tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84078555450937831482024-02-07T12:02:37.534+00:00parkrun fan blogI am a parkrun fanatic. parkrun has me completely hooked and now I want to use my parkrun blog to spread the word about this fantastic, free, all-inclusive, community-based, weekly 5km running event.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-10826719250317911812012-11-20T08:57:00.003+00:002012-11-20T08:58:03.262+00:00Looking forward to my lunchtime parkrun freedom runI love Tuesdays!<br />
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One of the great benefits of working from home on a Tuesday is that I have time for a lunchtime parkrun freedom run.<br />
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It may not be the nicest weather today in Coventry. It's overcast and damp with every chance that it is going to rain later, but I just can't wait to get out in War Memorial park for a nice gentle freedom parkrun.<br />
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I think that is probably the key, with "gentle" being the all important word. Since my breakthrough moment last Tuesday, where I realised that I really wasn't up for hard training sessions at the moment, I am starting to look forward to my runs again. <br />
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Today I am just going to head off for my parkrun freedom run, with no intentions other than running it at whatever pace feels comfortable. And if, after one parkrun freedom run, I feel that I want to carry on, then I may just do a second one.<br />
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So rain or shine (looks unlikely glancing out of the window) I will be heading up to War Memorial park for a lunchtime parkrun freedom run and I hope to enjoy it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-59472679091005371972012-11-13T18:33:00.000+00:002012-11-13T19:44:07.070+00:00parkrun Training log: 13th November 2012Today's training session in brief....<br />
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<ul><li>parkrun freedom runs: Intended: 2 Achieved: 2 Result: SUCCESS</li><li>Interval training:</li><ul><li>1km Intervals (at 3:30 each): Intended: 4 Achieved: Only 1! Result: FAILURE</li><li>500m Intervals (at 1:45 each): Intended: 4 Achieved: Only 2 Result: FAILURE</li></ul></ul>A rather disappointing effort today. I was just too tired. I think the cross-country from Saturday afternoon was still in my legs.<br />
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On the plus side:<br />
<ul><li>I did manage my 196th and 197th freedom parkruns.</li><li>I ran for over an hour in total.</li><li>I ran 7.8 miles in total.</li><li>I got out in the fresh air in the park.</li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-77799974549153252082012-11-09T07:57:00.000+00:002012-11-09T07:57:03.484+00:00Cross-country or not?It must be roughly 23 years since I last did a cross-country race. I represented my school in the district cross-country championship and did pretty well to be honest. But I can't think of a single occasion in those last 23 years, where I thought "I really must get back into cross-country running!". Not once!<br />
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So why on earth am I considering it now?<br />
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Well I joined a running club (<a href="http://www.sphinx.org.uk/" target="_blank">Sphinx AC</a>) this year and running clubs do cross-country, or so I'm told. The first race of the year is this Saturday (10th November) and it just sounds like great fun.<br />
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Back in my school days I was one of the better cross-country runners in my year group. But being a footballer at heart, I only did the cross-country because I was told I had to. No cross-country, no football I was repeatedly told. I was always trying to get out of the training and the races, but never managed it.<br />
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Jump forward to now and I am actually looking forward to it. I can't wait to see what it's like. I'm looking forward to being part of a team again. It's been about 5 years since my competitive football days came to an end and I suppose that was my last team sport event. I really like the idea of all the club runners trying our best to beat runners from other clubs and all of our efforts counting towards the same result. Should be a great team bonding event.<br />
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Apparently it's going to get a bit muddy and messy. No great surprise there. Not quite what I'm used to. I suppose I'll just have to get over the fact that the brand spanking new pair of <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00992IB4W/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00992IB4W&linkCode=as2&tag=parkrunfanb05-21" target="_blank">Saucony Grid Cohesion Trail shoes </a>that have been sitting in their box under my bed for the last 2 months are not going to brand spanking new come Saturday afternoon.<br />
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The only other real question is whether I can risk doing parkrun in the morning and cross-country in the afternoon. At training on Thursday evening, the club coach for the men's team suggested that doing both would be a bad idea. I can't help but agree, but now that I am closing in on my 100 club top, I don't want to miss any at all.<br />
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Anyway, looking forward to it, so bring it on and lets see just how cross-country now compares to my school days. Somehow I think it's going to be a lot more fun!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-48566498957287047632012-11-06T17:53:00.000+00:002012-11-06T17:53:21.489+00:00Freedom parkrun in the rainOff for my freedom parkrun......Well it wasn't supposed to rain! <br />
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A least I didn't think it was. But right on cue, just as I had squeezed myself into the various obligatory lycra running garments (not easy when you ae as inflexible as me!) required to stop my muscles from pulling themselves to pieces in the cold, it started raining.<br />
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"I am a fair weather runner and I am NOT going!" - that was the first strop my inner child pulled (nothing dodgy - it was just my brain was being particularly rebelious at the time).<br />
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But then I told myself (quite sternly) "Yes you are. Now get out there and run man!". So run I did.<br />
