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Finally entered the world of park runs....
Raced the Graves Park run in Sheffield... nice hilly 2 lap course, ran in reverse as it was the first anniversary, nice friendly race, ran the first lap with a guy so I could know the route as they said it wasn't marked, but it fact it was clear enough with the few marshalls..
not bad, starting with a win, not managed that in 30 outings.Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
You'd have won each of the greatrunlocal 5ks this morning though.Quote:
Originally Posted by sevendaughters
http://www.greatrunlocal.org/runs/north-west
Christ. I opted out having been to Wembley yesterday, seems I could have strolled around. I know the chap who won the Wythenshawe Park run, used to play football with him on a Monday, usually paces people on a Saturday at South Manchester.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danbert Nocurry
When I noticed that winning times at Burnage were in winnable range I went along...as did the two people who finished in front of me that day.
It does continue. I see Swoop destroyed his Wythenshawe Parkrun PB today, shaving off 30 seconds. :thumbup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Danbert Nocurry
Well done mate, not bad on a course that is half cross-country-ish.
More than half! Probably the worst parkrun course in the NW. The Sale Sizzlers held on a different course in the same park are much better.Quote:
Originally Posted by OB1
Have a look at this Swoop. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Swoop
http://www.greatrunlocal.org/runs/no.../2013/april/21
THANK GOD I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO THOUGHT THIS. That little grass loop at the start is daft, why not just start further back down the path?Quote:
Originally Posted by Swoop
I managed to get to Platt Fields on a decent day a few weeks back and went under 19 for the first time, 18.56.
My first park run this morning in Delamere Forest. Over quickly aren't they? My first race under 10k, & I've only ever done 2 of them. I quite enjoyed it, but it's a bit like eating one Jaffa Cake whern you're a starving man. Still, back to normal next weekend - 33 miles round Northants.
There's a park run in Harrogate, but I can't see my ever taking part - the course is as dull as ditch water and already getting very "cliquey", surely not the intention? That said, if it inspires people to run and turn their lives around, who am I to criticise? A lad came along to the club for the first time last night and he had got into running entirely though the local park run.
The Delamere run is in the forest, & is good running, round the lake. And everyone was cheered in at the end. You'll just have to move, Martyn!
Our copy of the Summer 2013 National Trust magazine hit the doormat this week and has a 6-page feature on ‘Running Wild’ at National Trust (NT) places around the country.Quote:
Originally Posted by Martyn P
One page has an article on the new open water ‘super-sprint’ triathlon event being created by Alistair and Jonny Brownlee in partnership with the NT, at Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire. To be held on 21st September 2013 www.brownleetriathon.com
On the opposite page is a picture of three chaps running down the path from Mam Tor, part of the High Peak Estate. Is one of them you?
On another page is an article highlighting the fact that Parkrun 5km events have been introduced at five NT sites so far with the numbers set to rise. The five sites are Killerton (South Devon), Plym Valley (South Devon), Sheringham Park (Norfolk), Tredegar House (Newport), and Wimpole Estate (Cambridgeshire). Have any of you done any of these events? If so how do they rate? I look forward to trying one whilst on holiday sometime.
There is also a moving endorsement by Janet, a parkrun runner and NT member who says:
“I’ve been visiting my local Trust place, Sheringham Park in Norfolk, with my family for years, and I walk the dog there every day. One Saturday morning last December, I turned up to find the car park full and people in running gear everywhere. Curious, I found out that Sheringham was hosting a weekly 5km parkrun. When I got home I talked to my 15 year old son David about it. He was recovering from a liver transplant and was keen to start building his fitness back up: we talked each other into going. The first week was a struggle – we walked most of it, and at one point I didn’t think we’d reach the finish line, but the other runners were so positive and encouraging. We came last but it was a big achievement, and each week after that got easier. I go to parkrun nearly every week now, sometimes with David, other times alone, and love it. The track at Sheringham is challenging – it can be slippery after rain with lots of hills to tackle, but the reward is worth it. I like feeling a part of something, surrounded by beautiful countryside and coastal views, doing something that’s good for you, and sharing it with other people. David is doing well and he’s exercising regularly. Completing that first parkrun was such a big step in his recovery. I can’t overstate how important it’s been to us.”
I just thought the above was worth sharing on here. I see that David has run 7 parkruns in the last 6 months, gaining a PB on nearly every one of his runs, now running lots of places above last place. Well done David, and mum Janet (also improved her times immensely in the last 6 months, over 18 outings). http://www.parkrun.org.uk/sheringham...unSeqNumber=26
And the title to this thread is: "Are Park Runs Destructive?" It gets my dander up every time I see it.
Brilliant post OB1.
I havent read all this but for what its worth I have mixed feelings about Parkruns.
Anything that gets people out running is good and the more people doing it the better, both for them and society as a whole.
I did one last week (my first) in Delamere (against Andy above!) and it was friendly and good fun, basically whats not to like!
On the other hand I am also a member of Wirral AC (Northern Vets and the FRA) and I pay an annual subscription which ensures young athletes get coaching and support including facilities and transport to events. These are the future of UK athletics and my loyalty is in supporting grass roots club infrastructure over everything else. I will continue to support my club even though I dont use many of the facilities and I will also run the odd Parkrun as they are great fun. Hopefully runners who access our sport through Parkrun will see the club benefits and join there local one.
I just hope that Parkrun does not displace competitive event organised by affiliated clubs who have greater overheads.
