Parkrun #65: Druridge Bay, run 2

LATE! 😱

For the first ever time, I actually missed the start of a parkrun. I came close at Denton Dene once, but this time, I was actually about 45 seconds late getting to the start line.

Things that didn't help:

  1. Having to do a U-turn just after I set off, as the barriers came down on the level crossing I was approaching
  2. Google Maps giving me the time it would take to reach the entrance to Druridge Bay Country Park rather than the car park that's a few minutes inside
  3. Me foolishly trying to find a space in the main car park, which was inevitably full
  4. Me casually taking photos for the blog instead of getting to the start line
  5. Me forgetting where the actual start line was and heading to the briefing area instead

All in all, #FAIL.

Yes, nice illustration of the wet conditions, but... GET TO THE START LINE, YOU IDIOT!

Putting all of that to one side, remember I came back to Druridge Bay for a reason? The low-hanging fruit of a slow PB at a flat venue? Well...

  • Previous best: 27:44
  • Today's time: 29:02 (official time)
  • My stopwatch: 28:15ish

So no, I didn't get a venue PB today. Officially, I wasn't even close (given I started late). But in terms of my actual time, damn, it was almost within reach!

"But how did you manage this?!" I hear nobody ask. It was probably helped by me not being completely inactive in the week between parkruns for the first time. On Monday, I walked a brisk 4.5 miles into the City Library and walked-jogged-walked-jogged the same 4.5 miles home later in the day. (When carrying a laptop, charging cables and all manner of other gear in a not-very-lightweight rucksack, turns out that even just a bit of jogging is exhausting.) And on two other days, I had to run to collect Daughter the 2nd from school. Only a kilometre each time, but it was still a bit of exercise and, combined with the library trip, had my left knee clicking again.

So... shock news: keeping up the exercise helps you to improve your parkruns. 😮

The finish area at Druridge Bay parkrun, on a properly gloomy day.

As for how the run felt today, it was mixed. Throughout, I was fairly determined to have a stab at the PB, but it didn't take long for me to realise it wasn't on. First, I couldn't set my own pace in the early stages and even had to walk a few paces on the first footbridge due to congestion. But later on, I was just wrecked. I'd started fairly hard and made the most of anaerobic energy to burst past people when able, but I couldn't keep that up. Looking at my pace chart and splits, I was all over the place. The first kilometre was a 5:20/km pace though, which is impressive given it included plenty of waiting behind people.

About 2/3 of the way into the run, however, I was genuinely asking myself why I was even doing parkrun, as I really wasn't enjoying this run. The course itself was fine -- nicer than I'd remembered, in fact -- but the feeling wasn't pleasant. I found myself wondering "What's the point?" and having to remind myself that the satisfaction comes later, not on the run itself.

And sure enough, as I type this tonight, I am satisfied. Happy, in fact. My chart plotting progress towards a long-overdue venue PB took a massive leap in the right direction this week, after a couple of increasingly bad weeks. Of course, the choice of venue helps, but it's still quite motivating. Onwards and downwards!

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