Sarj Singh writes this week's run report:
100 Not Out
Today was my 100th Parkrun and I wish to share my parkrun journey.
I turned up for my first parkrun on 20th February 2010 and was back home within ten minutes because the event was postponed due to poor weather conditions, the following week the conditions were more suitable and I trotted round in a comfortable 27 minutes. My routine for the next couple of months was parkrun in the morning, 5-aside in the afternoon and anything upto 10 miles most Sunday mornings. It soon became apparent that I couldn’t keep this up and the Sunday run was cast aside. My times steadily improved and I recorded a PB of just over 23 minutes on my 16th run – this was on the old course.
I was training for the Birmingham half Marathon in October 2010 and started to increase my miles including doing parkrun freedom runs. The week before the half I got a PB going under 23 minutes for the one and only time and achieved a PB in the ‘half’ the following week.
I’ve enjoyed all my parkruns and have many highlights including getting that PB, the Santa runs, volunteering for the report writing and the 100th event where a number of us ran round as ‘wanna be’ cricketers!
The support from all the marshals and supporters has been fantastic and the growth and camaraderie of our event is a credit to all who are involved. My biggest disappointment is that I didn’t build on the momentum of those consecutive PBs and I recognise anyone who gets a PB after doing 50 plus parkruns is putting in a great effort. It still amazes me how many people get PBs every week and how many first timers turn up every week – Imagine if they all turned up on a consistent basis!
My last 12 months have been littered by injuries, I picked up an injury the day before the Two Castles 10k and since then there has been a succession of niggles. My focus during that period has been getting to the magic 100 and for many of those weeks parkrun has been my only exercise. Ironically I am scheduled to do the Two Castles next month. My short term target is to remember to bring my barcode next time so I can complete a 100 runs at Cov (99 so far); get a season’s best and over the longer term I would like to consistently get an age grade score of 60% plus and stay injury free!
High Level Stats
The growth in numbers has been remarkable over the last few weeks after many months struggling to break the 300 barrier we have now smashed through that figure and the course attendance currently is 372.
The 10 week average is 297 (it was 205 this time last year) and the 4 week average is 335 compared to 213 for the corresponding week last year.
64% of the field was Male, 36% Female compared to 63/37 last year.
The overall top decile (top 10%) time was 20.55, one second slower than the corresponding week last year.
80% finished in under 32:11 compared to just under 32 minutes a year ago
The overall mid-point time was 27.23 compared to 27.31 (May 2011)
Minute 26 was the most popular finishing minute with 25 finishers; it was Minute 21 with 14 finishers last year.
32% achieved an age grade score of 60% or more (compared to 33%)
In summary even though our numbers have increased by upto 50% in the last year the change in the profiles and category times have remained constant.
Latest Stats
Men's placings:
James Trollope (SM20-24) of Birchfield Harriers, was first in 15:29 - third win in fourth appearance.
An unknown runner was second.
Kyza Derby (SM25-29) of Sphinx AC, was third in 17:24 - 2 previous wins.
Current standing in the Men's annual points competition:
Paul Slatford (Sphinx Ac) 1262 Pts.
Philip Fusi (Kenilworth Runners) 1246 Pts.
Paul Blanche (Unattached) 1236 Pts.
Women's placings:
Lucy Smith (VW35-39) of Sphinx AC, was first (27th overall) in 20:37 - second win in eigth appearance.
Lyn McDonald (VW35-39) of Northbrook AC, was second (41st overall) in 21:38 - 3 previous wins.
Lisa Wells (VW45-49) (Unattached) was third (68th overall) in 23:10.
Current standing in the Women's annual points competition:
Laura Pibworth (Sphinx AC) 1425 pts.
Emma Allen (Unattached) 1287 pts.
Diane Bird (Unattached) 1283 pts.
The following runners recorded the best Age Grade scores:
James Trollope (SM20-24) was graded 83.32 % for the time 15:29 (first overall).
Mark Baker (VM45-49) was graded 77.14 % for the time 18:40 (11th overall).
Phil Gatley (VM50-54) was graded 75.08 % for the time 20:08 (22nd overall).
This week there were 302 runners, of whom 32 were first timers and 66 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 16 different athletics clubs took part.
Coventry parkrun started on 6th February 2010, and since then 3,013 different runners, including participants from 163 athletics clubs, have completed 20,615 runs covering a total distance of 103,075 km, and there have been 5,011 new Personal Bests.
The Women's course record is held by Elaine Sherwin who ran in a time of 17:44 on 5th May 2012 (event number 116).
The Men's course record is held by Unknown Athlete who ran in a time of 14:59 on 22nd October 2011 (event number 88).
The Age Grade course record is held by Sheila Janet Carey who recorded a 95.07 % run (21:39) on 29th October 2011 (event number 89).
A big “thank you” to all of our volunteers who ensured the event ran smoothly and safely.
Alison Payne , Andrew R Johnson , Catherine Gough , Dan Rathbone, Guy Dunwoody , John Douglas, Joy Douglas, Julie Hall, June Johnson, Kaye Davison, Matt Hall, Michelle Shearer, Paul Nicholas, Philip Fusi, Rachel Brock, Richard Hands, Ros Myers, Sarj Singh and Theresa Mason.