Gibside Parkrun Race No. 71

The Graham boys are in green

Dad holds back at the start (green Macmillan Nurse vest)

Having just ran a tough fell race at Haydon Bridge a couple of days before, I was not really keen to join Chris at Gibside early on Saturday morning - "if I wake early, I will see you there" , was my immediate response.

Of course, I was up early, but not so bright the next morning to join Chris for his first visit to Gibside. At the start I told him just to go, as I intended to jog around. I even let the guy with the toddler in a buggy) pictured above) start ahead of me.

What felt like an easy pace for the first mile was actually 7.09, but I eased off for the climb up through the woods to record 9.21 for mile 2. As the climb became less steep, I started to edge the pace up, before turning for home and a fast downhill finish.

When I first came to Gibside, a year or two ago, for the Great Run Local, a weekly Sunday 5K , I was told that you can add two minutes to your usual Parkrun time at Gibside to take account of the 300+ feet climb. Well, this was confirmed again, last Saturday, as I finished in 24.20 for 19th position. Chris finished in 15th for 23.31.

A comfortable run in lovely surroundings on a Saturday morning (or Sunday for the Great Run Local) these are free runs, check them out online. What better way to start the weekend?