parkrun #54: Winchester

Ho Ho Ho-rray for Christmas Day! And, just as important, time to head down to the parkrun I’ve been saving up all year. Winchester – which was my first ever parkrun, and the one closest to my parents.

The course does three laps round the leisure centre grounds, and is completely flat with the odd hairpin bend taking you on bridges over the river and back on yourself round a line of trees. It’s mostly on grass, which can get very squelchy at this time of year. It’s not too bad at the moment, but last year got so waterlogged that they had to change to a 6-lap tarmac course through the winter months.

I finished in just short of 26 minutes, which is a fair bit faster than in previous weeks. (I think that knowing the course makes a big difference.) Even better, I beat my brother for the first time ever. (He has admittedly been on crutches for the last six weeks, and didn’t expect to be able to run at all.) See results.

There was a Secret Santa at the end of the run. After being instructed by my mum to ‘look carefully at the presents you’re putting in and make sure you don’t take the same ones out again’, we left the run one woolly hat, lego elephant and tub of marshmallows richer.

Thanks very much to the volunteers, to run director Tim for your shout out in the run brief, and to all at Winchester parkrun for your generous donations on the JustGiving page.

I’m doing a different parkrun each week of the year to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK. Please head over to my JustGiving page if you’re able to help out.

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parkrun #50: Salisbury

Salisbury parkrun was a lot of fun. There was a big fitness class style warm-up, loads and loads of encouragement out on the route, and cakes-a-plenty at the end.

The course weaves round the park for four laps, and (in my mind at least) is split into several different zones. There’s Boom Box Corner, Football Rattle Fanzone, and my personal favourite, Inspirational Quote Straight, which had a whole series of placards giving advice like ‘first or last, you’re a winner!’

I ran round with the 27 minute pacer, noticing on my way round that the tail runner was wearing a tail, and that there were a couple of run-walk groups (led by volunteers who alternated between running and walking). It’s worth mentioning that Salisbury is specifically advertising for more people to join them to walk the course. There’d then be the option to join a run-walk group, or stick with walking to build up fitness.

A big thanks to the volunteers for laying on such a cheery and upbeat event. And thank you to Vasen for the invite and for bringing so much birthday cake!

I’m doing a different parkrun each week of the year to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK. Please head over to my JustGiving page if you’re able to help out 🙂

parkrun #44: Fareham

I got a great welcome at Fareham. Thanks very much to Julie for the invite, run director Liz for the mention in the run brief, and everyone else for being super-friendly. I was here with my brother Peter, and his girlfriend Mariel as our number 1 supporter.

The course is a flat out-and-back along the river estuary and out to the edge of Porstmouth Harbour. You have the water on one side (complete with yachts), and a golf course on the other. We picked a good day – it was really pretty in the sun and there was lots to look at.

It’s a quick course. I wasn’t feeling too fast, and was aiming for something around the 30 minute mark, so was pleasantly surprised to finish in under 27. Peter also had a good run, getting his fastest time so far this year (see results).

They’ve got a good little set up at the end, with tea and coffee at the Cams Mill pub, which is right at the finish line. Such a good set up that I overstayed my parking slot by quite a long way (but fortunately got away with it).

I’m running a different parkrun each week of the year to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK. Please head over to my JustGiving page if you’re able to help out 🙂

 

(The sun was very bright – this was the best we could manage)

 

 

parkrun #40: Eastleigh

Now I don’t like to pick favourites or anything…

 

…But Eastleigh is my favourite.

 

My favourite because it’s super friendly and encouraging. There are about a million volunteers with important jobs like ‘pompoms’, ‘final lap bell’ and ‘sweetie distributor’. Which really do make a big difference! And the runners are really supportive and chatty as well.

The course winds in a wish-bone shape round 3 laps of a disused golf course. It’s undulating and run entirely on grass, which is a bit on the uneven side and gets very sludgy over winter. (At the start of the year I think they were recommending football boots…)

I ran round with my friend Beth, who was on her first parkrun. We did a run-walk-run job of it, and finished in just under 40 minutes. Beth had imagined that the parkrun was a group of about 10 very serious lycra-clad men, and was surprised to find that over 200 people turned out to run ‘in Eastleigh?! While I’m normally asleep?!’.

Photo credits: Lily Coull (Thanks!)

 

My mum, dad and brother, who live in nearby Winchester and Southampton were also there. My parents both got personal bests, and my brother got a personal worst, having turned up a bit late and missed the start (see results).

Many thanks to the volunteers. And congratulations to Beth. I’ll be recommending Eastleigh to everyone I meet!

At the finish

 

I’m running a different parkrun each week of the year to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK. Please head over to my JustGiving page if you’re able to help out 🙂