JLL Property 5K - 24.08.16

On a very hot Thursday evening in Regents Park 814 runners gathered for the JLL Property 5K a charity run organised by JLL to raise funds for the Starlight charity. The run is for those who work in or around the property industry and my firm meets that criteria.

This year due to holidays, weddings and injuries there were only 2 of us taking part from my firm.

The run is mostly flat and covers a winding route around the beautiful park. The 37 degree c temperatures made the run very tough with many people, my colleague included, really struggling with overheating.

I managed what I think is a pretty reasonable time in the conditions of 22.55 which was good enough for 187th place. My colleague Judith, after very little training, managed 765th place in a time of 36.47.

Les would have been very impressed with the huge medal presented at the end and there was also a vast supply of free beer, wine and water at the end.

Linford Wood Parkrun - 06.08.16

We had a good turnout from FlitwickTri at the Linford Wood Parkrun in Milton Keynes yesterday with 5 of us in action along with friend Samantha from MK also taking part. Conditions must have been good with 4 of us getting PBs at this Parkrun.

There were 169 runners in total and the weather was fine and sunny but thankfully much of the run is in the shade as it weaves through the woods.

Our times were:

Jack Wilkinson            20th in 21.58
Chris Wright               26th in 22.25 PB
Liam Ko                      57th in 25.30 PB
Les Potts                     58th in 25.33 PB
Sarah Eke                    147th in 34.59               


Samantha Evans           90th in 28.49 PB

Well done all.

Linford Wood Parkrun - 30.07.16

This week it was the turn of Les, Chloe and Jack to head over to Linford Wood Parkrun in MK. Conditions were again very good but the big turnout this week of 212 made things a bit tricky on the narrow paths.

The results were:

Jack Wilkinson             21st in 21.40 (another PB)
Les Potts                     87th in 27.25
Chloe Potts                 136th in 31.32

Linford Wood Parkrun - 23.07.16

Last week Les, Jack and I headed over to MK to have a go at the Linford Wood Parkrun which is now the second one in Milton Keynes. Conditions were good if still a bit warm. This was the event's second running and 135 runners took part.

The run is mildly undulating and a large part of it is on a winding footpath through the woods.

Our times were:

Jack Wilkinson:           18th in 21.58
Chris Wright:               25th in 23.05
Les Potts:                    55th in 26.31             

Linford Wood MK Parkrun - 16th July 2016

Liam Ko, Chloe Potts and I decided to take part in the first Parkrun at Linford Wood, Milton Keynes.

The route was nice enough albeit pretty narrow the whole way especially the second half through the woods although by then the runners had spaced out considerably.

Our results were:

Liam Ko 83rd 27:59

Les Potts 117th 30.44

Chloe Potts 119th 30:52

Our pal Samantha came in 134th in 32:49. 188 runners took part.

Les

Luton Wardown Parkrun - 9th July 2016

There were four runners from Flitwick Tri in this event. It being Jack's and my first time at Luton Parkrun.

Parking was easy, and cheap and the course relatively pleasant.

Out of 212 runners we achieved the following results:

Jack Wilkinson 28th  22:57

Pete Jones 58th 25:18

Les Potts 59th  25:21

Sian Jones 156th       37:13

Les

Stowe Triathlon - 3rd July 2016

Quick report on the Stowe triathlon on 3rd July.

I entered the Stowe triathlon at least partly because it starts at a sensible time - 11am for the sprint event so none of this setting off from home before 6am for a 7.30 start!  

The organisers sent an email the day before warning of a weed infestation in the lake which meant they had to change the swim route from one large lap to 3 smaller laps that they tried to clear. I hate to think what it must have been like before they cleared it because it was very weedy. I think perhaps a narrow path had been cleared on the direct route between buoys but because I am not a strong swimmer I tend to keep to the outside where it was not clear and not at all pleasant. Once it settled down to single file after a lap, progress was easier.

The start of the bike leg was on an unmade pot holed track that I would normally only have cycled on a mountain bike. It was also uphill and I was about 3/4 of the way up when a competitor in trouble on the way down asked me to go back and get help. If there is such a thing as a reluctant Good Samaritan then it was me as I went 500m back, raised the alarm and then cycled back up. If I had been thinking straight I would have carried on to the next marshal who was probably nearer anyway. 

I felt that I was going very slowly on the run but actually my time was not too bad and I was satisified with my overall time of 1hr 48m 59s. This was 9m slower than my time at the same event 2 years ago but the run was 6.7k compared to the traditional 5k last time out so with that and the extra cycling I was probably marginally faster. I finished 28th out of 77 in the sprint category. Overall, an enjoyable event in a fantastic location.

Next one for me is probably the Bedfordshire triathlon at Box End on 17th July.

Steve Clough