Happy birthday Hanley parkrun
This weekend was the second anniversary of parkrun in Hanley – the free weekly timed 5km run.
I know I blog a lot about parkrun, but it’s the main reason I started running and they do form the majority of the events I run at.
It was also a great opportunity to go back and see some familiar faces, revisit a hilly course and, of course, celebrate afterwards with cake.
As it was the second birthday, the field of runners (over 100 for the first time in two years) was filled with fancy dress ranging from giraffes to supermen.
Although I didn’t get a PB – I blame the lack of hills in my training – I ran my socks off in my new Saving Lives vest I’ll be wearing in my Birmingham half marathon (don’t forget you can still sponsor me!).
Because it was the anniversary, there were a few awards presented at the start, including for the top three men and women across the past 12 months.
This included Stephen Askey, who was the third place man in the points competition but sadly passed away just over a week ago.
His bronze medal and certificate will be displayed at his club, Newcastle (Staffs) AC.
It was great to see all of these people recognised on the start line – but at the same time it reminded me how things had changed since the first event in 2011 when there were 17 runners.
I really had no idea when I set it up that it would attract so many people, change the way they approach running and bring different clubs together.
But under the stewardship of Bryn Holmes and Liz Tideswell, things are pretty much the same. After all, it’s the same course run every week, which is the beauty of parkrun!
To find out more about Hanley parkrun, and to see more photos, visit www.parkrun.org.uk/hanley
Always pushing on
It’s just a month to go now until the Birmingham half marathon, and over the past couple of weeks, I’ve attempted to push myself to get ready – but not in terms of distance.
I’ve always felt confident that I could complete the 13.1 mile distance – after all, I’d comfortably achieved it in the Potters ‘Arf.
But the challenge for this race has something a little bit extra: to get round in less than 1hr 45mins – the equivalent of running a mile every eight minutes.
Realistically, I know part of that is going to come from the fact Birmingham is flatter than Stoke-on-Trent (although there is a hill at mile 10 to watch out for).
But I also need to make my own effort too, which is why I’ve been doing some rudimentary interval training.
It’s not been hugely scientific – just run hard for 90 seconds with a three minute recovery jog – but I’ve really enjoyed it and hope it’s going to benefit me.
I’ve been really pleased with my speed as well; yesterday my times were all under 6:45min/miles, with the final one under 6 minute miles.
(Note: Split 10 started under Edgbaston tunnel meaning no satellite signal, hence a slightly slower time, and why I’ve discounted it from the above sentence.)
I might not running like that come 20th October, but if it means I know I’ve got something left in my legs for the final mile, then it’s worth it!
Don’t forget: you can sponsor my run, with money going to Saving Lives, a HIV awareness charity. Just visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/tommyrunning
All work and no running makes Tommy…
The last few weeks have been very light from a running point of view. And when I say light, I mean non-existent.
Since the National Lottery Anniversary Run (which was four weeks ago), I’ve done exactly two runs – one parkrun in Hanley, and one mid-week run.
I’ve had a slight niggle in my knee (which has calmed down now) but I’ve also had a few stomach pains as well. Believe me, running when your gut isn’t up to it is not fun!
So at the moment I’m on a range of pills trying to sort me out – all of this isn’t helping my training for my half marathon.
Ok, so there are still just over two months to get ready but my legs are itching to get going and every time I don’t go for a run feels like a failure.
In fact, as I write this now, I’ve been sent an e-mail from the organisers of the Great Birmingham Run asking how my training is going. I know it’s an automated thing, but shouldn’t they know that it isn’t?
All in all, I just want to go running. After all, I’ve got a 1hr 45min race target to make!
PS: Thank you to those that have already donated to Saving Lives, the charity I’m running for. You can do also by visiting my Virgin Money Giving page.
Sharing the parkrun love
As I said in my last post, I’ve now moved from Manchester to Birmingham.
But in doing so, it’s meant that I’ve had to give up being Event Director of Hanley parkrun, after setting it up nearly two years ago.
It’s something I knew would be coming as I was looking for a new job, but that didn’t prepare me for the effect it would have.
I’ve seen the event grow from the first run we did on 24 September 2011 where 17 runners completed a course, albeit not quite the right one!