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I headed out into the cold and the rain, dressed all in black (I've not yet managed to bring myself to buy Hi-Viz - I know I should), looking like the milk tray man (see below).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1H7BU_a0TUhtgsSekKVe6HNFwlESNthjxEemHRWEot5rladJWHfxo6VEfJcc0BtsF49eZsGIFv_9XdOdvEI2IhW13X5QNWCZ-_OsV_bKdx0k4sB03DSuF9JrKJbCpL5ka1a41091xpeAD/s1600/IMG_1262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1H7BU_a0TUhtgsSekKVe6HNFwlESNthjxEemHRWEot5rladJWHfxo6VEfJcc0BtsF49eZsGIFv_9XdOdvEI2IhW13X5QNWCZ-_OsV_bKdx0k4sB03DSuF9JrKJbCpL5ka1a41091xpeAD/s320/IMG_1262.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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Ok, so I admit it, a slightly shorter, balder, less well shaven version of the milk tray man. Yes, the only thing I had in common was the all black kit. Let's move on.<br />
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How shall I run it today? I had no plan. I always have a plan when I go running. But today I did not.<br />
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I ended up doing a fairly brisk (but slightly comfortable) 19:56 on the Coventry parkrun course. My 195th freedom parkrun, if you are not bored of my stats yet. Not a bad start! Some fool (it was me) then decided I should do some hills. Granted its not a big hill, as sprinting up it only takes 30 seconds. But after 7 reps I had had enough. Truth be told I had had enough after 3 reps, but I somehow pushed myself on to 7 in the end.<br />
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So considering I am still (mentally at least) a fair weather runner, I didn't do too bad considering the conditions.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-36525575655638868332012-03-14T20:01:00.001+00:002012-03-14T20:43:10.920+00:00A totally unexpected PBI have been banging on about my injury problems for what seems like a lifetime to me, so goodness only knows what any remaining readers out there think.<br />
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I'll try not to repeat all that too much, suffice to say that they started a year ago, the last occurrence was in November and I have tried to come back slowly over the weeks and months since.<br />
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Before last weekend my best parkrun since injury was an 18:18 two weeks earlier at my last parkrun.<br />
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I turned up at the weekend hoping to just beat that time but almost a bit nervous of the pain I would have to go through to achieve a new "comeback PB". But I knew I could do that.<br />
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I had decided to go out hard again and try to stay ahead of schedule. In the past I would always do the second half of my parkrun faster than the first and finish with a sprint. Due to injury problems a sprint finish is still very unwise, so I am currently trying to run exactly even paced laps to end exhausted.<br />
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I was trying to do a fast sub 3:30 first km and then stay at or around 3:40 per km to secure my target time.<br />
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I did a slightly quicker 3:27 first km and felt strong, so decided to stay as far ahead of schedule as possible.<br />
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I have to be honest that by the next km marker and those that followed I was too punch drunk to have any idea or possibility of calculating my km splits. But I was sure I was ahead.<br />
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I did manage to get a one lap split time in my head of 8:53 (my fastest first lap ever), so I knew I was well ahead of target.<br />
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The problem of being so far ahead is that it raised the possibility of beating my 17:49 PB. I decided to ignore that possibility and just knuckle down as I was still feeling strong.<br />
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I was firmly in 5th place at this stage, well ahead of 6th and at least 50 metres behind 1st to 4th.<br />
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With about 1km to go I noticed that I had closed on positions 2 to 4 (1st was long gone). At this stage it actually became a race for me rather than about time.<br />
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I decided to power past those three runners in one quick effort so tgat they had no chance to stay with me and with 500 metres to go I had a good 20 metres lead over them. A quick look at my watch suggested I would be within a second or two of my PB.<br />
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I was now trying to defend my second place with first far too distant a possibility. I gave it everything for the next minute or so and with 250 metres to go I was completely out on my feet, running with my eyes closed and gasping for air.<br />
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I somehow got myself to the finish line, held on to second place and a quick glance at my watch suggested it would be an equal PB or slight improvement.<br />
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When the text came through I was delighted to see that I had a new PB by 3 seconds! How did that happen!<br />
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I think this was the first time I have punched the air with delight at the sight of my parkrun text. That was the thrill I got from finally getting "back to my best" and from achieving a parkrun PB after all those months of injury!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-65136799794116774682012-03-09T13:07:00.006+00:002012-03-09T17:46:38.140+00:00Sport Relief Mile "training" with my 3 year oldAfter a fairly swift (but comfortable) double parkrun yesterday (21:51 and 21:30), for a respectable 10km time of 43:21 and with parkrun tomorrow morning, I had planned to take a day off from running today.<br /><br />My 3 year old daughter had other ideas!<br /><br />She has just taken me out for 2 laps of the block, which (according to google maps) is roughly 1.02 miles. I'm not sure that "roughly" is the right word when you give mileage measurements to two decimal places. Anyway, we ran just over a mile.<br /><br />She has taken me out...and I do mean "<strong>she</strong> takes <strong>me</strong> out" as she certainly tells me <span style="BACKGROUND-">in</span><span style="BACKGROUND-;color:#ffff00;"> </span>no uncertain terms that we are going, the route we are taking and the number of laps. She even decides the topics of conversation. So, as I was saying, she has taken me out to run round the block a few times over the last couple of years, but this is the second time as part of her "training" for the Sport Relief mile. She loves it so much and is clearly glad of the excuse to get me out for a run. I have to say that I really don't mind at all either. We enrolled my 7 year old son and there is no way my 3 year old daughter would have allowed us to prevent her from doing it.