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There is a well organized, timed 5k run that takes place in Finsbury Park every Saturday morning at 9am. It's free, but you have to register:
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It is very good.
I have done it a few times, always well attended. -
Would beginners be frowned upon? I've never ran for fun/sport (just the bus), but feel that I might like to break the habit of a lifetime.
Is there a leader? Will someone advise on how to pace myself, to remember to breathe etc? -
Beginners are not frowned upon, just trampled over, spat on and then laughed at in slow motion.
In all seriousness, it's a laugh and it does help push you a bit more being surrounded by other people. There are all sorts, once I did it and there was a bloke pushing a pram around and yeah, he beat me!
You see the course on the map there, have a couple of trial runs and then get involved as being timed really helps if you are trying to improve.
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There has been 60 - 80 the few times I've done it, some weeks have had more I think.
It does help with improving times if that's what you want to do, but also it is just a good excuse to get out of the house early on a Saturday. -
Thanks for putting the link up. Me and her went on Saturday morning. There were 83 runners and although of varying ability I would say the pack is slightly skewed to 'not half bad' but I think this helps those of us in the bottom third of the table with something to aim for. It was well organised and a great way to start the weekend.
Will def be going again and I would encourage anyone to have a go.
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@ADGS There's nothing to stop you from joining in if you're unregistered, but you won't get a time. If you register (for free) you get an account and you can see all your times and how much you improve over time. Quite useful really.
Unfortunately, last week, they dumped 14tonnes of manure in the middle of the course half way through. The physical obstruction wasn't the problem; it was the smell that did me.
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@ missisclack - there are marshals and volunteers along the course. It's well marked out and plenty of people doing it to follow. Beginners are more than welcome and next week it's Park Run Free where everyone is encouraged to bring someone new. There's a bring and share picnic after also.
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Just a bump to this old thread to say the Park Run race is still going strong every Saturday with a healthy turnout. The volunteers who organise it week in week out are doing a wonderful job.
It is truly a triumph of the Big Society. Join in and I expect you'll make David Cameron proud.
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I agree. After a sunny weekend the park is an absolute heap of crap. I think a vigilante army should pick up the crap, follow people home and then dump it back through their letter boxes.
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I think not Misscara. I regularly see people throwing rubbish on the floor when they are standing next to a bin, smokers in particular seem like to throw their debris around. Maybe having the word 'litter' in several different languages might help as people really don't seem to understand the concept of bins.
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Misscara - that strikes me as the same overly-soft approach which you rightly decry in the junkie scum thread. Even if a bin is overflowing, which park bins sadly often are, any civilised person can bag up their rubbish in a carrier and put said carrier next to the bin. And anyone who doesn't, doesn't deserve to use parks. Give 'em a year's ban and they'd remember sooner or later.
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I know that, and you know that, but when I was in the park yesterday and noticed all the rubbish laid around I did notice a distinct lack of bins. I'm just saying that if there were more maybe the rubbish would be less of a problem. I notice in some parks they have animal shaped bins which encourage the kids to use them. Unfortunately it seems to be the adults that are the problem, I observed a very large family a few weeks ago having a massive picnic and when they were packing up to leave a couple of the younger boys started putting their vast amount of rubbish in carrier bags but were told to just leave it by the elders as 'they have people to clean the park'. I've also noticed the hill between the tennis courts and Lidl seems to get littered with huge amounts of KFC waste. Perhaps a litter warden who could go around telling people to clear up or risk a fine would be a good idea. I volunteer to do this job, but only if I can have a high-voltage cattle prod to 'persuade' people.
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If it's specifically weekday evening races you want, I'd recommend the Sri Chinmoy series in Battersea Park.
For casual local running, you could try the Heathside training sessions at the Finsbury Park track, as mentioned on the other thread. They are every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 7pm. (Tuesdays are more popular.) In addition, Heathside organises steady runs (various different speeds / distances) leaving from the YMCA at 50 Tottenham Lane also on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
London Heathside is a very friendly local running club, all abilities welcome as it was formed by the merger of a serious athletics club with a less serious jogging club. Just pop along to try either session out. Annual membership is pretty reasonable at £35 if it suits.
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Sorry can't not mention Synergy running club http://www.crouchendrunning.co.uk/
Its a lovely small club catering for all abilities, lots of older members, people with physical injuries etc. Its a very nurturing environment and the emphasis is on motivating each other to go out once or twice a week. Its about £55 for 8 sessions, including a couple of personal assessments. Just turn up on Wednesday night @ 7pm and say "I'm new" - ask for Sarra.
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In this Discussion
- ADGS May 2011
- Alex May 2011
- andy May 2010
- bennyfromtheblok May 2010
- DKL May 2011
- drift May 2010
- Emma May 2011
- Ian May 2011
- JungleFaceJake May 2010
- krappyrubsnif May 2011
- mapsa May 2010
- Margolada May 2011
- miss annie May 2011
- Misscara May 2011
- missisclack May 2010
- nick_m May 2010
- Reg May 2010
- sincers May 2011
