Category: Exercise

Bit of a catchup as I’ve not had time to post about parkrun the last couple of weeks.

On the 7th we headed to Blyth Links as Geth fancied a faster one. I’d been avoiding speed while rehabbing my hamstring so was delighted to be able to pick it up a little and finish in 28ish mins. Nice to visit the coast too!

Due to weeks of rain followed by overnight subzero temps on the Friday night, Valentine’s Day was one of those parkrun roulette days where it’s a matter of ‘what’s not cancelled round here?’. Rising Sun was the one not cancelled round here so off we went, along with a few friends. One of those fabulous mornings where you’re just grateful to be parkrunning. And it wouldn’t be a winter Rising Sun without the enormous puddle (now upgraded to ‘canal’ apparently)!

Yesterday we went to Town Moor. Temperatures have much improved and it would be starting to feel almost springlike if not for the harsh cold wind! My run felt a bit difficult as a result but still pleased with how my leg is holding up.

Some volunteering for a special milestone next week.

Last Saturday, Geth and I went to the Moor for a change. He fancied a faster effort and I was still taking it really easy due to my hamstring niggle. It’s strange how slow parkrun feels when you’re taking it properly easy. I was a little faster than the previous week at Jesmond Dene… but not much.

No picture as there was no photographer (I did take a selfie for logging purposes but it’s not particularly blogworthy).

I’ll still be taking it easy this weekend (yet to decide where) but the hamstring is much improved following a sports massage so hopefully I’ll be able to get a bit of speed up again soon!

I’ve felt a bit ‘deep in the winter slump’ this week. The winter running slump was what used to happen before I started my daily run streak (and, indeed, was one of the main reasons why I started my daily run streak). Every winter without fail, I just wouldn’t run at all for a couple of months. The streak put an end to that, thankfully, but there are other ways in which it shows up:

• The ‘strength and conditioning’ winter slump (I am making an effort to mitigate it and am back doing my prehab and gentle S&C again)
• General fatigue and stiffness (my hamstring has been tight and uncomfortable this week so I’ve been protecting it via less running and more cycling)
• Taking a break from race training plans (HIGHLY NECESSARY after the last couple of years but not great for motivation)
• Not making any more effort to get to a parkrun than I have to (I do make sure to attend parkrun every week, but in the winter it’s preferable to take the easy option, which most weeks is just walking to and from Jesmond Dene)

There’s something a bit ‘hygge’ and cosy about just going to your home parkrun all the time in January. Even if the infamous puddle is back and so you walk home with wet feet.

No plans for next week other than ‘attend parkrun’. Taking it a day at a time!

Another week taking it easy at Jesmond Dene!

It wasn’t as damp as forecast, which was a bonus.

Next week is unplanned again (because January) but it may very well be another run round the Dene.

One of those winter Saturdays where you don’t know where you’re going until 8am!

By that point, Newbiggin was one of three realistic options locally who had announced they were still on following the course check. We went with it because it sounded the safest bet in terms of staying upright. Quite a few friends had the same idea so it was a nice morning out!

No idea where we’re going next week either (January parkrunning is generally more relaxing if you DON’T plan it), but at least it should be better weather! (I hope.)

This was both my first ever birthday parkrun and my 50th run at Jesmond Dene!

We knew the snow was coming, but it wasn’t forecast to arrive until this afternoon – so it was a bit of a surprise when the first flakes fell from the sky a minute or two after we set off from home. A minute or two after that, the ground was whitening; by the time we got to the end of the road, I was anxiously checking my phone every couple of minutes to see if Jesmond Dene (who had already declared themselves on at 8:10am, five minutes before the snow arrived) had changed their minds!

Thankfully, we arrived to find the briefing in full swing (with lots of safety warnings, naturally) and I got a birthday shoutout! The Dene was so beautiful in the snow. Geth and I took it super easy for a 34ish minute finish on a special day.

Days like this make me so, so grateful to the volunteers who put events on in these conditions and make the tough decisions about whether to go ahead or not. Lots of local parkruns had to cancel at the last minute today.

Next week is unplanned as the winter weather is forecast to continue – so it’ll depend on which ones are on.

Ticked off an Edinburgh NENDY this morning! Meadowmill isn’t the prettiest parkrun or the easiest underfoot, but it has a lovely friendly vibe.

NYD parkrun up next this coming Thursday (though there may be a race before that).

My second year doing a Christmas Day parkrun!

After last year (featuring a less-than-straightforward drive back from Edinburgh parkrun) I wanted to avoid driving on Christmas morning, but did want to do a parkrun if possible and still make it back in good time for French toast with the family. There is only one way to achieve this if you’re staying in Morningside (which is a bit of a parkrun black hole in Edinburgh terms): a nearly ten-mile parkrun sandwich to Holyrood and back. I certainly needed to spend Christmas Day replenishing some calories after that!

I’ll be parkrunning again in a couple of days, but no idea where yet!