Noticed a couple of weeks ago that I had a new Nendy. Penistone had been my 'next to do' for so long, having one over in Staffs certainly made me take a second look. I was planning on doing it a couple of weeks ago, but being the saddo that I am, I noticed on the 5k app that I was missing an '8' so waited to have a pop.
Another bonus was that running this meant that I had completed my Half Cowell today (50th different parkruns) which I had been looking to do for quite a while as I am, at heart, a very lazy tourist, 45 minutes being around my limit to tour.
I ran Alexandra parkrun last week under 22 minutes and wanted to do the same this week. I've made the mistake before of pre judging 3 lappers as being a bit repetitive and maybe not something that would pull me in, but wanted to have a look as the video I had seen of the course looked quite flat with one slight small up bit.
It was cold when I left home this morning and when I arrived at parkrun, it was a lot colder. Clouds had come down, it was drizzling and a proper February morning.
I parked up just by the changing rooms (toilets are open) and made my way past 'The Nags Shed' (brilliant name Rodney) coffee van and to the start. The wonderful volunteers had invited runners to bring donations for local victims of domestic violence. A wonderful initiative and something that epitomises the essence of power of parkrun, when I passed it, the table was already full of donations.
184 athletes braved the weather this morning and I was working out whether to warm up by jumping up and down with my coat or be a soldier, take it off and do a lap or two around the 400 metre all weather track. I finally decided to put my big boy pants on and take a bit of a trot around. By the time I got back we began to make our way over to the start for the briefing.
Now I have done around 530 parkruns but none has been conducted so well as by today's Run Director, Rdward he was only 12 years old but he was funny, had a great connection with the crowd, had all the info and held our attention, which was really hard to do considering how cold it was and we all wanted to go. You've got a future in TV my friend !
I had the advantage of knowing the course as I had watched someone's Youtube capture of it Birchall Playing Fields parkrun #2, so I knew that you had about 400 metres on the track to get yourself in a decent spot as the 3 laps of the paths after that looked like it could be tricky to pass.....Let's see
Starting where I did, near the front, was a good idea, there wasn't that many people there but nonetheless it gave you a great opportunity to try to position yourself with runners of a similar pace as you. That way when you get to the narrow paths you have less people to get past.
This is a deceptively fast course, the cinder type track is easily runnable and the paths and are either flat or have gentle gradients. There's one hairpin turn and a short section on the grass, but on days like this, when it's not muddy, it's very runnable which means that there is no problem is passing people, same pace or slower than you. I lapped some folk and all it took was a quick detour onto the grass and then back onto the path again.
When you complete your third lap you finish as you started with another lap of the track. This was my favourite part of the course as you can put on a sprint and try to drop (or not be dropped by) the people next to you.
I somehow managed to finish in 19th place in 21.56. Now bearing in mind I ran a very flat Alexandra Park last week in 21.49, shows how fast the course is.
Taking into account, the team are in the very early stages of their event and are learning on the job, it ran like clockwork. The first timers briefing was very personable, I've already mentioned Edward as RD and all the marshals were stereotypically helpful and enthusiastic. Wherever I've been in parkrun land these brilliant people always make my favourite running event what it is. Thank you.
Now coffee is an integral part of any parkrunning tourism experience. Luckily my coffee addiction was satisfied by the great coffee in their own van in the car park. The Nags Shed, a local company, already has seemingly developed a great partnership and as I was driving away I could already see a queue forming.
I drove home in the post parkrun high. I really do love my Saturday morning fix and Birchall is
a very welcome addition to the field.
Looking forward to a return in the summer to break my PB.
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