parkrunners Assemble! DFYB for a run, not a race!

[FiftyNineOhEight]

Gather here parkrunners old and new. Tell us all about your running, volunteering, juniors, tourism, and cows.

Old thread here for anyone interested.

We are probably the best thread on MN. All are welcome here whether you are brand new to parkrun or sporting your 500 shirt.

Morning miked I love seeing your run reports when I am getting up and ready for mine

I hope everyone has good runs. I am at home today. Couldn't be bothered to dress up but am all in black.

How did you get on TheLegend? Hope you enjoyed it.

Sounds like that was a workout miked with that hill.

You managed one better than me Fifty, I did toy with a witches hat but we've got a family challenge where we're touring for a few weeks and aiming to get PBs at each course. Managed it today again but it was hard, didn't need to be chasing hats in the breeze!

I've hung up the trainers for a few weeks and marshalled today, hands are sore from clapping it's great to see parkrun through a different lens, those up front after the position or time, those that are engrossed in conversation, those that are just happy to get round

Can't remember who asked but due date is 11th December - 6 weeks to go

I'm timing next week - hope I don't mess that up

Hope everyone enjoyed their runs today

My favourite costume from this morning - that's one way to remember your barcode!

PB! I got my annual PB today

I rarely run it on my own (lp) and didn't think I'd have chance for any solo runs this year but I managed to do one today and squeezed some energy out to get round in a good time.

miked I failed to get round to doing anything halloween-y . Our junior parkrun are having a dress up tomorrow though.

Thanks for asking Chutney!

I got my PW: personal worst! My calf muscle went "boinggggg" a third of the way through meaning I walked the course and finished at 41:42 😔

Totally stretching like a beast this week with a view to not crippling myself next Saturday 😂

One observation though; of the three different locations I've run in, there's always a HUUUUUGGGEEE gap in between the 30 and 40 min finishers. If you're at the back it's like everyone has finished except you to the extent you're not sure if you've taken the right route!

Anyone else experience this? 👀

50:40. Well chuffed

Pidj did the tail runner behave more nicely today?

Ooooh, I didn't know there was a park run thread, may I join you?
I've only been going since the summer but love it. It's a great start to the weekend.

30.04 - this morning gutting... but still a PB on my home course and I am consoling myself with the fact I was at the back so it would have taken me more than 4 seconds to cross the start line.

Well done london yes, it was chip times you'd have been sub-30

Hello Mavis please do join us. All welcome here

Well done TheLegend sorry I missed your post on the last page . I know what you mean about the gap, I have noticed it more when volunteering than running (I am usually somewhere in the 30-40 minute band). I hope your calf feels better soon.

Meglet you are a well done on your PB!

Big for pidj - hope the tail runner was nicer this week

Well done chutney and family - hope you are enjoying your tourism. I am absurdly thrilled to see myself on the "most parkruns" list, even though I am at the bottom

Hats off to you BlackCat (you don't need a halloween NC) for your volunteering.

Love the giant barcode Melanie but where are the skeleton pictures?

I hope I haven't missed anyone!

Came home from holiday yesterday so back to our usual course today. DD (6) was tired after a lot of late nights while we were away, so was a bit off her best. She did it in 34.45 and I wasnt too far behind in 34.50. She was also wearing a witches hat and cape, might have slowed her down a bit!

DS (8) finished in 25.22 and OH in 25.31. They had hoped to go under 25 today so were a bit disappointed. OH wore his new 50 t-shirt for the first time (was really impressed with the quick delivery) so I was the odd one out with no parkrun t-shirt, as the kids had their 10 ones on. I've now done 41, DS has done 43 and DD has done 39, so not too long til we all have them

DS might do our closest juniors tomorrow. He usually has triathlon training on a Sunday morning but it isn't on in the holidays.

Hopefully someone was taking action shots on the way round - you can't quite see Minnie's skele-dog outfit, but she got a special Hallowe'en biscuit.

My Garmin wouldnt start properly so I didn't know what my official time was - I knew the age-cat record was 26:08, and didn't think I'd get anywhere near it. Results just in - 26:33, so no record, though it's in 2nd place, and I have an incentive to go back in a month or so if my form improves.

