Discussion
yellowjack said:
Well done!New course PB for me at Bournemouth parkrun, too.
00:23:03
Sub 23 minutes still eluding me here, but so, so close today. My third quickest 5k since joining Strava, and the faster two runs were at other fairly local venues.
I didn't get much sleep last night, so not ideal preparation. Unusually for me, I got up to the park comfortably ahead of start time, so I had plenty of time to save the warm-up, and find the 'Set A Target' menu on my watch. I put 23 minutes dead into the watch, and set off. For the first big loop I was running ahead of target. Up to 15 seconds of a lead. The second big loop saw me gradually lose ground on my virtual partner, and I was about 20 seconds behind target going into the final 400 metres. I had much less of a sprint available than I usually do, but I must have clawed back some of my deficit. Slightly frustrated to finish behind my target time, but also very happy to grab myself a new event PB.
It was also "New Shoes Day", wearing a pair of Saucony Blaze TR trail shoes that I bought yesterday. Being honest, they're pretty much out-and-out trail shoes, and King's Park wasn't as wet as I had expected it to be this morning. Too much tarmac, along with excessive mileage, combined to give me a couple of tender spots afterwards. Perhaps a half marathon in brand new trail shies wasn't an ideal first outing? But three repeats of the parkrun route, the run home, and three laps of another local park added up to 22.22 kilometres total.
Very happy to find that the rain forecast for mid morning never turned up, too. Happy days!
My first blast in my first ever pair of carbon plate shoes today rewarded me with a 22:56, best time since April 2017
resolve10 said:
yellowjack said:
Well done!New course PB for me at Bournemouth parkrun, too.
00:23:03
Sub 23 minutes still eluding me here, but so, so close today. My third quickest 5k since joining Strava, and the faster two runs were at other fairly local venues.
I didn't get much sleep last night, so not ideal preparation. Unusually for me, I got up to the park comfortably ahead of start time, so I had plenty of time to save the warm-up, and find the 'Set A Target' menu on my watch. I put 23 minutes dead into the watch, and set off. For the first big loop I was running ahead of target. Up to 15 seconds of a lead. The second big loop saw me gradually lose ground on my virtual partner, and I was about 20 seconds behind target going into the final 400 metres. I had much less of a sprint available than I usually do, but I must have clawed back some of my deficit. Slightly frustrated to finish behind my target time, but also very happy to grab myself a new event PB.
It was also "New Shoes Day", wearing a pair of Saucony Blaze TR trail shoes that I bought yesterday. Being honest, they're pretty much out-and-out trail shoes, and King's Park wasn't as wet as I had expected it to be this morning. Too much tarmac, along with excessive mileage, combined to give me a couple of tender spots afterwards. Perhaps a half marathon in brand new trail shies wasn't an ideal first outing? But three repeats of the parkrun route, the run home, and three laps of another local park added up to 22.22 kilometres total.
Very happy to find that the rain forecast for mid morning never turned up, too. Happy days!
My first blast in my first ever pair of carbon plate shoes today rewarded me with a 22:56, best time since April 2017
I was working near London this weekend so as I was staying at South Mimms, ended up returning to Oak Hill Park in Barnet, a parkrun I did five or six weeks ago.
It was flooded at the start line area so the course was substantially different, taking far more of the hill into the route than would normally be the case. Arguably the hardest one I've done so far, so time of 33:43 was no surprise and no disappointment either. Managed to run all the way around too which six months ago, I don't think I would have done to be honest.
Onwards and upwards. (Literally!).
It was flooded at the start line area so the course was substantially different, taking far more of the hill into the route than would normally be the case. Arguably the hardest one I've done so far, so time of 33:43 was no surprise and no disappointment either. Managed to run all the way around too which six months ago, I don't think I would have done to be honest.
Onwards and upwards. (Literally!).
Nothing of note to report this morning. Went to my normal one at Chipping Sodbury, offered to write the run report & then proceeded to run a decidedly average run in 31:04.
A slow start really, didn't move for seven seconds. That said, having lost a shed load of weight from May 24 to May 25 then putting a third of it back on inside six months, the next few months are going to be stripped back to basics and gradually building things up again till I can run sub-30 minutes every week. Lost ten pounds this week in the first week of my reboot so things are heading in the right direction at least.
A slow start really, didn't move for seven seconds. That said, having lost a shed load of weight from May 24 to May 25 then putting a third of it back on inside six months, the next few months are going to be stripped back to basics and gradually building things up again till I can run sub-30 minutes every week. Lost ten pounds this week in the first week of my reboot so things are heading in the right direction at least.
