Occasionally tales of strength and endurance are told where the rider has completed a hilly 300k on Saturday just to ride a AAA 200k on the Sunday. Or the runner thinks a marathon is not so hard so runs another the next day (or even 10 in a row like those tough guys and girls at Brathay). As one who likes the concept but not the pain I settled for running the Abingdon Parkrun 5k on Saturday then the 5.25k Bagley Wood Fun Run and Walk the very next day!
The previous Saturday I’d marshalled at the Abingdon parkrun, a first for me and I’m looking forward to helping out again. This week, my 3rd Abingdon parkrun, I had hope of a PB. My first attempt had been 23:37 and my second 23:48, both sabotaged by going off too fast.
So a pleasant ride out to the start was followed by a slightly less frantic start and all seemed well. I was nearer the back than before so passed a few but by the second lap I was feeling the strain and slowed a bit. An attempt at a sprint for the line left me with a time of 23:40. Oh well – at least I seem to be consistent!
The winner, finishing in 16:51, was a CaniX runner with 2 dogs who was telling how his PB with the dogs is a minute faster than without.
My plan for the Bagley Wood Fun Run and Walk on Sunday was a leisurely one, I didn’t expect to be up for a fast run the day after Abingdon. I did have hopes of beating my 25:59 from 2009 though as I think I’m a bit faster now. I cycled out to the 11:30 start and entered on the line so had to do that business of pining my number on myself without any blood let. It was raining and a little chaotic in a fun way with a runner’s collie getting all excited and pointing the wrong way for a bark at a spectators dog just as we were off.
Once round the field then up the 2 flights of steps to cross the bridge over the A34 then into Bagley Wood. I’m soon feeling yesterdays legs and it’s all up and down and puddles and mud and sticks and corners. I settle for just getting round and let a few past including the dog and lad who I later realise is Charlie – 1st dog to finish when I last ran this event. Fast kids pass me and I pass knackered dads. Behind somewhere the walkers are doing some game which involves pictures of animals and such pinned to trees. It’s raining harder but I’m enjoying myself despite feeling more like I’ve run 24k than 4k.
A marshal warns us on a steep and muddy up and down but I take the approach of flying down and loosing the momentum up the other side as I think any attempt to slow will see me slip up. A small lad in front walks, then runs 10 steps, then walks so I advise him to walk to the start of the field then start running before he gets out in the open. I enter the field and trot round the field to finish in 27:04 which will just have to do this time round.
The Bagley Wood Fun Run and Walk is a great annual event run by Kennington Overseas Aid, a charity which usually targets a specific, researched cause and is well worth supporting.