Discussion
22 said:
towser44 said:
I would definitely wear trail shoes if you have them, especially if it's been raining. 95% of the course is muddy, rocky trails and it involved around 500 foot of elevation. I didn't realise it was soooo hilly down South lol!
The Chiltern Hills! Pretty sure I have some trail shoes stuffed away somewhere. I'll arrive early for the first-timers chat (guess I'll park in Tesco and walk).
Is my 'time' from when I cross the start line to the finish or the moment everyone starts? I have a smart watch, although I've never used it to time anything of note (just useful for heart rate and stuff).
Anything else I need to know for my first one? I have no expectations for time, but I should have the fitness to 'not walk' any of it, but this will be a gentle plod.
22 said:
towser44 said:
I would definitely wear trail shoes if you have them, especially if it's been raining. 95% of the course is muddy, rocky trails and it involved around 500 foot of elevation. I didn't realise it was soooo hilly down South lol!
The Chiltern Hills! Pretty sure I have some trail shoes stuffed away somewhere. I'll arrive early for the first-timers chat (guess I'll park in Tesco and walk).
Is my 'time' from when I cross the start line to the finish or the moment everyone starts? I have a smart watch, although I've never used it to time anything of note (just useful for heart rate and stuff).
Anything else I need to know for my first one? I have no expectations for time, but I should have the fitness to 'not walk' any of it, but this will be a gentle plod.
2. Don't forget your barcode, be it on a phone or printed.
3. Enjoy it!
4. Only go into the finishing funnel once.
5. Oh, and enjoy it.
john2443 said:
towser44 said:
Didn't realise about the 5k app being taken in house, but noticed today that it took a while for mine to update today once the parkrun result had come in, previously it was much quicker.
Someone told me 1 Dec is the first day the developer starts working for HQ and presumably that's when it'll go in house, so maybe today was just a glitch - we checked the app just after we submitted results and it was up to date.We had another trial run of the Real Double Funnel, which with 600 was so slick it was dull! That's it for trials, the next time it'll be for real on 25/12 when we might have around 1500
.Next weekend is Aachen on Friday (Unity day) and Maastricht Saturday (yes, I know, completely pointless but no more than going to wherever to watcha Grand Prix!)
madbadger said:
john2443 said:
towser44 said:
Didn't realise about the 5k app being taken in house, but noticed today that it took a while for mine to update today once the parkrun result had come in, previously it was much quicker.
Someone told me 1 Dec is the first day the developer starts working for HQ and presumably that's when it'll go in house, so maybe today was just a glitch - we checked the app just after we submitted results and it was up to date.We had another trial run of the Real Double Funnel, which with 600 was so slick it was dull! That's it for trials, the next time it'll be for real on 25/12 when we might have around 1500
.Next weekend is Aachen on Friday (Unity day) and Maastricht Saturday (yes, I know, completely pointless but no more than going to wherever to watcha Grand Prix!)
RizzoTheRat said:
15th place today, highest finish in ages. I was 5th for the first km or so! The advantage of small parkruns (Pferdebachtal, probably under 100 runners today)
Small events are good for the ego - my best finish is 9th but as there were only 28 finishers it's really nothing to be proud of! Almost 2 minutes behind the 8th place finisher too looking at the results.No run for me tomorrow, I've got an early kickoff followed by a 3.00pm kickoff almost straight after so can't really miss out on a shower.
First parkrun missed since May although of those 20 parkruns, one was a volunteer. Disappointed for the run (pun intended) to end but will be back on it next week.
First parkrun missed since May although of those 20 parkruns, one was a volunteer. Disappointed for the run (pun intended) to end but will be back on it next week.
MesoForm said:
Small events are good for the ego - my best finish is 9th but as there were only 28 finishers it's really nothing to be proud of! Almost 2 minutes behind the 8th place finisher too looking at the results.
I was first at the Whitehaven one last year (about 70 runners) but pretty sure that the regular who was second let me win as well!Dan_1981 said:
Storm Amy has put a halt to ours tomorrow.
Many cancellations.https://www.parkrun.org.uk/cancellations/
Master Bean said:
Thanks for reminding of that link, always forget it existsEverything round here (Bristol and surrounding) ok so far
ETA, and just like that, Bath Skyline off which was where I was probably going
Master Bean said:
We've made it to Durham for a visit this weekend, at the moment Jubilee is the only one around still going ahead! Oh well, there's a train museum nearby should the weather be absolutely awful tomorrow...RizzoTheRat said:
15th place today, highest finish in ages. I was 5th for the first km or so! The advantage of small parkruns (Pferdebachtal, probably under 100 runners today)
Edit: 52 runners, even smaller than I thought
11th place for me today - on tour in Cologne so Aachener Weiher today with Rheinpark tomorrow morning. Then a swift change and off to watch Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the afternoon. Edit: 52 runners, even smaller than I thought
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Friday 3rd October 10:43
My best finish was first at my Z in Poland. Only about 25 runners and my time was about 21 minutes so not fast enough to get a first place in the UK.
My first Parkrun, a lot to learn. Church Mead - Amersham which is a tough one apparently - although I have nothing to compare it to. Bought some new trail running shoes so definitely felt like an all-the-gear-no-idea participant!
I stood right at the back (and annoyingly couldn't remember how to get Strava to record), which meant the first ~500 metres around the 'garden' section was not far off jogging on the spot as people filtered along the paths. Then came the field, I overtook a few people on the flat, but the hill (70 metres elevation on each of 2 laps - and back!) is not much more than a single trodden path at the edge of a ploughed field so I ended up walking behind some other walkers. Through the woods is nice and wide with a decent footing, then down the hill is steep but more of a 'proper' footpath for most of it! Second time up the hill I walked a chunk of it with no one in front of me - not as fit as I think I am!
