Just in from 4 miles, 33mins, 8.23 minutes per mile.
24:38 for my 5k, first time under 25 minutes
24:38 for my 5k, first time under 25 minutes
Losing weight/fitness thread
- Thread starter Marshy77
- Start date
Paperboy
Mini Cam
Saturday I did ParkRun and a friend convinced me to do an effort run.
So it was an out and back with a gradual uphill for the first half, went out far to quick and made the turn and basically just held on for dear life
First time under 25 minutes for 5k since the end of 2023 (24:53), also still considerably heavier then back then as well.
Legs where heavy at the end of my round of golf on Saturday afternoon.
Sunday an offroad run with people from the running club. Legs where heavy as you like averaged 10:30 minute miles for 8.5 miles. Misleading average as 6.5 miles where at 9:30 minute miles and two slow miles up a horrible hill and trying to find a path having got lost
So it was an out and back with a gradual uphill for the first half, went out far to quick and made the turn and basically just held on for dear life
First time under 25 minutes for 5k since the end of 2023 (24:53), also still considerably heavier then back then as well.
Legs where heavy at the end of my round of golf on Saturday afternoon.
Sunday an offroad run with people from the running club. Legs where heavy as you like averaged 10:30 minute miles for 8.5 miles. Misleading average as 6.5 miles where at 9:30 minute miles and two slow miles up a horrible hill and trying to find a path having got lost
Swango1980
Well-known member
Parkrun is great, particularly if you want to gauge your running progress over blocks of time.Saturday I did ParkRun and a friend convinced me to do an effort run.
So it was an out and back with a gradual uphill for the first half, went out far to quick and made the turn and basically just held on for dear life
First time under 25 minutes for 5k since the end of 2023 (24:53), also still considerably heavier then back then as well.
Legs where heavy at the end of my round of golf on Saturday afternoon.
Sunday an offroad run with people from the running club. Legs where heavy as you like averaged 10:30 minute miles for 8.5 miles. Misleading average as 6.5 miles where at 9:30 minute miles and two slow miles up a horrible hill and trying to find a path having got lost
Before doing a 6 week running program, I went out and did a full effort parkrun (this is a few years ago), and it was over 26 minutes. After the 6 week program, I went again and was low 20's. And after a further 6 week program, got it down to just over 19 minutes.
Parkrun is a great concept, and is appealing to all sorts of people and what motivates them. If I didn't play golf, I'd probably go every weekend, as I think it is a nice way to start the weekend, feel you've done a good thing by exercising, good community spirit, etc.
Paperboy
Mini Cam
Exactly this, I try and do ParkRun as many Saturdays as I can. Mainly as Saturday I play golf early afternoon.
The support and encouragement is normally but not always brilliant. Trying to get to my 200th ParkRun this year only 20 to go.
Swango1980
Well-known member
Just happened to talk to my director about it, he loves it, and he isn't the fittest. He is on 97 runs now.
He was telling me that the record for the most number of DIFFERENT parkruns by a single person is over 700. That is commitment, like a football fan who commits to following their team home and away every week.
I'm somewhere between 50-100. Done 2 different courses, one of which I only ran once (as I had a club golf match in the area later on), and I only went and bloomin won it. More than half way in I couldn't believe I was running behind the leader, with no one near us. I couldn't break free as I was scared of getting lost, but in the last lap, about 200-400 meters to go, I was confident enough to go for it, and sprinted to the finish.
pendodave
Tour Rookie
True dat.
I hadn't done one since covid, but attended a couple of weeks ago to help my sister celebrate her 100th. I'd forgotten what a great atmosphere you get at the start/ finish.
I did another couple since, but noticed that my time was slower on the second one - I think my body is already afraid of the unpleasant sensation of being truly knackered and is sub consciously dialing itself back!
Like golf, running is all in the mind.
Swango1980
Well-known member
The guy that gave me the running program told me not to run parkruns on consecutive weeks (at least full out anyway). Your times can fluctuate up and down just depending on where you are physically and mentally over shorter time periods, so it is easy to get disheartened (plus, it isn't a good idea to go flat out over your desired race distance when you are training to improve anyway). Hence, the 6 week gap between each fast run. Any parkruns in between, I simply included the parkrun route on my Saturday morning interval, tempo or aerobic training.
I would like to get into it again, although it does clash with my Saturday morning golf
pendodave
Tour Rookie
Interesting.
Though, tbf, I'm not actually doing it as any part of a program. I wonder how much variation is normal, and how much is (say) due to having a coffee just beforehand.
Fwiw, I was about 5% slower (22 to 23 mins) having not previously done any running to speak of apart from the very leisurely trot round with my sister.
