Back to Concord Back to Concord this weekend, mainly so I could recover my daughter's favourite fleece left there last week. A friendly conversation broke out on arrival with Margaret, Dawn, Tom and Ian from Pennistone Running Club who, like Jude last week, were collecting points for their parkrun club competition. All of them confessed to having taken up running in retirement which I thought was pretty cool. Just before the start I looked behind me and saw a gentlemen in the bushes with his trousers by his ankles revealing more than a little of his modesty. He was of course changing into his parkrun running gear. I couldn't help wondering if his name was Harry - flash Harry - but could not pluck up the courage to ask.! I decided to adopt a more consistent pace this week but felt quite tired most of the way round, particularly on the Concord hill which seemed considerably longer and harder this week. Suzie, a triathlete, kept me company for part of the way which
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The tour continues... Back to Concord this week with my daughter Katie in search of that elusive 25 mins barrier. A beautiful spring day - bright, sunny and cool ("Much like you" I hear you say. Sadly not!!). We arrived a few mins early, just in time for a friendly chat with Luke the A and E nurse who, when asked, proudly told us that he had recently completed the Sheffield half marathon (his first) in a creditable 2 hours 40 - well done Luke! After the normal briefing and a spontaneous round of applause for young Oliver, running his 10th parkrun, we set off at quite a pace completing the first kilometre in 4:28 before reverting to a more normal and manageable speed. We arrived at the finish in 24:43 with Katie delighted (and somewhat exhausted!) to have achieved her goal - not quite on a par with Roger Bannister at Iffley Road all those years ago, but not far off!! Brief chats ensured with Angela, the race director, Neil, one of the volunteers and Jude, a me
Family parkrun Today was a 'first' on my parkrun tour as I was joined at Endcliffe Park by both my son Luke and daughter Katie for the first time. The early part of the run involved a friendly chat with Ben Heller and his daughter by which time I realised that Katie had disappeared into the distance in her quest to break the 25 minute barrier. I gradually reigned her in and then surprisingly left her behind, feeling quite good for a change - must have had something to do with the 2 good night's sleep I had on Thursday and Friday - sleep really can make a difference..! My time of 24.57 was quite pleasing - Katie arrived 30 seconds later and Luke in just over 28 mins, his best time so far for 5k, apparently having hardly broken sweat - the coolness of youth! It won't be long before they are both faster then me - better enjoy it while it lasts! We are training for the Edinburgh Marathon Hairy Haggis relay which takes place at the end of May, raising
Conference reflections
On Saturday, 1 st April, I attended my first party political conference - the Global Greens and European Greens Congress in the great city of Liverpool. As the day approached I felt a growing sense of anticipation and intrigue about what I was going to encounter. Would I be inspired and motivated? Would I meet lots of like-minded people who share my values, beliefs, my worldview? As a result of the day would I feel inclined to get more actively involved in Green politics? Or would it be the complete opposite - would most of the people I meet conform to the media stereotype of sandal-clad, liberal, tree-hugging do-gooders most of whom are out of touch with the realities of the modern world? On the train journey to Liverpool I could not resist the temptation to play a timely April fools trick on my daughter, Katie (a Young Green herself) by texting her to say that I was sitting next to Caroline Lucas, the leader of the Green Party - not only was I sitting next to her, but Caroline
Back on the road Back on the road after a two-week break - this time at Concord accompanied by my son Luke for whom it was his first parkrun. We chose Concord partly because it is one of the flatter courses (good for Luke as he has only just started running) and I also had a debt to pay to Lynne, one of the volunteers, which had been bugging me for a while. On arrival we were surprised to be greeted by Alex, our Race Director friend from Endliffe parkrun, and about 80 other runners. Alex was there to support Peter Taylor, who was celebrating his 200 th parkrun - impressive stuff which rather put my miserly total into perspective! After the normal briefing Luke and I strolled round the course in beautiful sunshine and cloudless skies barely breaking sweat. Our second lap was briefly interrupted by a little girl in a bit of state because she had lost her dog. I offered to help but she declined - hopefully she found the dog… Luke beat me in a friendly sprint finis