Running in the UK: A Tale from the Trails

This isn’t a typical race review or report, you can see it more as a set of memories & experiences from someone trying to run, whilst enjoying the freedom of the trails and the friendships made along the way.

If you’ve read my 2023 Running Year in Review, you will know I took up running in January 2023 (or retook up if you count my feeble attempts of running during the 2020 pandemic and even shorter spurts of jogging during school years). I went to Bath Skyline parkrun on a typical English winter morning; cold, grey, and drizzly, making me question whether I wanted to run or whether I’d rather still be in bed. After attending the first timers’ briefing and being informed about the rabbit holes, cows, 37 steps, potato field and particularly deep mud-filled puddles, I felt ready enough to take on my first parkrun. And what a first parkrun it was! Coming down the slope about 1.5 km in, the rain was sideways, the wind spitting rain at my face, and yet I had a huge grin, it was so much fun. I didn’t get to see the amazing skyline view of Bath which this run had to offer as it was so grey and thick with cloud, but this didn’t matter – I was sold! I think this parkrun was, and still is, the most enjoyable and motivating run I have experienced to date. The experience of crossing the line, being handed a finish token, and scanning your barcode for the first time was such an alien feeling, and is strangely now almost a habit, engrained in my movements post parkrun.

And so afterwards, Kieran and I headed home to clean all the mud off - I was caked in it! Before I knew it my text came through, congratulating me for my first ever parkrun and sending through my time of 35:37. And just over a year later, I look back on the past 42 parkruns I have completed (listed below), with all the fond memories, new friendships and faster times along the way - I still think it is crazy that I have dropped 11 minutes off my Bath Skyline time.

Memories from running club

I think the real adventure began when I clicked ‘attending’ on a free running club, hosted by Lululemon and Helen in Bath at the beginning of August. I didn’t know anyone, and when I walked inside the store, I was instantly overwhelmed by the bright Lululemon colours and number of people in attendance. However, once Helen our amazing run leader explained the format of the run club and put us into groups of four based on our speed, I felt much more settled. In my group were Jason and Alan who coincidentally lived on the same street as myself, and so began the weekly Lululemon club runs (and BRT club after that), meeting Alan and Jason on route down to the club and attending these great sessions aimed at improving your 5 km and 10 km speeds. You can read more here on Helen and her super inclusive run group (BRT). The first session I attended was called trains which is a really fun but tough set which involves running in a line or train, and the final runner squatting for 10 and then sprinting to catch your running team train, then the final runner drops off and squats, in a continuous format.

Moving to Norway does put this year into perspective; there have been so many great race opportunities, here are just a few:

Maverick X Series Chilterns

This event was my first race experience. Maverick is a big eco-friendly race company with some great sponsors. The marshals were so friendly in directing us to the race village and start line. Instantly, the atmosphere was great with high energy music being played and lots of groups gathering. I even got to wear Adidas Terrex trail shoes as I didn’t have any of my own with me and the race was set to be slippy with all the rain we had experienced. I am so glad I did! There was one part of the route which was such a steep descent, I would have slipped on my bum the whole way down were it not for my borrowed trail shoes.  After the race we were given Tenzing cans, 0% beer and an energy bar, along with a funky wooden medal. One negative from the race, the first 2.5 km I think we all walked because it was so busy and route was on a narrow path. This wasn’t bad for me as I was just there to experience the race though!!

Canicross

I decided to take up canicross with my dog Pippa once she was old enough and this season (although I started late) has been dotted with a few races which we’ve been able to attend together, and these have been so much fun! See my post here for more reading on these canicross events. 

Eastnor Backyard Relay

This was a rogue entry decision, but I am so glad we entered! A few quick remarks on the race event, conditions and team work. It was a very cold, wet start, a somewhat common occurrence now for me and UK running races, driving on the M5 up to Eastnor Castle. Our team (consisting of Kieran, Nea, Peter and myself) set up camp at a little table close to the coffee truck (intentional? You decide). After the race briefing, Nea set off on her first lap with the solo Backyard runners. Thank goodness she had changed into her kit before the briefing and not after, or else that would have been a rush. Nea came back in first place behind the lead bike, ready for Peter to set off. Kieran followed on from Peter and I brought it home for the first set of our four team laps. The lap was beautiful and running along the top ridgeway, the views of the hills were breath-taking (maybe literally too because we’d just run up a big hill). You could see base camp and hear the cowbells jingling as runners came in and out of the start/finish.

The race was really well organised with great marshals out on course until 6pm, everyone was super cheerful and encouraging too and the atmosphere was friendly (including a few not so low-key competitive people). The feast station from Relish Running was great, as always with so many options, and something I know Relish really pride themselves with. I think we could have eaten our way through all of the Milky Ways!! It was a really fun event and something I would definitely do again! I guess the weather which is something we can’t control was the only downer, it was difficult to stay warm between the laps. At one point during my second lap, I thought I had stones in my shoes, but it turned out my feet were just so cold I had no feeling…

Memories from a few parkruns

I completed my 25th parkrun at The Old Showfield, swiftly followed by cake, coffee and a mosey around Frome. I originally thought it would be cool to submit my PhD thesis the same week as my 25th parkrun. Although, because of timings and deadlines this didn’t work, so I think it was the following week I submitted, some friends and myself went to Quakers Walk in Devizes for parkrun and celebratory coffee after. It seems that a lot of memorable PhD moments seem to align with notable run achievements. I ran Bath Half in sub two hours three days before I defended my PhD and successfully became a Dr of geology and climate (you can read about my research here if you fancy). I have Race To The Stones three days before my graduation (please pray I can wear heels and walk normally by then or else my Mum will kill me).

Although maybe this is just what happens when you run more – lifestyle evolves into a balance of big events integrated with running?

Parkruns completed (alphabetically obviously):

·      Bath Skyline

·      Cardiff

·      Cheltenham

·      Chippenham

·      Chipping Sodbury

·      Eastville

·      Five Arches

·      Haverfordwest

·      Jesmond Dene

·      Mile End

·      Pomphrey Hill

·      Quakers Walk

·      Somerdale Pavillion

·      Southwick Country Park

·      Tetbury Goods Shed

·      The Old Showfield

·      Woolacombe Dunes

It seems fitting to think that my final parkrun at Bath Skyline before moving to Norway was spent running with both Alan and Jason, crossing the line one after another, like in trains fashion from Lululemon run club.  

My final UK parkrun, paced by Nea at Chipping Sodbury was a parkrun PB too which is pretty special. This was followed by coffee and jam donuts from Hobbs Bakery in the sunshine.

Next up: Løvstakkveien parkrun in Bergen. Not sure there will be any sub24s at this hilly event...

Final note, what cruel photographer gets a photo of the parkrun sign and crops out the location hahahahah