30th of September and 7th October saw me at Jersey Farm two weeks in a row. The first one was my 330th parkrun and I ran with Dad, enjoyed it, and found out that there is no such thing as too much green. (I had on new green leggings, my 250 top and various green accessories).
Tea at home with Mum after, and drinks from the OH Sunday run, green leggings and finish token.
I had also started getting back into going to the Sunday OH runs. These are relaxed affairs, a sort of “how far does everyone want to go?” attitude which I love. We have done a similar route a few times, out and back or a lollipop shape ending by Sustain Coffee in Hatfield, a vegan independent coffee roaster and cafe. Sadly no chai latte but they did do a hot chocolate which was frothy and creamy and delicious, perfect after a run.
The second weekend was parkrun’s birthday, but Jersey Farm didn’t seem to do anything to mark the occasion. I am sure the 20th will be a big event next year. Again, I ran with Dad, we enjoyed the summer route and the autumn sunshine- I was still in sunglasses for both weeks (a decision I have to make at home as I don’t want to leave my actual glasses in a bag and have the risk of them going missing by mistake or being squashed etc).
I enjoyed looking back on some of my parkrun memories- obviously I’ve not been a parkrunner since the beginning, but I did start in 2013 so that’s ten years now. I am so lucky that my dad enjoys it (and got me into parkrun) as I am sure we see each other more than we would do. It’s so varied in that we can pop along to Jersey Farm, walking there and back together, or we can tour and visit somewhere new, maybe with my mum in tow to join us in the cafe after. If I’m away I can visit a new parkrun and it won’t impact the weekend as I am back for breakfast, and of course we have all the fab milestone and arbitrary celebrations with friends and family.
September brought with it lots of parkrun celebrations with my lovely running club. On the 9th September we had a fab club meet up at Westmill parkrun for a 50th and a 200th parkrun. It was my 6th visit there but I’d not been since before the pause (not since September 2019), so the route was a bit different, still being two laps but starting at the top of the hill (and finishing there) rather than part way down the hill.
It’s a very hilly route, with steep downhills as well as steep uphills, but it is so pretty as you have views across the countryside from the top, and then at the bottom you run alongside lakes. Definitely a course to take in the views and not worry about the times.
Check out the gorgeous flags at the start! You can see the start and finish views in the photos too.
Once everyone had finished, we headed to the cafe, my first visit there. It was a super hot day and we were very thankful for the water being supplied to everyone. I didn’t have anything to eat as from what I could see there were not any vegan options, but I enjoyed a catch up with loads of our club before coming home. A little bit of geekery- if I visit Westmill one more time my P-Index will go up to 7 (as I have been to 6 events 6 or more times so it’s currently on 6, but as 6 of those I have also been to over 7 times, once I’ve been to Westmill 7 times I will have been to 7 different parkruns 7 times or more).
We didn’t have much time before the start for the photos as some people only arrived at 5 to- I really wanted the pink and green vests spread out evenly because it just looked wonky!Someone amazing in the OH ladies had even made them custom tops but as it was so hot they had to wear them around their waists instead.
Of course another customised top!
The following weekend we were at St Albans parkrun, for a club mates 150th! (And yes that and 200 is not an official milestone but who needs an excuse to celebrate?) At 28:23 it was my fastest of the year so far- I ran with Dad and we enjoyed chatting and then pushing on a bit on the third lap. We couldn’t stay for the Waffle House celebrations but we did have a lovely time with everyone- as it is three laps we passed (and were passed) by lots of OH ladies (and hangers on as the partners/ Dads/kids are known as). These celebrations are just so great and a reminder of what my running club is. Yes it’s a running club, but it’s more social and so supportive.
Are you in a running club? If so, do you enjoy celebrating achievements together?
The race was at 5:30pm, so after volunteering at parkrun in the morning, I had a fairly relaxed day before Dad picked us up to head up in the evening. The event HQ had parking close by, and you could pick up your number from the event village before it started- all the relaxed vibes that I like.
Thankfully, although it was warm, it wasn’t the hottest day (that came the following weekend) so it was pretty good running weather. We had a “before” photo and then headed off.
The route was really good- very flat apart from a few bridges, out along the river, around a big park and lake, and then back along the river. It was pretty congested for the first mile or so, and it took a while for us to get into our stride- you know when you are behind people who are just slightly slower than you, so you spend time overtaking and trying to find a gap?
