parkrunday: Town Moor #700

It was lovely to be at the celebratory 700th Town Moor parkrun, especially as (a) it was Easter weekend and (b) it’s still the two-lap course 😀

Also back in my fast shoes. Photo from Town Moor parkrun Facebook page.

I did step up the effort level a smidge this time (aided by nylon plate shoes and the fact that it wasn’t blowing a gale like it had been the weekend before; Storm Dave was yet to arrive in Newcastle), but I was pretty surprised at the end to find I’d taken two minutes off my time from the previous attempt! Still a long way from PB shape but we’ll keep chipping away.

parkrunday: Town Moor #699

Broke my streak of weekly improvement at Town Moor today, but given the high winds I’m not too fussed. Keeping a consistent effort week on week.

Celebrating milestones with the club before the start. Photo by Wasif at TMBR.

Expecting to be back on the Moor next week to celebrate the big 700th event!

parkrunday: Town Moor #698

All of these parkrunday posts are going to look the same for a little while. I usually rotate my parkruns even when staying local, but I’m finding that the temporary Town Moor two-lap course is really useful for measuring my progress while I’m coming back from injury, so I’ll be doing it for the foreseeable.

It was my 300th parkrun, so it was nice to celebrate one of those interim unofficial milestones! It was also nice to run in short sleeves – spring has been good to us so far.

parkrunday: Jesmond Dene #250

A week or two later than expected due to the odd winter cancellation over the last couple of months, but it was lovely to celebrate the 250th Jesmond Dene parkrun this last weekend!

I had a race the next day so I was volunteering. Finish tokens on this occasion (I like roles around the funnel). Nearly 300 runners on a lovely springlike morning… but not enough of them to finish the vast quantities of cake baked by lots of talented volunteers, so there was still plenty for us to eat after everyone was finished.

My favourite place to volunteer.

Not decided on the next parkrun yet (my car is going in for repairs this week so I might be limited but we’ll see!).

parkrundays: Blyth Links #265, Rising Sun #412 and Town Moor #694

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!

Sprint finish past the beach huts! Photo from Blyth Links parkrun Facebook page.

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)!

Overtaking in the puddle! Photo from Rising Sun parkrun Facebook page.

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.

parkrunday: Town Moor #693

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!

parkrunday: Jesmond Dene #246

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!