Welcome to Nicola Runs! Exploring the world one run, or race, at a time!
I'm Nicola Forwood, I love running and being outside. From parkrun to 100 milers, I love it all! From track to trail I want to share with you as many types of race format as I can. It's great to know there are so many incredible places to run, and so many different types of races to try. I've over ten years experience podcasting about parkrun and am proud to be one of the first 100 parkrunners in the world to join the 500 club.
I have been run-streaking (running every day) for over 5 years. Run-streaking helped me stay sane after my 38 year old husband died of a brain tumour. His death left me a widow, at 31, and single parent to our 2 year old Poppy.
I’m always taking on crazy running challenges because, unless you push yourself, you will never find out what you are capable of! Come with me, and let's explore parkrunworld and beyond, because life is short and the world is big!
I remember those days well! I'm afraid the amount of people is just a bit too much for me on that course these days. Obviously I still love the community and the park but it's just very busy and slightly anonymous 🙃
These older courses of 2 or 3 laps round a local park that you'd have no other reason to visit definitely feel like the wholesome bread and butter of parkrun world. Hope your camera continues to dry out after it's bath around Masham!
Exactly this! Couldn't agree with you more! It's often where the community is strongest as there's not huge numbers of tourists each week. Urgh silly camera 🤦🏻♀️ realistically I think I need a new one 😭
Awww that will make such a difference when you have a café! Hopefully winter isn't too harsh and by next winter you'll have somewhere toasty warm to go after parkrun 😃 Thanks fir bring such an awesome Run Director 🤗
doing my 2nd one at Sewerby this Saturday as a warm up for the 13.5 mile trail race on the sunday from Bridlington to Flamborough and you run back on the cliff top paths very tough course my 3rd time this year
Excellent stuff. Park run is a wonderful movement it’s great to part of a community. It’s fantastic how you bring the joy and camaraderie to RU-vid! Good work
I love this comment 😂😂😂 I feel so lucky that these communities exist that we can go and visit and connect with. It's like a little bit of magic every Saturday morning 😃
That one reminds me a lot of Bromley parkrun which also has a beck in the middle. I found out yesterday that Bromley FC were promoted into the Football League last month & their stadium is next door to Norman Park in Bromley where the parkrun takes place. We are so lucky that parkruns are at 9am & don’t clash with football matches ! I can think of a few other places like Bournemouth, Fulham Palace & Aston Villa where this could have been an issue. I know Aston Hall has stopped now for another reason.
Thanks, yeah I really hope things improve because the second we crossed the finish line it all fell apart 😟 I hope they learn to look after their runners! 🤞🏻
I watch one of your blogs every morning before Parkrun. They brighten a grey wet day morning and I feel motivated when I am undecided if I want to go out. Well done on these videos
Thank you so much! That's just about the most lovely thing to hear 😃 I'm just trying to share the love of running and show that it doesn't need to be about times 😃
Completely random but if you want some intro music feel free to use bits of any of the tracks by Sebastian & Me (for free - just maybe the odd tag might be nice). Keep on Running is probably the obvious track :)
Hiya, Thanks for the comment 🤗 I stopped using music recently as RU-vid has randomly started flagging loads of older videos where I used totally legit music as a copyright strike! 🤦🏻♀️😭 I think I might have to get the proper RU-vid music if I want to put music in to stop it happening in future. It's super annoying! 🙈
Awwww it was awesome! I really wish I lived closer! I'd definitely be signing up for The Slam! Thanks for your top notch company that day, it wouldn't have been the same without you ❤️❤️❤️
There's another entrance to the park downhill, so you can go through the woods a bit & then run to the pr all the way up the cliff edge coastal path. Such a tough course, had to walk couple of times to rest the legs & lungs, worth it for the views of course. Great video as always, nice to relive it
I think I’ve finally caught up with all your parkrun videos now, Nicola, after watching your video featuring Miller Park in Preston yesterday I thought I would have a look to see if there is a Forwood Park. Apparently, there is a Forwood Preserve Park in Wilmington, Delaware, USA so you will have to get some of our American cousins to set you one up there ! 😆 PS I am having difficulty finding it on Google at the moment
Is that Bob and Brad the most famous physical therapist on the internet in their opinion ? I've not succumbed to the temptation to spend big money on a massage gun, normally happy with a pint and a hot shower, but I do only run short distances none of this ultra marathon malarkey. Next run out will be Manchester Half mid October not holding out for nice weather, a much more sensible 21km. PS... I nearly spat out my coffee...in your 40s, what !?!