As it was still so sunny we did enjoy each time we headed into some shade, and I really enjoyed all the views too. I don’t know Bedford very well, but there was loads going on- several kayak clubs, camping, all sorts of activities.
The before picture, scenes during the run, and the race essentials- race clips, parkrun wristband with my ICE number on it, buff, lip balm, face wipes and a hoodie for after.The “after” pic with medals, a ginger and peach mocktail in the pub, sunset views as we walked back to the car.
Dad had 3 goals- to complete it, to run it all, and to finish in under an hour. We came in just over the hour in the end, but managed the other two and enjoyed it. Mum and Andy were in the event village, listening to the band that were playing, so we hung around there for a bit, but decided to go to a pub for some dinner. We’d passed one on the drive in, and then run past the same one during the race, so we went and had dinner there, sitting outside by the river.
An evening race is a bit strange to prep for, but it does mean you can shower and go straight to bed once home!
I really enjoyed the event- Active Training World do lots of local events and they have the same vibe- well organised but relaxed.
Recovery on the Sunday looked like this- a walk around Panshanger with a lovely iced matcha, and then chilling out on the sofa.
Medal Monday! It’s a really nice medal too, with various landmarks on the ribbon.
On the Monday I did a short run (check out the amazing sunbeams seen in the woods), some yoga, and walked to the tip and back via the shops.
After being in Florida for nearly 4 weeks (and being happy to make it to one parkrun while I was out there) it was lovely to be home and back to a parkrun routine. It was Jersey Farm parkrun for two weeks in a row- the first one was a lovely run with Dad.
We ended up being in matching outfits unintentionally (250 tops and blue shorts/crops) so had to get a picture of course. Jersey Farm is obviously a tourist magnet for those alphabet hunters as J is a rare letter, so there is always someone by the sign who you can ask to take a photo for you (and take one for them in return).
It was quite a warm day and I was still struggling to sleep with the jet lag, so we took it easy and chatted (as we so often do) and it was very enjoyable. I couldn’t decide whether to wear sunglasses or regular glasses, and I’m so glad that Dad persuaded me to opt for sunglasses as it got very bright not long after we had left.
After breakfast at my parents, I had some jobs to do in town, and treated myself to a matcha latte from a cafe- it was so good (and so pretty).
The following Saturday we were both back at Jersey Farm again, this time as marshals. For the last couple of years, I’ve got Dad a 10K race entry for his birthday, and this year we were doing the Bedford 10k. It started at 5:30pm on the Saturday, so not a good idea to run parkrun the same day. We both decided to volunteer, and ended up being at a marshal point together. (I had mentioned this in the email as I knew a few of the points had more than one marshal, but of course said we were fine to be at other points if needed).
We ended up being at one end of the park, where there is a track that leads to a house. The “Caution Runners” sign was to warn motorists of the runners, but we were instructed to stop runners and let any vehicles pass. They were only expecting the post van, but we had a couple of vans drive up and back, but when it was quiet. The summer route (that we are on) has an outer and then inner lap, and so the marshal point has to cover both paths during the run. There were 3 of us (we had a lovely D of E volunteer with us too), so after the first runners went through on the outer lap, I stayed with the D of E volunteer, and Dad moved to the inner loop ready for the front runners. They were passing by before the tail walker was at the outer loop, but once they had gone through we were all back together on the inner loop.
I do love cheering on the runners and walkers (even saw some vegan runners- yay). So many of them say thank you (we always do when we run, but you don’t always hear others around you), but a lot of the walkers apologised for being slow- they are not by us for long but I kept saying that they were all welcome to walk the whole way. I really wish this message was out there more because people should not be feeling guilty for walking at these events.
I commented on the parkrun adventurers post about marshalling, and so got a surprise on Tuesday morning when I saw they had chosen my photo for the cover of their podcast that week! Fame at last!
Mum made us a delicious breakfast once home (vegan pancakes with apple compote- made with apples from their friend’s garden) and we met up later for the race (but I’ll post that another time).
This summer we were off to Florida with Andy’s family- there were ten of us in total (including 3 kids) and it was a fantastic, but very different holiday to usual. We were away for several Saturdays, but only had a car for a couple of them. Andy had agreed to drive me to the parkrun once, and so I got to return to Clermont Waterfront parkrun (as I had been there last summer too).