<br /><br />Her last run was a mile around the block a few weeks ago where she ran it in about 14 minutes, without stopping! 14 minute mile pace sounds pretty good to me for a 3 year old!<br /><br />Well today, she blew that away and did it in less than 13 minutes. Pretty amazing. She even stopped a couple of times this time. To wait for me of course! I wish I could pick my mile pace up by a minute between training sessions!<br /><br />The best bit about all of this is the delight in her eyes, the enthusiasm with which she does it, the fact she came home to tell her mum all about it, the fact she has just told me that she wants to go every day, twice a day!<br /><br />Better than that, she has just come into the room and is doing laps of the table, telling me all about her running, sorry no, she says she is jogging. Great stuff! Though I am starting to get dizzy as she laps me every 10 seconds or so, she must be getting dizzy too.<br /><br />Such a special time, being out running with my 3 year old daughter! I can't remember when the Sport Relief mile is, soon I think, but I hope she doesn't lose the enthusiasm for running after that, because I had a great time and am looking forward to the next time. Tomorrow she tells me!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-62431114750521009532012-02-11T18:15:00.001+00:002012-02-11T18:35:26.880+00:00After a week off, another comeback PB!Unable to run at parkrun last week and only one training run in the last week didn't bode well for today's parkrun.<br />
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The freezing temperatures and the multiple layers on every part of my body also suggested a fast time would be very hard to come by.<br />
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Two weeks ago, at my last parkrun I got my comeback PB of 19:21. I was really hoping to beat this today. Beating it at all would have been fine, but in the back of my mind I was thinking about a sub 19 minuter.<br />
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I set off as fast as I dare with all my recent calf strain problems. This saw me lose 10-15 seconds on the people I used to start and run with. But after that I seemed to maintain the distance to them.<br />
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Aiming for 4:45 (19 minute pace) at the halfway point on the first lap I found myself about 7 seconds ahead of schedule. Money in the bank! I obviously then kept a consistent pace to the halfway point, completing the first lap in 9:32. This is on I thought.<br />
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So attention now well away from comeback PB and firmly focused on sub 19! I have to say that I felt really good considering it was my fastest lap for 4 months.<br />
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The first half of the second lap I just held position and pace. Then the last half lap I decided that to avoid the need for a fast finish, that was the time to make sure of the sub 19 and picked up the pace accordingly.<br />
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Reaching the normal 1 minute to go point I knew I had done it with a few seconds to spare and actually eased off a little to ensure no injury risk.<br />
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I finished with a time of 18:52 for another comeback PB, beating the previous one by 29 seconds! Another huge improvement. This equals a time I did in October and is my fastest since mid May last year! 9 months ago.<br />
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I have had a great day as a result, finally feeling close to getting back to my best.<br />
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I'm volunteering next week, and then the web upload, so I'm hoping that another week off makes me come back with similar enthusiasm and determination as did so well for me today!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-80907572496735737162012-01-29T11:50:00.001+00:002012-01-29T12:25:17.345+00:00Another week, another comeback PBAfter smashing my previous comeback PB of 21:23 last week, bringing it down to 19:56, I knew it would be really tough to get another one this week.<br />
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I would have settled for any improvement over last week, but to be totally honest I had 19:30 in the back of my mind. It's been a fair few months since I was able to do a parkrun at that pace, so I wasn't certain I had the fitness to do it, irrespective of how the calf felt. But I was prepared to give it a good go.<br />
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The problem I have at the moment is a lack of confidence in my calf. This rules out fast starts and sprint finishes, and calls for fairly even paced running. I worked out 3:54 per kilometer, and very luckily I was lent a Garmin to help me.<br />
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A fairly fast start and the early downhill stretch got me nicely ahead of target with a 3:48 first km. Right there and then I knew it was possible and mentally committed to sub 19:30.<br />
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Six minutes later and reaching the halfway point in 9:45 (exactly half target time) and now feeling the effects of running at that pace, I started to feel slightly annoyed with myself for the earlier mental commitment. But a deal's a deal and once committed I am not one for backing down easily, so it had to be done.<br />
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The 4th km was not good. I drifted out to over 4:00 pace and very quickly realised that this was the time to go for it or miss it! I knew I had the comeback PB in the bag, but could I go sub 19:30 too?<br />
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Knowing I couldn't risk a sprint finish it had to be a hard last km. On lifting the pace and maintaining it for 3 or 4 minutes I felt that on the limit, on the verge of sickness, heart pounding feeling you get when you get close to your limit. Even though this can be a horrible feeling, it is one I have always found addictive. This is the best bit of exercising for me. I know I'm wierd!<br />
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Somehow, not only did I manage the comeback PB and to break 19:30, I finished in 19:21, my fastest time for months.<br />
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Unfortunately I now have to wait 2 weeks for my next parkrun and to continue my comeback PB streak.<br />
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Still another 90 seconds to get back to my very best, but for a while I'll be looking at 5-10 second improvements each week. There is a long way to go, but no rush to do it.<br />