Hello! Slow one today - 36 minutes :) took it easy as my friend had an ouchy hip and we have our 10 miler next Sunday :)

Volunteering next Saturday - shadow run director! Bit nervous lol but excited too.

Well done everyone who ran or volunteered today x

It was the same tail runner but I didn't see them - we had new walkers who were slower than me!

New PB today 39'29". But still last but two (plus the back marker). I concur with the PP who described the chasm between the 30 and 40 minute finishing mark. It's Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner territory. At least I'm not in Borstal.

😂 fluffi

That's going to be going through my head when I'm in the wilderness next 😂

It was me MyBlackCat

Welcome MavisGrind!

Well done LondonMummy1966!

I think so many people are aiming for that magical sub 30 TheLegendOfBeans but we have quite a few between 35 and 40, usually or slowest person is 45mkns though, we rarely have walkers.

Loving the costumes, this is our merry band

Thanks everyone - my challenge is now to get sub 30 on my home parkrun by the end of the year - I didn't entirely kill myself as there were a couple of ladies I chatted to on the first lap so perhaps I just need to apply myself a bit more......

Interestingly because I was chatting as we came up to the big hill I was able to measure how much I lose by walking it - 20 metres over half a kilometre of climb which takes about 15 seconds to make up at the top when the rest are knackered and I'm not . So my strategy of walking it is probably the right one.

I've noticed the 30-40 gap more at one of our local runs than others. Partly I think because of sheer size at many of the others and also it's very hilly. Usually the last runners are in around 40 there but most of the other runs nearby it's anything up to an hour with a lot in the 30-40 zone. Love your description fluffi

I was thinking about hills to yesterday london. I think on balance I'm going to try and run up the early ones and walk the later ones as the cost at the top is much more, if that makes sense. We have a very steep climb about 4km, DD ostentatiously cruised up but most of the adults were walking. That set her up for her ostentatious sprint finish

Well done on making the list Fifty

We're off to juniors too Life. The clock change was making me paranoid as were volunteering. DS has just wandered in panicking that we are late.

That's exciting next week swampy

Hello Mavis, big welcome!

Awesome pics as always Melanie and fantastic group cinnamon

Congratulations Meglet!

I know what you mean MyBlackCat, it's a different perspective.

Hope the stretching does the trick Legend.

Great you had a good morning Purple, that's what it's all about.

london just quickly because am on my phone and should be doing other things this morning, I read somewhere (maybe on a previous thread) that to get a fast time over 5k you have to be pushing as hard as you can from the moment you start running, as there isn't enough time/distance to make it up if you only start giving it your all half way through. A lot of our serious runners do a warm up lap or two before they do parkrun. I don't think that precludes walking, but it does suggest not chatting

DS did well at juniors today, 18th out of 190 kids. It was SO busy! Close to being a record number for that event I think. He got tripped over during the 3rd lap and said it was hard to get going at the start as it was so crowded, so was pleased with his time, despite not getting a PB.

He's doing a cross country race next Sat and the race instructions say spikes are recommended. He hasn't got any and I don't know whether they're necessary? It hasn't rained much for ages so shouldn't be too muddy. But I wondered about getting trail shoes for him. Our parkrun course is all on grass and gets really muddy in the winter so they might be useful for that too. Anyone else with DC who run bought them trail shoes?

Some pics of the skeleton leggings....

I got an offer of a babysitter on Friday so ran childfree!! It was good, was hoping for a sub 30, but caught up with a friend so enjoyed a gossipy 30:35!! No text though

Someone on here says to run fast, you have to run fast!! I always warm up if I am PB chasing, I get faster friends to pace me (one of whom tells me off if I talk!!) - people often post on Facebook if they want a personal pacer and normally someone will be happy to help.

I've heard a few people saying they didn't get a text yesterday. Glad you had a good gossipy run karatekimmi. DS moans like anything if DD and I talk when he's pacing us.

I'm not sure about spikes Life although I can see I might need to find out more now the DC are in a club. They do have trail shoes - I got them last winter and am so glad I did. They do make a difference. Regatta have got some bargains on their site at the moment, I was going to have a browse later and get some more. They rinse off a lot better than their normal trainers. We tend to switch between a busier and quieter parkrun near us because it can get a bit crowded.

Juniors was a mixed bag for us today, both first in age category but one was two seconds below their PB and one two seconds over.