Doing The Parkrun Double on New Years Day was an amazing way to start to 2017!
I woke up at 7am on New Years Day and decided I was going to go to parkrun. Start the year as I mean to go on! It was raining outside so I very nearly changed my mind but I was determined to do it.
I knew a few of my club Pegasus were going to ‘do the double’ and also run at Barry Island or Newport afterwards but I was just going to do the Cardiff parkrun. Well, that was the plan anyway.
Cardiff parkrun
I arrived at Cardiff parkrun and chatted to my running buddies who tried to convince me to ‘do the double’. I was cold and wet before we’d even started so didn’t want to. “Not this year” is what I said. Last year I couldn’t do it because I was injured and promised myself that I’d do it this year but I “just wasn’t feeling it”.
That lasted about 400 metres then I turned to John and said, I’m going to run Barry Island parkrun after this! John ran Cardiff parkrun with me and kept me going when I wanted to slow down. He didn’t leave my side and laughed when I said I wanted to curl up and die. It hurt. It really hurt.
Barry Island parkrun
The route is mainly ‘out and back’ which I love. I have such a good time looking for familiar faces and cheering my running buddies on,. It’s a great distraction and really keeps me going. The last stretch along the promenade was looming and my legs were giving in, then out of nowhere Ally appeared by my side. She kept me going until the end and I am so grateful to her.
That’s the amazing thing about the running community. We might only see some people a few times a year but it’s as though we run together every day. They are supportive and encouraging of each other – I haven’t met a community like it before and I love being part of it.
I completed Cardiff parkrun in 29:40 and Barry Island parkrun in 31:21. I expected the Barry run to be slower than that so am very pleased with my time.
Soggy Pegs plus our friendly Les Croups photobomber
After the run I went for a cuppa tea and a bacon roll with Sarah, Rosie and Helen. We chatted a lot about running and exchanged our goals for 2017. We’ve all decided to do more parkrun tourism this year. We are putting together a list of the races we want to enter and/or support our Pegs at.
Wet, freezing cold and pre cuppa and bacon roll photo
I’m so glad I ‘did the double’ today, it feels like a massive achievement and a wonderful way to start the year.
Glad you enjoyed Barry, i was the marshall with the dog at the Seafood swerve at the end of the prom before you went up the slope.Nigel Adams
I loved it, it's such a varied course and I bet it's even more beautiful on a less wet day! I shall definitely be back for more. Thanks for your encouragement Nigel, it really helped!