Parkrun - has anyone walked it?

There's loads of people walk it at the one I go to. There's a man who completes it in a wheelchair. There's loads of little kids as well.

Bear in mind that this time of year, in the cold and rain, you tend to get the more die hard runners there so it will be a bit 'quicker' than it is when it's warmed up a bit.

the thing with running is that every time you do it, it's gets a tiny bit easier. So you might have to walk the first and second time, but the third time you might be able to jog half a lap and so on till you can run all the way!

This thread is getting a little feisty !

Facts. My local parkrun has 10% of finishers over 40 minutes. That is from a field of 300-350 runners. We are not a slow course either.

We are inclusive and encouraging. Some of our final runners home are known regulars. Last home this week has nearly 50 parkruns under her belt, a PB of 49m but normally about 55m. We also have number of veterans in our crew who take it steady. Bob (vm80-85) has done every week (think he is on 170 something runs). We love him (he used to do sub 17m in his youth)

Volunteers respect everyone who turns up and tries, the only way to get faster is by practice. If you get round in an hour go for it, you would be supported and encouraged by our gang. Couch to 5k is great, but come join in as part of that - you do not have to wait.

If you are a bit daunted by running, you can volunteer to start with too and get a real view of how it works.

I'm entitled to my opinion Amanda . And I'd be obliged if you would stop implying I said things that I didn't .

I'm going to bow out now and wish you all success in whatever exercise you plan for 2016

Samantha28 - your comments could put people off running though, thankfully I don't think you are a part of the park runs I'm involved in where all abilities are welcome.

35 mins is not slow! Lots of youngsters do it at that speed at our run, also men and women of all ages.

Just checked ours - yesterday (horrid day here, rainy and v v muddy) slowest was 47 mins with 15 peeps over 40 mins (to be fair most of those people had much better PBs).

Went back to a biiig one in August (260+ runners) - slowest was a 10yo in 53 mins, tail runner was 43 mins, next one 41 mins; biiig one in May with 280 runners, 16 over 40 mins, tail runner and one other 51 mins, couple of others 49 mins.

OP you'll find not many people doing these kinds of times, but you should still go for it!

My local one, the last came in after 56 minutes.

Me too, I love that 35m isn't slow . My time yesterday was 35.21 and I was 246 out of just under 300.

clary - I'll take that 35 mins for the slowest is not slow at all as a rare compliment on my running ability .

the most recent results, they are a bit atypical, looks like only the real keany beanies were out during the festive period

ha! I just checked the 3 nearest park runs again, but this time a pleasant weather time of yr (27-6-15).

Last runners in @ 42, 47 & 47 minutes.

My boss's daughter won one of those... I didn't even know she was a runner. Dark horses. Right, shutting laptop now so I can stop stalking.

OP - we have somebody at our local Parkrun who currently does just one lap (it's a two lap course) as she's building her fitness with the aim of managing two laps in a few weeks time. Is this something worth considering?

Also, is there a local running club who offer a beginner's night? This is how I got into exercise. Ours offers something similar to C25K, and club members who have completed coaching courses take the newbies out, along with other volunteers. It's fun and friendly, and running in company and with enthusiastic encouragement helps you to stick with it. My own club didn't expect beginners to have any previous running experience (I had none at all and was very unfit), it's worth looking on-line to see if there is anything similar in your area. Good luck

Just remember however slow you are, you are lapping those on the couch.

Yes I agree re times, numbers have been down (not surprisingly!) at ours recently, due to it being muddy and rainy!

Not many PBs either. Only the keenest are out at the moment. We did one on Christmas Day (!!) and I came about 80th where I normally come more like 130th. Terrible time too but I was glad to do it. About 140 runners that day, we often have 240. I would imagine if you look at spring/summer runs you might find some slower runners - 35 mins for the slowest is not slow at all!!

Sofira - if you're checking the most recent results, they are a bit atypical, looks like only the real keany beanies were out during the festive period.

I got a shock when DH and I went along to one at my SILs on Boxing day. I'm not overly fast and average around 33-35 mins but at my large local one there is usually around 400 people taking place so whilst I'm towards the back I'm not usually in danger of being last, but there were only around 100 at this one and I was pretty much at the back apart from a family and a person with a buggy, so yes it's worth checking out the results of a few local ones for a week.

I should have read your original post properly - 55 mins doesn't seem excessive, on most courses you'd still get a couple of people in at around 45 mins, so it's not like you're asking all the volunteers to hang around for an eternity.