Edited by GloverMart on Saturday 8th November 11:24
madbadger said:
Nice. Normally I don't care about event numbers but I must say I do check around around my cluster of 5 to see if any of the local ones are a number that would stretch my floating index. No chance of getting the low numbers anytime soon unless I deliberately relentlessly go to the new Norwich one when that starts, but I'd rather spread my runs around a bit!My first run in 3 weeks yesterday as I've been away, also feeling the affects of jet lag so just cruised round in 26 something instead of my usual 24 something cruising or 23 something pushing.
MesoForm said:
Nice. Normally I don't care about event numbers but I must say I do check around around my cluster of 5 to see if any of the local ones are a number that would stretch my floating index. No chance of getting the low numbers anytime soon unless I deliberately relentlessly go to the new Norwich one when that starts, but I'd rather spread my runs around a bit!
My first run in 3 weeks yesterday as I've been away, also feeling the affects of jet lag so just cruised round in 26 something instead of my usual 24 something cruising or 23 something pushing.
Looks like we are ballpark-similar paced runners. My first run in 3 weeks yesterday as I've been away, also feeling the affects of jet lag so just cruised round in 26 something instead of my usual 24 something cruising or 23 something pushing.
I went round in an official parkrun finish time of 00:23:51 yesterday. Pushing, but not too hard. I knew I wasn't going to trouble my all-time PB, nor my venue PB. Mainly because the run started before I reached the startline. I spent 15 to 20 seconds "swimming against the tide", then had to deftly thread myself between runners at the back of the field.
Early in the "small first loop" I managed to set new PRs on a couple of Strava segments, but that was while playing catch-up. My time on the full parkrun Strava segment didn't even make my top 5 times. Settling in to the two "big loops" and my pace dropped a little. Trail shoes, again, felt like overkill, but I'd set my current PB in them a couple of weeks ago so I can't honestly blame the shoes.
I really want to get my parkrun PB below 23 minutes here at Bournemouth, as it is currently sitting at 00:23:03. It'll come. Before the end of the year, hopefully. I've managed sub-23 twice, this year, at other venues (Fordingbridge Recreation Ground and Moors Valley parkruns), but Bournemouth has a bit of a hill to schlep up twice, which I think is the difference. It was a lovely run yesterday, though. I was late to the start because I simply tried to cram too much in before leaving home. The only decent forecast of "drying weather" for this week meant getting one load pegged out and another started in the machine before I finally laced up my shoes and hit the road.
yellowjack said:
Looks like we are ballpark-similar paced runners.
I went round in an official parkrun finish time of 00:23:51 yesterday. Pushing, but not too hard. I knew I wasn't going to trouble my all-time PB, nor my venue PB. Mainly because the run started before I reached the startline. I spent 15 to 20 seconds "swimming against the tide", then had to deftly thread myself between runners at the back of the field.
Early in the "small first loop" I managed to set new PRs on a couple of Strava segments, but that was while playing catch-up. My time on the full parkrun Strava segment didn't even make my top 5 times. Settling in to the two "big loops" and my pace dropped a little. Trail shoes, again, felt like overkill, but I'd set my current PB in them a couple of weeks ago so I can't honestly blame the shoes.
I really want to get my parkrun PB below 23 minutes here at Bournemouth, as it is currently sitting at 00:23:03. It'll come. Before the end of the year, hopefully. I've managed sub-23 twice, this year, at other venues (Fordingbridge Recreation Ground and Moors Valley parkruns), but Bournemouth has a bit of a hill to schlep up twice, which I think is the difference. It was a lovely run yesterday, though. I was late to the start because I simply tried to cram too much in before leaving home. The only decent forecast of "drying weather" for this week meant getting one load pegged out and another started in the machine before I finally laced up my shoes and hit the road.
It's of no help to you whatsoever, but my Bournemouth time was 22:48. Moors Valley 22:25 and Fordingbridge 24:14. I went round in an official parkrun finish time of 00:23:51 yesterday. Pushing, but not too hard. I knew I wasn't going to trouble my all-time PB, nor my venue PB. Mainly because the run started before I reached the startline. I spent 15 to 20 seconds "swimming against the tide", then had to deftly thread myself between runners at the back of the field.
Early in the "small first loop" I managed to set new PRs on a couple of Strava segments, but that was while playing catch-up. My time on the full parkrun Strava segment didn't even make my top 5 times. Settling in to the two "big loops" and my pace dropped a little. Trail shoes, again, felt like overkill, but I'd set my current PB in them a couple of weeks ago so I can't honestly blame the shoes.
