The Running Thread (formerly How fast can you run a 5k?)

[Bob Weasel Fox]

3 hours ago, FLAN said:

Low numbers at parkrun this morning. Managed to hit 30 mins bang on which I was happy with 

snapped ACL 18 months ago and I’m 54 

Great effort bud 👏👏👏

 

I did Braunstone Park Run with my pooch this morning but he stopped twice which was frustrating as he propper just ground to halt without any warning 🥴 border collies are amazing but a different breed in terms of mentality more than anything else - stubborn doesn't do them justice 🤣

 

anyway I'm 55 with a knackered left knee and managed a respectable time 26mins 22seconds (or about 25 mins without the 2 stops 😂) bloody dog 😳

[Ric Flair]

2 hours ago, Bob Weasel Fox said:

Great effort bud 👏👏👏

 

I did Braunstone Park Run with my pooch this morning but he stopped twice which was frustrating as he propper just ground to halt without any warning 🥴 border collies are amazing but a different breed in terms of mentality more than anything else - stubborn doesn't do them justice 🤣

 

anyway I'm 55 with a knackered left knee and managed a respectable time 26mins 22seconds (or about 25 mins without the 2 stops 😂) bloody dog 😳

Hahahahaaaa i'd have my arm out the socket if I tried to run with mine (labrador/border collie cross)

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Managed to chip away a bit at my 5k on Tuesday night with a 19:38 job, looked like I'd been on Stormforce 10 after, wet through. That was 3:56/km average, no idea how some of you mad lads can keep that (or quicker!) going for longer

 

 

[SecretPro]

Finished Leamington Half Marathon this morning in 1:43:41

 

Much hillier that I expected, but a nice scenic route. 

 

Feet are killing. 

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Managed 22k across the week in my hotel gym in Greece in what can only be described as furnace conditions. Should have run outside in hindsight as it would have been the same temperature and as least some air.

[Ric Flair]

9 hours ago, SecretPro said:

Finished Leamington Half Marathon this morning in 1:43:41

 

Much hillier that I expected, but a nice scenic route. 

 

Feet are killing. 

BOSH

[David Guiza II]

22 hours ago, SecretPro said:

Finished Leamington Half Marathon this morning in 1:43:41

 

Much hillier that I expected, but a nice scenic route. 

 

Feet are killing. 

I did my first official pacer job for this race yesterday and made the mistake of telling the 20 or so people following me that the next mile was flat - only to discover that HS2 had built a small mountain halfway down the road. It did not go down well.

 

1:43 is good going on that course, well run!

[Stuntman_Mike]

Did a race for life 5k mud run with my wife Saturday in Derby (Markeaton Park).

 

First run in a long time, so was good it was more of a fun run.

 

Looking at Northampton half in September to properly get back into it 

[FLAN]

On 26/05/2026 at 14:46, Ric Flair said:

Will also check out Saltstick. I'm concerned about replenishing enough electrolytes on Saturday. Will run with x 2 500ml bottles with Pure sport electrolytes which are 1000mg each but will need to get more at half way, which should be do-able as people are meeting me.

@Ric Flair are theee any use for the average parkrun runner or are they really for longer distances ?

[SecretPro]

2 hours ago, David Guiza II said:

I did my first official pacer job for this race yesterday and made the mistake of telling the 20 or so people following me that the next mile was flat - only to discover that HS2 had built a small mountain halfway down the road. It did not go down well.

 

1:43 is good going on that course, well run!

 

That was a killer. Came after a downhill too, turned a corner into a straight section of road and saw that in the distance. Audible groans from everyone around me 

[Ric Flair]

58 minutes ago, FLAN said:

@Ric Flair are theee any use for the average parkrun runner or are they really for longer distances ?

Fuelling for running tends to only be essential when running for longer than an hour but if you go in to any run a but under fuelled and dehydrated it could cause you some bother so having some electrolytes/salt stick chew etc will obviously help. 

[James_lcfc]

30 minutes pretty hard followed by 4 x 90s very hard for me this afternoon.

 

Pretty tough but enjoyed it. Even thinking about entering a 10k next Sunday!

[David Guiza II]

Anyone racing this weekend?

 

I've got the Two Castles 10k on Sunday - a point to point race from Warwick Castle to Kenilworth Castle. Really fun event, but not a PB chaser.

 

Then a big gap before the Great North Run. 

[waddadamadda]

6 hours ago, David Guiza II said:

Anyone racing this weekend?

 

I've got the Two Castles 10k on Sunday - a point to point race from Warwick Castle to Kenilworth Castle. Really fun event, but not a PB chaser.

