Parkrun Reviews: Introduction!

(NB: for those who don’t know what Parkruns are, they’re weekly, free, timed 5k runs in parks – so they got the name spot on. There’s bound to be one near you, so why not give it a go? Check out http://www.parkrun.org.uk/ for more information.)

I’ve been running since 2012, and managed to get countless 10ks, a few half-marathons, and a single full marathon under my belt since then. I’d overlooked the shorter distances since I always thought that if I’d spent 10 minutes warming up, I wanted to be running for at least 30 minutes. After running the Liverpool Rock n Roll Marathon in May 2014, I was a bit sick of long distances (whilst running through the Sheffield countryside can be a life-affirming, beautiful experience, 21 miles of continuous hills in the pouring rain can be soul/sole destroying). I’d read about Parkruns but they never fit into my training schedule of ‘go hard, go long, go fast’ – a mantra which I also use in other areas of my life, not always intentionally. So, after a brief break from running, I decided to try them out.

Since turning up to my first Parkrun in July 2014, paper barcode in hand, I’ve been hooked on 5ks. They’re short enough to go all out from the get go, but long enough feel a sense of accomplishment at the end/justify a strong drink afterwards (who cares if you’re finished by 9:30? Oh, my doctor…).

I’m usually at the Princes Park parkrun if I’m in Liverpool, or the Mile End parkrun if I’m in London… but after a while, I began to fancy a bit of a change. So, I’ve set myself a challenge – I have two years of my PhD left (hopefully…) and in that time I want to run all 47 of the London parkruns. This part of my blog is to chronicle that journey, provide brief friendly reviews, share my progress, and motivate me to get out despite the weather, the hangover, or the warm embrace of my bed.

List of London Parkruns

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