Parkrun Fail

I was really looking forward to Parkrun today – it was my first since moving into the 55-59 age category! 🏃‍♂️💨 Started with my usual routine: a good mobility warm-up and a slow jog to get the blood flowing. 🏃‍♂️💪

Just as I was heading to the start line, I overheard a couple of guys behind me, clearly newbies, trying to figure out how to scan their paper barcodes for the time. 😅 And then it hit me... I hadn’t put my wristband barcode on! 😱🤦‍♂️ 

Too late now, but hey, it’s all part of the experience! 🤷‍♂️

No worries though – my watch said I ran a solid 32:19. ✅ The main thing is, I showed up and gave it my all! 💯
Next time, I’ll remember the barcode! 😂

#Parkrun #FirstTimers #AgeCategoryChallenge #KeepMoving #RunLife #StayActive #UltraAmbition #NoExcuses #Consistency #KeepPushing

🏃‍♀️✨ What Went Wrong with My Parkrun Today?

 🏃‍♀️✨ What Went Wrong with My Parkrun Today?

Two weeks ago, I achieved a new PB of 31:26, and I was feeling on top of the world! But today? Every muscle in my body seemed to be screaming, “Stop!” I finished with a time of 32:51, and my heart rate was far too high. 

           

The weather didn’t help—cold, rainy, muddy, and slippery at @sandallparkparkrun. Plus, I’ve had two strenuous gym sessions this week, one with my brilliant PT @sophiebtye, and I think I might have overdone it. I swear I was using muscles I didn’t even know existed! 💪

Was it the conditions? Am I just tired? Perhaps a bit dehydrated? Who knows! But that’s all part of the journey. It’s about showing up and trusting the process. 

Remember, progress isn’t always a straight line. 🌈

On to the next one! 🏅💖 #Parkrun #RunningJourney #TrustTheProcess

Parkrun PB 🏅

Yesterday, I bagged another Parkrun PB with a massive 30-second improvement! That’s a big jump for a 5k. I’m also really pleased that my heart rate stayed low right until the very end.

I started doing Parkrun's back in 2019 after following the Couch to 5k programme. On my first run, my only goal was to run without stopping, and I wasn’t too fussed about the time. I finished in 35:24. That year, I only managed 3 Parkruns – in May, June, and October – and didn’t return until after Covid in June 2022, when I ran 38:05. Clearly, the lockdowns had taken their toll on my fitness. By the end of 2022, I’d improved to 33:50.

In spring 2023, I decided to work with a running coach (@therunningandmovementhub), and I’ve been getting stronger and stronger with steady improvements every year. It’s been a tough journey, and I’ve definitely put in the effort – running doesn’t come naturally to me. Because it’s often such a struggle, I’ve never felt I could call myself a runner.

But you know what? I am a runner. I might not be the fastest, but I’m out there, improving every time, and that’s what matters. If you’re putting in the effort and making progress, you’re doing brilliantly. Let’s keep going! 💪

#Parkrun #ParkrunPB #Running #Couchto5K #Covid #Running and Movement Hub

Parkrun PB's

Last Saturday I ran our local parkrun with the pacers. The previous week, I ran it in 35:18. My previous PB at the local parkrun was 32:46 from the previous year on 13^th May 23. This time I ran it in 31:56, sprinting past the 32:00 minute pacers to the finish line. It had felt for a long time that I wasn’t improving and sometimes even going backwards! On this occasion, my heart rate stayed low until the very end, and my performance condition, according to my Garmin, was fantastic too. I’ve been training hard, working towards the Carsington Water Half Marathon, which is on the 26^th October in three weeks, so I was pleased that the effort I’ve put in over the last 3 month are paying off. (Thank you, coach Rachael at The Running and Movement Hub for all you help and encouragement 😉). However, something else which may have made a difference is the fact that I’ve recently increased my water intake. I know I don’t drink enough water, but I hadn’t realised how much dehydration can affect flexibility, speed and endurance. When dehydrated, the blood is thicker, and the heart has to work harder to pump it around the body. Therefore being well-hydrated prevents the heart rate and body temperature from rising too much. My heart rate has always been high, and I assumed it was just the way I was!

