RUNNING READING HALF MARATHON with a GOPRO!

[@TheFODRunner]

Great job mate! Fantastic effort to get the video out so quickly and a really solid effort coming back from the virus 💪💪 great to see the smile back on your race racing again!

[@TrossDolfei]

I ran my third half-marathon (alone, completely in the dark with a headlamp) today with a time of 1:51, beating my last time by 15 minutes :) Great run Ben!!

[@BenParkes]

That's awesome.. big well done to you!

[@anvo89]

That’s crazy!

[@anandhu4ever]

Well done man! I want to try the same.Just out of curiosity, Did you carry water and supplies along with you?

[@josephgonzalez_]

Well done Ben. I’m the older guy at the start line who chatted with you about me getting covid and missing London Marathon. Finished a little ahead of you but decent enough in the circumstances - as was yours! You’ll be flying again soon!

[@BenParkes]

Was great to see you running so well!

[@N64tress]

Great video and run Ben. Thanks for the quick cameo at the start! I said to you before the race sub 1:40 at a push, but felt good out there and came in with 1:33:39 on the watch, will take that. Especially with that hill!!! Not far off PB time. Will keep working hard to try and get that sub 1:30. Keep doing what you’re doing. 👏🏻

[@BenParkes]

Smashed your goal.. that's awesome to hear. Onwards and upwards!!

[@stanlacienski2414]

Congrats Ben! Your videos comments and gratitude for running is truly inspirational. For what it’s worth your guidance has helped me to rediscover the wonder and magic of running even at 63 years of age. Stay healthy and resilient. A fan. Stan

[@BenParkes]

That's so lovely to hear Stan.. wishing you many happy years of running ahead!

[@richb1211]

Good to see you back! Didn't expect that hill to be as brutal and was a little twisty turny but the crowds were great and I got a new PB of 1:15 so can't complain. Really started to love running the past 18 months! Keep up the good work

[@mattcrossman7131]

It was awesome meeting you today Ben and Sarah, keep up the good work and see you on the start line again soon! Abingdon AC Matt and Liam :)

[@alliesmith3848]

I ran Reading today as my first ever race! I was hanging around the start for a while hoping to meet you but missed you :( SO SO glad you loved Reading though (may be biased as a born and bread RG girl).

[@BenParkes]

Well done Allie!!

[@bouffon1]

My last race was a Half in January. In Thailand most races are at the 'cooler' time of year so now with the relaxing of Covid restrictions we are confronted with a huge choice. I'll just stick to the ones I have done before for now, going into taper next week for a local Half. Still warmish (27°C and humid). Thanks for the report, your joy reminds me of why we do this!

[@simonlarge3053]

Was great to see you today Ben and Sarah , that hill was a killer but sort of knew it was coming thought it may scupper a chance of a PB but to my surprise I took nearly 3 minutes off my PB which I only did a couple of weeks ago at Oxford. Love the work you two do and thanks for the cameo appearance at 6.42.

[@BenParkes]

Well done Simon.. you're flying!! Lovely to meet you and all the best for your next race!

[@BenOBagels1871]

Great running Ben, great to see you back racing. Smashed my goal of 2 hours with a time of 1:56:04. Absolutely loved my first half/big race.

[@BenParkes]

That's great Benji! Congratulations to you.. smashed your goal!

[@drdcheung]

Great to see you enjoying the race and your indomitable positivity.

[@marshallritter1816]

It feels SO good to race again after such a long time and I ran my first Half Marathon 2 weeks ago since January 2020 right before everything was shut down. I'll take a 1:16:28 in preparation for my full marathon on December 5th so I can take a crack at a sub 2:40. Great race there Ben and I need to run more courses that have some unique feature such as finishing the race in a big stadium!!

[@JB-yq2zl]

Great to meet you today Ben (that's me in the yellow!). Awesome work and glad you're back out racing :D

[@raykennedy442]

Congratulations Ben! Glad to see on the road to recovery. Onwards and upwards for 2022

[@gary_runs]

Great running and Video Ben! Good to see you back racing and smiling! 🙌🏼 💯

[@runscottyrun5297]

Great video and great run, Ben! Looking forward to following your adventures for the rest of 2021 and into 2022! Best of luck! Cheers from Canada, Scott

[@rustyshackelford18]

Running a half marathon in itself is amazing to me but how were you able to carry a conversation during? 🤯 Double impressed. My favorite part was watching you cheer on those after you’d finished. Well done, Ben!