I stand corrected, it is not frowned upon to walk parkrun.Here's the advice on my local one:
Please ensure that you are fit enough to walk, jog, run 5k (3.1 miles) with us.

Most recent results show tail runner coming in at 45 mins, but generally there is a few slower than that but generally more likely to come in the warmer weather.

sof I've marshalled at our parkrun on the last corner and it really didn't bother me that people were coming in after 50 mins. One of my friends said it would be fine for me to head off but I refused and said I was standing at my post until everyone had been cheered home. I'm used to my whiny 7yo holding us up so certainly wouldn't get fed up waiting for others to finish.

Samantha - as I said, I did my first parkrun in 42 minutes.

If I had come across your posts and your attitude before i did it, I would never have dared to go. I find your very off-putting, despite your declared intention to get people out and running.

Fortunately my dh was already doing parkrun and so were a number of our friends, so I was encouraged and went along.

Due to parkrun, I now run 2-3 times per week, and have got fit and lost weight.

I am sad that your attitude is putting people off.

One of the slower ones this week (not the slowest) was a regular parkrunner who has had a knee op. This is her first one back, and she took about 51 minutes. Of course no-one minded!

salty - not the same - you weren't our tail runner.

Llijk - the tail runner waits until eveyrone has moved off. We have quite a big run, in the summer it is 500+ and it can take a while to get everyone over the start line. He/she follows on once everyone has started, and either walks or jogs depending on how slow the slowest one is.

Tail runner just starts with the group and keeps pace with the slowest runner (or walker).

Does the tail runner start about 10 minutes after everyone else? Or just walk to start.

I get what Samantha is saying.

I did a public paid for 5k run a couple of years ago and whilst it was great to see a mixture of people I thought it was odd that people would deliberately pick a fun run to walk round ditto for a number of longer races I have done. Again I'm not particularly fast but will always jog at least some of the course.

I think at our parkrun they have 60 mins as the recommended max time.

Our course always has a tail runner (a volunteer wearing a vest to say they are the tail runner) and a friend of mine does it sometimes; she normally runs the course in 31-32 mins but when tail running takes about 45 mins - she obviously walks quite a bit of it.

I think if it took you 55 mins you would be weeelll at the back, of ours anyway.

Can you pick up that pace a bit or maybe jog just for a few minutes every so often? As others say, we all look a bit red or puffed out when running. That's kind of the idea! My parkrun is lovely, really supportive of all abilities and ages (some old gimmers like me, some kids, some v fast 25 yr olds) but I would agree with others, you do need to be running a bit really.

Samantha28 All your comments point towards that, you've made it very clear you feel it is unacceptable to take as much time as you need to do it.

Steppemum Possibly, but I won't say the name of my local one or it will out me! Have a look to see how many runs your tail runner had done this week and whether they were female!

Steppe mum - of course people will cheer the person who walks round in an hour. They cheer everyone who finishes .

And of course the tail runner is last - that's their job. They don't get too cold Because they are moving . It's the other volunteers who are standing still who get really cold.

Most park runs have many people who take 40-45 mins. They mostly jog / walk . That's not what is being discussed here - it's the people who don't even try and take an hour or more .

Most first timers do not WANT to make everyone else wait another 15 minutes for them . They don't WANT to walk around the course with the tail runner and be 15 minutes behind the second last person. They don't want to be embarrassed . They want to have fun and achieve something and join it , not exercise their rights .

I think that asking someone to consider the feelings of others is exactly the spirit of Parkrun , I'm sorry you feel differently .

I'm also sorry that this thread is being hijacked by this agreement, rather than encouraging people to get out and walk / jog/ run , get fitter and have fun .

Iljkk - parkrun is great fun, and there are many who come in at 35 minutes, where you come doesn't matter, it isn't a race, it is a timed run. You run against the clock and yourself.

My fastest time is 37:23. Up from 42 minutes 6 months ago.

The conversation is always How did you do? ie against yourself, and the replies are always along the lines of 'I was slow today' or ' quite pleased with that, maybe a new personal best' No-one is running against others as a race.
Having said that, my fastest times are when I try to keep up with someone in front who I know runs a good time.

3 nearest park runs, everyone was in by 42, 45 or 49 minutes.
I know for sure I'm a very fast walker & I couldn't walk 5km in 49 minutes.
That 49 minute event, with my 35 minute time for 5km, I'd be No. 390 out of 429 on the last results day.

Much more pleasurable to run by oneself