Rickmansworth is a short tube trip/drive and a flat course, so perhaps I'll try something a bit easier next time. With addictive tendencies I can see how 'collecting' different parkruns could be fun - let's see if I can make it stick.
I stood right at the back (and annoyingly couldn't remember how to get Strava to record), which meant the first ~500 metres around the 'garden' section was not far off jogging on the spot as people filtered along the paths. Then came the field, I overtook a few people on the flat, but the hill (70 metres elevation on each of 2 laps - and back!) is not much more than a single trodden path at the edge of a ploughed field so I ended up walking behind some other walkers. Through the woods is nice and wide with a decent footing, then down the hill is steep but more of a 'proper' footpath for most of it! Second time up the hill I walked a chunk of it with no one in front of me - not as fit as I think I am!
Rickmansworth is a short tube trip/drive and a flat course, so perhaps I'll try something a bit easier next time. With addictive tendencies I can see how 'collecting' different parkruns could be fun - let's see if I can make it stick.
We used to live in Amersham - before it had a parkrun so I've never done it.
When we did live there - Rickmansworth or High Wycombe were the choices - Rickmansworth is flat and fast - it's a tiny bit narrow as you go into the woods about 800m in so worth going out hard to get a position you can run in.
Wycombe is fairly flat too - some on grass which slows you down a little, and a set of steps at just past half way which really spikes the heart rate!!
When we did live there - Rickmansworth or High Wycombe were the choices - Rickmansworth is flat and fast - it's a tiny bit narrow as you go into the woods about 800m in so worth going out hard to get a position you can run in.
Wycombe is fairly flat too - some on grass which slows you down a little, and a set of steps at just past half way which really spikes the heart rate!!
Due to the wind we said in the briefing that sign would be in the cafe afterwards rather than out at the start. Apparently loads of tourist then asked various volunteers (including the token dealer who was a little busy at the time!) about it, and when I went to get it out at about 9:35 I felt like the pied piper with loads of tourists following me 
I don't think the cafe's ever done so much business 
The rain mostly held off, but I thought we were going to lose one of out lighter volunteers helping fold up the tarpaulin at the end
I don't think the cafe's ever done so much business The rain mostly held off, but I thought we were going to lose one of out lighter volunteers helping fold up the tarpaulin at the end
German unity day / Holland parkrun weekend.
P26 today - best position for a long time! (Not faster, just fewer people!)
It was VERY wet in south Holland this morning, but great cafe and we met Darren Wood, the runniest parkrunner in the world doing his 967th
Lower position yesterday at the fairly hilly Lousberg pr in Aachen with 160 instead of 60.
Recommend Aachen as a city, lots of places to eat and interesting buildings.
Heading for the train/tunnel home tomorrow.
P26 today - best position for a long time! (Not faster, just fewer people!)
It was VERY wet in south Holland this morning, but great cafe and we met Darren Wood, the runniest parkrunner in the world doing his 967th
Lower position yesterday at the fairly hilly Lousberg pr in Aachen with 160 instead of 60.
Recommend Aachen as a city, lots of places to eat and interesting buildings.
Heading for the train/tunnel home tomorrow.
22 said:
My first Parkrun, a lot to learn. Church Mead - Amersham which is a tough one apparently - although I have nothing to compare it to. Bought some new trail running shoes so definitely felt like an all-the-gear-no-idea participant!
I stood right at the back (and annoyingly couldn't remember how to get Strava to record), which meant the first ~500 metres around the 'garden' section was not far off jogging on the spot as people filtered along the paths. Then came the field, I overtook a few people on the flat, but the hill (70 metres elevation on each of 2 laps - and back!) is not much more than a single trodden path at the edge of a ploughed field so I ended up walking behind some other walkers. Through the woods is nice and wide with a decent footing, then down the hill is steep but more of a 'proper' footpath for most of it! Second time up the hill I walked a chunk of it with no one in front of me - not as fit as I think I am!
Rickmansworth is a short tube trip/drive and a flat course, so perhaps I'll try something a bit easier next time. With addictive tendencies I can see how 'collecting' different parkruns could be fun - let's see if I can make it stick.
Yeah, judging where to start can be tricky - there's a lady at my local one who always starts right at the front and I overtake her about 600m in, I often think how far up the field I would be if I started next to her!I stood right at the back (and annoyingly couldn't remember how to get Strava to record), which meant the first ~500 metres around the 'garden' section was not far off jogging on the spot as people filtered along the paths. Then came the field, I overtook a few people on the flat, but the hill (70 metres elevation on each of 2 laps - and back!) is not much more than a single trodden path at the edge of a ploughed field so I ended up walking behind some other walkers. Through the woods is nice and wide with a decent footing, then down the hill is steep but more of a 'proper' footpath for most of it! Second time up the hill I walked a chunk of it with no one in front of me - not as fit as I think I am!
Rickmansworth is a short tube trip/drive and a flat course, so perhaps I'll try something a bit easier next time. With addictive tendencies I can see how 'collecting' different parkruns could be fun - let's see if I can make it stick.
I've had a couple of occasions (including yesterday) where I was one of the first to the start line after the briefing, held back about 5m from the start line as I know I won't be too quick only to find people assume I'm quicker than I look and all line up behind me! Cue lots of people streaming past me as I feel a bit silly and conspicuous...
Collecting can be fun up to a point - it's when your nearest not done (NENDY as it's known in the 5k app) is over an hour's drive away and you start balancing effort vs wanting to collect.
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