A Conversation for h2g2 Running Club

Running 2014

Post 221

Beatrice

I had an astonishing run on Satuday.

Since I'd been a toruist last week, and will be in Paris next week, I thought I'd better put in an appearance at my home run. I'd had a cold all week, so had done beggar all training, but I wanted to chat to the Waggy Races organisers who were coming along, with their gorgeous Samoyed, Zola. She and my black spaniel, Mini, sized each other up before the run began.

We set off fast - I usually keep well out to the right and let faster runners pass me on the left, and then when there's a suitable gap we slot into position. Zola overtook us half way round lap 1, but then she stopped to explore an interesting patch of grass, and we got ahead. This happened on each of the 3 laps, so there was a real neck and neck, paw and paw tussle for position going on between the 2 dogs, who were clearly relishing the whole experience.

We crossed the line in 24:42, a new PB for me, and my first ever sub-25 run.

I'm willing to hire Mini out, may approach Suralan with a business proposition smiley - biggrin


Running 2014

Post 222

Pastey

Sounds like we're all sub-25 now with my PB last weekend! smiley - cheers


Running 2014

Post 223

Otto Fisch ("Stop analysing Strava.... and cut your hedge")


Sorry Pastey, must have missed that post. Belated congrats to you, and unbelated congrats to Beatrice!


Running 2014

Post 224

Bluebottle

This week the course was tweaked again, similar to the original course, only without the bottom bit. Most of the mud (except on the steep uphill bit) had frozen making a solid, if uncomfortable, surface to run on. So I had the best result for a while - 24:10 coming 33rd out of 134.

Yesterday I did the Winchester 5k Santa Run too - that was fun.smiley - santasmiley - nur

<BB<


Running 2014

Post 225

Pastey

I ran again on Saturday after a couple of weeks off.

The course for the ParkRun was the alternative one because they're resurfacing a portion of the normal route. I actually prefer the alternative one because although the hill back up is longer, it's not as steep.
I didn't try for a quick time though, still wanted to be careful with my toe. So instead latched onto someone I knew was visiting the course and helped him around, telling about the next sections as we got to them and even encouraging him into a sprint finish. He thoroughly enjoyed it, and I hope I made his visit a good one.

I went out on my 9km route this morning, averaged 5:51 min/km, but it was very, very icy out there.


Running 2014

Post 226

Bluebottle

A milder week, meaning the ground was muddy and slippy again. Still I ran it in 24:45, finishing 22nd out of 115, and I've gone up to 5th in the Points Table.smiley - biggrin

<BB<


Running 2014

Post 227

Pastey

That's great going BB! You'll have to come up to the Heaton Park run one day and see what time you get here! smiley - biggrin

I didn't get out running this weekend, my knee's been in a support brace instead. I did the 9km run again last week, and I think I did something to my knee, so it hurt really quite a lot whenever I bent it and put pressure on it. So I tried not to do that and have been taking it easy.

This coming weekend is a *BIG* weekend for the Heaton Park run, Ron Hill will be there. Apart from being a running legend and founding the clothing company (which he's since sold) he's been running every day for almost 50 years. This Saturday will mark the 50 years, and he's going to mark it at my local Park Run! So I can't miss that! It's a big enough run anyway, with between 350 and 450 people each week, but they're expecting over 700 this coming weekend!


Running 2014

Post 228

Beatrice

Lots of cancelled parkruns here due to ice, and I'll miss next week too, as I'm doing a 10k "Run forest run" series.

But I did marshall lots of photos of our year and (eventually) managed to share a video compilation.

Sounds like one not to be missed, Pastey!


Running 2014

Post 229

Pastey

It seems like they almost cancelled last weekends run here too, they checked the course at 8am, and it was fine. By 9am when they set off, the temperatures had dropped and a load of new ice had formed. smiley - ski


Running 2014

Post 230

Bluebottle

I'll be up in Leeds for a bit visiting the inlaws over Christmas, so I'll probably get a chance to continue my exploration of the ParkRuns there. Don't think there'll be time to visit Manchester, though. Maybe one day - especially if it ties in with the tram museum that's there, I wouldn't mind seeing that. Sadly our friend who lived nearby has moved away from Manchester now.

<BB<


Running 2014

Post 231

Pastey

Don't get your hopes up too much about the tram museum, it's not that great. Better to try and arrange a joint visit with the bus/transport museum when they have their annual Routemaster open day.


Running 2014

Post 232

Bluebottle

33rd Park Run on 20th December - I came 46th out of 145, running in a time of 24:13. As this was the ParkRun before Christmas I ran in fancy dress, a full Santa suit complete with beard.

