I have just discovered Park Runs and although there isn't one in Doncaster,i travel to Hull every saturday and its well worth the 40 minute journey.An absolute pleasure to run in this well organised event. The people are very welcoming and friendly.Everyone should try it....I was amazed when i found that about 250-300 people run it every saturday....
All park runs as far as I know have chip timing.
Oh well there you go...... as good as though lol.
I am going to do one after Reading HM ........ if only to see where I fit in amongst the 5k'ers.
david when i pb'd my marathon.i did 3 park runs a month as my speed work...smashed my 5k time and then my marathon time..
best races around i think....
Millsy1977 wrote (see)
No they don't have chip timing. But they do time you via your barcode thingy but the times are from when the gun goes to when you cross the line. They are good fun though.
You get 2 types of chip. Chip to chip, which is the best version, and the crapper, gun to chip, which only seems to suit organisers.
So the park run is the equivalent of the gun to chip option.
its a free race....you can always record your own time
I'm not sure how big some parkruns are, but generally if you're only dealing with 50-100 people you won't lose much over the start line.
Unlike these events where people can lose 15mins or so! It's those races where chip to chip is essential.
Gun to chip only seems to help organisers, not the runner! Much cheaper though no doubt!
I would crap myself that Im going to pull a hamstring or something, thats why Im not doing one until after my next HM ....... I would kick myself if I went to one this weekend, did an injury and then thats all she wrote for my HM.
I have volunteered to help marshall my hometown inaugural Parkrun next month, the only obvious downside to this is I can't run it myself. Rumours that as the sweep up runner I will be issued with a taser have proved sadly untrue
It does seem from the little involvement that I have had so far that Parkrun as a phenomena is growing rapidly. Hopefully in a short time this will reduce the travel time most people have to endure to get to one.
They may not be perfect but as a free event I think we should appreciate them whilst they are here.
GRAHAM PLOWRIGHT wrote (see)
Hmmm travel time.
I'll see your 40 minutes to the nearest parkrun, and raise you 10.
Nearest parkrun to me is Cambridge, 50 mins, and Ipswich 54 mins.
we are hoping to start up a new one in Glasgow soon (the original Glasgow one is nearly full to capacity.
great events.
do other ones really have chip timing? not at any i've attended.
I've done 7 since they started near me in November. I have to say they have become quite addictive, testament by the fact that some runners have completed well over 100.
Great for a tempo run if you do a lap beforehand and a cool down after.
What I found best was that it made me race-ready for the HM I did last weekend. Having "raced" every other weekend I was no longer tempted to get caught up in the early dash at the start of the 13.1.
i do a lot of long, slow miles (ultra runner) so I find them a good sharpener. get the old heart going.
seren nos wrote (see)
david when i pb'd my marathon.i did 3 park runs a month as my speed work...smashed my 5k time and then my marathon time.. best races around i think....
Seren - that sounds like a really good idea, did you just try to race them as fast as poss or incorporate intervals/tempo work into it? Just curious
