On a day with country-wide heat wave warnings, Ormskirk was a little cloudy, some wind, and perfect running conditions. I was also on my own, as Ormskirk Parkrun is held on Edge Hill University Campus and is dog free. Helen decided to stay at home with Nelly.
I arrived a little early, as is my way, and had a look around the course, which looked fairly straight forward. One small lap and two larger laps, with a loop around the outside of the running track. Toilets were in the sports centre, which was very clean and the staff nice and friendly.
There were a few announcements at the start, a couple of people completing their 50th parkruns, and a woman who was visiting from Australia. I didn’t feel the need to announce that I’d come all the way from Lancaster after that.
I lined up at the start in a position I thought would be OK, only to find myself hemmed in as I struggled to overtake. I definitely need to push my way closer to the front when I’m not running with Nelly. Anyway, I soon found my pace and after almost 1km I overtook an older woman as we completed the first smaller loop. Onto the larger loop and I continued to overtake a few people, and then lap people, including a woman pushing a double buggy with a small boy who wasn’t happy. I then almost missed the turn for the finish.
Amazingly I finished in 13th place overall, and 1st in my age group. 30 seconds behind me the older woman who I had passed early on finished. She was in the 65-69 age group and recorded an age graded result of over 90%. My best result this year is 73%.
Ormskirk was my 138th parkrun, and my 47th different location. I ticked off ‘O’ from the Alphabet challenge, as well as 33rpm of the Record Breakers challenge. It was also my NENDY, with my new NENDY being Cliffe Castle in Keighly.
Beards and Triathlons 