Learnt from my mistakes at bedfont lakes last weekend, I had a reasonably early night and kicked myself out of the door promptly to get to the carpark early.
I wasn't the only one, and from a distance this looked like a proper paid race, tents, promos and all.
With only £1.60 in my pocket, I had to look like those afraid of the cold and stayed til 10 mins before the start - to check out the Adidas boost tent, enter a draw to win a trip to Parkrun Sydney (or just Sydney - where I started fun running!)
Many donned marathon talk 26.2 tshirts and of course the 50 and 100 Parkrun tech shirts too - I also donned an orange royal parks half top (2010), with a few of my lilac counterparts (2009) - this wasn't the normal old deer Parkrun. In fact this was my second visit, my first being shortly after it started and I was bored of 'running around the park' per se, and rarely thought about coming back. (According to Marathon Talk podcast , it was one of the lowest attendance Parkruns, I wonder why ;))
A bit of intro by marathon talk hosts Martin and Tom, and the race director, introducing us to the elite athletes - in yellow, and all sub-3 marathoners (for those who were!) , it was good to see them doing this - probably a walk in the park! Double Olympian Liz Yelling was there, and she was going to do about 25 minutes...really?
this parkrun (very well marked and Marshalled) an anti clockwise loop with the inward lap into the wind, painful to endure... And along with me at the starting line, Bushy Park runners, other non-normal ODP runners...ladies runners with a pram with a crying baby...she didn't stop to comfort...(time is everything ! ) . It just wasn't easy. I was breathing hard - wanted to stop but couldn't do it..of course not, it would look stupid...and that second lap itself...I saw a slim girl in a yellow top passing me...yes, it was her! The famous Liz Yelling has just overtaken me! Wow...I'm here running with the elites! I tried to keep up, but it really wasn't my day...the long hours, lack of sleep and poor diet over quarter-end, meant that the only thing I could hope for, is to beat last week's time at bedfont lakes (the unknown #76)...and naturally, I did. 28:28. And within the top 500. An Old Deer Parkrun PB.
I love those emails from Parkrun HQ..and if I had more time on my hands..I would chart it.heres the excerpt:
Congratulations on completing your 14th parkrun and your 2nd at Old Deer Park today. You finished in 421st place and were the 84th lady out of a field of 553 parkrunners and you came 9th in your age category VW(ed: yes a veteran!)..... Congratulations on setting a new Personal Best by 56 seconds at Old Deer Park parkrun! Congratulations on setting a new Years Best time today.
Out of curiosity, I spent a good Sunday morning in bed exploring the stats..looked at my page. Only 14 recorded runs to date. And lacking consistency...
I also clicked on Liz's page..she again, was not so much a frequent park runner and times ranged from 17 to 35 minutes! But this goes to prove that she can run fast, or slow, as she wishes...
I didn't stay for the last person to finish or to be in the lucky draw..it was good to get out and to prove that I'm out of shape...
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Monday felt like the only fine day of the week and I had grand plans of freedom parkrunning at old deer park, on the way home. Kinda expected that to happen..a late finish meant that I did a bit of run- walk part commute to twickenham carrying very little...a nice sunset run across the Thames, twice, and capturing this lovely sunset.
Towards the end of the 4.4 miler...my legs feel activated again. One day, I will make this a 7 miler with a freedom run and a good ole warmup!
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A visit to the gym yesterday saw me visualizing my 2013 goal #1. With my inov8s and a start stop strategy after each kilometre or less..I saw the magical 26:59 at 5.00km with a 1.0% incline. I just need to get outdoors, and keep at it...with a recent weight drop..if I watch my diet and sleep well, and pick a Saturday when I'm in and hit Richmond Park...I would achieve it!
It rained hard outside when I left...am glad I made myself do the detour before heading home to a nice dinner of smoked meats, lentils and rice. :)
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