parkrundays: Faskally Forest #138 and Denton Dene #47

Another parkrun catchup post.

Geth and I were in Scotland for a stag do the weekend before last. The parkrun spread north of the Central Belt is a bit sparse, so it was a good hour’s drive to the nearest event from the village where we were staying! Faskally Forest had been on my bucket list for some time, though, so I was glad to have the opportunity.

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It did not disappoint. It was a beautiful sunny and warm morning, perfect for a run through the forest. The hilly, traily course was a bit of a toughie and I just sneaked in under 30 minutes – but it’s the gorgeous scenery that is the real star of this parkrun. If you have the chance to do this one, don’t miss it.

This last weekend we were back home in Newcastle and returned to Denton Dene for a second time, first having run it eight months ago. Eight months is a long time and I have improved enough to take a good minute and a half off my course PB, so I can’t complain! Eight months was also enough time for Geth to forget the route and go slightly wrong at one point. We’ll make sure to go again a few times this summer so as to refamiliarise ourselves with the course.

A few Benchies and other friends were out west with us, so it was a good morning.

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Back to Town Moor for pacer week this next weekend. Haven’t decided yet whether I’m pacing or chasing a pacer though…

Phone Box Thursday: Marl Lane, Llandudno

We finally finish this Welsh series with a privately-owned phone box. Thanks to Mum and Dad for finding all of these phone boxes last September.

Red phone box
Red phone box, Marl Farm, Llandudno, 21st September 2023.

(Coordinates 53°29’19.0″N, 3°80’45.1″W.)

This is an old farmyard near to where Dad’s childhood holiday caravan park used to be, now a private property. This box is not in its original location – Dad says there was never a phone box there in the past. It does look nice though!

Somewhere completely different next week!

parkrundays: Town Moor #622 and Jesmond Dene #158

Quick parkrunday catchup. The last couple of weeks I’ve been volunteering at parkrun due to Sunday races (race blogs to follow next week hopefully).

A week and a half ago I was at Town Moor. It was Star Wars Day, the day before the Newcastle-Gateshead Marathon/Half Marathon/10k, and also my friend Claire’s 250th parkrun – so a lively atmosphere all round! I was pacing 30 minutes, which feels very easy for me now and didn’t tax the legs too much before my 10k the next day. I was bang on by my watch and 29:59 by result, which is the closest I’ve ever been as a pacer, so really pleased.

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Photo by Ian Harman.

This last weekend I was funnel managing at Jesmond Dene (or rather number checking, as they have now split the role – the ‘funnel manager’ used to do both). This is a busy role that I really enjoy and the parkrun hour always flies by. It did help that the weather was absolutely beautiful this weekend – perhaps might have been a bit warm for a fast run on Saturday! No photo as I was busy.

A little further afield this next weekend.

parkrunday: Rising Sun #326

Back to Rising Sun this last weekend for the first time in a couple of months. I’ve been a few times in the last year, but it was Geth’s first visit since 2018.

I hoped to be consistent with my recent results there, but I think I still had a bit of the marathon in my legs (as well as the after-effects of a mild head cold earlier in the week) as I was about 50 seconds slower than my course PB. Hopefully I’ll manage to get up to speed again soon!

Pacing this weekend if I can get a slot.