This was my first official race in Sweden, and my first official race in almost 4 years. I did do a virtual half marathon in October 2020, but we ran that as part of a long training run with Solvikingarna and treated it as a comfortably hard training run, until the final mile when I …
Achieving my 100th parkrun – Or, how I settled into life in a new land
I did my 100th parkrun during the long Easter weekend on Saturday 8th April 2023, and I wanted to reflect again on the impact parkrun has had on my life. This is partially a run report. But it is also about the parkrun community, and how it can help make even emigrating easy as a …
Billdalsparken parkrun on a wintry morning. Or, how I learned to run on ice.
Cancelling parkruns There are always tough calls to make when you are a Run Director or part of the core team at a parkrun. Whatever you decide, not all participants will agree with the decision. When to cancel, and when to make that decision, are strongly debated. At Skatås, we made the decision on Friday …
Billdalsparken parkrun on Sweden’s National Day
Parkrun in Sweden After living in Sweden for 2 ½ years, I finally got to do a bit of parkrun tourism. Billdalsparken parkrun started up in September 2021, shortly after parkrun in Sweden resumed after a break of over 18 months due to the pandemic. However, due to a combination of being on the Core …
Not the Berlin Marathon: Virtual Gothenburg Marathon 2021
Sometimes things don’t work out as planned. And sometimes that’s okay. Last weekend I should have been running the Berlin Marathon, alongside Bekele. I mean, not literally alongside. On my best day I couldn’t even enjoy the breeze he leaves in his wake. Instead, I spent it enjoying the uncharacteristically warm and dry weather in …
Virtual West Highland Way Race 2020
I don’t think I’ve ever been more de-trained for a race in my life. I ran more miles in the 8 days I spent completing the Virtual West Highland Way than I did in the preceding 8 weeks. When races started getting cancelled in March due to lockdown, some races went the virtual route. I …
Road to nowhere? – Or, training for cancelled marathons
This morning I should have been on a flight to London. Instead, I am writing this whilst feeling a little sorry for myself. I have a cold and haven’t slept well in a week. There’s no grand story arc – like with a race report, or a training journey that actually culminates in reaching the …
Pauline’s Depth Year – November – December 2019
Back in December I published my Depth Year 2019 post, which set out my goals and hopes for the year. As a reminder, here are the goals: Limit my social media time to 20 minutes per day, except if I’m involved in an important group chat about something: no mindless scrolling. Uninstall or block notifications from …
Christmas Parkrun at Hay Lodge – Wednesday 25th December 2019
Christmas morning. A time for getting up at the crack of dawn and experiencing the wonder of the season through the eyes of small children? A time for peeling sprouts? Visiting relatives? Getting stuck into the sherry straight after breakfast? I’m the youngest member of the household where I spend Christmas, and, as has been …
Pauline’s Depth Year Diary – September – October 2019
Back in December I published my Depth Year 2019 post, which set out my goals and hopes for the year. As a reminder, here are the goals: Limit my social media time to 20 minutes per day, except if I’m involved in an important group chat about something: no mindless scrolling. Uninstall or block notifications from Instagram …