Parkrun

[Gary Strodders shank]

How many on here participate ? I finally managed to drag myself out of kip and to my local park today via the cafe for a pre run bacon sarnie. 130 entrants and I think I managed to finish in front of about 15 by walking the vast majority of the course. Conditions were atrocious with some waterlogging and big puddles on the paths so feet were wet on the first circuit of three. There was some affiliated to running clubs who were taking it oh so seriously a larger group of runners / joggers of middle years and about 15 of us totally unfit and getting on a bit characters who just turned up to have a look and burn of a few post Xmas pounds. All in all I quite enjoyed it even if it did make me realise how unfit I was and although I may swerve the new year's day special I will probably return next Saturday and aim for a better time

[scott_d]

Stick to spinning I was you. Any running outside the gym is going to have a bad effect on your joints if over 30. 

That's a very sweeping and inaccurate statement - you can actually do allot of good to your joints etc if you to it the right way.
It also misses the point that allot of people run because they enjoy it and wouldn't get anywhere near as much enjoyment out of spinning.

[Fifth Column]

Even pushing 50 my cardio is really good and I did 5k in about 21 mins last year.  However, my joints are so bad that I then can't walk without pain for a week. So I just don't run.  Swimming, cycling and lifting all much better for an old git with dodgy knees.

[Swiss.]

Stick to spinning I was you. Any running outside the gym is going to have a bad effect on your joints if over 30. 

[violator]

I do about 25k a week in the gym and sometimes outside, which aint bad at 56 and a weekend drinker and smoker. I think the quickest 5k I managed was 26.12, but now I dont bother racing myself and am quite happy to do it in around 30 mins. I've not done any races or park runs cos I'm too scared to get beaten by some old doris with a blue rinse.

[scott_d]

Not run for a few months running early January and about 3K into the run going downhill and broke down, could hardly walk at the time Off to the GP, given anti-inflammatory drugs as knee had swollen up and sent for an MRI scan

Got results back and told i had a baker's cist that had ruptured! hence the pain and swelling but also the cartilage in my knee was a mess and at some point, i had fractured it somehow and although healed it was all contributing to the mess, anyway GP sent me to a specialist, but didn't look good, my running days may have been over

Specialist at the institute of sport here in Sydney was very good, said it should be fixable but would take time, so currently having PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections into my knee every month, they hurt like fuck, but fingers crossed also started physio to strengthen my legs as he reckons my running gait is slightly off which over time would have contributed to the break down.

The injections themselves are interesting, they use your own blood and take that from your arm, then spin it to separate the various bits, then that's what gets injected into the joint, they draw off a load of liquid first from the knee that looks like piss so your essentially using your own body fluids to heal, the injected fluid won't be rejected by your body because it comes from your body, it's like a supercharged healing liquid, so far so good but still walking with a limp but Doc reckons i should be running again by the end of May.

Been told essentially arthritis is the issue as its cartilage loss which your body doesn't replace, and when i resume running to take more rest days, had been overdoing it a bit and in hindsight had been getting pain and discomfort for a while, i just chose to ignore it, after retiring i was out nearly every morning doing at least 5K, some days 10K and then going to the local gym and working out, with some treadmill running so will need to take it a bit easier once everything is fixed. 

In the meantime, i go out on the bike which my knee is fine with, do about 15K each morning and then a 3k walk with the dog before a gym session, so getting my exorcise fix, and swear like trooper at the varies cars that come near me, some right fucking bad drivers about and idiots who almost ignore cyclists, think i have become a bit notorious in the area for yelling "you fucking cսnt" at the top of my voice when cars get too close 

I always believe there is a way to get through most injuries so fingers crossed you can get past this.

Over-training is the most common cause of injuries in both new and experiences runners.  I see it allot as a coach, especially with the likes of Strava where everyone can see all your runs and the paces you run.  