I have base level fitness from cycling and wandering around golf courses.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
Random question regarding Parkrun, back when I last did it you still needed your barcode on a printed piece of paper for them to scan. Have they modernised and got an app for it yet??
Swango1980
Well-known member
I guess in early stages, you will generally get faster each run. Although, that will be less to do with improved fitness, and more to do with the fact you simply run the distance more intelligently. First few times you are probably highly likely to push too hard at times, and so your pacing will naturally get better due to experience. And you are more confident you can deal with the pain.
But, from run to run you fitness won't improve by as much as other variable can come into play. As you said, simply what you've had to eat or drink can play a role. What the weather is like, such as temperature and wind direction. Or even what other runners you end up bunched in with. Having other similar paced runners around you can give you that extra drive and push you on compared to a day you are sort of stranded on your own as the race progresses.
But just running a flat out race distance every time will ultimately only get you to a certain pace, and no where near your potential. If you really want to get close to your potential, you need to do a mix of different runs. Long slow runs to purely build aerobic fitness. Interval runs and hill climbing to work on technique, strength, leg speed and recovery. And tempo runs to sustain certain speeds over certain times. It is actually a fun way to run, because you are always doing something different, rather than slogging out a 5K or 10K. And, when you do finally get to your race, it can be quite the feeling to realise how much you've improved over a 6 week period.
Paperboy
Mini Cam
You can download an app called 5k. Will tell you loads of info for ParkRun's you've done and there are challenges to complete on it aswell
I have ParkRun Barcode on my Garmin Fenix 7. So finish run then go to barcode and all done.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
So, sorry, that's a no on there being an actual Parkrun app? But you mean you have a downloaded image of your barcode and they can scan it from that?
Is the app you're talking about the "5k Parkrunner Results" one? Or "Parkrunner: Weekly 5k Results"? Seems like there are a few.
Paperboy
Mini Cam
There are ParkRun app's I've got the volunteer one.So, sorry, that's a no on there being an actual Parkrun app? But you mean you have a downloaded image of your barcode and they can scan it from that?
Is the app you're talking about the "5k Parkrunner Results" one? Or "Parkrunner: Weekly 5k Results"? Seems like there are a few.
On the App store just says 5k - https://www.claytoninds.com/parkrun
Bazz
Q-School Graduate
Smashed a 7 miler out and it chucked it down all the way through, quite enjoyed it tbf. It was my daughter's 4th birthday yesterday and had far too much pizza and cake to celebrate, so needed to work it off. 6lb to go to target in 6 weeks.
Easy 4 miles tonight, 9.57 minutes per mile
Have been asked about doing the Highland Cross in June, 30 miles on a bike and 20 mile run…..
Not sure I’ve got it in me
Anyone got any experience of this type of event…..
Have been asked about doing the Highland Cross in June, 30 miles on a bike and 20 mile run…..
Not sure I’ve got it in me
Anyone got any experience of this type of event…..
Marshy77
Journeyman Pro
Experience of doing it or thinking of a good excuse to not do it?Easy 4 miles tonight, 9.57 minutes per mile
Have been asked about doing the Highland Cross in June, 30 miles on a bike and 20 mile run…..
Not sure I’ve got it in me
Anyone got any experience of this type of event…..
It would be exactly 1 year since I’ve started this ‘journey’ and seriously been the best thing I’ve ever done for myself, I’m feeling like maybe it’s a sign or I’m an idiotExperience of doing it or thinking of a good excuse to not do it?
Swango1980
Well-known member
Not myself, although my work colleague is quite well known in that sort of field, done something like the second most iron man events in the world. He's doing them most weeks, or something else crazy. Like a 40 mile running race last week, he did in five and a half hours (usually on mountains as well)Easy 4 miles tonight, 9.57 minutes per mile
Have been asked about doing the Highland Cross in June, 30 miles on a bike and 20 mile run…..
Not sure I’ve got it in me
Anyone got any experience of this type of event…..
He actually finds Parkrun and 10ks harder, because you have to push into anaerobic fitness as well. He is great at plodding along for ages, 2.5% body fat helps.
Apart from the obvious (train and get fitter), his advice to me is when you get to uphill sections, walk. You don't move much slower than trying to run, and you save tonnes of energy so can easily make it up, and then some.
That's for running, no idea about cycling.
Marshy77
Journeyman Pro
Do it. Nothing to lose and plenty to gain.It would be exactly 1 year since I’ve started this ‘journey’ and seriously been the best thing I’ve ever done for myself, I’m feeling like maybe it’s a sign or I’m an idiot
I've been looking at specific training and weight loss for older guys. Seen 3 specific vids today what a joke, who knew eating less would help you lose weight
what a joke, who knew eating less would help you lose weight 
