storm Bert blockage on the path between the railway bridge and the left turn towards the lake.



Hopefully, it will be clear for this Saturday.