New course record at Killerton parkrun

Excellent Killerton parkrun this morning with a new course record from Exmouth's Tom Merson, breaking his own record which stood at 15:32 (from July 2011).

Official time not in yet, but somewhere in the 15:20s. 'Blistering' on a course...

... that is scenic rather than really fast.  When can we welcome you to East Devon?

I've changed my mind

It doesn't happen often, so I thought I ought to record it here, but I have changed my mind on something.  Husbando may not believe it is true unless he sees it in print, or pixels, or whatever this is!

Ever since I first started going to parkrun I have been aware of the 'all children under the age of 11 must be accompanied by an adult' rule, but being a very relaxed, laid back mum of 5 children my idea of 'accompanied' is vastly different to the concept as visualised by the mum of many a lone child.  It isn't physically possible to keep all 5 children in my line of sight at any one time and allow them to do anything much more exciting than sitting on a park bench, so my children have grown up with slightly more freedom than a many a child in a smaller family will enjoy.  I make sure that they know where I am, what time they are expected back and what the limits are (in terms of how far they can go, which trees they can climb, etc. etc) and we get along pretty well most of the time.  I have independent, adventurous children who seem to thrive on a system of benign neglect.

When my then 8 year old started coming to parkrun with me we ran together for the first time, so that he didn't get lost, learnt how to deal with faster runners coming along behind him etc. and knew what to do at the finish funnel.  The next week I asked him if he wanted to run with me and he was quite adamant that he would much rather run by himself.  This was fine by me, as I like to treat parkrun as my fast run of the week, and my son likes to run a bit, stop and look at a snail on a leaf, chat to a dog, etc.  But he likes the whole parkrun concept, chatting to people he knows and being part of the parkrun family.

So, when a newsletter came out stating that 'accompanied' meant that our under 11s should be 'within reach' at all times I was not a happy bunny.  Neither was my by now 9 year old.  He didn't want to run with me at parkrun.  We compromised a bit.  I said that if we were at any other parkrun but our home run he would have to run with me, if we were at out home run I would run with him unless we could find someone else he wanted to run with.  This happens quite often - he will run and talk with any number of the regulars there quite happily.

Today, however, the children were at a school fete.  I was on my own.  I thought I might just 'go for it' and see if I could get close to my PB.   My PB has stood since August 2011 and it is time I had a crack at beating it.  I moved closer to the front than I have for a wee while, not right to the very front you understand, I didn't want people thinking I was really making an effort, you understand!   I got off to a good start.  I was running at a faster pace than my PB pace, and it felt comfortable, not as though I was pushing myself to my limit.  I hit the 1k marker in a smidge over 4 minutes and carried on over the field enjoying the feeling of overtaking people for a change.

As I approached the top of a field I was aware of a child coughing near me.  Suddenly I saw the coughing boy stumble, fall and lie on the floor crying.  I stopped.  What else could I do?  I looked around to see if anyone else seemed to be concerned - they didn't.  I asked him if his mum or dad was nearby, he didn't know.  His dad was 'here' but he wasn't sure where.  He was sobbing and it was not easy to understand what he was saying.  If it had been my child (this one was also 9) I would have known if it was going to be OK for him to carry on, but this child was an unknown - I didn't know if he had asthma or something, so decided that the only option was to go back to the finishing area where I could leave him with the marshals.

We walked back.  I got some funny looks from other runners.  At the finish area the child saw his father and the two were reunited.  'Why did you stop him running?' asked the father.  I pointed out that I hadn't stopped him running, he'd fallen over and was crying and upset and all on his own.  The father was quite rude when I pointed out that children under 11 should be with a parent.  As I ran back to join the runners I shouted 'And thank you so much for looking after my child and giving up your run!'  Petty, I know, but there you go!

So, my 5k run became about 1k more than that!  I couldn't decide how to approach the run when I rejoined it - at the very back of the pack.  I jogged along, overtaking a few people, slowing down to chat with friends, stopping to talk to someone at the playground.  As I approached the end of the first complete lap I picked up my pace a bit, as the fast runners were completing their final lap and they spurred me on.  I was tickled to hear comments from runners (who know me well) about how well I was running and how I must be in the top 4 ladies to finish!  I wish!  I looked at my watch and realised that they thought I was on for a finish time of around 21 minutes, if this was my last lap, which would be over 2 minutes faster than my current PB!  I ran past the finish funnel and on to my final lap, still overtaking people all the way.  I ran the last half mile of my run faster than the first half mile so have decided that I probably should have a serious pop at my PB in the next few weeks.

The dad and child had gone by then.  Just as well, as I now had time to really let rip at dad for being so rude!  Parents running with their children is a good thing!  I wish my son liked running parkrun with me - he loves running with me during the week (he just likes to run alone/with parkrun friends at parkrun) and I love running and chatting with him about his day.  After today I am more prepared to sacrifice my Saturday parkrun for my child.

That said, had someone brought my sobbing child back to me I like to think I might have had the good grace to be grateful and not rude to that person!