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I can't wait to give it a go again in 2 weeks time.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-3741132848259359432012-01-21T13:59:00.003+00:002012-01-21T14:17:41.217+00:00Comeback PBIt's been over 2 weeks since my last blog post on my own parkrunfan blog, so I thought it was about time I did a quick post about my latest injury comeback.<br /><br />I think the last time I (re)injured my calf was around the middle of November. And <strong>this </strong>time I finally realised that I needed to listen to my body and do the right things to make sure I fully recover. So I'm roughly 9 weeks into my latest recovery and I have been very sensible this time around. I started with 5 or 6 weeks of physio and lots of associated stretching and strengthening exercises.<br /><br />I have taken my running comeback very slowly too. I waited a couple of weeks after the last injury before my first parkrun run/jog in 38 minutes plus. I have since progressed to 26 minutes, a couple around 23 and a couple around 21 minutes. Always hoping to improve week on week, but never too bothered about any specific target time.<br /><br />Today was different. Today I really wanted a comeback PB, faster than my quickest time of this comeback which was 21:23 on Christmas eve. I was hoping it would be around 20:30.<br /><br />Well I totally smashed by comeback PB and my 20:30 target time, finishing sub 20 minutes for the first since early October, with a time of 19:56. Considering I once did 30 out of 31 consecutive parkruns under 20 minutes, I feel this is where I should be.<br /><br />If anything I felt that my fitness was the limiting factor today rather than my calf. Which is a sign I don't mind. I can work on my fitness, what I can't bare to think about is injury the calf again.<br /><br />I can't see any more huge comeback PB improvements in the coming weeks, but I will settle for 5 to 10 seconds improvement until spring as that will see me getting back towards my best.<br /><br />Hopefully next week I'll be finishing around the same time again, and more importantly, without injury.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-64777726526817875672012-01-06T12:00:00.001+00:002012-01-06T12:00:11.107+00:00Other running targets for 2012As my blog title and the majority of the content suggests, my running very much revolves around parkrun. However, I do have other running targets for 2012.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I have probably left it too late to make the GB Olympics squad this time around but there is always next time. Optimism is something I am good at! But the Olympics is not the only place to run this year!<br /><br />I have already enrolled for the Regency Run in Royal Leamington Spa in April. After running 2 10km events with injury in 2011 I feel that I have something to prove and must get a 10km PB in 2012. I only have to beat 39:58 for a PB. If I get fit again this shouldn't be too tough.<br /><br />I think I would like to do a couple more 10km events after the Regency Run too.<br /><br />I'll have to see how I go, but towards the end of the year I may even consider a half marathon, but that is a long way off at the moment, both in time and distance!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-25776580709350755612012-01-05T18:00:00.001+00:002012-01-05T18:00:03.612+00:005 parkrun targets for 2012Late last year I set myself a few targets for parkrun for 2011. Even though injuries plagued my year I still achieved a few of those targets, so I thought I should do the same for 2012. So here goes....<br /><br />1. Get back under 18:30 before the end of April.<br /><br />2. Get a new PB (under 17:49) before the end of the year. This will be very tough, but what is the point of easy targets?<br /><br />3. Run 35 parkruns in the year. This would take me to 85 in total and leave me on target for the 100 club by June 2013!<br /><br />4. Run at 2 new parkrun locations. Brueton for sure and at least one other.<br /><br />5. Finish in the top 5 in the Coventry points table.<br /><br />If I remember I'll try to check in on how I'm doing with these targets during 2012!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-43815842912256028022012-01-04T12:00:00.001+00:002012-01-04T12:00:11.911+00:00Training plan for JanuaryA training plan? What's a training plan? And what is someone like me going to get from having one?<br /><br />Well, I can't pretend to know too much about planning training sessions, but all I am really trying to achieve this month is to come up with a schedule that I can stick to. In following months I may try to plan something a bit tougher.<br /><br />I believe that the common understanding of these things suggests that making your plans public makes you more likely to stick to them. Here's hoping that's true!<br /><br />So what do I want to get out of this?<br /><br />After all my injury problems last year I have to say that my priority is to stay injury free! After that it's to gradually build my mileage back up. I had reached 25 miles a week at various points last year, but for the last month it's been one 6 mile run a week.<br /><br />One massive target for January is to lose a fair chunk of the extra half stone of cheese, wine and other treats piled on to my waistline over the Christmas period. If I can lose 4 pound this month I will be very pleased. I know that long term I need to weigh significantly less if I want to get near my PB.<br /><br />I also want to build my parkrun pace back up. But this is not really a priority for January. I'd be thrilled just to knock another minute off my injury comeback PB (21:10) and get back below 20 minutes, but it won't be a problem if I don't manage that this month.<br /><br />The plan...<br /><br />Week 1:<br />Wednesday: 6 miles comfortable pace (today).<br />Friday: 6 miles comfortable pace<br />Saturday: parkrun (6 miles total)<br /><br />Week 2:<br />Tuesday: 6 miles comfortable pace.<br />Thursday: 6 miles comfortable pace<br />Saturday: parkrun (6 miles total)<br />Sunday: 9 mile slow long run<br /><br />Week 3:<br />Tuesday: 6 miles comfortable pace.<br />Thursday: 6 miles comfortable pace<br />Saturday: parkrun (6 miles total)<br />Sunday: 9 mile slow long run<br /><br />Week 4:<br />Tuesday: 6 miles comfortable pace.<br />Thursday: 6 miles comfortable pace<br />Saturday: parkrun (6 miles total)<br />Sunday: 9 mile slow long run<br /><br />If I manage to stick to that it will be great and I'll be amazed, but for now at least that is the plan!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-88543850541023409972012-01-02T20:55:00.003+00:002012-01-03T12:03:13.457+00:00New years parkrun resolutions1. I must stay injury free.<br />2. I must do as many parkruns as possible this year. I think 35 should possible given volunteering, holidays, weekends away and all other reasons for missing out.<br />3. I must volunteer at parkrun at least 5 times. I know 3 is the suggested minimum, but I feel I owe parkrun a little more than that.<br />4. I must get back below 20 minutes by mid-February. That shouldn't be too tough given that I did 21:10 on the tough Leamington parkrun course last weekend.