Well on the whole 2019 has kicked off fairly good. Out of 6 parkruns on offer this month I did all 6.
01/01 - On New years day its double parkrun day. Although to be honest at the start of the day I was only thinking about doing one parkrun as I have not really been doing enough training to manage two. So I turned up to Pollok and gave it a good effort. I did have to walk in my ususal spot but apart from that had a pretty good run and ended up with a time of 31.51.
After the run I got talking to folk who were asking if I was doing the double. And eventually I just thought - well why not! So I drove over to Victoria parkrun for round 2. It was very busy with around 500 runners. I had a good run and was getting faster with each lap. There was a queue to cross the finish line so by my watch I was just about 30 minutes but my actual time was 30.20. Not too far away then.
05/01 - Next up was a trip across to Ruchill where I suddenly realised I had gatecrashed another Runbetweeners meetup (Although this one I didn't know about! honest lol.) It was good catching up with them before and after the run. The run itself was very good. This was the 7th time I have done Ruchill and this was the first time I had broken 30 minutes. My actual parkrun time was a bit faster than watch time due to the timer being a bit out of sync with the token sorting. But over the course of the year it will balance itself out especially as some of my times have already been slower due to queues at the finish line. But anyway my parkrun time was 29.07 and watch time 29.37. So pleased with it either way.
12/01 - Back at Pollok and it was extremely busy and not far off the record with 596 runners. Again I had a good run and finished round about 30 minutes. But due to the queue at the finish line the timer didnt click me till 30.40.
19/01 - The forecast wasn't great for this day and the previous night it had been snowing. So I thought it would be best to be on the safe side and go to a parkrun with an alternative course. So the chosen one today was Tollcross which I hadn't been to for a while. Turns out it was icy on the main course so they used the alternative. This is 4 laps on the grass and pretty hilly. I really didn't know how to pace it so just took it easy. I did really enjoy this one and it was good to see Jacqui as run director who I knew from my Giffnock days. Also bumped into Doug and his friend who I know from Rouken Glen. I finished this one in 32.14. Reckon I should be going faster than that but hopefully that will come as the year progresses.
26/01 - I had one of those days with this one where it was an achievement just to start the run. I was just not in the frame of mind for it at all. Sitting in my car at Pollok wondering if I should just wait for it to start then drive home. But with about 5 minutes to go I saw my brother and thought to myself I can't not do it now. So got out the car and headed to the start. I caught up with one of the run directors Alan in the first mile. And to be honest for the first couple of miles I was paying no attention to how fast I was going. Apart from talking to Alan my mind was well and truely away with it. Then when I got to the bottom of the glade for the second time I realised I had a lot left in the tank and actually recorded a segment PR for the bottom of the glade to the burrell which was even faster than my brothers time who ran the course 5 minutes faster than me today. I finished in 31.35 realising that I know I am fitter than that time shows but today was just an achievement completing it. With it being on every week your not always going to be at the races every week.
So overall a very good month. I know I went on a bit about timings not reflecting my watch times. I honestly realise that just happens and will do more as parkrun gets more popular. The reason I focus on it is that one of my challenges this year is to try and get my average parkrun time below 30 minutes. At the moment for January my average is 30:58. So I'll just need to get faster and get sub 30s to the point where queueing is not an excuse!
Showing posts with label Ruchill parkrun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ruchill parkrun. Show all posts
Sunday, 27 January 2019
Saturday, 25 August 2018
August update - things are looking slightly up
Well the good news is that my achilies issues are pretty much gone now. Still feel them every now and then but a good stretching session seems to sort them out. Which has meant this month I have gone 4 for 4 from the parkruns available!
4/8 It was only right that I returned to Pollok for my first run back. This was a surprisingly good run as I had paced myself well and for a change I actually ran the whole way at Pollok. Which is something I haven't done for quite a bit. Time: 32.10
11/8 Next up was Ruchill as I try and complete my challenge of running at least 5 runs at all the parkruns in the Glasgow area. This was my fifth at Ruchill and to be honest it is a course I have always struggled with. But today was a different ball game. The first lap was more of a social lap as I got chatting to someone. Then in the second lap we parted and I managed to up the pace and for the 3rd lap I upped the pace even more. Again I managed to run the whole way which is something I have never managed to do at Ruchill. Also I managed to smash my course best for the course with a time of 30.22.
