Brutal parkrun - 28 November 2020 - No12

Today was my 70th parkrun and my first on the Falkland Islands.  For those of you who are park-runners you'll find this parkrun in the UK's list of events as 'Cape Pembroke lighthouse.'

The course is a simple out and back run along a well compacted gravel road to Cape Pembroke lighthouse and back.  There are a few ups and downs but nothing dramatic or difficult.  The course is effectively flat and easy if you're wearing trail shoes.  What isn't so easy is when you have to run against gale force winds!  Also, as I found, choosing the right clothes to wear is also a major factor.  In those wind speeds anything that can flap will flap and act like a braking parachute.  Even on a sunny day like today you need to wear layers.  There is a very strong desire not to take warmer outer layers off especially when the gale force winds are extracting the heat from your body.  This was the first time I've run wearing gloves in the summer and three layers on top!





According to the Beaufort scale 33mph winds are considered a 'Near Gale.'  Those walking against the wind 'will report inconvenience.'  I can tell you those running directly against the wind and wearing a jacket with a hood would use much stronger language.  Running against it was brutal.

I have to say I'm delighted that I finished the run 9th and in an official time of 28:04.  That is a slow time for me.  Interestingly my GPS watch suggested that the course is 200m longer than it needs to be.  

Having run the course I expect I will be able to put in some better times when I'm not running 2.5km into a gale.   My stats are illuminating.  I completed the first 2km in 9:01 and the last two 2km in 12:33.  Strava tells me that I ran my 3rd fastest ever 1km time at 4:19 (and completed a 5km run in 27:28).

My niece Abigail was a volunteer at Cape Pembroke at their last run before their Covid close-down.  I mentioned her name.  She is very fondly remembered here.  They were also pleased to note that I had completed the Event Director training in the UK and could be lined up to volunteer here. 




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