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My Last Run
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Oddly, I saw three large skips stacked together on the prom during last night's run. The council uses the country rangers' Land Rovers to collect bags of rubbish from the bins along the prom & in the country park.
A fig of 8 route, starting at 9.30pm Cloudy, close but a fall in temperature while I ran. Lakes, docks, up the beach and turn at the leisure centre; Tide a long way out, so down the beach as far as the ridged sand, then over to the prom and trails across the coastal park & back to the start. An hour, give or take.
Cal and Swittle, for obvious reasons my memories of Camberwell c.1974 are rather blurred. I do recall walking a hangover off (well trying to) in that park near Crystal Palace that has dinosaurs in it, It was so long ago that I thin they were actual dinosaurs! Re Cal's mention of Strava, I don't 'do' Strava but I get the idea and I can see how beating others over a specific 'course' would add to motivation.
Hazel, if you can't beat your marathon PB there's always the chance you might beat it on age-grade (WAVA)?
Absolutely bog-standard 5k for me today - 22.42. The only interesting thing that happened was that my cap blew off! Mrs JB does her 3.3k course in pretty much the same time as I take to do 5k and she did her 2d best time of the year. Just like those Olympians she's aiming to peak on Saturday 24th, when Parkrun resumes.
Talking of which, as I occasionally volunteer at PR, I had their briefing notes on Covid through today. Goodness me, tis is a very long document. It hasn't quite sunk in yet, but looking through it quickly convinced me that they are taking the whole matter very seriously indeed - and will need more marshalls than ever,
The quandary of chasing back after a flying cap when on for a decent time? It'd be the cap for me!
Trepidation on Fetch about whether volunteers will return to form parkrun teams.
Hazel - my 1st Mara was Leeds in 1988 - and I hope I'm not immodest by adding a finishing pic outside the Town Hall. The sweatbands had served me well in my training but it's all a bit 'Kids from Fame', isn't it?
swittle, fanstatic! Well that wasn't unusual running gear back then.
Hazel, wish it was raining here. It's going to be 31 degrees tomorrow. Rather glad the half marathon I was supposed to be doing got pushed back to September.
XT day yesterday (45 mins elliptical plus some rehab). Wanted to run but woke up too late to get out before the traffic and heat (needed it to be quiet for my 5K tempo).
Went out early doors today instead but it did not go well. My Garmin refused to pick up a signal so I started anyway as it's supposed to be able to find one on the move (it has done in the past, no problem). Did a slow 2 mile jog to warm up but decided to stop and restart my watch to ensure I had proper GPS. Then did my run. Came in over 28 minutes so slower than last week and it felt like I was working harder - not surprising though as it was warmer and muggy.
When I got back and uploaded my runs, the 2 miler had no map at all - GPS had failed, and while the 5K had GPS the route was all over the place. So not ideal. Not sure if I ran 5K or not, but eh, it is what it is. I'm blaming updates - got one yesterday and another after I got back so perhaps that was the problem. I'm going to have a short walk later to check it's working again.
Oh yes - an HM in that heat would not have been fun Cal. I was toying with the idea of an ultra which was postponed from the spring but the risk of heat mid-August is too high. Annoying with the GPS I hope it is sorted soon. I think I read about other users with problems. You did 28 mins of hard running which is a good thing - maybe it was even a bit longer than 5k? Warm and muggy isn't helpful for tempo work for sure.
10 miles yesterday in 1:26 - unusually over my lunch break. I needed to get some shopping done so combined that with a run. Raining when I set off but by the time I was ready to run the sun came out. I was lucky it went back in again fairly soon and was treated to a gentle shower as it would have been pretty uncomfortable otherwise. Fairly standard sort of run otherwise - bit quick on the return leg (hungry and needed to get back to do some work).
Muggy it was here too this morning. Pre-breakfast 4 miler at recovery pace - bit slower to set off and a bit quicker later (also dependent on the undulations). Felt comfy but my face was streaming with sweat when running with a tailwind - I was very glad to turn around to dry off a bit. Will take a few days for the ground to dry out a bit - hopefully no more rain for a few and a decent breeze will help.
Cal, frustrating that your technology played up. I have very low expectations and am not one for exploring functionality. I know some Parkruns run the occasional 'naked' events - i.e without Garmin and possibly even watches. I don't think that would bother me too much as I'm a reasonably good 'natural' pacer. (I'd be happy to be a bad one but quicker!)
Hazel, I'm assuming that the freakish weather that they are getting in Germany and Belgium hasn't got to you. The heat has ramped up here and even at 08.00 with a sea breeze it was a bit uncomfortable. (An ultra in August would be almost dangerous?) So I eschewed my usual 5k 'blast' and ran at chat pace of 5 minutes kms.
