April parkrun update

 2nd April - Today I was volunteering at Quuen's where I was marshaling.  There are 9 marshaling points at Queen's and I think I've now volunteered at 6 of the points which includes the new point I did today.  This one is arguably the best one as it's at the highest point of the course and everyone is relieved to see you as it means once they reach me they get a big section of downhill/flat part.

9th April - I headed up to Inverurie in Aberdeenshire for Ury Riverside parkrun.  This was the last Aberdeenshire parkrun I had to complete to knock off all 6 in the region.  It's one of those ones I had booked on various occasions but never made it.  I stayed in Inverurie on Friday night, so in the morning it was less than a 10 minute walk to the start, or so I thought.  I met Allen, a fellow tourist in the car park and had a good chat before he went with his kids on a warm up. Then I realised the start was not where the finish was so had to walk about 400 metre to get to the start.  It's about 1 and a half small loops then one big loop. And it's really flat.  I had a good run but did find I was out on my own for some of the big lap as it was so spread out and it was quite low numbers.  But it was my first sub 30 of the year coming in at 29.29 which I was pleased about.

16th April - I was back at Queen's this time to run it, or should I say attempt to run it.  I don't remember a lot about the run but I do remember I had to walk most of the hills and I think my time reflects that as I came in at 35.52.

23rd April.  I had it in my mind to get a hotel in Edinburgh on Friday and do Meadowmill parkrun.  But when my parents came over for tea on the Thursday they suggested looking up hotels for Kelso which we had planned to do for a while.  They were happy to help me with this one as it's not really straight forward to get to by public transport from Glasgow.  Hotels were a bit pricey for all of us so in the end my Dad offered to drive us down in the morning which worked out well and saved us all a bit.  They recommend parking in the Sainsburys car park but my Dad dropped my mum and I off at the entrance to the path then he went and parked the car in the car park as it's a bit of a walk.

So once we had walked up the path to the start area we had a chat to the run director and a few of the volunteers.  The course itself starts off downhill, on quite a narrow path but it widens out and flattens out once you get on the disused railway line. Although you do need to watch your footing on the terrain as I imagine it's quite easy to roll your ankle.  I had an ok run.  Managed to run most of it and was overtaking quite a bit on the way back.  I did have to walk for about 30 seconds after 4k and the uphill finish is tough and came in at 31.00.  But it's a good parkrun and it's great that there is a parkrun in Kelso given it's quite far to the nearest one for them.

30th April - Once I found out it was one of the run director's from Rouken glen's 300th today, it was an easy choice for a change on what parkrun to do.  And the chosen parkrun for Pauline was Pollok which is her regular.  Good turn out from the core team too.  I had my best run for a hilly course this year as I managed the whole course without stopping coming in at 32.01

March parkrun update

 March was my worst running month in a while.  Mainly due to a lack of midweek runs and my health not being 100% especially toward the tail end of the month. But on the positive side thing I did make my presence felt at all parkrun opportunities available.

5/3 - On the first Saturday I volunteered as a marshal at Queen's.  This was actually my first 5k volunteering since December last year. Due to Queen's being cancelled for the one I had my name for in Jaunary. Then in February I wanted to get my 250th out the way and then had plans to go further a field.

12/3 - After talking to one of the run directors at Queen's the previous week, Richie.  He was keen to do some touristing this week and fancied some company so I happily obliged.  We decided on Kirkcaldy as we both hadn't done that before. Catelyn who was also volunteering the previous week at Queen's came along too so it was like a proper road trip.  To be honest I was delighted by the whole arrangement.  As I don't drive long distances, particuarly motorways, I would have to do overnights even to go to parkruns in Edinburgh. So having company and getting my own bed to sleep in really was a win win.

So we drove through to Kirkcaldy and arrived in plenty of time for Richie to do a good warm up. While Catelyn and myself met up with Rob and Anne who conincidently chose today to get their K for the alphabet challenge.  I enjoyed the run and it was the first time this year I had managed to run a parkrun without stopping.  It's a nice two loop course with a fair bit of a hill to run up each lap, then you have a nice diversion round the pond on the second lap to make up the distance.  Finished in 30.32 which is my fastest time this year.

19/3 - Today I was back at Queen's and this time running.  Not a great run as had to walk the hills from the 2nd lap.  But at Queen's now I kind of go in expecting that I'm going to have to walk bits so no big deal.  Didn't feel that fit today and finished in 34 minutes, which is only 3 and half minutes off my PB for the course so still doing not too bad.

26/3 - Unexpected visit to Springburn today as Richie texted me the day before saying Stuart who is another Run Director at Queen's and who I know well and him were heading to Springburn. I was happy to tag along having not been there in years.  It was very busy, well compared to how I remembered Springburn.  It's a nice rolling course and can be fast.  But due to my lack of running in the previous weeks it showed and I came in just under 32 minutes. 2 minutes faster than Queen's the previous week mind.  Stuart and Richie had great runs and all in all another great wee road trip.