#running
I moaned about getting soaked at #parkrun on Saturday. I needed this article for a bit of perspective.

Ultrarunners in secondhand trainers: the rickshaw drivers taking on the world’s toughest races – photo essay
Ultrarunners in secondhand trainers: the rickshaw drivers taking on the world’s toughest races – photo essay https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/feb/09/ultrarunners-rickshaw-drivers-madagascar-worlds-toughest-races-photo-essay?CMP=share_btn_url

Accurate

#ParkRun

Utterly ridonculous conditions at Reigate Priory this morning. Just couldn't get any grip whatsoever in my Hoka Torrent 2's.

I thought they had reasonable lugs (4mm or so?) but clearly I need to start looking for something a bit more aggressive. Spent most of the run moving sideways.

#parkrun #running

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Photo of my watch displaying heart rate over a 5k distance, in 44th place at today's Reigate Priory parkrun. Also mud, lots of mud.

Stockley Country #parkrun
Mudbath
But one more done.

A trip down memory lane to Grangemoor #Parkrun by Fisherman’s Quay on the river Ely. It’s not that scenic - even in the sunshine - but back in the day, before the Llanishen event opened, this was our ‘home’ parkrun. Turns out it was my 70th run there.
Good to do the familiar things whilst the rest of our lives are so disrupted.

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View from underneath a concrete flyover looking towards a river with small boats moored up. There is Welsh flag bunting cordoning off a section of the path to keep the park runners and fishermen apart. It’s a fairly gloomy scene.

#parkrun Done Vicar Water Country Park at Clipstone, Mansfield. Blimey, that was a hard slog.

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Due day over looking a patch of dark water with ducks on it

Volunteering at parkrun this morning. (Relieved to find that the new app is much better than the old barcode scanners!)

#parkrun

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Me in a high vis top, with three hundred runners queued up and ready to start their run in the background.

Nice morning at Redcar parkrun today. It was hard work after taking last week off, and my dodgy leg is definitely not happy with me, but the vibes were good as always and I got a new course PB by about 20 seconds so that's not to be sniffed at.

Got home and I've immediately changed into pyjamas and an oodie for the rest of the day. Possibly a nap in my near future 😄

#parkrun #running #redcar

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Photo taken across a lake in a park, with tree branches encroaching in the foreground and a fountain spraying water in the middle of the lake making the surface ripple outwards. In the distance on the other side of the water are the parkrun crowd gathered around a cafe building. There are red and yellow pedalo boats parked in the water out back of the cafe, but it's a bit too cold and grey for them to be used.

Magical misty morning at Volksgarten! As the fog lifted, 95 runners/walkers/joggers took on the #volksgartenparkrun under the rising sun. A huge thank you to 18 volunteers—you made it all possible! Perfect way to kick off the weekend! #parkrun

#parkrun
#running
#Hastings
Soaked this morning, almost as wet as the kite surfers !
Thanks to all the volunteers for standing out in the rain.
Now for an afternoon of rugby....

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A grey, windswept sea with a single kitesurfer.

Back to Redcar for the #parkrun this morning. Typically lovely, good turnout.

Tried running with a "negative splits" plan on my watch today. Managed to keep up with the first two splits without too much problem, but the third split was just an unlikely fantasy of a pace, no chance of keeping up with it.

Kind of discouraging watching your progress go from 1 second ahead to 60 seconds behind over the course of one mile 😀

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The runners at the start of the Redcar parkrun.

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A summary of a run done at the Redcat parkrun.

#ParkRun 112 done and doooooooone. It's like the apocalypse out there. If the apocalypse was just a bit rainy and whatnot. LOTS of runners and because it was waterlogged and muddy it was a walking start then a few areas where it funnelled to a walk. However! Pacers this morning. And despite starting far back, and walking quite a bit, we still managed to get in front of the 30 pacer. Which is amazing if true. I would be genuinely thrilled to bits if our time was sub-30. Anyway I am taking my lovely wife for a coffee in the busiest trackside café in the woooorld! Power to you absolute legends. May you be covered in glory. X

#parkrun #prideParkRun

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Selfie at kirkdale parkrun, 5km 32:14, 6:23/km

This is my running journey, as shown in running distance from my Garmin.

