Adam Bird - My Personal Blog

On the 27th April 2024 I ran the Seaford Beach parkrun which was the 186th event held at the venue, my 180th parkrun and 103rd different course I'd attended. Although parkrun isn't about setting the fastest time and trying to be competitive. It's only natural that you keep a keen eye on your finish times even if it's used as a barometer of your progress. This year I've ran a sub 27 five times out of 17 parkrun events - which is one short of half of the 12 total that I've recorded under 27 minutes. I've come a long way since those days where I ran week after week, desperately trying to break the 30 minutes milestone at Cyclopark. But everyone I've set a sub-27 this year I've been disappointed that I've not managed to lower that all time PB which was set last autumn in Dulwich. This week at Seaford Beach parkrun I had another opportunity to set a quick time knowing that the course was a flat out-and-back along the Seaford promenade, and with favou...

On the 20th April 2024 I ran the Sherwood Pines parkrun which was the 360th event held at the venue, my 179th parkrun and 102nd different course I'd attended. Last week I went back to the Isle of Sheppey and ran The Leas parkrun for the second time. Foordy had requested a visit to a flat parkrun and it was the closest one to home that matched his criteria. I managed to get a new course PB and was a few seconds shy of a new parkrun PB. Has happened a few times this year, so I must be doing something right. It was back to the tourist trail this week with a trip to Sherwood Pines and doubling up the day with a football trip following the Gills on another away day. Reaso and I had a conversation about whether or not we'd be going to Mansfield Town for the last away game of the season. I'd never visited Field Mill, home of Mansfield Town before and so I was quite keen. I suggested an early start and taking in a parkrun on the way. The suggestion went down well, except Reaso wan...

On the 6th April 2024 I ran the Pendle parkrun which was the 441st event held at the venue, my 177th parkrun and 101st different course I'd attended. In between parkrun days are normal days that make up a normal week and are usually a rinse and repeat of work, eat and sleep. Mostly weeks go by with nothing much happening and occasionally something interesting might happen to make the week a little less dull. Even rarer than a less dull week are weeks when an event occurs that rocks you to your core and parkrun becomes a necessity as opposed to something nice to do on a Saturday morning. Sadly last week was one of those rare weeks. We received news on Tuesday that Hayden's football coach had passed away and had taken his own life. Explaining that to a nine year old child was quite easily the hardest thing I've ever had to do as a parent. I've always said running has been a tonic for my mental health and nothing could be closer to the truth last week when I went out for ...