Lol thanks, yup I'm 41 🙃 I've got one other massage gun which is great but it needs plugging in so it's no good for me in the van as the socket only works if I'm on an electric hook up which I never am at the end of races?! 😂 So this one works brilliantly for me! Lol to the opening but of your comment. That really made me giggle. TBF I really rate the massage gun or I wouldn't have made the video though. Yeah... You're probably right about the weather, think we've had all the good weather for the year now 🙈🤣 I've got an ultra in December and I'm thinking WHY?! Why enter an ultra in December?! 🙈😂
@@NicolaRuns I'll guess it's your overly joyful demeanor and magic creams that keep you looking so fresh faced. Surely it's not spending all that time running about in all weathers. I too have two mains powered 'massagers' and barely used them. I foolishly bought a big foam roller that the cats have used more, it just felt awkward without offering any relief. Maybe I need to get into yoga or another flexibility activity to really understand their benefits. A camper van is on the list of future purchases and it's been a long while since having an old VW bus. Might be an incentive to do some parkrun tourism whilst traipsing around the UK and Europe seeing the sights. Now the December ultra is just who you are. I get the feeling you're not the sort of person that runs away from challenges rather needs to be pushing yourself. You've more than likely accomplished a great deal academically and physically already, way more than most. Me, I don't mind the weather once I get started with an outdoor activity, it's getting motivated to start is the true hurdle. Oh, the humourous comments are partly my way of bringing some humanity back to the internet, which is far too often divisive and reactionary. Always happy to raise a smile.
@@BillyBobJoeSnr lol to magic creams 🤣 I'm not actually fussed about getting older. I think it's such a gift. My husband was 38 when he died and time is so precious so I'm happy with each grey hair and wrinkle that it means I'm here for a bit longer for Poppy as nothing is promised ❤️👩👧 Lol to the cats foam rolling 🤣 yoga is awesome! I'm off to yoga today 😃 You're right, I definitely need to be pushing myself all the time, I can never sit still and always want to be adventuring or learning something new! Not sure about running in the rain though. Short distance is fine but I once ran a 65 mile race in awful weather and my shorts chaffed an entire ring around my waist where they were touching my skin 😳😭
@@NicolaRuns You're so right with life is precious and it needs to be enjoyed. Getting older helps you appreciate both the highs and the lows, as someone suggested "Life's what you make it." Long distance running in the rain. a: running 65 miles, what?!? b: chaffed waist sounds hideous, what the hell do you wear the next day? For me it's my feet that suffer; being constantly wet softening then whilst they're pounded for a few hours. Oh no not fun. The absolute worst is the wet polyester tops on runners without vaseline.... I was talking to someone in the beer tent post GNR and mentioned that their shirt is for the bin. They looked blankly until I pointed out the two huge red stains down the front, they hadn't noticed at all. To lighten the mood; chatted to with someone post parkrun last weekend and couldn't help chuckling at their Edinburgh Marathon t-shirt. In my head I just keep hearing 'You're unbelievable, oh.. You're so unbelievable." as that's the original EMF.