18/8 Plean was next on the agenda. A course I have never done before. I wasn't really sure about how to get there as the buses from larbert and Stirling didn't seem to fit in with the trains to Plean. Not that I expect them too. But when I mentioned it to Campbell at work who lives in Larbert. He was up for coming along too to walk his dog. So Campbell gave me a lift from Larbert station. What a guy! The run itself was enjoyable but tough. It's one of the few courses I have done that is not laps or an out and back. Its basically 3 loops which slightly overlap each other. It has a lot of fun trails. The first part of the course it felt was mostly downhill which meant, you guessed it, there was a lot of up in the second half. I had to walk quite a bit but still enjoyed it. Time: 35.10
25/8 Today it was back to Pollok to do their new alternative course which I have pretty much done before I think last year but it looks like this is going to be the course for quite a while now. Mentally I was going into this run in a bad way as my 2 runs during the week were 1 and 1 1/2 miles and I struggled with both. So I knew this was going to be a struggle as this was now an even harder course. So I ended up walking at least bits of most of the inclines. Half way round the second lap a guy passed me while I was walking and offered encouragment. It gave me such a boost! I still had to walk bits of the remaining hills. But on the downs and flats, in my mind, I was flying. Time 34.10
So really just glad to be back parkrunning this month. Slightly mythed about my fitness as I should really be fitter. Especially as I have been running more since Ruchill and now getting slower. As ususal I need to work on hills so I will try and find some in September.
4/8 It was only right that I returned to Pollok for my first run back. This was a surprisingly good run as I had paced myself well and for a change I actually ran the whole way at Pollok. Which is something I haven't done for quite a bit. Time: 32.10
11/8 Next up was Ruchill as I try and complete my challenge of running at least 5 runs at all the parkruns in the Glasgow area. This was my fifth at Ruchill and to be honest it is a course I have always struggled with. But today was a different ball game. The first lap was more of a social lap as I got chatting to someone. Then in the second lap we parted and I managed to up the pace and for the 3rd lap I upped the pace even more. Again I managed to run the whole way which is something I have never managed to do at Ruchill. Also I managed to smash my course best for the course with a time of 30.22.
18/8 Plean was next on the agenda. A course I have never done before. I wasn't really sure about how to get there as the buses from larbert and Stirling didn't seem to fit in with the trains to Plean. Not that I expect them too. But when I mentioned it to Campbell at work who lives in Larbert. He was up for coming along too to walk his dog. So Campbell gave me a lift from Larbert station. What a guy! The run itself was enjoyable but tough. It's one of the few courses I have done that is not laps or an out and back. Its basically 3 loops which slightly overlap each other. It has a lot of fun trails. The first part of the course it felt was mostly downhill which meant, you guessed it, there was a lot of up in the second half. I had to walk quite a bit but still enjoyed it. Time: 35.10
25/8 Today it was back to Pollok to do their new alternative course which I have pretty much done before I think last year but it looks like this is going to be the course for quite a while now. Mentally I was going into this run in a bad way as my 2 runs during the week were 1 and 1 1/2 miles and I struggled with both. So I knew this was going to be a struggle as this was now an even harder course. So I ended up walking at least bits of most of the inclines. Half way round the second lap a guy passed me while I was walking and offered encouragment. It gave me such a boost! I still had to walk bits of the remaining hills. But on the downs and flats, in my mind, I was flying. Time 34.10
So really just glad to be back parkrunning this month. Slightly mythed about my fitness as I should really be fitter. Especially as I have been running more since Ruchill and now getting slower. As ususal I need to work on hills so I will try and find some in September.
Saturday, 24 February 2018
The February crack
February wasn't as good a month as January as outside of parkruns I only managed 4 other runs. This is mainly down to not being able to work from home the whole month. May seem like a piddly excuse but when I commute to the office its 4 hours travelling a day so it takes it out of you. When I am able to work from home I find it easy to get out as litrally I get changed and out as soon as I clock off. It really does make a massive difference to my running. In saying that the times I did get out during the week were during lunchtimes which I really need to do more.
