October parkruns

October saw a bit of a diffence to my usual running of parkruns.  For the first parkrun of the month I thought it was about time I volunteered again at a 5k.  The last time I volunteered at a 5k was at Drumchapel in May and I hadn't volunteered at Pollok since last year.  To be honest I dont really feel I owe anything to Pollok in terms of volunteering. I volunteered so much in the early days that I still have a pretty good run to volunteer ratio.  But I wanted to touch base at Pollok and catch up with folk and volunteering is a good way to do that. It was clear when I started to talk to folk that they had noticed that I hadn't been volunteering as much and I decided not to get into an arguement about it.  It has changed the way I think about volunteering and I think going forward I will try to volunteer more at 5ks.  I think I have been a bit too obssesed with trying to get to 250 runs and also I have been in the routine of just running.  But when I look at the big picture, why does it matter how quickly you reach a milestone? I'm not going to be the first person who hits the milestone so why not volunteer along the way in order for these events to go ahead each week.  So I have decided to try volunteer once a month and hopefully aim still for 40 runs a year instead of as many as possible.

So yeah I was number checking at Pollok and had an enjoyable morning catching up with folk.  During the next week I was ill and off work. I got to Friday and I was at that stage where I was still ill but getting better.  I did think about running but decided against it.  At about 6pm on Friday Tollcross put out an appeal for 5 volunteers for the next day. So I decided to go ahead and marshal there.  I hadn't really had much fresh air during the week so standing outside in the fresh air, cheering on the runners was exactly what I needed.  I have run Tollcross quite a bit due to it being my go to course when weather is bad, so it was good to be able to repay them when they needed it.

The next week it was up to Inverness. I have been through Inverness 4 times this year for various parkruns but this time it was the destination.  I stayed in the Premier inn west which was only a 5 minute walk to the start.  They used Whin park instead of Bught park today due to the overnight rain.  I did something today that I havent done before on my travels and that is volunteered and run.  The reason I did this is because although I speak to some people when Im on my travels, volunteering means you automatically speak to people.  When I saw there was a role for post event close down I took it.  It was good chatting to the locals and some of the core team prior to the event.   The run itself was very puddly and muddy conditions.  Two laps of the pond then 3 laps which are bigger and include the pond loop. It was easy enough to track the laps and I enjoyed splashing through the puddles.   It did make for a slower run and I was about 32 minutes.

Then finally for the month it was a trip to Dumfries to do Crichton parkrun.  The Holiday Inn I stayed in couldnt have been any closer to the start it was great.  It was a funny run as the first bit is all on roads round the campus connecting all the buildings.  You go about 200 metres from the church before joining the start of the loop which you do twice.  It was so twisty and turny I actually lost track of where I was.  I thought I was still heading out but then I passed the women who was marshaling the lap point where I realised I was starting the second lap. On the second lap I pin pointed the turn which goes round so much you almost go back on yourself. But its so gradual I didn't notice the first time.  Once two laps are done you go round into a different loop which is on paths and some trailish path.  It has some undualtions but generally quite a fast course.  I really pushed it today and was delighted to get round in 28.07. Especially as I havent really done much running this month.

My challenge to get my average parkrun time for the year is proving challenging and average time is currently 30.19 so it is close.  Problem is now that Queens park has started up and is very hilly and is now my local parkrun. So not sure if I can get that average down but I will try.  With Queens starting up it doesnt also bring about a new decision to make as to where my home run will be - Pollok or Queens.  I couldnt drive to Queens as it feels to close. Half an hour walk and I'm there. But Pollok is still easy to get to.  Maybe it will be clearer once I run Queens which I do plan to do in November. 

September parkruns

In September I managed 3 out of the 4 parkruns available.  None of which were in Glasgow so I clocked up a fair amount of miles.

07/09 - First up was a trip to Girvan. My Dad has been saying for a while that he would be happy to drive me down to Girvan and this was the chosen weekend. It turns out the reason was so him and mum could have a round of golf at Girvan as the course is included as part of their season ticket. And of course to let me run the parkrun. A win, win for all.  So we headed down on Saturday morning, getting there nice and early. We went to the parkrun start initially to see where it was then headed for the golf course.  I watched them tee off then walked round to the start.

Usually at "away" parkruns I'm not that sociable, just keeping to myself.  But due to the smaller numbers at Girvan it is pretty easy to socialise.  I got talking to folk from Inverness, Girvan locals, Strathclyde, one of the prospective directors at Stranraer parkrun and even someone from my home parkrun Pollok.  31 of us took part today and the course goes out beside the coast, does a lap round the grass and comes back along the coast and you do that twice. 

I set out at a pretty good pace and it felt like there were plenty of people around me. As the first lap went on I realised I was picking people off. When folk were coming the other way I realised that there weren't that many people in front of me. I was thinking - could this be my highest place at a parkrun yet?  I kept maintaining a good pace and finished in 27.31 and to my delight got 8th place! I hadn't run that well in months so it was a good confidence booster.

14/09 - From Girvan in the south east of Scotland the previous week. This week I was up to Ellon in the North East of Scotland.  I stayed in central Aberdeen on Friday night and got the bus up to Ellon in the morning. There is a bus stop convientley placed about 5 minute walk from the start. It was quite a wild morning with wind and rain but once you got going it was fine.  The director giving the pre-run brief was from the prospective Inverurie parkun and she did a grand job along with the rest of the volunteers.  I think I started a bit too far back as it took until crossing the bridge over the river to really find my stride and placing in the pack. But after that it thinned out and it was fine.I enjoyed the bit where it goes right beside the river particuarly as it was very pictureesque.  The route does a loop round a small park before going back along the river. This works well as it means there is not too much traffic in the out and back section.  I got a time of just over 28 minutes so again pretty pleased with that.

21/09 - Today I was meant to go to Pollok as I was heading down to Newcastle for the football straight after.  But when I woke up I just felt like today was going to be a bad run. I wasnt ill but just not feeling it.  So I decided just to do a run round the block.  I had to walk after 5 minutes so I was glad I didnt go to parkrun as timings would have been tight to get my train.

28/09 -  Another Saturday, another adventure. This time it was up to St Andrews parkrun. On the Friday night I met my mum and dad at Glenrothes and stayed the night in a Travelodge. Then we drove up to St Andrews on Saturday morning.  We got to Craigton park about 9 and walked up to where the start was on the map, only to find that the start is now right next to the car park.  After the first timers briefing, the guy who did it saw my Pollok parkrun t-shirt and we had a chat. Turns out it was Andrew the Fife ambasador.  It was quite busy day due to the golf being on at St Andrews. And that is exactly why my mum and dad were there as we were heading there after.  Another win, win for both of us.  This run was a bit different to usual. it was 3 laps and the first lap I was thinking I need the toilet. Then I realised there was a toilet so went.  Then the next 2 laps I was thinking how glad I was there was a toilet on the course.  lol.  Anyway the course is fairly flat but there is a slight incline at the back of the course which I did notice but it is still quite a fast course.  I was delighted to dip in under 29.29 even with the stop!

So pretty pleased to get 3 parkruns under 30 minutes this month which will bring the total average down for the year. I have a funny feeling if I did do Pollok it would have been game over as it could have quite easily been a 40 + minute parkrun. As much as I wouldnt mind that, it was the right decision to miss it on this occasion.