Well, I am up, and ready, even managed to make a smoothie for breakfast, and drink half a cuppa before heading off to Normans Park for the weekly Park Run. The beginners from our Tuesday group were going to be doing their first Park Run, 3 miles, at their own pace, hopefully non stop, (something that I have not yet done!)
I saw Sally and Tracey jogging along to the start of the run and caught up with them. We found the rest of the beginners group their, Peter, and Illustrious leader was there as well to encourage our group to get around their first timed run. The weather was quite breezy but the sun was shining. It was going to be an interesting first timed run for them. On the long straight the wind will be zapping energy, trying to slow them down, but on the shorter straight and then the run to the tunnel the wind will be assisting them to put that little bit extra in.
There were about 10 other beginners there, all looking excited about it, along with at least 160+ other people. You can see the people who are planning to try and beat their PB's, all stretching, looking focused, and there were others with buggies just out for the sheer enjoyment of it all, and even a pooch on a leash was dragging his owner around the park!
Singstar Jo was the....., well, I think it was the race directors position, but there she was with the mega phone, thanking all the volunteers for todays run, congratulation another for there 100th park run, and for starting the run itself. We are back into the summer direction of this route, so we will be going 'cross country' as we cut through the middle of the field, following the little river and then going back again to head towards the end of the other side of the park.
I stayed with PhysioMike as we kept with Tracey and Sally, the other beginners were doing their own pacing and were doing very well indeed. Sally began to feel a bit tired and her calfs started to hurt, I encouraged Tracey to go on as PhysioMike stayed with Sally.
Now it was just Tracey concentrating on her Park run. So far the first lap has been done none stop. She felt a bit guilty about leaving her friend behind, but P.M. will looking after her. We picked up the pace a little bit more. Both of us nicely warmed up now. The long straight was a head of us. "Look, we are gaining on those ladies there" I pointed to a group of 3 or 4 ladies all jogging along together. "You can overtake them if we keep this pace up" I said to her That seemed to pick up the pace just a tad more. WE PASSED THEM! I gave her a big cheer!
The second lap now, and Peter is waiting at the place we started shouting encouragement at us. So far still no stopping, we kept the pace a nice consistent 12:30 m/ml, Tracey was feeling comfortable. We slowed it down a tad as we started along the river side again.
As we were heading up to the other end of the park P.M. caught up with us saying that Sally had pulled out with calf trouble, and he stayed with us for the rest of the run. As we were coming down the long straight, with that wind blowing hard in our faces, P.M. began running in front of Tracey acting as a 'wind break'!
As we were nearing the end of the long straight, she wanted to pick the pace up "just a smidgen" she said. Just the very last corners to do now as we head down towards the short straight and into the tunnel. I hope there is some tea and cake left! Getting closer to the finishing tunnel I encouraged Sally to just give a little bit more, "I haven't got it in my legs" she said But she did! She managed to find a little bit more as she picked up the pace even more to get to the finish. Falling back from her now so that she can claim her first park run token that will record her time.
A non stop first run for Tracey AND......my first non stop park run!! I usually walk/jog on the second lap! So a first for me too! A great run by all the beginners! It was just so marvellous to see how much they have improved from the 8 weeks since they started the course. I will be looking forward to seeing the next new recruits for the beginners group in 2 weeks time! Well done all, and well done Mike for getting them running their first ever 3 mile park run, and all of them getting in in under 40 minutes!!
Here is our pacing for this run, geeky stats.
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