New parkrun pb

Not sure where it came from this morning.

Didn't feel great when I woke up - so a couple of Ibuprofen along with my cuppa when I woke up.

Turned up at the allotted time thinking I would just go for my usual plod round the park.

Met a friend - had a chat - he gave me several power beans - was told they are jelly beans for runners - tasted OK.

Got stuck behind a small dog on a lead which was weaving all over the path.

Put on my usual attempt at a spring finish and was amazed to see a time of under 28 minutes - 27.55 which is 4 seconds off my previous pb.

There is life in the old dog yet :)  

Saturday parkrun fun

Saturday isn't Saturday without parkrun. If I'm not running then you will find me volunteering.

Today I was tailrunner for the very first time.

At first I felt frustrated as it felt too slow and I really wanted to run.

Then I started chatting to 2 ladies who were at the beginning of their Couch to 5k journey. They were doing great and soon caught up with Dennis.

Dennis has been a parkrun regular for a while now - easily identifiable by his purple pully! He is 66, recently retired and suffering with shin splints. He walked a bit and ran a bit and we had a good old blether. As we approached the finish funnel Dennis suggested a sprint finish. he took my hand and we crossed the finish line together in a time of 45.33 minutes. We had a celebratory hug.

This is what parkrun is all about and I am so pleased to be a part of it.  

Orienteering

Today I went orienteering for the very first time. It was organised by my local orienteering club Moravian Orienteers which just happenens to be the largest orienteering club in Scotland.

But it was also parkrun day (also known as Saturday) so 5k dash around the park dodging the icy bits.

The straight across town to Morriston Park. I was a complete novice so did the easier yellow route and I have to say I was up against some formidable kids!

But I found all the markers (and in the right order too) so I was quite pleased with my time.

In a fortnight there is an event right in town - at night! Need to dig out that head torch.

parkrun day aka Saturday

Best day of the week :)

Love this one too :)

Skywatch Friday

My local park - where most Saturdays I can be found at Elgin parkrun - either running or volunteering. No better start to the weekend.

Pop over to the Skywatch blog for more skies from around the world.

Skywatch Friday

We spent last weekend in Inverness.

We went to a wedding party in the most beautiful hotel on the banks of Loch Ness.

I went Pokemon hunting.

(Infirmary Bridge)

Did a spot of parkrun tourism (and met another RMR at the finish line)

A good weekend.

Please pop over to the Skywatch blog to see more skies from around the world.

parkrun

parkrun (with a small p!)  finally arrived in Moray on 5th March.

parkrun  for the uninitiated is a timed 5k run held every Saturday morning come rain or shine. It is open to all abilities - including pushing buggys, dogs on leads and well behaved children. It is most definatley not a race.

Elgin now hosts the most Northerly parkrun in the British Isles.

A team of volunteers stage the event - I was a marshall on the first corner - and entry is free. All you need to do is register on the parkrun website, print off your barcode and arrive for 9.30am.

We were all amazed when 216 runners turned up for our inaugural event - including a chap who had driven all the way up from Southport!

An amazing write up in the local press.

This Saturday I decided to run - along with 158 other like minded people.

Even though it was raining.

And was chuffed with my sub 30 time.

Roll on next Saturday.

What I Did Today.

No running for me today.

Instead I watched over 140 other people run.

I was at my first ever Parkrun today in Inverness

Learning how to become a Parkrun volunteer.

Ready for when Parkrun comes to Elgin.

Excited.

Muchly.