[@thomascoleman5390]

Well Done Ben. Your energy is infectious!

[@markkatepowell]

I thought I saw Sarah on the side filming near the start line. I’ve done Reading 3 times now, came in with a PB of 1hr 48 today so I’m happy.

[@BenParkes]

Well done! Great PB!

[@anash1476]

Keep pumping out all the motivational content! Thanks to your videos I was able to complete my first marathon yesterday at a time of 3:32:02! 2 minutes off my goal, but I’ll take it!

[@lifeinblackshort]

Great to see that smile back Ben. Great video 💪💪

[@kerry_runs]

Your such a positive guy! How can you be smiling ear to ear while running so hard? Love your channel ❤

[@bhavinipatel1775]

Well done and what an amazing thing to do to get out of COVID mindset! I’ve still got some races this year and in 2022: Brighton and Edinburgh marathons, Hampton court and Watford halves, race to the stones and in July the York Super Sprint Tri. It’s going to be an amazing year for all of us. Hopefully in future can do a couple of international ones that you have vlog about. Well done and all the best for future races. Fingers crossed you have gone through enough of the bad stuff for a while!

[@esthervisser-vandermeer2565]

Great race Ben, looked pretty hard up that steep hill. Better times are coming 👊🏽 I ran my first marathon in Rotterdam last month, hope to improve my time next year. Love the sweater REST DAY. See if I can find it

[@TarkanBeldag]

Great running Ben👍 Yesterday was İstanbul Marathon and I run 3:18min with your tips👊

[@kofuzi]

Well done Ben!

[@lenavalavani8887]

GREAT RACE AND WHAT A SMOOTH AND LIGHT ATTITUDE !!!!LOVE IT

[@ThatRunningGuy]

Wow the was quick Ben, great turnaround 👏👏👏👏 back to watching the video

[@uras1]

Great race Ben, out there getting it done

[@derrunn3r613]

Love your racing vlogs, put a smile on my face for most of the video 😀 Personally, I had to stop running for two months due to an injury, just restarted running and signed up for a half marathon in April - really looking forward to my first race since years (your channel was one of the reasons I got back into more and consistent running early last year - so thanks a lot!)

[@DanRuns]

It would be really cool to see you as an official pace upfront for the swift folk. I’m sure you’d be motivational and secure others some PB’s

[@ian757]

So good to see you out racing again Ben. Your plan got me a 19:18 pb last year and for 2022 I want to be injury free and go sub-40!

[@JamesMartin-gl8gg]

Great to see you running and cheering you on.

[@georgeharris7578]

Great video Ben, gutted to not see you today, I finished 1 hour 22 but was in the middle wave. Course was good, slightly hilly but do able!

[@BenParkes]

Great run George.. see you next time! :-)

[@Turnschuhheizer]

love these during running videos. so sick!

[@richardgoodman6071]

Well done Ben! That hill looked brutal! Good to see you back running again

[@The_Funky_Horn]

Congratulations!! Love the handshake / fist-pump combo at the start. 😅

[@tobyk8125]

Good to see you on form, Ben! I was there too and took my time so much that I got to "enjoy" the course for almost twice as long as you did! Thought the course was great. A few significant bumps but really not that hilly.

[@Dunky80]

I'm on a Ben Parkes video lol. He met me and my crazy Mum at the finish. Lovely bloke Top man.

[@BenParkes]

Haha.. highlight of the day meeting your Mum!

[@cwattage]

The first hill seemed to take most people by surprise 😂. The rest of the course awesome. Nice to say 'Hi' finally, glad you stuck to your guns & reached your target.

[@jdpjamesp]

Really inspirational as always Ben. I've just signed up for the Bristol half in September next year. Will be my first half. Nervously excited already!

[@BenParkes]

Good luck James!!

[@fatrunner]

Well done Ben, great to see you back racing.

[@lorrainecowan7288]

Good running Ben you work hard and sera

[@hargoj7984]

Got the great scottish run next year October 2nd. Hopefully get onto the ballot for the great north run 3 weeks before that!

[@tetehl4731]

Well done Ben!! Hope you'll feel better soon! Me and my partner did the 10K at Geneva Switzerland today! 🇨🇭. 😍❤🙏

[@BenParkes]

ahh, I miss Geneva.. well done to both of you!

[@girishmo]

Superb run Ben👏👏👍

[@livelivetothephil]

Well done Ben. Ran with you for a bit but let you crack on doing your thing ha great to see you back out there running.

[@chrishamilton9206]

Amazing effort, well done!

