Adam Bird - My Personal Blog

On the 28th January 2023 I ran the Mile End parkrun which was the 499th event held at the venue, my 115th parkrun and 45th different course I'd attended. With a still striken bird mobile, I had to face the choice of running locally, or trying to attempt a parkrun by public transport. Fortunately from Gravesend we have easy access to London by train and where London is concerned there are an abundance of parkruns to choose from. I settled on Mile End, mainly because it was the closest event that had a Prime Number that I hadn't ran before and that it wasn't very difficult to get to. From Gravesend you can get the High Speed service to Stratford International, walk through the Westfield Shopping Centre and catch the Central Line from Stratford one stop on the Central Line to Mile End - all easy and straightforward which is exactly what I did. With public transport there is always the worry or concern around delays and cancellations, but as mentioned last week it's alway ...

On the 21st January 2023 I ran the Sutcliffe parkrun which was the 73rd event held at the venue, my 114th parkrun and 44th different course I'd attended. I've mentioned on these pages a number of times the benefits of a versatile plan. I'm also a believer in things happening for a reason. This week's parkrun was a combination of circumstances that validated both of those beliefs. The original plan stated Ifield Mill Pond in order to pick up an 'I' for another step on the alphabet challenge. But Stephanie reminded me that she and the other Bird family females were off to London for a boozy brunch to celebrate my sister's 40th birthday which meant I was needed to be home in time to pick up Hayden from football training and Phoebe from her performing arts class. No problem at all! Let's revert to a plan B - Sutcliffe parkrun which is only up the A2 and meant I'd be home in time to pick up the children. On the Thursday before parkrun day my friend Mark ...

On the 14th January 2023 I ran the Billericay parkrun which was the 222nd event held at the venue, my 113th parkrun and 43rd different course I'd attended. After visiting all of the parkruns in Kent and working my way through the parkrun alphabet there isn't any other goal in mind at the moment other than trying to run at different venues to keep enjoying blazing the parkrun tourist trail. So my next few planned runs have been designed around event numbers and ticking off events that are prime numbers, fibonacci numbers and those that are considered a Nelson . Which is how I found myself at Billericay parkrun in the wind and rain on a cold and miserable January morning, celebrating the 222nd event held at the venue. With the wind and rain came conditions that were a direct result of the weather. Crossing the park in order to reach the start I slipped and slid, nearly fell over and resented the idea of four laps around the park that comprised a section of grass and wondered why...

On the 7th January 2023 I ran the Victoria Dock parkrun which was the 156th event held at the venue, my 112th parkrun and 42nd different course I'd attended. One of my running goals this year is to complete the parkrun Alphabet and run at the remaining letters, I, V, Y and Z. The challenge being that both Y and Z require significant planning, effort and in the case of Z overseas travel. With that in mind what better way to start the new year of parkrun tourism than by ticking off one of the attainable letters? Irrespective of whether I needed the letter or not, the Victoria Dock parkrun would have been one of those on my 'want to do' list anyway. Running around the Victoria Dock in East London out alongside the dockside hotels and the ExCel centre with views of the O2 arena, docklands and the Emirates airline cable car the event is one of the more unique venues in the parkrun portfolio. According to various parkrun groups any visitor who attends the event and shows a parkr...

On the 1st January 2023 I ran the Shorne Woods parkrun which was the 435th event held at the venue, my 111th parkrun and a repeat of one of 41 different courses I've attended. After I'd completed the Margate parkrun on December 17th I decided to enjoy the Christmas period without touring and repeating my local events at Cyclopark, Great Lines and for the first time since New Years Eve 2020 Shorne Country Park. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were spent at Cyclopark and Great Lines respectively and I enjoyed the pleasure of setting new PBs at both events. I wasn't quite so fortunate yesterday on New Years Eve where I ran slightly slower at Cyclopark, but I still managed to set my fifth fastest time at the event. I've wanted to return to Shorne Woods for a while, in the knowledge that my previous times were set during the beginning of my parkun story and I'd improved a little since I last ran a competitive attempt at the event. My last visit was on New Years Day 202...