2015. I had decided to lose weight, when I read somewhere that activity level is far more important than body fat as a determinant of long term health. So, I took up Couch to 5K. I'd never run before, and wasn't expecting much, but to my surprise, I absolutely loved it. I finished Couch 2 5 K, and not long after, Chermside #parkrun started up in the park I used to run in at the time, and I did my first parkrun in August 2015. By the beginning of 2016, I was running 120km a month.

By the end of 2016, I was running about 300km a month (10km a day), and I had a sub 20 minute 5K time. This year was full of running events, mostly half marathons. What I didn't know at the time, was that my left ankle was rolling inwards when I ran, creating a torsion stress on my shin bone, and eventually giving me a pretty bad stress fracture. What I also didn't know at the time, was that running was a great way of helping me deal with my dysphoria, and that my rapid increase in mileage was partly driven by how much it was helping me deal with my own internal self denial.

2017, injured, unable to run for months... It's not a co-incidence that early 2017 is when I came out of the closet and started my transition! I eventually recovered from the stress fracture and started running again, but between my lost fitness, my reduced performance due to HRT, and the fact I was no longer fighting dysphoria, I found it really hard this time around. A couple of surges of increased distance, but it started to tail off towards the end...

2018, and my heart isn't in it anymore. #parkrun is the only thing that keeps me running even semi consistently. I was a run director at two different parkruns during this time! Even though I was struggling with my running, parkrun was still important to me! That being said, I did run a half marathon that year to guide a visually impaired workmate. I had GRS in late August, and caught pneumonia during my recovery. That meant no running at all during September, and a slow path to recovery after that.

2019. Several months without any running, and several more with only 1 or 2 parkruns a month. I was still run directing at parkrun during this time, but stepped away from that role as well. There was a brief burst in Jan 2020, but that's because I was in Buenos Aires, and was not going to miss the opportunity to run there!

2020. Covid. parkrun is cancelled for months. A couple of attempts to try and find the running spark again, but no luck. Months with no activity at all. I got pneumonia in here too, which flattened me for months.

2021, 2022 and 2023. Several years of starting and stopping. I kept chasing the spark, but I could never hold on to it, so the efforts always faded away. It felt extra far away because the pneumonia had stolen a lot of my fitness and lung capacity. Thankfully, they eventually returned, but the dark thoughts in my head didn't believe that would happen. But even during this, I was still going to parkrun! I'd started acting as a VI guide at my local parkrun, and found that volunteering and the community kept me coming back even when running wasn't doing it.

2024 was different though. I'm not sure why, maybe it was just enough time to recover from the physical and mental challenges that had been holding me back? Whatever the reason though, 2024 was the first year I maintained consistent running. I wasn't breaking any records, I wasn't training towards anything, but I was consistently getting out and running. I even became a co-event director at my local parkrun! The spark wasn't burning as bright as it had previously, but at least it was burning!

2025 (and 2026 so far). I dropped off my mileage over winter due to the shorter days, but started to build up again once the days started getting longer again. And this time, I wanted to give myself a goal, to help keep me motivated once the summer days ended. So, I decided to work towards a half marathon in July 2026. And, it did the trick! I've been consistent, and more crucially, I've been enjoying myself. I've liked having something to work towards. For the first time in many many years, it truly feels like I'm back!