How parkrun got me running

The start of my running story

While I’ve not always run, running has been there, just out of reach for most of my life. I think all of my family have been runners to some extent at some point, with my Dad being by far the most keen. He’s run a few marathons among other races and has been a long time member of Preston Harriers.

So, with running apparently in my blood, why haven’t I always been a runner? That would be a very good question!

The pre-parkrun and pre-Garmin days

With my job tying me to a computer for most of the time, a few years ago I noticed that I was becoming increasingly sedentary and my weight increased to a lifetime high. I’ve always been quite a spindly thing and my belly was becoming an issue!

I did the sensible, middle-aged thing and joined a local gym, which I enjoyed for a while. I gradually gravitated more and more towards the treadmill, slowly building up to 10km. I certainly wouldn’t have called myself a runner - 10km indoors felt like a hollow victory - I more and more wanted to be running outside.

Tentatively, I started doing short outdoor runs, no more than 2 or 3km. It really felt a lot harder running outside. There were corners, hills, potholes; it rained, snowed and the sun beat down, very occasionally!

To my detriment though, I was running alone with no advice or encouragement, where at times I could probably have used some of each. This was partly on purpose - other runners felt like superhumans. I’d seen them whizzing round the park, running twice as fast as I could have managed or imagined.

There’s also a running mentality in some quarters that I find quite elitist. Its easy to find posts on the internet saying things like, “You’re not a runner if can’t run X miles in less than Y minutes”. I find that very unappealing and it put me off talking to other runners. I shouldn’t have let it though and please don’t make that same mistake.

parkrun!

When my old trainers finally started to cause me problems in late 2010, I popped to a local running specialist shop to get some decent running shoes. It was there that I first heard the term parkrun!

I checked out the parkrun website and found that the Coventry parkrun start line was less than 1km from home. The parkrun ethos seemed right up my street and on the 15th of January, 2011, I turned up for my first parkrun. However, in a somewhat inauspicious start to my parkrun story, I went to the wrong start line, the route having recently changed, so missed the start of the run.

Encouraged by a really friendly marshal, I decided to join in anyway, and the marshal would be my start and finish line. I really enjoyed it and finished in a little over 26 minutes, which I was very pleased with.

I became an occasional parkrunner - not weekly by any stretch. However, gaining confidence with the help of other runs through the week my times gradually improved and I ended the year with a 23:20 PB.

Garmin*

* other GPS sports watches are available

The addition of a GPS watch to my running kit meant that I could finally get my geek on and paw over pace, elevation & heart rate graphs! In all seriousness though, being able to easily log my runs and performance over time was very motivating and with the Olympics hoo-ha in full swing, I challenged myself to finish the year with a sub 20 minute PB at Coventry parkrun.

As it happens, I wish I’d been more careful in my choice of challenge - had it been for 20 minutes or less, I would have done it, but with a time of 20:00, I failed!

The volunteers

The focus I gained with the 20 minute challenge improved my running no end and I became a much more regular parkrunner. I certainly felt more inclined to call myself a runner.

parkrun though, isn't just about the running. Without the fabulous volunteers who stage parkrun at (time of writing), 267 locations every week, parkrun couldn't exist. So, when I'm not running, I'm volunteering - I've had a go at most of the roles now, the most recent being the Run Director role.

Despite initial terror, the great support I got form the Event Director, Jason, as well as the rest of the volunteer team on the day, meant that it went very smoothly and I’m looking forward to next time.

parkrun again

because this is what parkrun is all about

After having gradually chipped away at my PB in early 2013 - down to 19:44 - I arrived at Memorial Park on an unremarkable 4th of May & began the parkrun well. I managed to keep up a good pace into the second and third kilometres, further than usual, and felt good. A lovely thing then happened - a lovely parkrun thing. Somewhere between the third and fourth kilometres, a friend pulled alongside. Ian would normally be finishing a couple of minutes ahead of me, but was recovering from injury and he’d started from the back of the field, taking it relatively easy as he worked his way forward. We exchanged a few words and he and I realised that I had a significant PB within my grasp, so he joined me for the rest of the run, no questions asked.

His words of encouragement were exactly what I needed - I gritted my teeth, dug deep and crossed the line in 19:10, a 31s PB! I was staggered that I’d managed it & really grateful to Ian, who after all, could have just run on.

I've had similar parkrun experiences in the past where marshals and runners, friends and strangers have offered encouragement just at the right time, and that really does make a difference. While parkrun isn't overtly competitive, at least in the race sense, it is about challenging yourself and aiming high, but in a friendly nurturing environment. The support of your fellow runners can help you achieve your goals - and achieving your running goals can give you confidence to go on and achieve goals in other walks of life. I really believe that.

At the end of the day

So can I call myself a runner? For me, the thing that tips the balance firmly to Yes, is that I've recently picked up a running injury. I wear it like a badge of honour. I'm quite foolishly, ridiculously even, proud of it. I have finally landed!

And the only advice I'd offer, if I felt qualified to give it, would be to talk to other runners. You'll find you're not alone in your misgivings and you'll learn a lot from more experienced runners.

That, and don't forget your barcode. #dfyb

Happy parkrunning!