[@gorantoljamo204]

Well done Ben!!! Thx for vid

[@paulmorrissey5926]

Great video Ben. It’s my local race and I agree it was awesome today. Great to see you back running and enjoying it 👍

[@crayontom9687]

Have they changed the route over the years? I did it in 2013 and remember it being quick and flat with no hills!

[@PhilyBowden]

Firstly - great video, love the positivity the whole way through… secondly - OMG you got a clip of my crossing the line at 7:26, any chance you could send me that shirt bit of footage? 🙏🏼

[@RunDivision]

I love this event the support, volunteers and organisation is amazing, I saw you in the yellow section warming up I was in the red great day of running are you doing any of the Brighton’s next year ?

[@BenParkes]

Possibly the Brighton half.. as had to miss it this year, so would be good to go back! Hope you had a good run!!

[@RunDivision]

@@BenParkes it would be great to see you hear 👍

[@Gatcombe]

Well done Ben I was like you running a 1/2 in 65mins only it was long ago. Now at 65 years old all I for next year, is to run faster than last year !

[@IMJACKMADDEN]

Great video and attitude, Ben. I ran the first 4 or 5 miles with you and the 1.20 pacer who helped me to a ten minute pb 1.18.

[@BenParkes]

Wow... what a result Jack, congratulations!

[@Thenglishrunner]

Great vlogged run as always ben. Your fitness is defo coming back. You will be back in valencia form in no time

[@imocartan8147]

Man what a half marathon. So underrated. Well organised. 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽. Mile 8 hill nearly ended my existence but we carry on

[@gwilymeades]

I ran Reading and felt ok on that hill, as I had been doing hill reps in the weeks leading up to the race. It was also perfect running conditions! Love my first Reading Half!

[@GarethFreshwater]

I was asked to pace the half this year and sadly I couldn't make it. It looked so much fun! Keep it going :)

[@paulstarr6001]

Great effort Ben. You'll be back to full strength soon.

[@davelee3072]

Great video & run Ben, well done on the comeback trail 👍 Just about to begin the 4th week on your HM plan for the Tewksbury HM in Feb so hope to keep on getting it done 👍💪

[@BenParkes]

All the best for Tewksbury Dave! You can do it!

[@benmartin-dye9476]

Had a brief chat after about Mental Health. I got CBT through my doctor which was an online course. Really helped me. Thanks for also asking how I was too. Little things make a difference.

[@adamrobinson3929]

Well done Ben, top effort!

[@markschraider]

Great video Ben, and congrats on the run - top effort. I was there too, just a loooong way behind you ! The first hill was Ok, the one at 8 ish miles was a killer :)

[@BenParkes]

Yeah.. I think that second hill was harder!! Well done Mark

[@is4554]

Congratulations Ben!

[@michaelbriody952]

Well done Ben 👏 great running my goal for next year is June to do a double Olympic triathlon and then my first marathon in October hopefully all going well.

[@jps5871]

For me new to running, after first 5K had a significant motor vehicle accident. No running or working out for at least 3 months. Earliest I will be back at it will be April 1st if cleared by the Dr. Have to set all new goals.

[@danmapp6608]

1:11 for me! 😊 Great to see you today Ben, nice running and thanks for the photo at the end. 👍🏽

[@BenParkes]

Good to meet you Dan.. well done in your comeback race! That Asics singlet looked very cool!

[@delgibbonsmusic]

1.36 here 😁 don't remember Reading being that hilly either to be fair 😂 final hill to the stadium was a bit of a pain too 😁

[@shevaballack12]

No races for me this year, but did a beer half today (5k and a pint, repeat 4 times) and this video has made me (unreasonably) emotional.

[@rutgerhuisman2245]

Well done Ben! I am sure you are in shape real soon! The past week a ran a 10k. For me the first race in nearly 2 years! I was happy with my 35:24 ( i am 46) in 2 weeks i run the 15k Zevenheuvelenloop in the Netherlands. The race you run 2 years ago also!

[@Laurap01]

Wow you’re fast, good luck

[@antoniozerkhfaoui1918]

Super Ben well done 👍

[@steveo07collings63]

Well done Ben, love Reading, it will be my 10th this year and looking forward to #Getting it done!👊🏼👍

[@steveo07collings63]

Came in with a 1.46 , hoping to get a my PB again, 1.40

[@photonphotography]

Was looking out for you Ben! Managed a PB of 1hr35. Good vibes at Reading today 👌👍💪

[@BenParkes]

Congratulations on the PB Jamie!