You may like the Penistone Pumpkin Challenge 27/10 (fancy dress!!!) also trail marathon Linacre Infini near Chesterfield 9th Nov. 5k loops around pretty woodland & local reservoirs. One aid station & 7 hours to complete as many laps as u wish! In Jan there’s a Saturn event at Dare Valley Country Park South Wales & a lovely LDWA in Feb called Punchbowl Marathon. It’s cute but in Surrey 🙈 In March I highly recommend South Wales LDWA Rhondda Rollercoaster for tough climbing but so reasonable! 🥳 April has Pewsey Downsaround (see the WhiteHorse!) LDWA challenge events are Amazing. Happy running Nicola & take care both of you 🏃♀️
Awwww they sound such awesome events but mostly too far from home. I don't have the childcare to do distance events far from Leeds unfortunately. I am do in love with South Wales too 😍😍😍
I'm looking at the midweek GRIM Up North ones and the December one is Adam's Great Owl Running LCW over 2 days. I'm only doing the Sunday but I absolutely love the idea! If I could make the Saturday then I'd do both! 😃
Awesome 😎😃 I've only got one other one but it's a plug in one which doesn't work in the van unless I'm on an electric hook-up which I hardly ever am so I've not had one I can use that is portable until now. I love this one and the heating and cooling has blown my mind! 🙌🏼😃
Miller & Avenham Gardens look lovely, Nicola. The one parkrun I know of in London that has a Japanese Garden is Peckham Rye. It has an American Garden too. Maxima in Utrecht is one overseas with a Japanese Garden & you get to run right through the middle of it. I have done a few parkruns with Prime Ministers names in the title. I have done Gladstone parkrun in North London, Wellington parkrun in South Africa, Lloyd in Croydon plus Georgengarten in Germany. My friend Chris Leonard from Lloyd Juniors actually did George parkrun in South Africa last Saturday which is an overseas parkrun with a curly wurly ! 🙂
I enjoyed it too recently. I have history in Barton as a large part of my extended family live/lived there. I have a picture of me in Baygarth Park with me in a Pram! That was in the 1960s!
Pretty amazing time Nicola and nice work enduring the elements. It didn't look very pleasant out. that was a pretty nice medal and I have to admit their mid race fueling stations looked well stocked, although the rain would definitely make for lousy chips. That temple area looked a bit like St Andrews. Congrats on your finish and as usual great job filming.
It's not massively dissimilar in terms of there being a hill that goes on for miles but here that hill is at the start. This has about a quarter as much climb again on top of the elevation gain at Leeds and this has none of the joy of the final 6 miles that Leeds has because it's largely downhill. This is basically a lot harder but in terms of having one half that's very lumpy and one half with a HUGE neverending hill then they're similar but swapped around with one in the first half whereas the other it's in the second half! Clear as mud?! 🤷🏻♀️🤣 The award for the least concise answer goes to...?! 😜
Giving Penistone Day of the Dead & Halloween ‘double bubble’ a go end of Oct.🤩 hmm I’m thinking Parkrun push up challenge next 4u on the agenda! 😂 Happy running lovely lady 🏃♀️
Really enjoyed the video Can't believe how easy you made that tough course look I am English but have lived in New Zealand for the past 18 years and although I get home every couple of years I do miss it and your content allows me to see some of the beautiful places
Wow you ran a Hilly Marathon in under 5 hours despite stopping for chats and walking the hills? Well done! 👏🏼 by the way are you still pacing in Yorkshire Marathon this year? If you’re on the 5 and a half hours then I’ll finally follow you along the course. It’ll be lovely to see you and have your company for my Marathon debut despite my poor training block. ❤
Awwww thanks lovely ☺️ I'm doing the Yorkshire Marathon but I'm on 5 hours this year 🙃 but definitely come say hi in the pens and if you're feeling speedy then come join the 5 hour bus! 😃
@@NicolaRuns you’re a machine for running yet another Marathon in 4 weeks time. I want to be you when I grow up ☺️ 5 hours will be very ambitious for me this time around. I will try and find you in the pen though, if not I’ll see you on the course.
@@shielavasquez7161 awwwww that's the nicest thing I think you can say to someone... Although obviously do try never to grow up! Growing up is overrated! I literally just sent an email to ask if there's places on a marathon next weekend 🤣🤣🤣 Go hard or go home right?! 💪🏼😂
Awww thanks 🙏🏼 I love my strength training 😃 it was fun to do push ups at the end as everyone looks at you like you're crazy! 🤣🤣🤣 Fountains Abbey was definitely my favourite bit! 😃
