- parkrunday 1st April 2023
- parkrun #201 – South Manchester
- Number of visits: 2
- Time: 24:23
My original plan for today was to do Penrhyn in Bangor, North Wales, but I didn’t fancy another overnight stay on the Friday or a super early start on the Saturday, so opted to stay local at Croxteth Hall instead. That was until Jo told me there would be chocolate for her Flake Run (99th different venue) at South Manchester so I said I just had to join her!
I’d run at South Manchester parkrun once before, on 15th June 2019. Back then the course started and finished on the path round the lake. However, when parkrun returned after Covid they were forced to create a new route with a lot more space at the start and finish to allow for social distancing. The new start/finish area is on the wide avenue by the Platt Lane entrance. The route no longer goes round the lake (I bet the ducks and geese are happy!) although it still passes the Ditch of Doom, a long drainage ditch that runs adjacent to a section of path. Many a parkrunner has ignored the warnings and ended up waist high in cold, mucky water!
There were pacers taking part this morning. I attached myself to the 24 minute pacer, but ran out of steam on the second lap and dropped back. In the end I crossed the line with a time of 24:23, just before the 25 minute pacer. This is my fastest time of the year, and the fastest since the 24:13 I ran at Isabel Trail in July last year. My physical fitness is slowly returning, and I’m hoping to crack 24 minutes soon.
Afterwards Jo and I went to HAUS Fallowfield, the cafe listed on the event’s website. We were, however, the only parkrunners there. We still enjoyed a breakfast bap and a coffee with our parkfaff.
Next is Easter weekend and I’m heading for Southport.