 

Then a big gap before the Great North Run. 

My favourite EVER race! It’s my second fastest 10K course.

No racing for me until the 28/6 and the fabulous Round Sheffield Round and then nothing until GNR for me. 

[Unabomber]

Got some mega blasts recently, great shoe

[Stuntman_Mike]

First proper run at Dishley (Loughborough) Parkrun this morning. Was happy with 26 minutes seeing as it was a new course and I'm very rusty. 

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

On holiday in Northumberland and discovered Bamburgh 10k is tomorrow. Needless to say I've signed up. Looks a bit elevated tbh and I've not trained as much this week so I'll be going for another consecutive sub 40 but actually think I might struggle. Scenery will be good though 

[VLC86]

3 hours ago, Unabomber said:

Got some mega blasts recently, great shoe

They are excellent. Only complaint I’ve got is how tight they are on the upper, they have battered my feet in longer runs. But they just make you go fast.

[Unabomber]

7 hours ago, VLC86 said:

They are excellent. Only complaint I’ve got is how tight they are on the upper, they have battered my feet in longer runs. But they just make you go fast.

Mine fit alright on me and yeah agree once you get going they are great.

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

15 hours ago, Heart-Shaped Fox said:

On holiday in Northumberland and discovered Bamburgh 10k is tomorrow. Needless to say I've signed up. Looks a bit elevated tbh and I've not trained as much this week so I'll be going for another consecutive sub 40 but actually think I might struggle. Scenery will be good though 

Awaiting the official time, but think I was about 40:30. Pretty sure I finished around 11-14th place, possibly from about 600 runners. 

 

Was a nice route but so unbelievably windy and elevated in places. Splits all over the place. Ranging from 3:51 to 4:25, the hills were an absolute killer especially in the wind, I really hated it at times 😂 Elevation gain of 80m Strava says.

 

I knew sub 40 would be tough here because of all that, but wasn't a bad effort with short notice before entering it and definitely didn't do it in my best shoes either 😂

 

Second fastest 10k and 5k I've ever done on Strava so I'll take it and on to the next one end of June where it's back home and flat. Beating my 38:28 PB is my target there. 

Edited Sunday at 11:18 by Heart-Shaped Fox

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

4 hours ago, Heart-Shaped Fox said:

Awaiting the official time, but think I was about 40:30. Pretty sure I finished around 11-14th place, possibly from about 600 runners. 

 

Was a nice route but so unbelievably windy and elevated in places. Splits all over the place. Ranging from 3:51 to 4:25, the hills were an absolute killer especially in the wind, I really hated it at times 😂 Elevation gain of 80m Strava says.

 

I knew sub 40 would be tough here because of all that, but wasn't a bad effort with short notice before entering it and definitely didn't do it in my best shoes either 😂

 

Second fastest 10k and 5k I've ever done on Strava so I'll take it and on to the next one end of June where it's back home and flat. Beating my 38:28 PB is my target there. 

Results finally been posted. 13th Place and 434 runners. 40:19 time. Would have loved the sub 40 but the hills and wind did me in. Didn't help the Chinese takeaway and fish/pie and chips I've had three nights in a row 😂

Edited Sunday at 15:39 by Heart-Shaped Fox

[Bellend Sebastian]

3 minutes ago, Heart-Shaped Fox said:

Results finally been posted. 13th Place and 434 runners. 40:19 time. Would have loved the sub 40 but the hills and wind did me in. Didn't help the Chinese takeaway and fish/pie and chips I've had three nights in a row 😂

I disagree, surely that can only propel one on to the very heights of athletic excellence. 

 

Seriously, very well done though. Amazing stuff

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

20 minutes ago, Bellend Sebastian said:

I disagree, surely that can only propel one on to the very heights of athletic excellence. 

 

Seriously, very well done though. Amazing stuff

Thanks. Usually like a good old chicken and rice the night before and no shite food for days before. This hol all I've eaten is junk meals tbf, not including all the cake and chocolate 😂 so I'll take it. Got a ten km at the end of the month back home I might do, just waiting on the weather, but again will aim for closer to pb hopefully there as it's flat

[David Guiza II]

On 12/06/2026 at 21:32, waddadamadda said:

My favourite EVER race! It’s my second fastest 10K course.

No racing for me until the 28/6 and the fabulous Round Sheffield Round and then nothing until GNR for me. 

Yes, such a good course and getting to wander around Warwick Castle grounds beforehand/Kenilworth afterwards is always cracking!

 

Managed to get round in 38:34 - which I'm really happy with over a course that is almost entirely uphill.

 

Now onto a long block for GNR.