Parkside Runners

Hey folks can I ask you a favour?
From this month I will no longer be trading as Parkside runners and launching a brand new project – Glass Half Full Unlimited. Any chance you can like the page and maybe even follow it?
GHF is the new home for all I that I do that is running related and adding a whole lot more; from mentoring, training groups and retreats to a full calendar of races and multi day challenges. All delivered with the GHF philosophy of taking the running seriously but ourselves less so and generally having a bit of fun.
The GHF Academy will be where you can access a package of 1-2-1 and online coaching that focuses on improving performance by improving both your physical and mental well-being.
This should be an exciting adventure, I’ll hope you’ll join me and to everyone who has helped make Parkside such fun along the way can I just say a great big thankyou. I’ve met so many great people and made some awesome friends from all this, and that alone has made it all so worthwhile.

Yay Sunday is a runday.
I'm looking forward to the social run this morning, but we will miss you Gemma Oliver. Have fun at the Cambridge half.

SUNDAY SOCIAL RUN
Tesco Extra Highwoods
6th March 2022

As we fall in to March and the occasional sunny days shows its head it is beginning to feel that we are getting closer and closer to getting back to normal and those events are just around the corner and many more races coming online for the rest of the year.
it was really great to see some many groups and runners out on Sunday doing their thing. The sunshine really helping to put everyone in a happier mood and you could feel those, great, positive vibes flowing.

All of which is my way of saying that the mileage has gone up again this week😃

Here are the routes and start times.
0900 3 miles

A genteel trot around the scenic Highwoods country park with the merest hint of elevation.

0940 9 miles

How to describe this loop?
Shrub End and back. Yeah, that would do it.

https://gb.mapometer.com/running/route_4949991.html

See you there.

9 MILES 4. Mapometer.com running route #4949991 9 MILES 4. Sport: running, Distance:9.02 miles / 14.51 km, route no: 4949991. See route map, elevation profile and description

SUNDAY SOCIAL RUN
Tesco Extra Highwoods
27/2/22

**NOTE** all I've done is changed the date on last week's cancelled run. Jobs a good 'un.
This week the distance creeps up by a mile and because I didn't think that was enough I thought to myself where is a good place to run on a windy day? Ah of course the football ground. Ideal. We wouldn't want to miss out on those delightful breezes now would we?
Sunday morning should be relatively sedate compared to some of the forecasted weather so, at the moment, I do not foresee any problems with the run.
As always the first run starts at 9am with the second longer loop kicking off at 9.40am
The first 3 mile loop is 3 miles and details of the route for the second loop can be found here
https://gb.mapometer.com/running/route_5343162.html
See you there.

I'm going against type and showing some common sense by cancelling tomorrow's Social run.
High winds are due to roll in at 9am and get slowly worse and although I love bin dodging as much as the next person too much headwind could ruin my Strave stats.
A treadmill half marathon it is then.

SUNDAY SOCIAL RUN
Tesco Extra Highwoods
21/2/22

This week the distance creeps up by a mile and because I didn't think that was enough I thought to myself where is a good place to run on a windy day? Ah of course the football ground. Ideal. We wouldn't want to miss out on those delightful breezes now would we?
Sunday morning should be relatively sedate compared to some of the forecasted weather so, at the moment, I do not foresee any problems with the run.

As always the first run starts at 9am with the second longer loop kicking off at 9.40am

The first 3 mile loop is 3 miles and details of the route for the second loop can be found here
https://gb.mapometer.com/running/route_5343162.html

See you there.

Given the weather forecast for tomorrow morning the Social run is cancelled.
I'll be in the warm on a treadmill but for those of you at Great Bentley half marathon have a fantastic time.

SUNDAY SOCIAL RUN
Tesco Extra Highwoods
6/2/22

This week the distances are the same as last Sunday, meaning that once again there is a choice of running 3, 7 or 10 miles, depending on what floats your boat.
It is all on footpath with a nice variety of flat sections and hills, not too many hills, in fact I would go as far as saying the exact right amount.

Here are the routes and start times.

0900 3 miles
https://gb.mapometer.com/running/route_4673505.html

0940 7miles
https://gb.mapometer.com/running/route_4673505.html

See you there.

3 MILES 2. Mapometer.com running route #4673505 3 MILES 2. Sport: running, Distance:2.94 miles / 4.73 km, route no: 4673505. See route map, elevation profile and description

SUNDAY SOCIAL RUN
Tesco Extra Highwoods
30/01/22

After Parkside having a weekend off to attend The National Running Show it is time to roll up the sleeves and resume with training for spring and put a solid block of training in.
Our focus until May is the half marathon distance, with a choice of progressive schedules to build up to the 13.1 miles.
This week the choice is 7 or 10 miles, or if you just want to do a 5k why not come along for the first loop, any company is always appreciated.

Here are the routes and start times.
0900 3 MILES
https://gb.mapometer.com/running/route_4673505.html

0930 7 MILES
https://gb.mapometer.com/running/route_5336194.html

See you there.

300122. Mapometer.com running route #5336194 300122. Sport: running, Distance:6.92 miles / 11.13 km, route no: 5336194. See route map, elevation profile and description

Things I learned this weekend at The National Running Show.

I look fab in pink animal print leggings.

Ex-Olympians can still shift if they find themselves alone in a Gents with a man in pink animal print leggings.

My son is the King of Freebies. That's definitely the Yorkshire genes on show. From race entries to stress balls he racked up the goodies, I don't think.he came back empty handed once. It's those eyelashes.
And the fact he's a total chancer.

Standing up for 8 hours is harder on the old feet than running for that long.

This week coaches in athletics clubs up and down the country will be hearing things like "Steve Cram says......" or "The man at the Expo said...." from runners they've been saying the exact same advice to for ages without success.

Caffeine chewing gum is meant to "energise" you. It certainly encouraged me to run to the nearest bin if that counts. Bleurgh.

The people of Birmingham are super friendly, but less keen on signposts. Seriously, it's the NEC, it's a footpath to the NEC. Why not let people know.
Even Google Maps doesn't know how to walk there. Let a few people know about it.

Designed By Sports not only makes great, sometimes bright pink leggings. But for some reason everyone they know is slightly bonkers, myself included. It makes for a great weekend

After seeking a second opinion from my 3 year old son and his vet's kit I am indeed injured and cannot run for the foreseeable.
Aside from the frustration of having to suspend all groups for a fortnight I also have to swallow all my own sound advice about injury management, attitude and application.
I have been using an ice roller on my sole of my foot around the clock and I reckon that as long as I don't step barefoot on to the patio door threshold ever again I should be right as rain at some point.
To my runners, my apologies, I will still be hounding you on WhatsApp and all the online services are still agogo.
To my neighbours, who heard my language when I stepped on afore-mentioned threshold, even greater apologies. But the language fitted the moment brilliantly.
Onwards and upwards.
PS Who knew sit-ups would aggravate your foot? You live and you learn.

Have fun today Gemma Oliver. Paras 10 here you come.