The truth is you need to be comfortably running slow as well as fast if you want to get fit and fast and avoid injury.  I coached a guy to a 2:28 marathon and he was running his easy runs slower than some of the guys who were going for sub 3.  At my best during Covid I was down to 16:51 for 5k which is about 5:27mins per mile but  I would still go out and do easy 4 mile loop at 8:30mm or even slower and my long runs were still around 7:45-8:30mm.  

There are two sayings I use allot when coaching:

1. Only the mediocre are always at their best.
2. Run as fast as you need to, not as fast as you can.

It's quite liberating when you stop giving a fuck what people think about your pace or lack of it.

[Sydney_Iron]

Not run for a few months running early January and about 3K into the run going downhill and broke down, could hardly walk at the time Off to the GP, given anti-inflammatory drugs as knee had swollen up and sent for an MRI scan

Got results back and told i had a baker's cist that had ruptured! hence the pain and swelling but also the cartilage in my knee was a mess and at some point, i had fractured it somehow and although healed it was all contributing to the mess, anyway GP sent me to a specialist, but didn't look good, my running days may have been over

Specialist at the institute of sport here in Sydney was very good, said it should be fixable but would take time, so currently having PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections into my knee every month, they hurt like fuck, but fingers crossed also started physio to strengthen my legs as he reckons my running gait is slightly off which over time would have contributed to the break down.

The injections themselves are interesting, they use your own blood and take that from your arm, then spin it to separate the various bits, then that's what gets injected into the joint, they draw off a load of liquid first from the knee that looks like piss so your essentially using your own body fluids to heal, the injected fluid won't be rejected by your body because it comes from your body, it's like a supercharged healing liquid, so far so good but still walking with a limp but Doc reckons i should be running again by the end of May.

Been told essentially arthritis is the issue as its cartilage loss which your body doesn't replace, and when i resume running to take more rest days, had been overdoing it a bit and in hindsight had been getting pain and discomfort for a while, i just chose to ignore it, after retiring i was out nearly every morning doing at least 5K, some days 10K and then going to the local gym and working out, with some treadmill running so will need to take it a bit easier once everything is fixed. 

In the meantime, i go out on the bike which my knee is fine with, do about 15K each morning and then a 3k walk with the dog before a gym session, so getting my exorcise fix, and swear like trooper at the varies cars that come near me, some right fucking bad drivers about and idiots who almost ignore cyclists, think i have become a bit notorious in the area for yelling "you fucking cսnt" at the top of my voice when cars get too close 

[F 129 Row66]

No point in running when you can go by car

[Mike Oxsaw]

Running's not for me (any more) but I've always enjoyed cycling.

Got an exercise bike in the drum and will quite happily do a couple of "lazy" hours on that, under the a/c or with a fan blowing in my face, listening to music.

Best thing for me in that is that when I'm done, no turning around to cycle home again, just wander into the bathroom for a shower, whilst contemplating whether or not  I've worked up a thirst...

[Ladysmith]

I have done a few, I do like the Beckton one!

[ivan]

"my local parkrun in worthing had one on christmas day , that was my 45th. i do enjoy running , so many benefits. see some runners in west ham shirts even down here in Sussex Happy new year !"

[fraser]

I used to run don't anymore.. I do like a long walk though and I managed to walk 316 miles in August this year to raise money.

[bill green]

"i do parkrun most weeks, my next will be my 150th - started pre covid. i run in a whu hat and have met loads of hammers doing the same the main thing is to keep doing it - just turn up even if you've had a few on friday i'm now in the veterans 60-64 category but still lots of competition at that age"

[scott_d]

"Same here Sydney, Running has been a tonic for me for a good few years now, since before Covid. My mates think I am boding because I tend not to drink if I can help it (Europa Conference League Final an exception!) because I would much rather wake up feeling good enough to run than with any kind of hangover. My enjoyment comes from running and I have such a great group of friends that I run with. I know I'll get stick but in the summer, nothing beats a sunny trail run on a sunday morning followed by tea and cake at a tea room with my pals. I'll take that over a night out on the raz these days no matter how much my old drinking pals give me."