Their facebook page said they would be on the alternative course for that Saturday, but it started in the same place, Lake Hiawatha Preserve which is to the west of Lake Minneola. They start at 7:30am (sensible due to the heat and humidity) and it was around a 45 minute drive away, so we were in the car at 6:30. The main course is an out and back along the waterfront by the lake, on fantastic foot and cycle paths. As we drove alongside there at around 7:10, there were loads of runners out. I had an absolute panic that I had missed the start, worried that they had changed to 7am rather than 7:30, and worried that we had got up early and driven all that way for nothing. Andy noticed that they had bibs on, as I frantically googled the course to confirm the 7:30am start time. It turned out that I did not need to panic, because there was a triathlon taking place on their normal route (hence the alternative course) and so all the runners we could see were doing the triathlon. Panic over. I had time once we had parked to run over to the toilet block, before heading to the start area. They even had helpful signs at the normal start/finish place, directing you over the road, back through the car park and to the alternative start/finish area. (You could see this from the car park, but it was very helpful nonetheless).
Views of the waterfront at sunrise, the park map and the helpful sign showing parkrunners where to go.
The alternative course was two (and a little bit) laps under trees and on trails. You had to watch out for tree roots as they were plentiful, but the route was fairly flat and the paths were packed firmly so it was a nice surface to run on. The shade was very much appreciated- Orlando was having it’s hottest week since records began, being in the low thirties as soon as the sun was up and with the crazy high humidity it was pretty tough to be outside.
Before running, after the panic! And the walk to the lake.
They only had two marshals out on the course- both near the start/finish area making sure people didn’t trip on the edges of the paths. The rest of the course was marked with little flags (the small flags on little wires that are often used on building sites), and it was fairly busy with 143 runners that day. It’s well established (and had celebrated it’s 10th birthday a few weeks prior to my visit), so I thought I could keep the person ahead in sight and be OK. The first lap went fine, and then partway through the second route I realised that I hadn’t seen any of the little flags for a while. The person up ahead had pulled away from me and was not in my view, so I stopped and started to retrace my steps. Two people who were behind me (using my tactic of following the person in front) asked me what I was doing, so I explained that I’d not seen the flags and thought I’d gone wrong. They retraced their steps with me, but another runner ran past in our original direction, indicating that we were on the right track. We then followed him for a bit, before deciding to go back to the last place we’d seen the flags. Thankfully it wasn’t far before I could see runners looping around, but in looking at my Strava after, had I continued I am not sure I would have rejoined the route.
With the flag at the start area, and all the flags in the finish funnel and my token.
As I was coming towards the finish, another runner asked me where to go- she was a bit confused by them telling us to pass the finish line 3 times (as it was two full loops and a bit, and you started a bit further back from the finish, passing it after a few minutes- see the map below). I explained to her to run to the marshal, follow the path around and then go through the finish, and she then put on an amazing sprint to speed ahead of me at the finish funnel! Looking on the results it was her first ever parkrun so I hope she enjoyed it and returns. As I ran through the finish funnel, the lady giving out the tokens asked me where Ellenbrook Fields was (I was wearing my EF vest) and I said Hertfordshire. “Ooh, posh” she replied in a Yorkshire accent, and I realised that I’d spoken to her last year too! I mentioned it to her and she laughed (last year she had asked me and I’d said near London, which usually seems to be enough info for Americans, but she was an ex pat and wanted more info). A bit of a coincidence but also lovely to see that it is a proper community and not just full of tourists.
Even with the getting lost, I somehow managed a course pb of 32:47 (vs 33:58 in 2022). I think the shade really helped! Also, this was a couple of weeks into our holiday and I’d been running regularly around the hotel grounds, so was a bit more acclimatised to running in the humidity, as opposed to last year where it was our first Saturday and I’d not run at all there.
My full up wrist with Garmin, parkrun barcode and Magic Band (needed to unlock the hotel room), flags at the finish funnel and a sweaty face after running!
After finishing, I took a few photos and then walked back to the car to find Andy. I cannot convey how sweaty I got running in that humidity- even my legs were pouring with sweat! Thankfully we had brought a towel for me to sit on (last year I sat on my buff in the car on the way back which didn’t do much!). We always pack little rehydration tabs to take with us to Florida, and I’d added one to some water to take with me, so as Andy drove back I drank it up and gradually cooled down.
Another enjoyable parkrun morning, and with the early start it meant being back super early for a shower and breakfast.