#parkrun #running

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A bar graph of my running distance by month, from March 2015 to Feb 2016, showing a consistent increase from 0 to 140 over that period

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A bar graph of my running distance by month, from March 2016 to Feb 2017. It shows an increase from just under 170km to around 300km per month, with a drop off in the middle (due to an injury)

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A bar graph of my running distance by month, from March 2017 to Feb 2018. For the first 6 months, it's below 40km a month except for a sudden burst in June of 140km. It starts peaking again from Aug to November, again hitting about 140km, before dropping away to 60km in Feb 2018

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A bar graph of my running distance by month, from March 2018 to Feb 2019. Low mileage, almost randomly distributed across the period, some months at just over 5km, some at 25km, and September at 0.

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A bar graph of my running distance by month, from March 2019 to Feb 2020. No running at all from March to May. Under 20km a month from Jun to Dec. 75km in Jan, and 30km in Feb

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A bar graph of my running distance by month, from March 2020 to Feb 2021. A burst of mileage from March to May. Another from Nov to Jan. The other months are empty.

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A bar graph of my running distance by month, from March 2021 to Feb 2022. Effectively nothing, except for a 5km run in March 2021. A brief spike of activity in Jan and Feb 22, peaking at 20km in Feb.

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A bar graph of my running distance by month, from March 2022 to Feb 2023. Low mileage, and even though they show as runs, many of them were actually walks at parkrun.

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A bar graph of my running distance by month, from March 2023 to Feb 2024. A serious effort to increase mileage shows around Jul Aug and Sep at around 50km for those months. Otherwise mostly below 15km for the rest of the year

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A bar graph of my running distance by month, from March 2024 to Feb 2025. Mostly around 40km a month across the whole year, with a small drop around September.

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A bar graph of my running distance by month, from March 2025 to Feb 2026. Around and slightly below 20km a month over winter, but pushing back up from 50km to 70km a month between Oct 2025 and Jan 2026.

Ran my (only) 2nd #Parkrun this year: 27min w/ pace 8'40”/mi.

This is pretty slow compared to my usual pace 7’:xx/mi, but it was the fastest pace I've run in the past 3 weeks! My cough started a few days before my disastrous 50K race on Jan 10 has only become worse, which has seriously affected my sleep. My VO2max dropped straight from ~54 to 46!

Thankfully I'm now bouncing back. I still have one month to recover enough for my half and full marathon race in March. Fingers crossed!

#running

This weekend, I headed to Speyer for the stunning #speyerleinpfadparkrun where I was one of 57 finishers. Huge thanks to the 11 amazing volunteers who made it all happen.

That bridge climb x4? Brutal. But randomly meeting a fellow tourist from Düsseldorf? Totally made my day! 😊 #parkrun

My NENDY 😎
#parkrun
#mudbath
#puff

Did my first volunteering session at my local #parkrun today (last week it was cancelled due to the weather). It was lovely to properly meet some of the team who help run it week after week and the lady I was helping with the finish tokens had helped set it up seven years ago. There were some amazingly fast runners but it was equally lovely when a couple in their early 70s who walked it finished too. I’m now hoping to volunteer at least once a month from now on.

Second time at Brockwell #parkrun today, event 666. Slightly fraught bus ride there, only just arrived on time. But lovely park, views of The City, fine weather and tarmac paths. Kind of wanted to go to Tooting’s tenth birthday, but it’s a lake after all the recent rain.

Post #parkrun brunch. The Gordon Ramsay method for scrambled eggs is a game-changer. Didn't have any chives though.

Kept it easy-ish today, not feeling 100%, still ended up with a solid 8/10 RPE for 24:58.

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Glass of squash, cup of tea, two slices of avocado toast and one slice of scrambled eggs on toast.

#parkrun
....and we have a visitor from Windsor.
Give that man a hi-viz.
He'd be great at 'First Timers Welcome'
"One would like to welcome you all ..."

#running

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King Charles at parkrun.

