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Park Run

Following on from my previous post about my disliking of running, I can be a bit more positive about it.

Just before Christmas I discovered Park Run (http://www.parkrun.org.uk/) and I can't quite believe I've never properly heard of it before (I vaguely have recalled the name, but never fully considered it as something I was truly interested in).

What is it?
Park Run is a free, 5k run at 9am on Saturday mornings at various locations across the country (and now indeed the world). You register on their website and print off your unique barcode, which you bring with you to each race (no barcode, no time). It is as simple as that. Each event is run by a team of volunteers and at some events there is a Junior Park Run on Sunday mornings.


Anyways, as I have begun to think about running more seriously and increasing my training, I signed myself up and decided to start after the busy period of Christmas and New Year.

I was really nervous before I went to my first Park Run at Colwick Country Park (http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/colwickCP), I was worried everyone would be really quick and I'd be left trailing in the dust whilst everyone waited for me to finish, looking at their watches, wanting to go home. I'm not really very good at running, I suffer with shoulder pains when running (a result of previous issues) and sustaining a pace is not my forte. But I'm determined to get better.

So the first Saturday after New Years I turned up at the start line at 8:50am on a Saturday morning (an already painful endeavour). Any first-timers get a health and safety briefing and a brief run-through of the course and how the event works. Then before the run starts, the race director gives the first timers a shout out (via a megaphone) and the runners applaud. The crowd also applauds tourists (i.e. those who don't frequent Colwick park as their main park run) and special mentions are given to those who are completing their 10th, 50th or 100th park run (you get a free t-shirt when you complete these milestones). There is a real, friendly atmosphere about the whole event and I assume it is like that at every Park run.

The run consists of those at the front of the pack, who race off ahead, people running with dogs (oh the shame about being overtaken by a sausage dog), families, people looking to improve each week and people new to running. Times range on average from 17 minutes to 50 minutes.

I love a good view and Colwick park is beautiful, stunning lakes and a good mix of pathways and trails.

At the end of the course you end through a funnel where 2 volunteers clock your time with a stopwatch and you have your barcode and finish token (numbered according to the order of finish) scanned. A couple of hours later you receive a text and email (depending on your sign up preferences) with your time and position.

I have definitely fallen for Park Run, it's such a brilliantly simple concept and there is such a good atmosphere every Saturday morning. All my worries about being left behind or it being a horridly, competitive environment were unfounded, everyone is so friendly and there is no pushing or shoving to get in front of each other, even at the start line.

A couple of weeks ago I signed up to volunteer as I'm a great believer in paying back. I signed up to be one of two timekeepers (just in case something goes wrong- and in my case, it did when the timer didn't start properly!), a role which I was told, is not one a first-time volunteer wants to do, but as this blog says, I never make life easy for myself! I had a brilliant time volunteering, despite the freezing cold and the rain. It is such a well-organised sleek operation and I loved cheering all the runners over the finish line whilst operating the stopwatch. I've decided to do 3 runs and 1 volunteer shift on rotation as I enjoy doing both.


I would wholeheartedly recommend doing a Park Run, whether you are a first timer or experienced runner.
But remember, don't forget your barcode!

So i hate running...

It's true. I hate running. Never been any good at running, not one of these people who can just go out and jog for 2 hours every other day. I will have to drag myself out of the house, put on the old 'workout' playlist on my ipod and struggle, huffing and puffing around the course. I don't particularly like running on the streets mainly because everyone can see you and I usually look terrible (imagine sweat, red face and general horribleness!). I always imagine that picture of Katherine Jenkins crossing the finish line at the London Marathon a couple of years ago looking absolutely perfect, and think I look like that. Then I look in a mirror and reality is quite the opposite. Oh dear.


Anyways, running is an integral part of every OCR, whether 5k or 25k. So I need to get better, even if I don't want to actually go and do it. The competitive side of me wants to get better at something I've attempted to do in the past.

So mindlessly running isn't going to help, mindlessly training doesn't help you achieve your goals. You need a plan or tools to help.






Some tools:

A tracker app is great to help you see how far or how long your run has been. It also means you can compare your runs and see how you are improving.
I've used Mapmyfitness (free) to track my runs on my iphone for ages. It did require taking my phone out on runs and I prefer to take my ipod out for music.
Recently it's not been recording my GPS signal properly so when I get to the end of a run, it records 0.2km or something like that so I haven't been using it as much anymore.


At the moment I use Nike + (free) which came as part of my new Ipod. It's good at setting a denominated time or distance and talks at you over your music when the time passes (in 5 minute intervals) or when you pass distance markers (1km).




My favourite running app is Zombies! Run (£3.99)

I discovered this app a couple of years ago. It's great for someone who has a short attention span and who gets bored easily (me). It plays a story of fictional zombie apocalypse. It is a first person adventure and the characters talk to your character. You are a 'runner' sent on missions to help the base. Whilst on the missions the music from a designated playlist on your iphone plays (allowing a good mix between story and music). The best part is being 'chased' by zombies and, as it tracks you via GPS, the faster you run, the quicker you 'escape' the zombies. If you slow down the Zombies 'catch' you and you lose a life. The app isn't recommended for running by busy roads (you may accidently forget yourself and run into traffic I suppose- if you are silly). I like it because it just adds a different dimension to your run.


What helps you on your run?

What am i doing?

So I like obstacle course racing. I have doing races for the past 3 years and have just fallen in love with the sport. The personal challenge, the feeling of accomplishment, the motivation to train 6 days a week, seeing the best in humanity are just a number of reasons why I love it.

I've always had a thing for playgrounds and obstacles since I was little. I used to love going to playgrounds and the bigger the better. I also loved indoor adventure centres and soft play places. We used to have one in Stevenage, where I grew up, and I had the best of times running round there playing (RIP Carters). I guess this fascination has translated into obstacle course racing (not gonna lie, still will drive past a good playground and usually say 'oh that's a good playground'- though sadly less socially acceptable these days to go and play on it!).

So this year I have decided to complete quite a few OCR's to raise money for 2 great charities (more on that later), hence why my blog's URL is '200 miles of mud'.

This year the calendar will roughly include:
10 Tough Mudders
Dirty Dozen
Nuts Challenge
Spartan Super
Zombie Evacuation
Mudnificent 7
The Major Challenge
Survival of the Fittest

And probably a few more i'll sign up for later in the year...

I wanted to blog to keep me motivated, report back on each race and generally have an outlet to ramble on about OCR without anyone telling me to shut up!

-Katy x