Saturday 21 May 2016

Parkrun Debut!

Hello blog lovers.

No, so it's not my parkrun debut, but I was witnessing another beautiful moment in parkrun history as yet another runner encounters the sheer camaraderie and friendship of parkrun people!  Giulia was one of our PWR Beginners, and due to work commitments she never got to finish the course nor do the graduation Parkrun.

But.....that hasn't stopped her from running.  A niggle in her hamstring has tried to keep her away, and physio's have looked at it and did things, but it hasn't stopped her wanting to finish what she started!  So this morning I collected her and Tracy and we headed off for the park and met up with J.J., Janet, Tracey, Carole, Tanya and a host of other PWR's, some are even volunteering as well.  Love my club!  But seeing all the beginners still coming along to parkrun, talking their running, chatting with their new buddies at about PB's they are gonna smash it just makes your heart swell!

I was hoping some of that  good vibe would be oozing over Giulia, she was looking happy when we arrived and I want that to be the way at the end.  We all walked over to the start, which this week is Hook Farm Lane end, the winter route, and waited for the off.  This week they are trying a new 'pen' system, starting times, just to save the huge big surge of people running towards two very lovely ladies who are guarding the bin, saving people from running into it!

Our first lap started, just nice and steady, running along in the crowd.  We had pals in front of us, pals behind us, chatting going on with everyone else around, the buzz was brilliant.  We were running at little faster that I would have preferred for the first lap, but I let her set her pace, see how well she is coping, and then we can alter adjust for the next lap.  We ran virtually the whole way around the park before she needed a walking break, just through the wooded part.

The second lap was a little slower, but still a nice steady pace, she wasn't giving in, the determination was written all over her face.  The chatting was less.  I was singing along next to her, a methodical song, to keep the pace nice and steady, no speeding up, not slowing down.  I'm not sure if it was pained look on her face when I started the singing!

Again we got most of the way around, quality running!  Just the last one to do, and it's not even a full lap as we will be running into the funnel to collect out timing chip!  This was a tough lap, digging in deep to keep the pace going.  We had a couple of walking sessions to regain breathing, and then started again.  A slower pace along the long straight, pick it up just a tad once at the corner.  So far so good, Breathing seemed pretty good, again just picking up the pace as we moved along the top of the park ready to run down the short straight to the funnel.  She didn't quiet make all the way.  We walked a bit and the started the final assault on the short straight.

Starting up slowly, get to the first bench, pick it up a bit.  Keep going steady, focus on end, no need to save any energy now, just get to the end.  Pick it up just a little bit more from the trees, the last time, keep the pace going, the funnel getting nearer, "Come on Giulia, you can do it", The inches getting eaten up as the funnel gets nearer and nearer, totally focused now on the end!  She did it!  She completed her first parkrun 5k!  All the other graduates and PWR's were there to see her!  We walked over to get a drink of water, and there was some cake too!  One of the PWR's son was completing his 50th run today, I'm not sure if this was his celebration cake but it was truly delicious!

A great run today, it really is so rewarding watching our members achieve goals!  I am a lucky person to be in a great club!  Geeky stats




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