Had a visit from my son and family including the new (rescue) puppy who behaved immaculately...until she was sick in the car. Another one suffering a bit in the heat.
Hazel, that's my 10 mile race pace, more or less!
It's going to hit 30 today in London, so I was out just after 5am (it was already 18 then which is warmer than I like, but as it was an easy run I can deal). Took my hydration vest, which I normally wouldn't for a run of that length and was glad of it, though I forgot to squeeze the air out of it and had to put up with it sloshing the whole way (I got used to that after a while, but then I'd pass someone and get stares :lol )
With my race on Wednesday (god help me, it's going to be hot then too) I decided to stick to 12 miles and did my Clapham Common > Battersea Park > river > Wandle > Tooting route, though with a couple of small variations. I took a more scenic route through Battersea Park rather than the main carriageway I usually use, and was rewarded by seeing a lovely big heron. He wasn't in the least bit scared of me and I was within touching distance of him as I ran past.
The river is always nice and flowers smelled particularly good today. One section had loads of poppies just growing out of cracks and walls.
Once I came off at the Wandle, I managed to find the correct route through Wandsworth to the next bit in King George's Park, including a small stretch of Wandle hidden behind some shops.
I didn't push the pace on this one so averaged around 10:40ish, but even so HR was higher again due to the weather. Lost a couple of pounds, too, so made sure to have SiS hydration tab as soon as I got in (I had one before going out, too)
Good luck anyone running or racing today - stay safe and hydrated.
And white with black patches.
I cycled to our prom for an 8.15 run by which time it was already pretty warm. I started a bit fast but decided to try to sustain the pace just about ran an even split managing 22.08, my best for a few months. I've been totally shattered ever since. Not sensible really!
Rest day for me other than a gentle bike ride to a cafe were my mates 'put away' cooked breakfasts while I just watched. Just too hot for that sort of thing.
Hazel, I have "fast" shoes too - if I want an easy run I have to wear my Epics.
Horrible weather yesterday - it was even worse than Sunday in my flat. Felt I could hardly breathe. I had to spend the evening watching TV as I was reluctant to risk gaming on my PC in 29 degrees. Ended up going to bed at 9pm as a result.
Of course that meant I woke up before 4, so for my run out a couple of minutes before 5. Sad to see a dead fox in the road near my house...looked like a young one. I've reported it to the council as it'll get ripe pretty quickly in this weather.
Ran up to Clapham Common via some back streets, across there, down some other roads I wanted to explore then on to Wandsworth Common and back via Tooting Common. Saw herons on Clapham Common and Tooting Common. Back home and showered by 6.30am.
Not really looking forward to my race tomorrow, it's going to be roasting hot and it's not that easy to get to (it starts by Wimbledon windmill which is a couple of miles from the nearest station)...hoping someone will give me a lift, especially on the way home.
I also have to see the cardiologist tomorrow. I really don't think there's anything wrong but since I have the appointment, I might as well get checked out. Not sure they'd approve of me doing a race in hot conditions but I'm just going to get around, I think.
Hazel, a couple of 'interesting' runs. Should we lobby for the new sport of dancing over tree roots to be recognised by the Olympics? (Talking of which I found myself watching the GB v Chile women's football this morning.)
Cal, looking forward to your race report and good news from the cardiologist.
Agree that the daytime (and night time come to that) heat is oppressive). I tried a short sharp run yesterday (a mere 0.85k) up my local hill in the quest for a PB. Managed by 5 seconds but as this was around 11.00 it was hard work. Achilles not happy either.
PS sorry no puppy photo. Operator incompetence.
As for the race, Christ that was tough. It was very warm when we started but didn't seem too bad at first. First mile went OK but second mile has some technical climbs and descents (the Alps and Rifle Butts) which I took slowly...knee didn't like the Alps at all. Picked up a little speed on mile three but then we ran alongside the brook and the humidity there was crazy. When it came to the Toast Rack (a narrow, slightly uphill gravel path between two wire fences in the middle of the golf course) I knew I was labouring and decided to run/walk it. I usually manage to speed up on the final mile but I had nothing left so jogged it in. Garmin said my average HR was 180 (!!!) and max was 191 - don't think the cardiologist would have approved.
When routes deceive, Hazel! Somehow, nature wins when a u-turn is forced on us! Footballers step quickly along a 'track' of batons to improve strength and speed of muscle operation - but tree roots fail to help runners out because of their irregular appearance!
It's no more racing weather than running weather, Cal, and a 'get back safely' call was the right one. Some illustrative names for features along the course!