Today I ran at Clumber Park on their 500^th event. My previous PB at this location was 33:35 on 2^nd March 24, before I injured myself. Today I ran it in 31:55, a huge improvement and without the assistance of pacers too! 1:40 off a 5k is quite a lot. I was pleased that last weeks PB wasn't just a one-off. I'm starting to believe I can do this 😊

 Before                After

   Before              After

#progress #hydrationiskey

Hill Repeats

Last week I was doing speed intervals on the flat, today I've been doing hill repeats. After a warm up and an easy jog I arrived at my hill (see photo). Starting about half way up, I had to run for 30 seconds up as fast as possible and then walk back down for a minute, repeating that 10 times. Not so long ago I couldn't have run up a hill at all, so I was pleased to find that I could actually sprint up a hill. I'm not saying it was easy, I was tired at the end of it and glad to get it over with, but I still managed an easy 10 minute cool down jog afterwards. My heart rate which is always high wasn't too bad considering what I was doing, with a max of 183bpm (I can get it up to low 190's doing a Parkrun!). My legs were definitely the weakest link.

#firelighter #fitness #heartrate #parkrun #running #training #hillrepeats #sprinting #runningandmovementhub #coach #speedintervals

Staying on the path

At the moment I'm struggling to keep up with the training which is a shame as I was progressing well.

The first hiccup was the car breaking down whilst on holiday - after trying to get it repaired at short notice we had to make the difficult decision to scrap it and buy another.  Sorting all this out took quite a bit of time and I was without a vehicle for a few days - so I couldn't get to the Parkrun. To be honest I was quite tired and it was very hot and humid, so I missed a few other training sessions. On the way home from the holiday we decided to visit some friends and relatives who were on-route, so missed another Parkrun and a training session.  

When I got home, I had a few nights in my own bed then I've had to move in with the mother-in-law for a few weeks while she recovers from a hip replacement operation. Then 2 weeks later my sister in law is having a hip replacement and will also need support. This may mean that my husband and I will have to be in two different places which isn't ideal.

Despite the car issues, I had a fantastic holiday - after all problems and inconveniences are part of life and can't be avoided.  .....and looking on the bright side, at least it's not me having the hip replacement!

#hipreplacement #Parkrun #scrapcar #holidays #that'slife

Parkrun PB

Woohoo! Today I got a Parkrun PB of 33:47.  I'm away on holiday so did the Parkrun at The Eden Project - it's not a flat course either so I'm well pleased. Hopefully I can equal or improve on it when I get back on my home turf. An added bonus with doing the Parkrun at The Eden Project is that you can stay and look around afterwards for free 😁

Shoes

For running shoes, I always used to buy Asics then I discovered Hokas.  I don't know how or why, but I swear they make me run just a little bit faster.  However, due to the very muddy Parkruns I've had to buy some new shoes that are just for the gym and chose some Brooks.  I'd not heard of Brooks before but they are perfect for treadmill running.  I bought them from a lovely running shop, Metres to Miles tucked away in Epworth along with some long Ronhills for those long cold runs.

I'm assuming that I will run the actual Firelighter race in the Hokas but maybe they will be worn down by then.  I'm not sure how many miles a pair of shoes will last, I've certainly got a lot of miles to run before the 1st September!

Parkruns

There aren't many things that will make me get out of bed on a weekend, but I do make the effort to join our local Parkrun.  Although, sometimes I wonder why I do it when its cold and wet - and I oftern get passed by 5 year olds and 80 year olds!  The last 3 Parkruns have been very muddy which slows me down quite a lot and one week my feet got wet 😒. Thankfully the course has been altered a bit to avoid the worst bits.

I've just completed my 25th Parkrun in a time of 36:26 which is 7.29 mins/km.  My fastest time is 33:50 (assisted by the pacers) and my average (mean) is 36:03. I think these times aren't good but I did come 3rd in my age category of VW50-54.  Although this time isn't very fast it is still faster than I need to complete the Firelighter which I'm aiming for 8.48 mins/km which will give me around 50 mins spare time for checkpoints etc.  I hope that will be fast enough to complete the 57.2km challenge within the 9 hours time 😬

Training Programme

I've been given a couple of books by relatives who have run marathons in the past.  The training programme I've chosen is taken from the book Marathon! by Jeff Galloway, its even a signed copy!  Various programmes are outlined in the book and the one I've chosen is the "To Finish" Programme which requires running 3 times per week.  For me, that means doing one 5k at the gym on the treadmill, one 5k parkrun and one long slow run each week.  I've also had to extend the programme to meet my 57.2km goal rather than a marathon goal of 42.195km.  

    Original "To Finish" Programme

My Programme: