Back to Parkrun

I quite like the idea of Parkrun. It’s amazing how many people it gets into running. But I don’t like the practicalities of doing it myself, under my current circumstances. So I hadn’t been for many years. 

The nearest Parkrun, and therefore the most obvious one, is the one at Penrhyn castle. But that’s on the outskirts of Bangor. I bike to Bangor all the time for work! I’m not so keen on doing that very route on my free Saturday. 

I could drive, of course, but I have issues with that. It seems rude to drive when I can obviously bike it.  And The problem isn’t solved by going to a different run, because these are all too far away to bike, and then you are driving for more than half an hour there, and more than half an hour back, when you only run for some 20 minutes. That doesn't sit right with me. 

One Friday I decided I would give it a go anyway. It suited what I would be doing the rest of the weekend. And the weather was nice. So biking that commute a little bit more would at least be pleasant. And I was surprised that I had managed to dig out a barcode from my archive.

I got there and locked my bike. I had a last toilet break and then headed for the start. I wasn't quite sure where to place myself. These Parkruns have become so big! The last time I ran it, I seem to remember we started in the courtyard. We definitely started in the courtyard one of the two times I did it. Nowadays that is impossible. Way too many people! And many of them are not very fast. The average time is 30 minutes. I am considerably faster than that. I just had a stab at it and lined up.

Coming to the grand gate of the castle

Suddenly a familiar face appeared. Liberty, one of our students! She was back! She had been out of running for a while for reasons of an injury. It was great to see her back in action. She said she was going to be slow, but at least she was back! Then we started. I immediately realised I was too far at the back. So many slow people around me! It took me a while to wrestle myself further to the front. And it was so busy, and in places the path isn't very wide, that it was difficult to pass people. I suppose in a way, it is a victim of its own success. But there was nothing at stake so sometimes I just hung back.

At some point I realised I was overtaking the guy I call my almost-brother: Steffan Sayer. I call him that because at the Nick Beer race, the organisation asked me if we were related. That was a bit of a stupid question; they have our names written down, so they could see the difference. But almost all Brits pronounce our names in the exact same way. And he is an incredibly strong runner. I will never overtake him again I'm sure!

I ended with a sprint finish. I could hear someone behind me trying to overtake. It was someone I had overtaken in the last few hundred meters. I was not going to let him get past! And in front of me was some bloke I almost overtook in my enthusiasm to outrun the person behind me. And we ran over what I thought was the finish, but then someone encouraged the bloke, and I thought that maybe the actual finish was a few meters ahead. I made sure to cross that first. He did get his token before me! I hope that means what I initially thought was the finish indeed was, because otherwise he jumped the queue.

When I had been scanned I went back to see if I could cheer on Liberty, and I could. She also come in with a sprint finish! I think she is back. And we had a little chat by the finish. She even said that it had been my talking about running that had inspired her to start as well. I didn't know I had so much influence!

Then we each when our way, and I biked back in the gorgeous weather. It had been a nice start of the day! And I later found out I had done it in 22:15. That was good enough to be 3rd woman. Not bad! Although I know I can be much faster; during the last Border Leagues race, I managed it in 20:33, as part of an 8k race. And that course was flatter, but, of course, I had to keep that speed up for 3 km longer. I also have done it faster in a whole array of 10k races, but some of these are pretty much 5k uphill and then 5k downhill, and I can guess in which part I then do it that quick. Either way. If I do it again, I want to beat my own time! Obviously.

In spite of this opportunity to get competitive with myself I am not going to make a habit of this, but I might as well do it a bit more often on days when getting your exercise out of the way in the morning is a good idea. And next time I will be more ambitious and start further to the front!