It could be the opposite, fasteddie. Runners who would never have joined a club but who discover the pleasure of running and improving race times through Parkrun might then decide to join a club for proper tuition, training, guidance, further improvement and more variety over just weekly 5k runs. There are plenty of fee-paying club members who run Parkruns. (I'm one of them and, like you, happy to pay my fees even though I use few of the facilities.) There are plenty more runners who will join proper clubs thanks to the introduction to running that Parkruns gave them. On another point, if these runners go on to enter races and discover the benefits of affiliation in their entry fees, that would be another reason to join a club. Some will say that Parkruns take away from official clubs, but I see the opposite as being more likely, based on my experience of Parkruns over the past 3 - 4 years.
I'm sure you're right Nick. We've always got a few members at the Delamere park runs, helping out or running. It's bound to bring us an additional member or two: we've usually got our club vests or t-shirts on.
I got into running through parkrun, subsequently joining a club and running fells, and I can point out many who are the same.
As for courses being dull, I guess trying to find an accessible local municipal venue within a large catchment area is going to be tough. Of the 13 I've done I'd say only two or three are genuinely exciting, and still nowhere near as much as a great road race like Zevenheuvelenloop or a fun fell race like Coiners.
Nowt for coming second! http://www.greatrunlocal.org/runs/no...k/2013/june/09Quote:
Originally Posted by Danbert Nocurry
I organise a 10K (sorry it's on the road but is pretty hilly) the majority of my marshals this year came from Parkrun/ Local running groups as unfortunately I couldn't find enough club members willing to help out :thunbdown: the guys who turned out were enthusiastic and keen to help, I had more complements on the level of marshaling this year than ever before. I too run Parkrun/ XC/ Fell/ Road, anything that gets folk out running is great :thumbup:Quote:
Originally Posted by BritNick
Come off it, Respect on here! :wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by Swoop
You made me blush. Can you stop pointing now, please!Quote:
Originally Posted by sevendaughters
Swoop... Swoops :thumbup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Swoop
I don't think it's a matter of Them 'n' Us": 'Either Parkruns or real clubs and real races' isn't really what happens.
Parkruns help boost overall participation. At best they can act as a staging post for newbies; at worst there's little crossover, although there are plenty of club runners who use Parkruns wisely within their training programme.
Personally, I think they're great and my local run in Bradford is helping me get back to some kind of fitness following a series of injuries. I know other fell (and road) runners who have benefitted from them in just this way.
And he got a PB at South Manchester Parkrun the day before tooQuote:
Originally Posted by OB1
Going well at the moment, Woodbank pb last week, Congleton pb yesterday and not too bad this morning:Quote:
Originally Posted by Danbert Nocurry
http://www.greatrunlocal.org/runs/no...k/2013/june/23
Congratulations to the forum's very own CL for destroying the field at Marple this morning in a fast time on his debut Parkrun, though not quite the course record. http://www.parkrun.org.uk/marple/res...unSeqNumber=54 P.S. Ooops - last weeks news.
Danny Hope was at Heaton Park this morning but we are still awaiting the results.
He won: http://www.parkrun.org.uk/heaton/res...nSeqNumber=186Quote:
Originally Posted by Swoop
I had a 'mare at Marple this morning.
Glad about that as he asked me to explain the route to him and I was worried he might go the wrong way!Quote:
Originally Posted by sevendaughters
My friend Jean was first on age grading with 85.23% and a new VW65-69 course record of 24.09.
Not as bad a 'mare as I thought at Marple. I forgot to set my watch so I clicked it on at 1km and ran the last 4km in 16.11. Finished in 19.46. Bit of a daft speed to go off at on that course to be honest.
I see that Cuerden Valley parkrun kicks off on the 10th August. :)
I did my first on Saturday. Loved it
Oh dear, have the flood gates opened? I can now see all manner of rugged hill-folk chancing their arms and legs in our quiet, genteel, parks, without the proper experience of Victorian-era park-craft and everything it entails. I guess it had to happen sometime, although the media coverage hasn't helped.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
I did 7 or 8 parkruns a couple of years back, they were OK but I got more and more annoyed at the number of people running with dogs, pushchairs, toddlers etc. I'm not a very fast/fit person and don't have a lot of extra spare energy to hurdle dogs etc, the last parkrun I did I was tripped twice by dogs and I was pretty unhappy about it. Maybe I'm just unlucky!
Personally I prefer events where everyone is just there to run, rather than chat, walk their dogs/kids etc so for that reason I tend to stick to proper paid races/events.
The other thing is I can be on a trail/public footpatch within 500m of my house, for my nearest parkrun I have to drive 12 miles across town, and find somewhere to park. Seems like a lot of hassle compared to just putting on shoes and heading out the door on a Saturday morning.
Ooh can you run park runs with dogs? If so me and Harry are in :)
Having done a smattering of parkruns this year (I find them great for improving my overall running speed to make up for my crap descending) I've regularly looked at the 'first finishers' page on the website and noticed the likes of Ricky Lightfoot, Danny Hope, Lauren J, Tom Adams among others having 'won' various pr's so it appears that rugged hill-folk are already slowly taking over....I also noticed a certain CL 'won' at Marple a few weeks back!:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by OB1
Lots of people do (or certainly did) at my local one. I think because they use public parks, you just have to be aware of the rules of wherever you're running. So if you local park allows dogs then the parkrun probably would too.
To be fair I doubt I'd ever do one - I think the nearest park run to me is in Skipton, 14 miles away, whereas I have the whole of the Yorkshire Dales waiting for me (and Harry) straight out of backdoor here in Settle.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vampire
The Skipton event wouldn't suit you anyway Stolly. A fair proportion of it isn't on tarmac