At the start of the year I set myself 4 PB challenges for this spring/summer.
5km at parkrun, 5 miles, 10km and half marathon.
A few weeks ago I completely unexpectedly got myself a new parkrun PB. That was number 1 of 4.
Last weekend it was the turn of the half marathon. Seeing as I am only entering the one half marathon this spring, it was an all or nothing attempt to stick to the plan for 4 PBs.
My history with the half marathon is chequered to say the least. I have always thought that the half marathon was just a bit too far for me and I had only done 2 before last Sunday.
My first was the ill fated (for me) Great North Run in 2004 where I ran too fast and ended up being carried over the line and straight into the medical tent with severe dehydration, then suffering memory loss before being transferred to hospital. Not a great debut.
My second was the Coventry half marathon in 2009 where it was purely about laying demons to rest. I set my PB of 1:33:47 that day.
This time round I felt sure of a PB, was confident I could go under 1 hour 30 minutes and to be honest I was aiming for 1 hour 25 minutes and felt confident I could do it.
There was a little panic after the car parking fiasco and I had to run from the car to the start line via toilets and the baggage area. I then had to dodge between a couple of thousand runners to work my way near to the front in the third row. This was the furthest forward I have ever placed myself at the start of a big run but common sense told me this was where I now belong.
I started comfortably, holding back really, but it was still only just over 6 minute mile pace by 2 miles. I was running with my brother and a friend and we then forced ourselves to slow to closer to 6:30 minute miles for the next 3 miles to ensure we didn't run out of steam.
By mile 6 I was like a coiled spring and was desperate to pick up the pace. The other two clearly weren't up for that and after them telling me to go for it a few times and a 10 metre gap opening up after a water stop, I decided that was the time to make my break.
I was probably in around 30th place at the time and my sudden step change in pace back down to 6 minute miles saw me quickly start catching and passing other runners.
From 6 miles on I basically ran the half marathon alone apart from catching and passing runners. At least I knew the cheers and clapping from the spectators was all for me as I went passed on my own.
I used a technique I haven't used before where all I thought about was aiming to be as close to 6 minutes for each mile. Other than being sure I was ahead of 1:25:00 pace I didn't think too much beyond a mile at a time.
I also decided fairly early on that I was going to maintain the same pace to the finish. I was really enjoying my run, I was ahead of schedule and I didn't fancy a fast finish over a number of miles purely to gain another minute when I was already on for a huge PB. The upshot was that I loved every minute of it and ran at a comfortable pace the whole way.
At around 12.5 miles I caught and passed the lead woman. I always seem to do this near to the end of runs!
As I approached the finish line I saw my wife and kids, which was a lovely way to finish the run.
My finish (chip) time was 1:21:50 for a new PB by 11 minutes 57 seconds and i had smashed even my most optimistic of targets (1:25) by over 3 minutes!
Job well and truly done! PB target 2 of 4 for the spring/summer achieved.
Next up its my first attempt (of the year) at a 10km PB in just 2 weeks time. The 10km will be the toughest of all my PB attempts. I'll let you know how I get on.
Saturday, 23 March 2013
Friday, 22 March 2013
parkrun registrations this week...22nd March 2013
There is still a little time for new registrations this week, but at the time of writing and compared to the figures in my post this time last week....
Totalling up new registrations across parkrun globally, shows that parkrun has attracted a further 4,692 registrations in a week.
This takes the total number of global parkrun registrations (according to my official source page on the parkrun website) up to 470,690 (up from 465,998). That is a growth in total registrations of over 1% in a week.
As far as I am aware, there are 2 new parkruns starting this weekend:
Cross Flatts parkrun in Leeds and Llyn Llech Owain parkrun near Gorslas, Wales
For the fifth week running Marlay parkrun is at the top of the charts with the most new registrations this week.
Just 5 different parkrun events have added 50 or more new registrants this week and they are:
No great surprises in the "largest parkrun in the world" (by total registrations) category this week, where it is still the same top 5:
Richmond parkrun is now less than 100 away from being the 6th member of the 10,000 registered runners club.
And at the other end of the spectrum (with the lowest number of registered parkrunrunners), but just as worthy of a mention (as these are new or future parkrun events) we have:
These are 5 new parkruns appearing in the list with registered runners for the first time. It's always great to see new/future parkrun events appaearing in this list.
Totalling up new registrations across parkrun globally, shows that parkrun has attracted a further 4,692 registrations in a week.
This takes the total number of global parkrun registrations (according to my official source page on the parkrun website) up to 470,690 (up from 465,998). That is a growth in total registrations of over 1% in a week.
As far as I am aware, there are 2 new parkruns starting this weekend:
Cross Flatts parkrun in Leeds and Llyn Llech Owain parkrun near Gorslas, Wales
For the fifth week running Marlay parkrun is at the top of the charts with the most new registrations this week.
