Here’s another one that Mum and Dad found in Northumberland.
(Coordinates 55°59’66.6″N, 2°22’85.0″W.)
This one still has a phone in! Fairly rural so possibly still sees some use.
More from Northumberland next week.
Burnley parkrun had been on my radar for a while. It’s the second nearest one to the in-laws in Colne; we’ve done the nearest, Pendle, many times, but it’s very hilly and not at all an easy course. Burnley is a much flatter option and so I’d always been keen to give it a go at some point. This last weekend, we had a progression run on the training plan, so the timing was right to try this one out.
(It was also the most convenient weekend to do this month’s new-to-me parkrun – the Edinburgh area would have been the other option when we’re up for the half marathon, but Geth wants some familiarity the day before the race so we’ll do one we’ve done before!)
What I hadn’t realised was that Burnley parkrun has such a beautiful setting. It’s beside Towneley Hall, which is surrounded by a huge park. It feels very fancy when you drive into it! It really seemed like a world away from Burnley itself (I’ve run through the town along the canal and it generally seems a bit industrial and grey).
The parkrun itself was really busy, which was a real contrast to the lower attendance we’re used to at Pendle. The paths were hugely congested – I expected this to ease during the run, but it never did, and I really had to weave around people during the faster miles of my progression. It’s not really surprising though – if I lived in the area, I suspect I would go to this one all the time as it’s so nice!
A gentler effort next week as we approach the race.
Mum and Dad sent me this one, which they’d been hunting for a while.
(Coordinates 55°60’72.3″N, 1°71’57.5″W.)
No phone inside and at risk of removal according to the notice 🙁 We’ll keep an eye on what happens with this one.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect performance-wise from this one. While there’s been plenty of speedwork in my current half marathon plan, I’ve not done much short fast stuff recently – my parkruns have almost all been easyish efforts or part of longer runs for probably the last eight or nine months – and this wasn’t an A-race, just a sharpener en route to the Edinburgh half in a couple of weeks. I had no idea what kind of 10k shape I was in. It was also forecast to be a hot day.
In sum, it was pretty unlikely that I would be able to keep my streak of Sunderland PBs following my 48:59 last year. But I had to try and give it the best go I could.
In recent years there’s been a good number of Benchies doing this race and so it’s always a fun morning out. Friends are a good distraction from starting line nerves!
I started too fast (knew that would happen, it always does), settled by about mile three, resolved early on not to look at my watch until the end as I knew it would just wind me up, was suffering in the heat by the second half and felt tempted just to give up and jog it in so many times… but I stayed steady and never let the effort level drop. Couldn’t manage a sprint at the end so I know I couldn’t have done any better on the day (at least not without risking collapse). 50:22. In the ballpark of last year’s summer efforts so I’ll take it.
Might do another 10k around November or so in the hope that I can still get a PB in the distance this year once I’ve recovered from my autumn marathon. In two minds about that, though. It’s not my favourite distance!
Here’s another one that Dad found while driving.
(Coordinates 55°90’73.1″N, 3°25’89.1″W.)
This phone box is in Colinton, on the outskirts of Edinburgh. It’s been reused as an information exchange, presumably for flyers relating to the local area.
Another parkrun sandwich this morning to sweeten another long run with fast bits in. I did the first fast bit round the Moor as signs etc. were starting to appear for the parkrun, and the second fast bit during the parkrun itself (though not quite as fast as the first bit, because I was pacing – I could have asked for a faster time slot but decided not to complicate the run any further by pacing a time I’d not paced before!).
Proud of myself that 30 minutes still felt easy after all that – there was a time not too long ago when it wasn’t even possible for me. Ended up pacing someone who’s doing a local half tomorrow and wanted some practice at his goal pace 🙂
Lots of chat with friends and then home. Such a good morning I forgot to take a photo!
Some non-run volunteering next week – it’s been a while.
Clare sent in a picture of the Felton ‘info box’ phone box!
It looks so much smarter now they’ve given it a coat of paint – it was very tatty last time we saw it! Still in good use, it appears.
Back to Scotland next week.
Still doing a new-to-me parkrun event once per month!
Ashington Community Woodland was lovely this morning. It’s traily but very runnable, especially in the dry conditions we’ve had recently, and a nice small parkrun community (50 runners today). I will be back in the eventual future for p-index purposes!
It made me feel summery to be running on trails in nice weather. Excited for the months ahead.
Most likely back on the Moor next week!