<br />5. I will try to get back under 19 minutes by mid-March.<br />6. I will try to get back under 18:20 by mid-April. That would leave me within plausible reach of my PB for the remainder of the year.<br />7. I will try my upmost to get my friends along to parkrun whenever they come to stay (be warmed friends!).<br />8. I will continue to blog about all things parkrun. parkrun in general, my parkruns, freedom runs and any other parkrun topics I can think of.<br />9. I will try to get along to at least one or two other parkrun locations.<br />10. I will consider joining a running club.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-56910808890717713102012-01-02T13:30:00.006+00:002012-01-02T14:32:03.117+00:00Double freedom parkrun to start 2012Well it was a cold, bright, sunny morning, but not too cold, so just about perfect for my first run of 2012.<br /><br />Three of us headed out for a double parkrun in war memorial park in Coventry. We had no aims for the run other than to run together at talking pace and make it pretty easy for ourselves. Doing the distance was the only real target.<br /><br />The park was particularly busy today with plenty of familiar faces from Coventry parkrun and plenty of other runners and walkers besides. A huge group from the Sphinx running club were also there for a bit of a new year club run/walk.<br /><br />As I say, we had no specific aims for the run and our two parkrun times were a very comfortable 27:03 and 27:44, for a 10km time of 54:47, so we certainly weren't struggling speed-wise. But I could feel the extra Christmas weight I am carrying at the moment (a good half stone put on in the last week or so!). My hips and thighs would not have been happy had I tried to run much further.<br /><br />During the run the three of us discussed our aims for parkrun and other runs for 2012. There was a lot of talk of avoiding injuries and just enjoying our running for a while. We seemed to agree to a different approach this year compared to last. Last year we did a lot of work at race pace, on hills and interval training during January and February. This year we agreed that it would be more about building up our mileage for the coming two months. After that we will aim to do some speed work approaching our first races in April.<br /><br />With the warm up and warm down the run today was just over 9 miles in total, so a pretty good start to our running year.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to getting plenty of miles under my belt in the next two months and hopefully getting rid of some of the fat that is under and over the belt at the moment!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-36134599535246784582012-01-01T12:52:00.001+00:002012-01-01T13:28:43.997+00:00Leamington parkrunYesterday, with the core of the Coventry parkrun team unavailable, Coventry parkrun was called off.<br />
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This gave myself and a few other Coventry parkrun regulars the perfect excuse to try out Leamington parkrun for the first time. A group of 3 of us travelled together, only to find that 4 others had made the same journey. So in total 7 Coventry parkrun regulars lined up at the start line.<br />
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The course at Leamington is quite different to the course at Coventry. The start line is at the side of an area of several football pitches. The route takes you around the edge of these pitches for at least a couple of minutes, before heading onto a rough gravel pathway. <br />
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The pathway is pitted with dents and larger holes, all of which were turned into large puddles after recent heavy rainfall. A couple of these large puddles traversed the entire pathway leaving you with a long jump or a quick paddle as the only way past.<br />
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I did witness one runner who seemed to time his splashes perfectly to soak the same rival runner at least two or three times in the space of a minute. Nice work I thought!<br />
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The route then headed around Newbold Comyn golf course. A notable tough point being a steady uphill gradient which suddenly turns 90 to the right and probably at least 30 degrees upwards. This steepest of inclines only lasts a minute or so, but by the top, with your thighs feeling the burn, you feel as though you can only just top walking pace. The gradient then decreases but remains uphill for a few more minutes.<br />
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The relief of reaching the top of the hill at around half distance is incredible. And the view is superb, or at least i think it must be. My brain was so fatigued by the uphill effort that it was all I could manage to keep running. <br />
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Then the long gradual downhill starts and you can allow your legs to run freely, your breathing slowly returning after the preceding uphill struggle.<br />
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Although probbaly a good couple of km, the downhill is over all too fast and you return to the flat to wind your way around the lower section of the golf course and back to the football pitch finish area.<br />
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The football pitch area is a little bit slippy at this time of year and given the rough pathways for the majority of the route, this parkrun course would be well suited to trail shoes rather than standard running trainers.<br />
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That said, even with the right footware, I wouldn't think of this as a fast course, but it's certainly an attractive, challenging and fun one.<br />
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The Leamington parkrun volunteer team were a very welcoming bunch. Although there were under a hundred runners, the community spirit was present in abundance. I'm sure I'll return to Leamington parkrun again in the future, it's a lovely location for a parkrun and very well run, but I may wait for drier course conditions.<br />