Just 5 different parkrun events have added 50 or more new registrants this week and they are:
| Event | Total | This week |
| Marlay parkrun | 1150 | 149 |
| Malahide parkrun | 3621 | 118 |
| Newy parkrun | 3134 | 115 |
| Nahoon Point parkrun | 2970 | 68 |
| New Farm parkrun | 4935 | 57 |
No great surprises in the "largest parkrun in the world" (by total registrations) category this week, where it is still the same top 5:
| Event | Total |
| Bushy parkrun | 21815 |
| Glasgow parkrun | 13053 |
| Leeds parkrun | 11848 |
| Brighton & Hove parkrun | 10639 |
| Wimbledon Common parkrun | 10240 |
Richmond parkrun is now less than 100 away from being the 6th member of the 10,000 registered runners club.
And at the other end of the spectrum (with the lowest number of registered parkrunrunners), but just as worthy of a mention (as these are new or future parkrun events) we have:
| Event | Total |
| Enniskillen parkrun | 1 |
| Peter Pan parkrun | 1 |
| Big Bay parkrun | 2 |
| Forest Rec parkrun | 4 |
| Fingal Bay parkrun | 7 |
These are 5 new parkruns appearing in the list with registered runners for the first time. It's always great to see new/future parkrun events appaearing in this list.
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
parkrun status of the week...16th March 2013
The parkrun statistics of note for this week are:
215 parkrun events run (up 2 on last week). This is yet another new record number of events on a single parkrunday - we are breaking the record every week at the moment!
24,682 runners, down 3,238 on last week.
The average number of runners per parkrun event run was: 114.8 (down 16.2 on last week).
Just 7 events recorded new record attendances, as follows:
The longest standing parkrun attendance record is:
Amager Faelled 146 28/08/2010
And in the UK it's:
The highest attendance this week was 536 at Bushy Park, far lower than their usual turnout these days.
The lowest attendance this week was just 4 Vejen parkrun.
6 new male course records set this week:
9 new female course records set this week:
60 runners ran times under 17 minutes this week. 5 of these runners ran under 16 minutes.
The fastest parkrunner in the World this Week was Rob Bugden, running 15:25 at Cardiff parkrun.
The fastest 5 were as follows:
242 new category records were set across all parkrun events this weekend.
The top age grade performance this week was:
The fastest freedom run on the "most recent 100" list at the moment is:
215 parkrun events run (up 2 on last week). This is yet another new record number of events on a single parkrunday - we are breaking the record every week at the moment!
24,682 runners, down 3,238 on last week.
The average number of runners per parkrun event run was: 114.8 (down 16.2 on last week).
Just 7 events recorded new record attendances, as follows:
| Event | Record Attendance | |
| Amager Strandpark | 39 | |
| Eglinton | 118 | |
| Launceston | 124 | |
| Mulbarton | 80 | |
| Sandgate | 182 | |
| Wallace | 99 | |
| Wynnum | 162 |
The longest standing parkrun attendance record is:
Amager Faelled 146 28/08/2010
And in the UK it's:
| Waterworks | 215 | 23/04/2011 |
The highest attendance this week was 536 at Bushy Park, far lower than their usual turnout these days.
The lowest attendance this week was just 4 Vejen parkrun.
6 new male course records set this week:
| Athlete | Time | |
| Cheltenham | David ROPER | 16:20 |
| Dewsbury | Jack HALLAS | 15:55 |
| Eglinton | William (Jamie) FINDLAY | 17:30 |
| Marple | Michael COOKE | 16:32 |
| Modderfontein Reserve | Gustav ROOS | 19:20 |
| Mulbarton | Adam C CRASKE | 19:39 |
9 new female course records set this week:
| Event | Athlete | Time |
60 runners ran times under 17 minutes this week. 5 of these runners ran under 16 minutes.
The fastest parkrunner in the World this Week was Rob Bugden, running 15:25 at Cardiff parkrun.
The fastest 5 were as follows:
| Event | Athlete | Time | |
| Cardiff | Rob BUGDEN | 15:25 | |
| Newy | Scott WESTCOTT | 15:40 | |
| Dewsbury | Jack HALLAS | 15:55 | |
| Princes | Douglas ROBERTS | 15:57 | |
| Norwich | Piers ARNOLD | 15:58 |
242 new category records were set across all parkrun events this weekend.
The top age grade performance this week was:
| Event | Athlete | Time | Age Group | Age Grade | |
| Southampton | Lucy ELLIOTT | 18:05 | VW45-49 | 89.59% |
The fastest freedom run on the "most recent 100" list at the moment is:
| Runner | Date | Location | Run Time |
| Phil ABBOTT | 17/03/2013 | Colwick | 00:19:12 |
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