I really want to get my parkrun PB below 23 minutes here at Bournemouth, as it is currently sitting at 00:23:03. It'll come. Before the end of the year, hopefully. I've managed sub-23 twice, this year, at other venues (Fordingbridge Recreation Ground and Moors Valley parkruns), but Bournemouth has a bit of a hill to schlep up twice, which I think is the difference. It was a lovely run yesterday, though. I was late to the start because I simply tried to cram too much in before leaving home. The only decent forecast of "drying weather" for this week meant getting one load pegged out and another started in the machine before I finally laced up my shoes and hit the road.
GloverMart said:
Nothing of note to report this morning. Went to my normal one at Chipping Sodbury, offered to write the run report & then proceeded to run a decidedly average run in 31:04.
A slow start really, didn't move for seven seconds. That said, having lost a shed load of weight from May 24 to May 25 then putting a third of it back on inside six months, the next few months are going to be stripped back to basics and gradually building things up again till I can run sub-30 minutes every week. Lost ten pounds this week in the first week of my reboot so things are heading in the right direction at least.
Much the same again this week, except ten seconds quicker. Feels like I've hit a plateau a little and will gradually have to go back to knocking a few seconds off each week till I can run sub-30 again. Chipping Sodbury survived but Three Brooks and Somerdale both failed course inspections and were cancelled last night. A slow start really, didn't move for seven seconds. That said, having lost a shed load of weight from May 24 to May 25 then putting a third of it back on inside six months, the next few months are going to be stripped back to basics and gradually building things up again till I can run sub-30 minutes every week. Lost ten pounds this week in the first week of my reboot so things are heading in the right direction at least.
Edited by GloverMart on Saturday 8th November 11:24
I'm regretting volunteering to course check this week. It meant I'd committed to cycling to parkrun before I'd seen the weather forecast. Only light drizzle getting there but the rain started about 4km in to my run and looks like it might stop by Easter. I can feel my toes again after a shower and a cuppa.
Now 10+ years on I'm back down to 30 ish again due to injuries and lack of training. I find if only run once a week tend to drop down to a bit over 30, running a couple of times a week gets it under 30 but I really need to be doing a couple of mid week runs on top of the weekend parkrun to actually see much improvement.
GloverMart said:
Much the same again this week, except ten seconds quicker. Feels like I've hit a plateau a little and will gradually have to go back to knocking a few seconds off each week till I can run sub-30 again. Chipping Sodbury survived but Three Brooks and Somerdale both failed course inspections and were cancelled last night.
I don't know what running you do during the week, but when I first started I also found I stagnated a bit at 30 mins or so, but what really made a difference was starting to do some longer slower runs in the week.Now 10+ years on I'm back down to 30 ish again due to injuries and lack of training. I find if only run once a week tend to drop down to a bit over 30, running a couple of times a week gets it under 30 but I really need to be doing a couple of mid week runs on top of the weekend parkrun to actually see much improvement.
RizzoTheRat said:
I'm regretting volunteering to course check this week. It meant I'd committed to cycling to parkrun before I'd seen the weather forecast. Only light drizzle getting there but the rain started about 4km in to my run and looks like it might stop by Easter. I can feel my toes again after a shower and a cuppa.
Now 10+ years on I'm back down to 30 ish again due to injuries and lack of training. I find if only run once a week tend to drop down to a bit over 30, running a couple of times a week gets it under 30 but I really need to be doing a couple of mid week runs on top of the weekend parkrun to actually see much improvement.
Hi Rizzo,GloverMart said:
Much the same again this week, except ten seconds quicker. Feels like I've hit a plateau a little and will gradually have to go back to knocking a few seconds off each week till I can run sub-30 again. Chipping Sodbury survived but Three Brooks and Somerdale both failed course inspections and were cancelled last night.
I don't know what running you do during the week, but when I first started I also found I stagnated a bit at 30 mins or so, but what really made a difference was starting to do some longer slower runs in the week.Now 10+ years on I'm back down to 30 ish again due to injuries and lack of training. I find if only run once a week tend to drop down to a bit over 30, running a couple of times a week gets it under 30 but I really need to be doing a couple of mid week runs on top of the weekend parkrun to actually see much improvement.
I've just rebooted my weight loss challenge again as I had put about 2.5 stone back on so at present, I'm dropping back down again, hoping to get to my original target by May 2026.
So at the moment, I'm only doing three or four 5k runs a week. parkrun is always the quickest of these as the other ones are (a) solo, (b) pre-7am or (c) post-5pm which seems to slow me down. I have a 10k event in the diary for mid-January so soon, I will start adding in some longer ones to vary things up a bit. Just had a look at my stats for this parkrun today; the last seven times I've done it, there's been little over a minute between the slowest time and the quickest. That's consistency for you.
