Introduction

I’ve been chasing a parkrun personal best since New Years Day 2024 at Glen River parkrun. In keeping with my theme of more in 24 I finished in a time of 24:24. To get to under 20:30 this was going to be a royal effort. I’d need to roll back seven years and then find something new to break through that mental barrier and that was before I started looking at myself physically and cutting my body fat down by almost 10%.

I ran under 22 mins in March at St.Anne’s and Tramore Valley and I thought my lungs were going to explode. I needed another 12 weeks of training before in July before I ran under 21 minutes and 30 seconds. Even then I barely broke it 21:25 at St.Anne’s. More was required and it wasn’t just physical training I needed to get smarter as well. I had a career, family and friends to go with my goals not in spite of them. I deepened my endurance by going further on my long runs. At our speed sessions on Wednesday I listened to Christy our Raheny AC coach when he said I want you finishing in the middle of the training pack on our 400m, 600m and 800m repetitions. I had a tendency to blast out one or two decent reps (especially if I was leading the group) and then fall way to the back of pack for the rest of the session. Christy was pointing to more training time at higher speed. I had to move at high speed for 20 minutes training like I was only going to move that way for 90 seconds wasn’t going to work. I integrated Kettlebell training into my routine and over a few weeks my 400m, 600m and 800m repetitions my power over each distance extended. I was in the middle of the training pack but I was moving faster for longer. I was almost 6 kg lighter than I was in January as well.

When Julie mentioned visiting Royal Canal parkrun Kilcock in September I was ready for another crack at under 21 minutes. The course was flat, straight and not exposed to serious wind. I cruised to a 22:18 finish the week before at St.Anne’s. I felt I had a lot left in the tank that day. At Royal Canal parkrun Kilcock I ran 20:50 within 20 seconds of my parkrun personal best from seven years ago. I have one more royal 12 week training block left. The killer effort was paying off.

Journey around the parkrun World

Julie and I completed Royal Canal parkrun, Kilcock and we have participated at 42 different parkrun locations throughout the world.

Course

The course is one of the fastest, flatest and beautiful I have ever had the pleasure of parkrunning on. I attended with every intention of running a seasons best and I achieved it.

Stroller safe?

This course was so safe and picturesque that I finished and jogged back to my wife and son for a photo along the canal by the bridge.

Live a Little

Opportunites to run your fastest ever parkrun don’t come along everyday. My advice would be to save this parkrun for when you’re feeling royal and rapid and then run like hell to an all time parkrun personal best. Equally my wife and son loved the stroll along the Canal. I’ve written this before it is no harm to state it again. I had a girlfriend who told me that running beside a water was good for my mental health. I married that girl. I only managed to take in sliver of the mental health benefits of river bank because I was absorbed in pushing myself as fast as I could possibly move but you might not want this.

I have a memory from my Mardyke Arena UCC days of my brother talking by chance to one of my stroke rehab patients about GAA. The patient was a huge hurling fan followed everything that was Cork Hurling. He had followed my brothers Senior Hurling career with great interest. We had all met in a corridor in the Mardyke Arena UCC a conincidence more than anything deliberate. After a few pleasantaries my patient burst out I was never a great Hurler all I did was watch it was all I wanted.. sorry. My brother was quick off the mark replying ‘Playing it’s not for everyone you did what you enjoyed that’s what matters’. My brother has achieved huge success winning both Senior Hurling and Football County Medals. What he said put my patient at ease an it is the same message I am trying to communicate. I want to move as fast as I can at parkrun you may get your enjoyment and sense of achievement by walking, volunteering or other means. For some reason and maybe it’s got to do with sports history but the speed and winning have dominated the narrative to the point of they are considered the most important parts. At parkrun the achievements are on equal footing take it all in. I think if I can somehow tell people that even the participants who win are more interested in whether you enjoyed your relationship with the sport than how many medals you have in your locker then maybe I’m helping people stay active. Only time will tell but I hope I’m right because more people will feel better and live better.

Volunteers

We got a royal welcome from Conor at the first timers briefing. Conor gave us the basics of the course then gave us a great review of the local cafés and restaurants. We went for a great breakfast at the Rye River Cafe after parkrun. The Run Director opened with ‘Fáilte Roimh’ and it was great to hear Irish get integrated in parkrun. I couldn’t help but notice another tight knit group of volunteers who enjoyed their parkrun. If you can volunteer at Royal Canal parkrun Kilcock drop them an email at royalcanalkilcock@parkrun.com.

Conclusion

A Royal welcome awaits you at Royal Canal parkrun Kilcock.

Quote of the Week

Of all the traits and attributes to have speed is by far the most effective. It will get you started and put you in a commanding position. Then you must learn to be precise. The teams who develop speed and precision become unstoppable. Unknown
Lots of words are aspirational in sport. Champion, victor, icon, legend, hero, to name a few. But volunteer, although a word with less effusive connotations, should command similar prestige. Matthew Syed