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As for the Coventry parkrunners, well we did Coventry parkrun proud, by taking 4 of the top 10 places and 3 of the top 6! A great effort. I suspect a group of us may try another local parkrun or two in the coming months.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-69515680586013884312011-12-31T16:36:00.002+00:002011-12-31T16:50:28.400+00:00My first parkrun audio blogHere is a link to my first Audioboo style blog post. I just thought I'd give it a go to try it out. It was a "one take" effort, so not perfect. Please feel free to comment and let me know if you think this new format adds or detracts from my blog!<br /><br /><a href="http://audioboo.fm/boos/607560-leamington-parkrun-31-12-2011">Click here to have a listen, it's less than 2 minutes long! </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-37340077422585268532011-12-31T10:00:00.000+00:002011-12-31T10:00:07.566+00:00Thank you parkrun!I think its only right that my very last parkrufan blog post of the year is a big, big thank you to parkrun, parkrun HQ and in particular everyone at my home parkrun in Coventry for making it another fantastic parkrunning year.<br /><br /><br />I feel very fortunate to have parkrun in my life and I know I am extremely lucky to have a parkrun almost on my doorstep, less than a 10 minute warm-up jog away. My one wish for would be parkrunners for 2012 is that many more of you are as lucky as I am to get one of these fantastic events in your local park.<br /><br /><br />Its been another amazing year of growth for parkrun, doubling the number of events and runners each week. Lets hope we see similar growth in the 2012 olympic year. Lets hope parkrun gets Brittain running!<br /><br /><br />Thank you once again to everyone that makes parkrun the amazing event that it is week in and week out. You all do a great job, thank you!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-50202464741779377172011-12-30T11:54:00.001+00:002011-12-30T12:00:43.473+00:00A chance to be a parkrun touristCoventry parkrun and its race director are taking a well earned break tomorrow. This gives me and the rest of the Coventry parkrunners a great opportunity to become parkrun tourists.<br />
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For me it will be my first parkrun at any location other than Coventry. I have considered running at other parkrun events before, but the location of the Coventry event is so convenient for me that there has never been any good reason to head elsewhere.<br />
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So this cancellation of the Coventry event forces me to become a parkrun tourist for the first time, something I have really wanted to do for quite a while. In fact, it means that I manage to tick off one more of my targets for the year right at the very end of the year. This time last year I stated that running at another parkrun location was something I wanted to do in 2011.<br />
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So then the question is where should I do my parkrun this weekend? The closest three seem to be Brueton, Braunstone and Leamington. And for no particular reason other than it probably being the closest I have chosen Leamington.<br />
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If I understand correctly this means it will be a PB of sorts, being my first run at that location. I also hear that Leamington may not be the fastest of courses, but given my current state of injury comeback that doesn't bother me at all.<br />
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I'll try and blog my thoughts on Leamington parkrun and becoming a parkrun tourist for the first time at some point over the weekend. Happy parkrunning one and all!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-1547017637270201132011-12-27T10:00:00.000+00:002011-12-27T10:00:00.467+00:00Review: parkrun targets for 2011Almost exactly a year ago I wrote a blog post setting out my parkrun targets for 2011.<br /><br /><br />I thought now would be the right time to look back at those targets and see how well (or poorly) I have done. I haven't really looked back at them or given them much thought this year and with all my injury problems over the last 7 or 8 months I am not expecting to have done very well.<br /><br /><br />I split that original blog post into two parts, general aims and some specific targets. I will rate how I have done in <strong>bold</strong> immediately after each aim and target. So here goes.....<br /><br /><br />First of all I set out some general aims as follows. I said I would like to:<br /><br /><br />- Complete 50 parkruns in total and get the 50 parkruns t-shirt.<br /><strong>At the time of writing (23rd December) I have run 48, with numbers 49 and 50 planned for Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. So I may still achieve this aim.</strong><br /><br /><br />- Run at least 30 Coventry parkrun events in the year, but hopefully nearer to 40 if possible.<br /><strong>25 so far, so maximum of 27 - FAILED! But closer than I expected.</strong><br /><br />- Achieve at least 5 new PBs.<br /><strong>Ouch! I only managed 1, way back in February - FAILED. But what a PB, a 25 second improvement from 18:14 down to 17:49, so I am not too disappointed!</strong><br /><br /><br />- Win my first parkrun event.<br /><strong>SUCCESS, winning my first and only (to date) event on the 12th February, getting that huge PB in the process.</strong><br /><br /><br />- Perhaps I might even do my first parkrun at another location.<br /><strong>FAILED, but there is always next year!</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><br /><br /><br />From those general aims I set out the following definitive targets.. I must:<br /><br />- Get a new PB before the end of February.<br /><strong>SUCCESS - that huge PB!</strong><br /><br /><br />- Take my PB below 18 minutes before the end of April.<br /><strong>SUCCESS, that very same run!</strong><br /><br /><br />- Take my PB below 17:45 before the end of 2011.<br /><strong>FAILED, but so so close!</strong><br /><br /><br />- Finish in the top 5 of the male points table.<br /><strong>FAILED, unfortunately too many missed events and the latter part of the year running in the mid-field and towards the back certainly haven't helped.</strong><br /><br /><br />- Finish in the top 10 in at least 75% of events attended<br /><strong>FAILED, I have managed this in only 13 of the 25 events I have taken part in. So only just over 50%.</strong><br /><br /><strong></strong><br />Considering the injury filled year I have had, I didn't do too badly with my aims and targets. Lets hope next year goes just a little bit better, hopefully with a few less injuries!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-67003906959265515382011-12-24T11:14:00.001+00:002011-12-24T11:43:56.413+00:00Christmas parkrun funIt was another fantastic morning for a parkrun.<br />
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I wouldn't say it is exactly mild today, but running at 7 minute mile pace for 3.1 miles in three layers (with the top layer being felt!), two hats, two pairs of socks and gloves was a little too much as it turns out! I very nearly overheated I think.<br />
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Yet another superb parkrun though. An amazing 225 parkrunners finished the run today at the Coventry event. An incredible turnout given what day it is.<br />
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After the parkrun and the catch up with parkrun friends, three of us headed off for a bit of an extra run - in our Santa suits!<br />