In fact on that first day, I had no real idea of what an amazing thing Hanley parkrun would become; I didn’t even have a clue how many people would turn up.
Today, there have been over a thousand different runners completing over 21,000 kilometres. I’ve seen birthdays and anniversaries, plenty of PBs, a few injuries and too many geese.
And most importantly to me personally, because of Hanley parkrun I’ve made plenty of friends and started my own running ambitions.
The regular runners had very kindly put together a photo montage for me from the last two years, as well as arranging cake and cards.
I struggled to say it on Saturday, having to choke back some tears, but leaving Hanley parkrun was the hardest thing about moving.
Hanley parkrun will continue under the leadership of two great runners and people I met through parkrun.
And of course, it’s not the end of my parkrun journey; I’ve got my 50 club T-shirt to get, and I’ll be helping out with events as a parkrun ambassador.
But to all the runners at Hanley, thank you for sharing the parkrun love – you made every Saturday worth it.
Post Potters parkruns
It’s now been two weeks since my first half marathon and my life has been crazy!
I now have a new job which starts at the beginning of July, and as a result I’m moving cities once more, this time to England’s second city of Birmingham.
So as a result of trying to finish one job, find myself a new place to live and pack up my life once more, running has been at the back of my agenda.
Fortunately it’s come at the right time as I didn’t want to force myself after my Potters ‘Arf experience – even if I didn’t ache quite so much as I expected!
But thanks to parkrun, I know that I can run on a Saturday morning – and that’s what I’ve been doing the last few days.
So my first run post-Potters was at Congleton parkrun – a venue that I’ve not yet visited (despite being a parkrun ambassador!).
The course is three laps round Astbury Mere, just outside of the town, which means it’s pretty flat and therefore fast as well.
While I was there, I saw several familiar faces from Hanley parkrun (well it is only 30 minutes away), including Paul & Alene Smith; apparently I’d inspired them to try the course out as well!
Because it was my first time on a flat course, I wanted to see just how fast I could go, even if I was still feeling a half marathon in my legs.
I took the first kilometre pretty steady – around the same time I’d normally do Hanley’s first hilly kilometre – and then slowly ratcheted up the pace.
Because each lap works out at about a mile each, it was quite easy to do some mental calculations to work out how fast I was going.
I do enjoy lap courses as well, as by the third time round, I’d got used to the route, where the trail was a bit more slippery and where I could really push.
However, whilst most people like the lack of hills, I found the flat course a little deceptive; I didn’t quite know quite when to push!
As I approached the finish, I looked at my watch and saw that I was on for a new parkrun PB time – which as I crossed the line was just under 23 minutes at 22:59!
That’s a time I thought was crazy even just a few months ago, let alone when I think of when I started running just over a year ago.
Yesterday I was been back home to Hanley, to run the course one last time before moving to Birmingham.
Arriving at 8:55am, it was the latest I’d ever got to a parkrun, so did a quick jog back and forth to get myself warmed up.
Because of the cloud cover my Garmin couldn’t lock onto a satellite (unless there’s another reason?), so I had to use the standard timer and just try to work it out.
Because it was my last run at Hanley for the foreseeable future, I wanted to just go as fast as possible.
I’ve gained a habit of hiding mid-pack during the start, which is great for passing people but not quite so good for getting into a rhythm straight away.
Nevertheless, I ran the first kilometre as hard as I could, knowing I’d have a bit of restbite coming back down the hill later.
I’ve discussed the course many times before, but today reminded me why I really love parkrun – I could focus on people to run with and try to keep up with them but also cheer on others as we passed each other on the hill.
I felt like I’d really put 100% into it despite the drizzle in the air and the wind, but felt a little disheartened as I crossed the line as I looked at my watch.
I thought I’d run slower than Congleton (which was likely seeing there’s hills) but also slower than my previous best at Hanley.
It wasn’t until over an hour later that I properly looked at my watch and realised I’d misread it – my time was actually 22:39, nearly a minute faster than my previous best and faster than Congleton as well!
It seems fitting that my last run at Hanley parkrun is my fastest – I don’t know if I want to go any faster and take that record away!
Tommy Running 