But anyway in terms of parkruns it's all good as I managed 4/4 parkruns this month which means in the first 2 months I have only missed one which is positive.
3rd February - The month started off really good down at Pollok parkrun. I pushed the pace for starter and I did pay for it in the 2nd and 3rd miles. But I kept going all the way round and even got chatting to a guy from down south explaining the route to him. This one I finished in 30.41 which is my fastest parkrun since October I think.
10th February - After volunteering at junior parkrun the previous week, one of the guys Jack who runs a jog Scotland group called the Runbetweeners said I should come along to Ruchill parkrun the following week as they were taking their group there. I didn't need any persuading and I rocked up to join them. I knew quite a few people since a lot of them volunteer down at Roukenglen too. I had an ok run but still found it tough. Especially on the 2nd and 3rd laps where I took more walk breaks up the hill. But it was good having encouragement on the out and back section from other runners and also the volunteers. 33.07
17th February - Back at Pollok again as I continue to do my "Home" parkrun every second week. This one was a bit weird as the first mile I was really struggling and had to walk just after the first kilometre. But picked up a bit in the second mile. Then I saw Claire, again one of my volunteer buddies from Roukenglen and all of sudden I had a second, or should that be a first wind. We ran and chatted all the way to the finish and even managed a sprint at the end! It was great. 32.44
24th February - Today I went to Drumchapel. A course I do really like as its all trails (gravelly trails) and it is a small, friendly event. I knew how tough the course was and as always I set off easy. On the hills today though I realised I just had nothing in my legs and pretty much walked all of them. I don't know if its my weight or something but I do really need to work on this as it was slightly worrying. I was absolutley fine on the downs and flats and I wasn't out of breath or anything. Its just as if the muscles in my legs were just asleep for the hill sections. I know the only way to improve this is maybe losing some weight and keep doing hills though so will try and make some changes. 34.52.
The thing I have enjoyed most about parkruns this year though is that I seem to be talking to more and more folk before and after, even during the parkruns. Before this year I would speak to people every now and then but this year I have been doing this more and more. Which is a major positive to finish this post on.
But anyway in terms of parkruns it's all good as I managed 4/4 parkruns this month which means in the first 2 months I have only missed one which is positive.
3rd February - The month started off really good down at Pollok parkrun. I pushed the pace for starter and I did pay for it in the 2nd and 3rd miles. But I kept going all the way round and even got chatting to a guy from down south explaining the route to him. This one I finished in 30.41 which is my fastest parkrun since October I think.
10th February - After volunteering at junior parkrun the previous week, one of the guys Jack who runs a jog Scotland group called the Runbetweeners said I should come along to Ruchill parkrun the following week as they were taking their group there. I didn't need any persuading and I rocked up to join them. I knew quite a few people since a lot of them volunteer down at Roukenglen too. I had an ok run but still found it tough. Especially on the 2nd and 3rd laps where I took more walk breaks up the hill. But it was good having encouragement on the out and back section from other runners and also the volunteers. 33.07
17th February - Back at Pollok again as I continue to do my "Home" parkrun every second week. This one was a bit weird as the first mile I was really struggling and had to walk just after the first kilometre. But picked up a bit in the second mile. Then I saw Claire, again one of my volunteer buddies from Roukenglen and all of sudden I had a second, or should that be a first wind. We ran and chatted all the way to the finish and even managed a sprint at the end! It was great. 32.44
24th February - Today I went to Drumchapel. A course I do really like as its all trails (gravelly trails) and it is a small, friendly event. I knew how tough the course was and as always I set off easy. On the hills today though I realised I just had nothing in my legs and pretty much walked all of them. I don't know if its my weight or something but I do really need to work on this as it was slightly worrying. I was absolutley fine on the downs and flats and I wasn't out of breath or anything. Its just as if the muscles in my legs were just asleep for the hill sections. I know the only way to improve this is maybe losing some weight and keep doing hills though so will try and make some changes. 34.52.
The thing I have enjoyed most about parkruns this year though is that I seem to be talking to more and more folk before and after, even during the parkruns. Before this year I would speak to people every now and then but this year I have been doing this more and more. Which is a major positive to finish this post on.
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