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Jan 2019
10:52am, 4 Jan 2019
10,049 posts
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MazH
My event average is 28:27.... something to aim for I guess. about 1:30 off that at the moment.
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Jan 2019
12:43pm, 4 Jan 2019
268 posts
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Spideog
Re buggy running. Sometimes it's better to start at the front, other times better to start at the back. It's all very course, weather, terrain, standard of event and buggy passenger mood dependant.
Someone mentioned Burnham & Highbirdge earlier and I would start from the front there, the only tricky bit of the course for the buggy is unfortunately the first 100 meters with the gravel start and chicane. But I am just about able to outrun them all to the chicane and then I can ease off a bit and people get by easy enough and I'd generally finish around the top 10. Most of the other local events I buggy run at are fairly similar and despite being on narrow'ish paths it's possible to get into the right position early on without getting in anyones way by starting at the front.
The likes of Ashton Court I wouldn't though as the damned hill would mean I'd be a rolling road block quite soon so would have to start from the back, but that then means I'm still in the middle of the pack when it comes to the downhill and get dragged along for 3 minute mile pace. So hate that course even more since buggy running.
Another complication with the buggy would be on a course like Cardiff where it's flat and fast and plenty of space, but because there are so many speedsters I'd not be able to outrun them on the 3...2...1...go so would have to start from the back despite it being a good buggy course otherwise.
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Jan 2019
2:59pm, 4 Jan 2019
16,442 posts
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Chrisity
Out of Beeston's 248 events there have been 241 first finishers. Interesting to see if anyone else is above that percentage.
Our age grade best is 95.5%, i'd have to run just over 17 mins as a 65yo male to beat it. Maybe next year.
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Jan 2019
4:03pm, 4 Jan 2019
6,400 posts
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larkim
Whether you’re a racing snake, a C25K newbie, a buggy pusher or a running with a dog, you undoubtedly have to run “selfishly” if you want to have your best time recorded at a parkrun. Unfortunately that’s the reality. And of course for a sub 16 speedster it’s very very easy to be selfish, whereas the slower you are the more of an inconvenience you are likely to cause for 1 or more people.
In my head, at parkrun we are all obliged to compromise to some extent in the name of a free event run by volunteers. But sometimes everyone can claim a degree of entitlement to be that selfish one who puts their own achievement above (most) other reasonable considerations. The problem is that some see that entitlement as being theirs every week.
I’m happy to have this challenged by the way if you think I’m talking nonsense!!
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Jan 2019
4:10pm, 4 Jan 2019
40,204 posts
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Velociraptor
Last time I made an attempt to be "selfish" and start close to the front with a view to getting a fast time even though I knew it would mean some people would have to get past me, I tripped on a speck of dust on the start line and fell over, almost caused a pile-up, and sprained my ankle.
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Jan 2019
4:21pm, 4 Jan 2019
6,402 posts
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larkim
LOL - I bet you told yourself that was karma!!
There’s one “larger” runner at my local who week in week out runs about 35 minutes, yet starts on the first or second row of a course that only accommodates about 5 or 6 wide and acts as a barrier to just about the whole field. But I bet she’d get nowhere near a PB if she started in a more “flow”-appropriate place in the start. So I can understand why she does it. It’s just that I wouldn’t behave that way.
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Jan 2019
4:24pm, 4 Jan 2019
6,605 posts
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Too Much Water
If you always start at or near the back your PB will naturally improve as you gain fitness surely?
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Jan 2019
4:27pm, 4 Jan 2019
3,547 posts
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jdarun
I think people have to be prepared to compromise a little at paid events too (if by compromise you mean start a little back from the line). Of course these usually do chip timing so it's less of an issue. Plus fewer limitations due to the course. But at really big events people can be walking for a while after crossing the line. But for 99% of the people, 99% of the time, it's hard to see why it's worth getting worked up over it.
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Jan 2019
4:28pm, 4 Jan 2019
20,839 posts
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Wriggling Snake
I always stand where I think I belong, I look at the times and decide how near the front I should be.
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Jan 2019
4:35pm, 4 Jan 2019
6,403 posts
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larkim
I guess the current crop of participants (myself included) don’t remember the days when chip timing didn’t exist and getting a PB time at even a big event was compromised by having to pass the start line. I wonder whether start funnel sorting was more universally accepted as a necessary evil back in those days? Today someone who has run local chip timed 5k perhaps can’t comprehend the concept of a “race” where their time is anything other than a 100% accurate representation of the time taken between the start and finish lines.
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parkrun Café
Jan 2025