5K PB, parkrun 50, My Other Run Club

 In 2019 parkrun came to Nova Scotia. There is lots of info about parkrun out there, but quickly, it is a free timed 5K run that takes place all over the world and is hosted by volunteers. The courses are paved, smooth, rough, rocky, hilly, flat, and even beaches. But they all have the concept of a welcoming 5K open to all and always free.  Our local course, Chain of Lakes, is paved, straight, and "just one hill,"  with that hills being the entire course. While there are first finishers, there really aren't winners. You totally can treat this like a race, or a fun run, a hard effort, a relaxing way to start a Saturday, or any combination of the above.  Your times are recorded in your personal online info page and your "membership" is good at any parkrun anywhere in the world. 

So I missed the first parkrun, where Craig came first and raved about how this small but fun little event was worth checking out. So I came the next week with the goal of running at a moderate pace and helping some other runners try to get to their goal time. Luke came first this week. 

In week three I was the first finisher and found the fun of running a hard 5K. This soon became my goal. A good hard 5K at least once a month, which then became a sub 18 minute 5K once a month. 

The BLT Runners have taken the Chain of Lakes parkrun on as our second run family. In Canada we are one of the top teams as far as participation goes, and the bulk of that has been at our local run. We've embraced the running, the volunteering, and the post run coffee (now at the 5K cafe!)

While I have managed to be a parkrun tourist twice in Boulder, Colorado, the bulk of my run have been at the Chain of Lakes. Parkrun has milestone achievements and I reach my 50th run a few weeks back (I am now at 56). I unlocked the 50 run shirt as well! I do try and volunteer occasionally as well.

While I have had many fast runs, and lots of first finishes, some of my favorite runs have been pacing friends to goal results.

And while this course is far from what people consider to be fast (with a 2.5km uphill finish), I have rose to that challenge and set all my PBs in the 5K on this course. In 2019 it was a 17:19 chasing down the course record holder Kyle, in 2020 it was a solo effort during COVID lockdowns of 17:14, and now just this past weekend I dropped it again to 17:12 officially. I wasn't sure I had another one at this pace in me but dang, I did. 

So thanks to the main core volunteers at Chain of Lakes for making sure this event works, thanks tot he BLT Runners for supporting the volunteers, and showing up every week, and thanks to the weather for being so nice last Saturday.