This is a piece I wrote as a (not)Parkrun (not)Run Report on August 23rd for Witney Parkrun to encourage others to take part.
With the prospect of lockdown approaching back in March, my mum and I made the decision that being in my small flat on Witney High Street wasn’t the best place for both my mental and physical health so she came and collected me and took me back with her to Devon.
With the waterlogging at the Witney parkrun course I probably hadn’t completed a 5k in a few months so Mum was keen to get me back out there. So we sat and plotted our Lucas Lockdown20 parkrun route. We completed the first one on Saturday 28th March – purposefully setting a slow pace so we could only get better!! The course was an out and back with a mammoth hill at the halfway point which sapped a lot of energy – especially on hot days with no shade. But every Saturday morning we went out and completed the course, knowing that when we got home we could have a nice breakfast (bacon and pancakes can be a good motivational tool). The only disappointment was not being able to record these as parkruns!
Our original (not) Parkrun route with the mammoth hill at the turnaround point
After 12 weeks on the bounce I decided I needed a week off. The road had got busier and I was getting a bit bored of running the same route. We returned on the 27th June to complete our first official (not)parkrun – on an alternative route through the village – less main road, less cars, more shade! Our original route had a maximum elevation of 159m (mostly the mammoth hill!!) – our new route … 198m.
The alternative route with some undulations
We set off up the hill to the village (I never decided if starting with a hill was a good or bad idea), before dropping down to complete a circular route before the descent back to home. I was always told that the hills weren’t as bad if you go clockwise around the village – I don’t know if it’s actually true but psychologically it feels easier going that way. We’d started using Fartlek in the week to help improve my fast walking and running sections and now used this for the full 5k; 1 min at 7-8 effort followed by 2 mins at 3-4. I’ve found this a really good way of pacing myself, giving myself time to recover and being able to judge my own effort, slowly improving as I got fitter and healthier. The downside… the moment your friendly personal trainer says the next 1 minute fast interval is coming up as you get to the bottom of the worst hill in the village at around the 3k mark. Mum would laugh as I responded ‘of course it is’ before I put all my effort in to power up the hill. The only benefit was knowing that was the final climb and everything after that was either downhill or flat!!
Mum and I, at the start of a nice sunny (not) Parkrun
We hadn’t plotted this route in advance, but had walked it enough times to know we were going to fall just short of 5k as we crossed back over the A30 so begrudgingly had to run past home and loop back around, picking up the home straight segments from our original parkrun.
With restrictions easing and a move to West Yorkshire in September, I’m back in Witney. Mum and I still complete our 5k at the same time each Saturday morning – the Lucas Lockdown20 Parkrun now has a Devon and Witney leg. My route here is a maximum elevation of 97m and my potential future route in Mirfield a max of 110m – I will never complain about the hills of Witney again.
So far since lockdown started in March I have run 142.26km, which for me is pretty good!
At Witney parkrun I’m known for my sprint finishes… and I can reassure you that in Devon these were no different. Since I’ve been back in Witney they haven’t continued – I’m not sure those sat outside of Eden Cafe would appreciate it.
(not)parkrun has been a great way of getting me back out. I log a 5k most weeks (I’ve missed 2 since March so far) and when my motivation is lacking I walk and feel better for doing so. I may be the slowest on the Witney (not)parkrun Results page but every parkrun needs a tail walker!!
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