[Sydney_Iron]

"How life changes! NYD and up at 6-30am and run 8.5Klm before breakfast, in years gone by it was up at 11am with a stinking hangover, mind you i still had a few beers last night!!! Just to add to my fucked up post yesterday using the phone, recommend running to anyone, running 5- or 6-times week is a real tonic, was the only good thing that came out of COVID for me as that when i started, used to get bouts of depression but thats all gone, running is both physically and mentally good for you, run in the morning really sets up my day in a positive way. Parkrun is a good way to start, have not been for a while actually like running on my own, have the ear pods in and favorite songs blasting. Hoka (Bondi) and Saucony (Endorphin Speed) are my shoes of choice right now but that's about your only expense, a smart watch is optional but i find a great incentive to see how your progressing, Garmin make the best, then shorts and T-shirt and your set."

[scott_d]

"I do allot of running but not many parkruns, just doesn't usually fit in with what I do. But it is brilliant because it's for everyone. From those who are battling hard to finish, by walking, jogging etc, to those looking to run competitively. I would hope that none of them look down on each other from front to back because generally they all have something in common (but you do get your idiots). My tip for improving your time though is not to just run every week and see how fast you can get. That will only get you so far. A very basic way of improving is to run easy and add in some intervals once a week. Do this for a month then try and improve your time and so on."

[1964]

"Nah, 6 pints, 10 fags and a couple of sausage sandwiches a day for me."

[PostmanPissed]

"Never taken part in a Parkrun event prefer to jog on my own. Didn't enjoy running, only did it when playing football or rugby. Five years ago (46 years old) I had my left foot totally reconstructed, bones pinned, tendons cut off and attached in new positions, nerves re-routed. Because of all that work I had to learn to walk again on that foot and once I had achieved that going for a run was my next goal. Once I felt confident enough I started just jogging half a mile a day, and built it up by half a mile each week until I was jogging a marathon a week, I then changed to jogging 7 miles three times a week. Not only did I start to enjoy jogging I lost about three stone in weight but was still having a takeaway, roast dinner and a few beers of a weekend. My advice be realistic and start small then gradually build the distance up, no point trying to do a distance you can't then coming away and telling yourself I can't do it."

[PostmanPissed]

"Never taken part in a Parkrun event prefer to jog on my own. Didn't enjoy running, only did it when playing football or rugby. Five years ago (46 years old) I had my left foot totally reconstructed, bones pinned, tendons cut off and attached in new positions, nerves re-routed. Because of all that work I had to learn to walk again on that foot and once I had achieved that going for a run was my next goal. Once I felt confident enough I started just jogging half a mile a day, and built it up by half a mile each week until I was jogging a marathon a week, I then changed to jogging 7 miles three times a week. Not only did I start to enjoy jogging I lost about three stone in weight but was still having a takeaway, roast dinner and a few beers of a weekend. My advice be realistic and start small then gradually build the distance up, no point trying to do a distance you can't then coming away and telling yourself I can't do it."

[Sydney_Iron]

"Fuck me, that was an awful attempt at a post! Fucking phone"

[Sydney_Iron]

"Fine it a few times but not for a while, best time was just over 20 mins, could never get under 29 which was my goal every time. Tend to run on my own, most mornings with the hound and we do between 4-10K depending on how I’m feeling, weather etc. Recommend running to anyone, not o my is it good for you physically but find mentally it’s good as well for me anyway, used tb buregular running keeps it in check. It’s cheap, just need a decent pair of running shoes and your set, I prefer to do it solo with EarPods blasting but others run in groups etc"

[On The Ball]

You should try Couch 2 5K if you want to build yourself up gradually. It's brilliant.

[Dwight Van Mann]

Rather run by myself. But good for you though - if it helps to motivate you to get you out there. Were there many geezers taking part as women? https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12909261/parkrun-protect-women-transgender-rivals-row-self-id-risk.html