Been a while since I posted so thought I'd mix things up with a new format. Instead of going week by week of which parkruns I've done, I'll go over the tourist ones, then any others I have repeated/home runs.
Erskine Waterfront parkrun
The first parkrun I did this year was Erskine waterfront parkrun. This was the first time I did this one and was very handy to get to being just outside of Glasgow so I could drive there no problem and had no issues with parking having arrived around 9am. I hung about in the car for a while before making my way over to the start. This is where I met up with Craig, Douglas, Mhairi and Susan. Got the first timers briefing which was good and lined up to start. Craig and I started off together, but I prompted him just to go for it as I am a lot slower than him. When I met him afterwards, he was grateful as he ran his fastest time in a while getting under 25 minutes.
I settled into a nice pace. The course runs along the Clyde and is two out and backs which is perfectly flat. You get great views of the Clyde and the Erskine bridge. There were 123 runners and although the path was narrow at times there was no problem with overtaking or folk getting in the way each other. I finished in 33.27, not a great time for me for a flat 5k but it did feel comfortable, and I didn't have to walk. Afterwards I met up with the gang and their friend Callum and headed over to Caulders for breakfast.
Hay Lodge parkrun (Peebles)
In the second week of February, I headed to Peebles with the folks to tick off another parkrun. This one was really easy to find heading from Glasgow as the car park is on the same road you come in on, if coming from Glasgow direction. The park is across the road. The course is basically 4 laps, but the two middle laps are the only ones which are the same. The first lap is the flattest and the gentle downhill start means you can go off too quickly and maybe I was slightly guilty of. The second and third laps are the same and go up a hill, which I just walked up. All three of the first laps go along beside the river for parts which was nice and the fishermen were out in force.
The final lap is a shortened lap and the finish is uphill going on to the grass. Even though it was hillier this was my fastest time of the year at that point coming in at 32.58. There were about 70 runners today which is one of the smaller events I have been at recently which is not surprising given the location but still a decent number, nevertheless.
Keswick parkrun
As seems to be tradition in February, my parents and I have a short break away in February and this time the location was Keswick. There were 2 parkruns to choose from in this area; Keswick or Whinlatter Forest. The latter known as being one of the hilliest parkruns in the UK. I opted for the flatter Keswick parkrun. The parkrun is an out and back along a disused railway which is now an excellent walking/cycling path. And the start is at Keswick's disused railway station which acts as a perfect meeting point and if it does get wet it means the volunteers have cover.
At the start their was a special guest who was in town. He was Iranian and directed a movie which was showing at the film festival in Keswick. He was given the task of counting us down to start. But instead of 3,2, 1 go., He said 1, 2, 3 go. There were a few sniggers lol, but job done and off we went. I settled into a slow pace at the start and noticed I was gradually overtaking throughout the first half. The course is amazing; One minute you are going over bridges, next through a tunnel. Then you have the river weaving its way round and beneath you. It's quite a spectacular one really. Instead of having marshals stood along the way, they let the marshals run with the other runners and if they see something happening, they can phone base. There is a marshal at the turn.
I finished in my fastest time this year of 32.33 and enjoyed a nice sprint finish. This was the busiest parkrun I have been to this year with 189 runners in attendance.
Queen's parkrun
So overall in January and February I did 7 parkruns. 3 above then 4 at my home parkrun Queen's. These were back-to-back. I pretty much had the same strategy for all of them. Run the first 2 hills on the first lap, then walk the third hill on the first lap, then walk all the hills on 2nd and 3rd lap. But try and be a bit more aggressive going down the big hill on each lap and run all the flat bits. The result? 35.01, 34.40, 34.42, 34.19.
So nearly a Groundhog
Day in there and improving gradually. My midweek runs have disappeared
again so need to try and get more of a routine going again. Pretty
pleased though to add 3 more locations and have no cancelations which can often
hit during winter. Long may that continue.