Another ParkRun in the bag today at the Eden Project and a minute off the time from two weeks ago puts me under 29 minutes which I’m exceedingly happy with. Apparently this was my ParkRun no. 32 (could have sworn it was higher but hey ho). Can I compete 18 more this year? I can certainly try. Soon it’ll be time to start running midweek as well and maybe train for a 10k. Maybe. Hmm…

#ParkRun

Foolish Christmas Dave, full of enthusiasm for the New Year, swore that he would do Flatts Lane #parkrun in January, the 9th hardest parkrun in the UK and our NENDY.

Well, January has almost come and gone, so today was my last chance.

They weren't kidding about it! One of the most brutal hill climbs I've ever walked, let alone ran. And you have to do it twice. Combined with muddy paths and treacherous steps, you can see why the first timer briefing is 50% apology.

Not a PB, needless to say.

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The start line of the Flatts Lane parkrun.

#parkrun
#running
I found out this morning that chest infection and parkrun don't mix.
Ginger and tumeric tea here we come - rock n roll lifestyle for sure !
Enjoy your running.

A cold, muddy and waterlogged #ParkRun this morning. Surprisingly difficult to get a photo without people in it. To the left of this, some park fitness group has a bunch of sad looking people doing lunges. To the right the Army fitness group has a guy screaming at some very sweaty looking people carrying those weights with the handles (boots with the fur). All around me are runners of every kind, kids on scooters and dogs in puddles. It feels very quintessentially British and possibly the essence of humanity. There's no bigotry here. All are equal. All are cold. But we are all here in this TOGETHER. United in whatever the shit it is we're all doing here it is FREEZING. I'm flying solo today again. Bleurgh. Will hopefully feel better in about an hour. Pleased I was on the peppermint teas last night like an absolute legend. LEGEEEEEND. ❤️

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Norman Park. Rubbish photo. Just some wet grass under a bruised sky. Compounded by being in portrait mode for some mad reason.

Kingston #parkrun today. It been my NENDY for ages because it’s in a weird location requiring two buses to get there and they say there’s nowhere to park a car. But. But it a lovely riverside run, a bit muddy today but mostly okay. Not sure what happened at the finish funnel today but people were respectful and patient.

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A group of runners is seen jogging in a park during sunrise. The sun is low in the sky, illuminating the scene, and several houses and trees are visible in the background. The runners are dressed in various athletic clothing.

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I stands by the Thames wearing a long-sleeve shirt, colorful shorts, and gloves. There is a "parkrun Kingston" banner in the foreground. The background features a scenic view of houses and trees.

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A serene riverside scene featuring a brown river, a grassy bank, and a barren willow tree with golden branches. In the background, several moored boats are visible, alongside leafless trees under a clear blue sky. A black park bench is positioned

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A calm river scene featuring several moored boats on one side, with a residential building and trees in the background. A fallen log is visible in the foreground, and the sky is clear with some clouds.

#parkrun
#running
#Hastings
Every time we run, we play 'Guess How Many People'. I was nowhere near the 501 at Hastings this morning.
A bright breezy run followed by hot chocolate in The Bo Peep to celebrate a milestone and a first timer.
Many thanks to all the volunteers.
Enjoy your running.

Enjoyable but cold #Parkrun with my son this morning. He ran well and more importantly he enjoyed it and was faster than last week so a good result for him.
Quiet week of running for me though, but Mrs Colin is currently running the Pagan Trails 28 mile race on Dartmoor. For all you dot watchers, she’s bib number 29 https://www.geotracks.co.uk/live/4719/solo/29

I'm a #Parkrun tourist today so my post-run snack is different. 😮

A single lap course, rather than my usual 2 laps, so I didn't get lapped. 🙌😄

I went off too fast but managed to find a steady pace and I jogged the whole 5K. Slightly faster than my last run on my home course, too, so happy with that.

Thank you Volunteers! 👏👏👏

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A white wooden table in a courtyard. On it are a paper cup of white coffee and a packaged Fruit Slice which is basically a fly cemetery.