BBC weather shows 25 deg C at 9 tonight :-o A 6mph N breeze isn't going to help hugely... Still, onwards, ever onwards!
Please could you take 5 minutes to complete my this anonymous survey that I am conducting as part of my MSc Degree!
https://lincoln.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/the-relationship-between-strength-training-and-injury-in-m-2
Thanks so much!
Cal, that sounds bloody awful! What was the name of the event please? Well done for hanging on in there and finishing - but that HR sounds a bit scary. (Not that I've ever measured mine.) Rest and recuperate?
No run for me yesterday, today or tomorrow. Partly to give the Achilles a rest and partly to keep fresh for the resumption of Parkrun. So I've been beasting myself on the rower - mostly nasty little 30 seconds intervals. Horrible!
Looking forward to many of the Olympic events - especially the mixed triathlon.
Left it until 10pm tonight before setting off alongside the smaller lake, where roosting was under way. By the Marina, happy, weary families were trudging back to their cars, maybe pinker but more relaxed too after a day in the unbroken sun. A bright, Cheddar yellow moon had drawn the sea to within 70 yards of the prom, and the going was less predictable over soft sand and, later, beach lately waterlogged. Closer to the leisure centre, pockets of revellers gathered around small fires, showing no sign of departing, in spite of nightfall. Once clear, it was as if they'd never been there: seeking out strips of wiry grass to improve grip, I zig-zagged down the coastal park to the haven of Beach Lawn and a warm down. 1:00:43
Cal, thanks for the race info. Glad that the aches and pains are on the mend. (until the next time!)
Hazel, your run report sound increasingly like nature notes! You are really lucky having that landscape to run in. Even better if you'd have written that you beat the hare in a sprint finish and lapped the deer!
We took the grandkids to Bognor where there's a lovely park which coincidentally hosts a parkrun which I've done many times. Its a pretty little course but very twisty and with narrow paths which make overtaking something of a challenge. Consequently it's a slow course. However, they once (and just the once in about 8 years) had to switch it to a nearby playing field - an ugly but gloriously flat expanse of ground.
I was lucky enough to be one of the few running it that week and my time was good enough to earn me a (totally unjustified) top five place in the all time best times for my age cat. at the time. Naturally I was more than happy to take this.........shallow devil that I am.
Great to see it return even on a grey and windy morning. 400 in attendance including some familiar and friendly faces. No big differences in organisation c/w pre-Covid, just a few little tweaks eg more folk scanning bar codes.
Very pleased with my run: 22.03 giving me a category win (65-69) and a WAVA of 76.80% - the 7th best in the field.
Just so nice to see Parkrun back again and feel the positive vibes of the runners - and of course the wonderful volunteers.
I am so happy parkrun is back. I went to Bushy as my clubmate was doing his 250th - a few of us where there to support/accompany him so it was fun. It was my second visit to Bushy and it really is a lovely park, and while there are very large numbers here, the single lap route and wide paths meant there was room for everyone.
I started with a mile warm-up around the lake and managed to inhale one of those nasty little flies which meant that I spent the next 10 minutes coughing. Not really what you want during a pandemic.
The start of Bushy always reminds me of Charge of the Light Brigade and I tried not to get too swept up in in. First mile was 8:35 and then I went through the next two in 8:40 each. There was a guy alongside me who was breathing hard and every time I tried to go ahead, he pushed himself a bit more. Once we got to the last .11 (I am die-hard imperial, sorry) I felt I had enough to push a bit and got clear of him. My pace for that bit was around 8 - almost back to my old 5K pace.
HR was high for the run but I wasn't pushing myself to the point that my breathing sounded like someone sawing logs. Finishing time was 26:56 - I'd given myself a target of 27 so happy enough with that. Still two minutes off my best, but I'm getting closer and I didn't fade on the last mile as I have done with recent tempos.
One thing about Bushy - it's such a large parkrun they had over 70 volunteers! Amazing. I've been to small parkruns with half that number of runners.
Congratulations on the AG win and an excellent wava JB.
250 prs is quite a collection Cal. Glad you managed to stop the cough before the run itself - would have been nasty. Good result for you too - seems you judged it nicely to hit your target like that. And of course "ladies first" in your duel.
Found it hard to get out yesterday as it was very warm and humid and swapped my intended runs for yesterday and today around. So 4m recovery yesterday evening and 7.5m this morning. I have a long run with some MP planned for tomorrow so today's run was about not expending too much energy. Rather than just ambling around I decided to occupy legs and mind with a pace check - doing a couple of miles at each of the easy end of my paces to make sure I know what they feel like. Went pretty well. Humidity was pretty high and being added to be a constant drizzle - the latter refreshing though.