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We headed out on a route of about 3 miles or so. This part of the run was just as much fun as the parkrun itself. I suppose three men running along busy streets is not something you see everyday.<br />
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Every few seconds we were getting flashed and beeped and plenty of waves. You would think most of this would be from cars with young kids in the back, but surprisingly many of the most enthusiastic wavers were women on their own. I think women must love Santa. There aren't many days of the year that three 30 something men can run around in fancy dress and get waves from women!<br />
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It was a lot of fun and felt great to put so many smiles on faces. Even if many were probably laughing at us rather than with us, but I'll take that anyway.<br />
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Looking forward to doing again next year!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-1820232318380065312011-12-23T10:26:00.006+00:002011-12-23T11:45:23.616+00:00parkrun at ChristmasAs we all know, parkrun is brilliant the whole year through, but I for one believe it becomes just a little bit more special around Christmas time.<br /><br />Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and (as far as I know) every single parkrun around the country (and beyond) is intending to stage its weekly event as usual, subject to the weather of course! Thanks to a core group of fantastic volunteers every parkrunner knows that they can turn up at any one of these incredible events and enjoy their usual parkrun fix. All these volunteers are giving up the morning of Christmas Eve willingly and free of charge so that others can run. That in itself is pretty amazing.<br /><br />Now if you are as lucky as we are at Coventry parkrun, you may find that your local parkrun is putting on a Christmas Day event too. Please check the <a href="http://www.parkrun.com/crispy/christmascompendium">Crispy Christmas Compendium </a>to be sure. Now, if a parkrun on Christmas Eve wasn't amazing enough, you can also run on Christmas Day! Not only that, but you will find that there will be people there to volunteer just so that others can run. These people, volunteering for free for the good of their local parkrun community are just brilliant! and we should all be very grateful to them.<br /><br />The fact that we get these parkrun events so close to (and during) Christmas isn't the only thing that makes me think parkrun is a bit more special at this time of year. All you have to do is look around at parkrun this weekend and you will notice how happy everyone is to be there. parkrunners are always happy to be at parkrun, but the smiles will be a little broader and the banter even more friendly. There will be people in fancy dress, whether its an official Santa run or not, and everyone will be having just a little bit more fun than usual. I'd even go as far as to say that the friendliness and Christmas spirit that you see at parkrun at Christmas time can put you perfectly in the mood for the big day.<br /><br />If you do manage to make it to a parkrun on Christmas Eve and especially so on Christmas Day, please do remember that the volunteers are giving up their time so that you can run. So if you can spare the breath during your run, or alternatively before or after the run, do try to say thank you to each and every volunteer or possibly even a shout out a "Merry Christmas!" as you pas them. The volunteers will be happy to be there anyway, but this little gesture of goodwill will go a long way.<br /><br />Finally, I'd just like to wish everyone a very good parkrun for tomorrow and Christmas Day (if you are lucky enough to be doing one) and a very Happy Christmas and New Year!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-74459728281011529412011-12-18T15:11:00.005+00:002011-12-18T15:53:57.715+00:00Santa parkrun is....great fun<div>Yesterday saw the second official Coventry Santa parkrun. Considering the very cold conditions it was still a very good turn out at just under 150.<br /><br />It was good to see so many getting into the Christmas spirit. Plenty of full Santa suits, a Rudolph, a present, lots of Santa hats and even a very festive Elvis Presley made it to the start line! </div><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687495652914851522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KAFeW1cyViCu1bA35EY8F5TrjKwB82vQVjKgPyvDymPuu-K37hUhM0xc0HC_VnvyhzXrnp818b_jXjdknorwZsQ14ASRpg2GZJX8fMBk1oZ1oUGW3FlZ02NTlpw0Den2zu_TYfYsNlXs/s320/6525090137_dcfc8d1cb2_o.jpg" border="0" /><br />On Friday I laid down a challenge (on the Coventry parkrun Facebook page) to other parkrunners to try to beat (what I believe) is the Coventry parkrun record for a fully suited up Santa. Last year, at the first annual Coventry Santa parkrun, I managed a time of 18:35 to finish in 2nd place.<br /><br />I even mentioned this "record" time to my brother, knowing that he would probably be the fastest Santa on the day, with me still in no fit state to run anywhere near that kind of time. I thought this was a very risky tactic for my record, but what value does a record really have if no one knows it even exists?<br /><br />And so the challenge was set!<br /><br />Running at my own pace, again significantly quicker than last week, but slow enough to feel that I wasn't risking injury I was a long way from the front of the field so had no real idea who the lead Santa was.<br /><br />It wasn't until nearly 18 minutes into the run that I had any idea whether my record would be broken. At this stage I saw that my brother Andy was indeed the lead Santa and he seemed to be on target for one or two seconds either side of my record time. It looked like it would be very close.<br /><br />I then had to wait another 6 minutes until I had finished to find out from Andy that he thought he had missed it by 1 or 2 seconds. As it turned out it was 3 seconds. A great effort but not quite this year!<br /><br />With it being Christmas eve next week, a number of us have agreed to get a bit more use out of our Santa suits this year and do the same again. The question is, should Andy (or anyone else) beat my time, will it count as "the record" or does only the official Santa parkrun count? I'm sure there will be plenty of friendly banter discussing that next week! <br /><p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687496588988675378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 269px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcCI9QsdqUh8NcTdIQj8xWYQhbjfp1z40QwV5UyfGK4glr0SgYLXq2tglJy986-Tt-qV9FEv6AjNOLnCuFWLmJ1CEScWPBJu1d_HzkWyxDMunjefb5vlQOLPVWxn2xU1OFJIemyrmMwTL/s320/cropped.jpg" border="0" /><br />Looking forward to another (unofficial) Santa parkrun next week! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-53107533288171072472011-12-16T08:48:00.008+00:002011-12-16T12:04:03.333+00:00The parkrun 50-clubI am now rapidly approaching my 50th completed parkrun.<br /><br />As I am sure most readers will be well aware and no doubt already members of, completing your 50th parkrun gets you into the 50 club and entitles you to the fantastic 50-club t-shirts. Adidas, one of parkrun's official sponsors gives these away to all parkrun 50-club members for free. Isn't that amazing! Not only do we get all the fun of parkrun for free, but once you reach 50 runs you get a t-shirt for free. Not only that, but if you have seen the new 50-club (technical) t-shirts, they are fantastic and far nicer than the old Nike ones. They look the part, I believe they are made of the right materials and are therefore breathable and they are the must have parkrun status symbol!<br /><br />There are of course also the elusive 100 and 250 clubs and the associated t-shirts, but they are (probably) many years off for me t the current rate, so I'll concentrate on the 50 club for now!<br /><br />It's has been an up and down parkrun year for me. There was the high of my 17:49 PB in February followed by months of disappointingly recurring injury problems. Those injury problems have significantly hampered my progression towards joining the parkrun 50-club. At one stage I was on target for reaching the milestone in late September. That shows just how many events I have missed.<br /><br />I said that I was approaching my 50th "completed" parkrun. I say "completed" because there have been a few (maybe 3 or 4) that I have started and not completed. Amazingly, with all the injuries I have had, only one was due to injury. The others were runs started with my kids and stopped half-way. The kids enjoy parkrun and want to complete one (well they do before they start), but half way through they have always had enough and its better to stop before they hate it (or me!).<br /><br />So the 50th run and joining the 50 club beckons. I believe I have completed 47 parkruns now. As long as I don't have any injury problems in the meantime, tomorrow will be number 48, Christmas Eve will be 49 and (I can't do Christmas day) New Years Eve (Coventry parkrun #99) will be my 50th!<br /><br />Hopefully I will be one of the last parkrunners to join the 50-club in 2011 and if I don't manage that, then one of the first of 2012. 50-club, make room for another member, I'm on my way!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-81762184691295928902011-12-14T19:48:00.003+00:002011-12-14T19:54:47.363+00:00A few Christmas running bargainsJust a few running bargains that I have spotted on Amazon this evening:<br /><br /><iframe style="FLOAT: left; WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 240px" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=parkrunfanb05-21&o=2&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B004GCIMGM" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe style="FLOAT: left; WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 240px" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=parkrunfanb05-21&o=2&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B004GCIMVM" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=parkrunfanb05-21&o=2&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B003HIWBQI" style="width:120px;height:240px; float: left" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=parkrunfanb05-21&o=2&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B004J33VVO" style="width:120px;height:240px; float: left" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=parkrunfanb05-21&o=2&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00457X7RM" style="width:120px;height:240px; float: left" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8407855545093783148.post-35159675292654430122011-12-14T18:19:00.009+00:002011-12-14T18:54:05.234+00:00Santa parkrun 2011Its the week of the Coventry parkrun Santa run and my Santa outfit has made it back down from the loft and is ready to go.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686054030867918882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRZXJip2QiMTlDZdusV9HUCSFYNJPIb5deajn749CBjbB796bTqxvrMUggGYNGMzVbs0i10yZnI6gwHpzuCXxEfgHDfBgTNZNdIXJGgE8Zmet5NkxOQtNpFUiicO3vSuWxvtNxY3EVs1Z/s200/Picture+064.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />I loved the Santa parkrun last year. Probably in part because I nearly managed my first parkrun win, missing out by about an inch, but also just because I think its fun to run in fancy dress, particularly when you still run well.<br /><br />A few years ago my brother and I did the Coventry fun run dressed as ladies. Out of the 5000+ finishers that year we came 19th and 20th I think. I find it pretty funny that dressed as ladies (and I mean full dresses, filled bras and handbags!) we still managed to finish so close to the front. So I think I enjoyed the Santa parkrun last year for similar reasons.<br /><br />To be honest last year was the first Coventry Santa parkrun and as a result the number of people in fancy dress wasn't that high. This year I expect it to be a much higher percentage of Santas, Elves, Reindeer amd other Christmas themes.<br /><br />If you are thinking of buying a Santa suit for your own Santa run then I have found this selection on Amazon:<br /><br /><div width="100%"><br /><div style="FLOAT: left; WIDTH: 34%; TEXT-ALIGN: center; v-align: top"><br /><iframe style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 240px" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=parkrunfanb05-21&o=2&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B000XETXOW" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="FLOAT: left; WIDTH: 33%; TEXT-ALIGN: center; v-align: top"><br /><iframe style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 240px" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=parkrunfanb05-21&o=2&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B002U1YVH0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="FLOAT: left; WIDTH: 33%; TEXT-ALIGN: center; v-align: top"><br /><iframe style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 240px" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=parkrunfanb05-21&o=2&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B002YPK6TO" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br /></div><br /></div><br /><br /><div width="100%"><br />If anyone is fancies the <a href="http://www.parkrun.org.uk/coventry/default">Coventry parkrun </a>Santa run it takes place the Saturday at 9am in War Memorial Park in Coventry.<br /><br />I'm pretty sure there will parkrun Santa runs all over the country over the next couple of weekends. In fact I have just found that you can find a full list of <a href="http://www.parkrun.com/crispy/christmascompendium">Santa runs here</a>. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0