February 2016

[Sweder]

Damned with faint praise this morning:

Bevendean Down parkrun results for event #2. Your time was 00:29:52.

Congratulations on completing your 55th parkrun and your 2nd at Bevendean Down parkrun today. You finished in 18th place and were the 16th male out of a field of 32 parkrunners and you came 5th in your age category VM50-54. Take a look at this week's full set of results on our website. Congratulations on setting a new Personal Best at this event! Congratulations on your fastest time this year.

In truth, it was an ugly slog. I left the house late, having raided my office like a burglar on a mission, desperately searching for my Parkrun barcode card. Freezing rain lashed the windows as books and papers scattered here and there, reminding me to grab my Almeria silk gloves. I duly left these on the car seat as I scurried off to the start.

As I reached the course I saw the pack setting off from the start, some 200 metres away, heading towards me. I started Runkeeper and ran at them, passing the last runner and the trailing marshal before turning to chase them down. Hardly scientific, but close enough.

This week I managed to complete the course without taking a break, hunting down tail-enders, hailing familiar marshals (Cam at the top of the long hill, Rog, eagerly clutching his time-piece and shouting enouragement as we passed on our first circuit).

By the time I'd relaxed into my running it was all over. My finisher stats look terrific, until you realise this was as small a field as you're ever likely to see at a Parkrun. No doubt the weather had a big say in that - it was foul. Rain driven into your face by a bitterly cold wind as you slip-slid your way up the slimy hillside. I loved it. I loved the post-run coffee and super-healthy Runner's Red smoothie at the Bevy afterwards a good deal more.

There I sat and chatted with Tom and new acquaintance (and self-confessed Parkrun addict and Ulrasnista) @abradypus. Later, the shower worked it's magic, piping hot lashes bringing frozen limbs back to life.