#parkrun
#running
Already looking forward to Saturday. Hopefully parkrun can hit the half a million people worldwide.
GF heading for a milestone, I'll just be happy to finish and if a teenage member of the family can get out of bed - a first timer !
Enjoy your running

Time to give something back… I’ve just set up a regular donation to #parkrun and reached out to my local one to do some volunteering. I’m hoping to help out at least every three or four weeks which gives me plenty of opportunities to run and helps reduce the chances of cancellations (there have been a couple over the last six months). It will also be really nice to meet some of the team who do the bulk of keeping it all going rather than just wheezing my way past them each time I go.

Holme Pierrepoint #parkrun event #1 drew 1200 people the 0.3 miles over the river from us, but we still had over 480 parkrunners at Colwick, which is more than enough, thanks.

Funnel Manager today and it went like a dream.

Nice icy swim afterwards too!

New PB at #parkrun this morning, and my best age-graded 5k. Local Parkrun is at the former USAF nuclear site at Greenham Common. It’s now a lovely country park. Waited around for my son and wife to finish, then jogged home on my own for another 9km through West Berkshire. #trailrunning

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Head and shoulders pic of me, a grey-bearded chap wearing a black beanie hat. I’m stood in front of some bare trees at the edge of a field with the track running off behind me.

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Screenshot from the Parkrun app showing my results this morning. Time 23 minutes and 55 seconds is a new personal best. My age grading is 65.37 percent which is another personal best.

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Photo looking at the track in front of me, heading along the edge of a field gently downward to the valley bottom. The sun is trying to shine through some dappled grey clouds.

First proper #parkrun of 2026 today, after tail walking on NYD and then all the snow cancellations. So we tried a new place to celebrate, a nice simple out-and-back at Wynyard Woodland.

It was pretty muddy already, and then started to rain for the second half, but by that point I was hot and sweaty enough to appreciate it a lot. Am now extremely foisty.

Got a sort of, unofficial, parkrun PB by one second as well, so hooray!

#running

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Looking down an old stone-paved train station platform with a red bench labelled "Thorpe Thewles". Behind the platform are lots of green bushes and trees, and in the distance you can just make out the old station building and a few bits of parkrun signage.

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View from the back of the parkrun crowd during the briefing. Over the back of everyone's heads are the volunteer team in pink hi-vis jackets and the old red brick train station building.

First ParkRun in at least six years. Eden project (my local). Somehow clocked 30:02. Very happy.

#ParkRun #EdenProject

@TheBreadmonkey
I hope your #parkrun kicks off a better week/month/year.

Anyway morning! I'd hoped to awake full of joi de vivre and metaphorical beans but instead am TIRED and COLD and had an anxiety dream so am just slightly derailed and off-kilter. I had a crappy week last week but can't talk to anyone about it and have therefore internalised it and feel generally quite bad/guilty. I've therefore not really planned ahead / thought about this weekend, which is busy and I have to be on my game. Perhaps I can rescue it? Let us try. Let us think the positive thoughts of the forward-motion people. I must go and do a solo #ParkRun. Perhaps that will fix me! Good morrow to you all anyhoo. I hope your day is filled with laughter and magic. X

#sport
#SportEngland
#parkrun
Well said Chris Boardman.
Come on #parkrun do the right thing.

Sport England suspends X social media account and takes aim at Elon Musk
Sport England suspends X social media account and takes aim at Elon Musk https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jan/13/sport-england-suspends-x-social-media-account-takes-aim-at-elon-musk?CMP=share_btn_url

Tuesday: Volunteer to be 25 minute pacer at parkrun. Current fitness level is just under 24 minutes.

Wednesday: Come down with a cold.

Thursday: Feel rough but think I'll probably be ok by Saturday?

Friday: Still rough, hmm, getting a bit late to cancel now. Maybe I'll feel better tomorrow?

Saturday: YOLO. Double paracetamol. 24:56.

Didn't go wide enough around the corners, came up a bit short at 4.97km which messed up my pacer app.

Now bed.

#parkrun #running