[@Dora-bmrwarrior]

Well so you had covid. Looks like you have recovered pretty well from it. I'm a high risk individual due to age and previous health issues so I can't live my life freely like everyone else seems to be doing these days. Hopefully that darn virus will start to fade away so that I can participate in races and do other things that I've missed so much in the last few years. Enjoyed this video and congrats on the great effort!

[@runningben74watts90]

Nice to see you in the flesh today Ben ( I didn't speak to you) , enjoyed the event , flew over from Jersey for it , got a pb , 127.51.

[@SK-fw4qq]

Great stuff Ben! Saw you there and shouted out quickly near the start! Ran a PB myself!

[@BenParkes]

Congratulations!!

[@rob.gr.1377]

Simply amazing...

[@davidcallan7844]

Congratulations 🥳🏃‍♂️🥳

[@RobManser77]

Good to see you running our local race :-) Sadly I couldn't make it due to a bad cold, which was really gutting after the same thing happened for Brighton Marathon in September! I've entered a Goodwood Half in 4 weeks - any tips for coming back after my taper and getting ready for that? I was just going to repeat the final 4 weeks of my training programme.

[@kunalpopat3576]

You need to run more hills Ben. Come try the sheffield half

[@lauseba6990]

Nice one Ben.

[@limew]

Wow great job. I ran my first half marathon this weekend on 9 seconds past 2:00. So close to sub 2h but next year I'll hope to improve down to 1:50 :)

[@bh4560]

Great vid this. Post covid and smashing it. I have noticed my heartrate is way too high coming back from it. But getting back fitter with every run. 💪

[@rych7852]

I got Covid back in January 21. Thankfully pretty much fine after 3 days or so. I couldn't work out if it was the covid making me feel sluggish in the few weeks afterwards or just that I'd had 10 days of Isolation and no running. (Though I did do a bit of Strength Training towards the end of the isolation. Lunges, squats etc) I had no real long term side effects once I got back to training again, (indeed I've run a marginal marathon PB this year) so don't worry about it affecting your performance long term.

[@bh4560]

@@rych7852 thanks for that bud. We can only keep training and moving forward. 🙌💪

[@madmaf6011]

Thanks, great stuff!

[@jameshazley3855]

I used to walk the dog up that hill every day! Well done on the race

[@tomstevens227]

I finished this race yesterday and could barely hold my head up. This geezer cruises it carrying a go pro chatting! Bravo! How did you find mile 12's never ending straight?

[@BenParkes]

Was tough.. just kept looking at the stadium and seeing the finish inside!

[@MrPhillipben]

Great to see you back running! Did you carry your GoPro camera around the entire course??

[@BenParkes]

Yes.. just in my hand

[@ryanwindle2697]

Great run Ben. I ran Hertfordshire half on Sunday in 1.57 pb as only my 4th race. Looking at below 1.55 next year.

[@BenParkes]

Well done Ryan!

[@prakashgurung4600]

Great run 💪🏃‍♂️Great Videos 🏃‍♂️Great to meet you Ben👍

[@zomb7996]

Hi Ben another great race vlog love your videos plus i was the 1000 like on video keep up the great content

[@BenParkes]

Aww, thank you! Glad you liked it :-)

[@josheyres2839]

Awesome as always Ben! My goal is to complete my first half marathon, in 2hrs or under. Anyways great watching your videos.

[@jake.simp11]

Goal for next year is my first Marathon. Entered Manchester after finishing the half in 1:29:38, beat my pb from 2 years ago by 8 minutes :)

[@anvo89]

Jeez, that’s crazy fast for a half

[@jamiexavier6654]

Gees 1.21!! That is an amazing performance and with the Go Pro too! Isn't it great to be racing again?

[@jasoncooper1898]

Well done Ben amazing would love one day to get sort of close to you..😜😉 Do you wear new balance 1080v11 if so how many miles do you think you get out of them?. Thank you 😊

[@SubtleForces]

Side not: watching the results, it looks like Philippa Bowden improved her half-marathon PB by 1 min and 32 s to finish first lady in Reading (at least if her PB figures from the power of 10 are correct)

[@lukeorrin9809]

Hi Ben well done at Reading! I just tested positive for COVID this evening. Any tips for my next 10 days off running as well as getting back into it after isolation? Thanks

[@jjjourneyaddicted3044]

Well done!

[@TheMrMattStephens]

Really glad you're back ❤ and well....er...you do realise Reading is no way in the middle of England, let alone the UK🤣