Hi Kate. I actually think the only flat places in the entire country are airport runways. From what I know of the Greeks and I spend a lot of time here is that the onlookers are only saying hello. The are quite used to slightly mad foreigners doing all sorts of things.

I try and run every day here because the weather at the moment is so fantastic especially first thing in the morning and at sunset when it is still much too hot to run. I managed nearly four miles yesterday and even the sheep look at me as if I was slightly mad. One dog decided to join me for a few minutes but then lost interest.

I shall try and work out how to post the routes on the site so that anyone else who is lucky enough to be in the area can have a try.

Thanks for your interest in all this

Dennis

Unfortunately they haven't heard about Parkrun in Greece so the nearest one is a lot too far away this Saturday. But managed 2.43 miles round the village this morning  about 23 minutes (all recorded in my logbook). I think the time is actually better than it looks because the village is in the foothills of a mountain range and everything goes up and down. The Greeks seem to look at you slightly bemused as you run but I think they're getting used to slightly odd foreigners. Just incase anyone fancies trying it the village is Gavalochori in Crete.

But it is great to run here in the morning before the Sun is really up and the temperature is 22 degrees. The smell of the wild herbs, the tamarisk trees and the jasmin is just amazing.

Thanks for all the good wishes.

Dennis

'The parkrun Show' podcast started today - think parkrun meets Marathon Talk!

Dennis

Keep going - I only started again in June last year and have got a lot faster since then.

I guess as in everything, you get out what you put in - if you can manage a parkrun every week your time (and BMI) will tumble and your GP will love you!.

Just don't over do it though - you have plenty of time.

For the record I'm 62 on Wednesday.... 

I'll say it before Dave thinks it Dennis, why not take your kit on holiday and find the nearest parkrun?

Fantastic Dennis. Keep it up!

I know it's taken a while but at last I plucked up the courage to take part in the Milton Keynes parkrun. I have to admit to being worried about making a fool of myself so I downloaded the route and walked it with my wife a couple of weeeks back and earlier this week tried running it.

Both times I got it wrong and ended up doing further than necessary with the result that the real thing was easier than anticipated. Got there far too early but warmed up with some brisk walking. Started at the back of the pack but soon found I was overtaking quite a few people and despite being almost the oldest runner taking part finished 130th out of 207 and in 29mins 56 secs (although I reckoned I was really a bit quicker). I just have to say it was absolutely brilliant and I really enjoyed it and would want to thank those people who put the work in to make such an incredible experience such fun. Can't wait to do it again but will be on holiday for a couple of weeks so shall have to wait. Thanks again to all those involved.

Hi Dennis,
It's great that you're enjoying your running despite everything!
Pronation is simply the way the foot rolls inwards as your weight rolls forwards over it, and basically the higher your arches the less you pronate ('supination' is the opposite - where the foot rolls outwards slightly. This is uncommon). Mild pronation is absolutely normal and most efficient - and the majority of running shoes cater for this group.
As for entering a race - go for it! If you're really worried about showing yourself up or being left behind (and I know it's a concern for many first-timers) check out previous years' results and see how long the tailenders took. Generally the bigger the event the greater the range of ability - smaller races to to be club-run and attract more club runners, but this doesn't always hold true. Anything called a 'fun run' or organised by a charity, or even by the council, is likely to have plenty of slower runners.
I keep raving about parkrun, but it really is a great introduction, as it's a running 'event' rather than a race - many will treat it as a race, many as a training run but many just as a social get-together! Oh, and its free!
We'll be waiting for your first race report...

Thanks for all the advice . I have tried to lay off too much downhill running and have really worked hard at trying to avoid heel striking but you really do need to be brave when running downhill. However my knee has improved a lot and just gives me a very occasional twinge so it seems like it might be a good idea to have a gait analysis done especially now my blackened toenail has cleared up!

Beginning to wish that I'd discovered running a long time ago but I really hated cross country at school with a vengeance. Now seem to be running around 20 miles a week in 2.5 mile chunks at around 11.30 minutes a mile. Have no idea if this is good or bad for a 63 year old with a BMI of about 26. However I take beta blockers for an anxiety problem and my resting heart rate is around 50 bpm and only reaches about 90 bpm when I'm totally exhausted. Trouble is I thought running was simply putting one foot in front of the other but it seems very technical and I have no idea what the technical and medical terms mean. What is "pronation". Have been in Crete for the last fortnight running every day but the hills round here are unbelieveable. But it is brilliant to find something entirely new at my age. Now what about entering a race or will they be full of superfit youngsters and leave me feeling an idiot?

Just a thought (I'm no expert) but further to what Martin says below, if all your running is downhill, as your post suggests, this would increase the tendency to heel strike.