34th Park Run was on 27th December. As I was staying at the inlaws the run was at the Cross Flatts Parkrun in Leeds. A fairly flat course, but the first parkrun where the briefing involved the words 'look out for t'black ice and dog muck'... My time was a disappointing 27:47, despite it being a fairly flat course and tarmac as my left leg's playing up again.

35th Park Run was back at Eastleigh for New Year's Day. I came 61st out of 140 in a time of 26:42 as my leg's still not right, and I've dropped to narrowly holding onto 6th place in the Points Table.

36th Parkrun was at Winchester as Eastleigh's run was cancelled as the Hampshire Cross Country Championships were using the route instead. I came 70th out of 135 parkrunners on a flat, though unbelievable muddy, course in a frustrating time of 26:56.

So still waiting for my leg to heal so I can run properly again.

<BB<


Running 2014

Post 233

Pastey

I've not been running much over the Christmas break, because we were in Orkney where they don't have a Parkrun, and we were iced in. What this means though is that my breathing's messed up again, and that really showed this weekend. Especially seeing as I've got a cold too. 25:42 though, so not horrendous. But it did feel slow after the first two kilometres.


Running 2014

Post 234

Beatrice

Did my 67th last Saturday in a stonking 25:08, and was 3rd lady home!

We have a different event this weekend - a handicap race using our PBs to allocate start times, so that there will be a bunch at the finish line. It'll take place almost immediately after parkrun.

I'm not sure what to do - I don't want to NOT do parkrun, given that I'm working towards my next Tshirt. And I want to run with my doggie, as I'm faster that way (and hence my PB will be a with-mutt version). But is she up to running 2 lots of 5k on the trot? Am I?

I think I'll do the official parkrun but take it easy, and make sure I have an energy bar ready for the interval.


Running 2014

Post 235

Otto Fisch ("Stop analysing Strava.... and cut your hedge")


Two in a row.... that's tough, but a handicap race sounds brilliant. 2 x 5k somehow doesn't equal 1 x 10k....


I was staying with the inlaws over xmas, one of whom runs marathons in under 3 hours. We ran five miles or so every day for four days, but shortly after I left I came down with a heavy cold which laid me low for a week or so. I'd already entered the county cross country championship, which was my first cross country race, and went ahead in spite of rain and not being quite recovered. Found it very tough - I'm not used to running on mud and it took a lot out of me. Got a team cross country this weekend, and hopefully I'll do a bit better.


Running 2014

Post 236

Beatrice

Well, I managed it!

Tried to take it easy on the first parkrun - came in lucky position 42 in 26 minutes. Had a cup of tea, a handful of raisins (and a pee) before lining up for the handicap chase. It was a lot of fun, and I managed to pick off a couple of runners ahead of me. And we all crossed the finish line in about a 30 second window. But at 27 mins I was way off pace - Minnie was tiring by that stage too. And someone took her water bowl! smiley - cross


Running 2014

Post 237

Pastey

Well done on the two runs!

Poo about the water bowl though smiley - sadface


Running 2014

Post 238

Bluebottle

Park Run 37 - WHAT HAVE THE HAMPSHIRE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONS DONE TO THE PARK?

Seriously, I arrived early to do set up on Saturday, and everywhere the runners had been last week looked like the Somme with the churned-up mud, leading to a radical redesign of the course in order to try and bypass the muddiest bits. So the bottom of the hill was cut out, we had a longer, steep route up the hill and we ran up and over more of the former golf bunkers (that part of the park was a golf course until the council bought it 5/10 years ago).

I also managed to have a proper run without any leg trouble, and finished 28th place out of 136 in a time of 25:16. It may not be a fast time, but on that course I was very pleased with my result. Still hanging on to 6th place in the table, by 8 points.

smiley - applausecongratulations on managing two Parkruns in one day!

<BB<


Running 2014

Post 239

Beatrice

I'm looking ahead, factoring in known holidays, and allowing for 3-4 weeks of non-running....and it looks like I could be doing my 100th 2 days before my birthday!


Running 2014

Post 240

Otto Fisch ("Stop analysing Strava.... and cut your hedge")


Well done Beatrice, great running. It's a really interesting idea, a handicap 5k. Sounds like a lot of fun.

Another 10k cross country for me this weekend, not in Hampshire and not over a Parkrun course, BB will be glad to hear. Felt a lot better this week - fewer uphills, slightly less muddy and generally more pleasant conditions. Very lucky considering the wind we've been having. Something like a return to form.

Found another half marathon to enter for later in the year, and an Easter 10k is open for entries. Roll on the spring...


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