GloverMart said:
Much the same again this week, except ten seconds quicker. Feels like I've hit a plateau a little and will gradually have to go back to knocking a few seconds off each week till I can run sub-30 again. Chipping Sodbury survived but Three Brooks and Somerdale both failed course inspections and were cancelled last night.
Ran around it later on in the morning and I was surprised not only that it wasn't flooded but that there were barely any puddles!Despite having a head cold this last week, I've still been running, albeit trying to run slower and keep my heart rate down.
This morning was parkrun #73. My last parkrun in the VM50-54 age category. I was on time for the start, but only just. I literally ran around 'The Tree' and into the group of waiting runners, stopped, and two seconds later the hooter sounded.
Initially I backed off the pace, as I was sucking on the last of a Locket soother. Then I started to feel more comfortable and began pushing harder to pick other runners off one at a time. I felt good, but knew I wasn't anywhere near in PB form.
Bournemouth parkrun event #556
Finish time = 00:25:12
My 73rd parkrun, and my 61st at Bournemouth
I finished 137th of 552 participants
117th male finisher, and 16th in the VM50-54 age category
Age graded score = 60.45%
My Bournemouth PB remains at 00:23:03
I turn 55 in a couple of days time, so I wonder what, if anything, will change regarding my place in my peer group pecking order. The battle now is to stay illness and injury free to the end of the year.
After parkrun, I trotted off around the course again, but after 3km I paused my watch and walked up to a friend's house for a coffee. He's a former runner who now regularly volunteers as a parkrun marshal. Then I went back to the pause point and finished my second 5k, and by the time I got home I was at 15.51 km.
After a hot bath, my cold feels like it has almost completely cleared now. Hopefully that's not wishful thinking, and I can get back into my running at full effort this week.
As far as improving my times has gone? Looking at my weekly stats for the past couple of months, my lowest weekly mileage is 25 miles, and the highest was 31 miles. Average mileage is hovering around 26 to 27 miles. Key to improving does seem to be making some of the runs slower, with lower HR, during the week, and saving the all-out efforts for either parkrun on Saturday, or a specific assault on a few Strava segments once midweek. My old habit of going out for a fast 5k night after night has now been consigned to history.
Bonus data? Today was the 321st consecutive days that I've posted an activity to Strava. So my personal challenge to be active every day for the year 2025 is still on track, even through a bout of illness. Admittedly some days my activity streak has been kept alive by a long walk, but it is still alive.
This morning was parkrun #73. My last parkrun in the VM50-54 age category. I was on time for the start, but only just. I literally ran around 'The Tree' and into the group of waiting runners, stopped, and two seconds later the hooter sounded.
Initially I backed off the pace, as I was sucking on the last of a Locket soother. Then I started to feel more comfortable and began pushing harder to pick other runners off one at a time. I felt good, but knew I wasn't anywhere near in PB form.
Bournemouth parkrun event #556
Finish time = 00:25:12
My 73rd parkrun, and my 61st at Bournemouth
I finished 137th of 552 participants
117th male finisher, and 16th in the VM50-54 age category
Age graded score = 60.45%
My Bournemouth PB remains at 00:23:03
I turn 55 in a couple of days time, so I wonder what, if anything, will change regarding my place in my peer group pecking order. The battle now is to stay illness and injury free to the end of the year.
After parkrun, I trotted off around the course again, but after 3km I paused my watch and walked up to a friend's house for a coffee. He's a former runner who now regularly volunteers as a parkrun marshal. Then I went back to the pause point and finished my second 5k, and by the time I got home I was at 15.51 km.
After a hot bath, my cold feels like it has almost completely cleared now. Hopefully that's not wishful thinking, and I can get back into my running at full effort this week.
As far as improving my times has gone? Looking at my weekly stats for the past couple of months, my lowest weekly mileage is 25 miles, and the highest was 31 miles. Average mileage is hovering around 26 to 27 miles. Key to improving does seem to be making some of the runs slower, with lower HR, during the week, and saving the all-out efforts for either parkrun on Saturday, or a specific assault on a few Strava segments once midweek. My old habit of going out for a fast 5k night after night has now been consigned to history.
Bonus data? Today was the 321st consecutive days that I've posted an activity to Strava. So my personal challenge to be active every day for the year 2025 is still on track, even through a bout of illness. Admittedly some days my activity streak has been kept alive by a long walk, but it is still alive.
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