Parkrun - has anyone walked it?

samantha, and inmybackyard - I have just read your posts on this page and I think they are directly against the spirit of parkrun.

As I have just posted we regularly have many who finish in 40-45 minutes, and often up to an hour. Maybe it is because the atmosphere at ours is very good and very inclusive, I know 2 of the faster runners - both finish in 23 minutes. They can often be found standing at the finish cheering people in.

Our tail runner comes along behind everyone and is the last in. The tail runner is often walking as the slowest people are either running at walking pace or walking.

I volunteered this week, I was on barcode scanning and we all waited for that last lady, and none of us minded.

salty - I saw your post on page 1 about the lady running in in 59 minutes and I wondered of we go to the same parkrun??

Oh, never done a parkrun though....

When I started running I could only manage about 10 seconds. Seriously. Thought I was going to die I didn't, and worked up to running to an hour continuously, so it can be done. Of course, I let it all go and am now back to about 10 minutes, but I'm perisistent!

Good luck, op!

your local parkrun seems quite fast.

When I started running at mine I did it in 42 minutes (running, just very slow). I certainly wasn't the last by a long way.

When I have marshalled, I have noticed there was one lady who was running very very slowly, The tail runner was walking behind her! She took 59 minutes, but all the marshalls and volunteers cheered her in, and still do every time she comes. She was there again this week.

We do have quite a few who half walk and half run, some end up with fast times and others slow times, depending on how much walking they do.

Have a look at other ones and see if there a a less competitive one near you.

Samantha28 I think you are being very harsh. Some people start off by walking, I don't think Parkrun is or should be exclusive to people who can complete it within a certain time

I didn't say that. You must be thinking of someone else .

Samantha28 I think you are being very harsh. Some people start off by walking, I don't think Parkrun is or should be exclusive to people who can complete it within a certain time.

As mentioned before I've done over 100 Parkruns - I'm not a super speedy runner, I can do 5km in 27 minutes so very average over this distance (I'm better over longer distances). This weekend I was tail running and the person at the back walked the whole course; she didn't run and it took us an hour. Yes, I got a bit cold and yes, I wasn't expecting to be out for so long but did I mind? No not at all. She was lovely, enthusiastic and really wanted to get out and do some exercise. I told her about C25K and suggested that would be an excellent way to start but she admitted she was quite shy about running in public. Hopefully coming along to Parkrun will have given her some confidence and we did run in the last 20m. She said she was going to start C25K with the aim of being able to run the whole thing by Easter. If she waited until she was ready to run it, maybe she would never get started - sometimes people need motivation and to be part of a group to even get going.

Parkrun is very inclusive. It's about helping people get out and get some exercise whether they are a sub-20 runner or just trying to get round at all.

A good idea would be to find the route and time yourself going round it then see how that compares to the times on the parkrun results.

If you feel that you're too slow to participate just now then that could be a great incentive to keep on trying that route at a faster pace until you were comfortable to take part.

Another idea is to volunteer - that way you'll a) be helping out and b) get a true sense of what the slower ones on the field look like i.e. are they running or walking, also by volunteering you'll get to know the other volunteers so when you do take part, they'll all be routing for you. On the weeks I volunteer I run the route afterwards with DS cycling beside me.

I should point out that it's a lot harder for us slow pokes as we have to exercise for longer !

I am in a running club, I win races, Marshall and organise races, wouldn't have a problem in you taking part, you could always do one lap and tell the organiser not to wait for you whilst you do your second, you would probably be fit enough to walk/ jog after a few weeks to do it properly.

Amanda - And I think you will find that nearly all running events have a maximum time the event has to be completed in . This is not " against the ethos of these groups entirely " - it's for Health and safety .

The event organisers have to be sure that someone is not lost or taken ill out on the course. And it allows roads to be reopened where necessary .

Large events usually have a sweeper bus that goes around collecting people who are not going to finish in time . If people choose not to take a lift , they are informed that they proceed at their own risk .

It's nothing to do with not celebrating someone's achievements . For some people, walking a few metres is a major achievement . But it doesn't mean it appropriate for them to enter a marathon .

It's to do with keeping runners safe , making sure everyone is prepared for the event they are taking part in and respecting the work of volunteers .

Anyone who is is a running club would be happy to explain this to you .

Amanda - even if they have cakes afterwards, the marshals and most of the rest of the volunteers - timekeeper/s , funnel managers , token sorters, tail runner, scanners etc - have to stay on duty out on the course until the last person finishes. The fact that everyone is having coffee without them will be no consolation !

Volunteers are there for at least 30 mins before the event starts , then at least 15 mins afterwards to clear up . Add 45 mins for the run and that's 1.5 hours outside in all weathers. The extra 15 mins between someone jog / walking and someone strolling round at a leisurely pace makes quite a difference.

The official parkrun policy is that it's open to everyone, even if they just want to walk. But I think most park runners are mindful of the effects their choices have on the whole team of volunteers . Personally I would be embarrassed to make a dozen people stand out in the cold in January just so I could exercise my " right " to walk round the course .

The clues in the name - it's for people who are at least trying to run , even if that's a slow jog alternating with walking . People do It in their nineties , with babies in double buggies , or recovering for a stroke, a heart bypass or cancer. You don't have to be fast . But it's in the spirit of the event to at least make an effort .

You should contact the organisers and ask for their suggestions, the 2 local to us, have drinks and cakes after the run, so no one would be kept waiting for you to finish, do you have. Friend or colleague that could join you and stay at your pace.

I did a cross country race today, it took the leading women about 30 minutes, a lady of fairly advanced years with some mobility issues completed the race in 1.15. She got the biggest cheer of the day and this was at a fairly serious race for club runners. Go for it

Oh I'm actually very proud of my meagre achievements. But not going to expect to impress anyone else.

This is bad. I've just lurked on the results sheets for the nearest park runs, spotting people I know (complete stalker behaviour). One entire family, even. This is as bad as Strava stalking. They are all better than me so will stay in stealth mode.

I think 45min is a very brisk walk or slow jog , normal walking pace would be nearer 60 mins

Lljkk - remember you are beating the people on the sofa

Where are you OP?

There are other run/walk/jog groups in our area (east Scotland) that would welcome you.

I totally disagree with the Pp who said it's unfair on volunteers if you take (in their opinion) too long that's against the ethos of these groups entirely.

You have to start somewhere, and with an organised group you should be encouraged and have a record of your achievements and progress.

45 minutes?? Someone WALKS it in 45 minutes? I can barely run 5k that fast.

One of our local park runs is two laps on same course, so someone could just walk one lap and take about the same time as the rest.

Based on normal finishing times I think you're right to stay away until you're a bit fitter. I'm not sure what you'd gain compared to doing a walk officially by yourself and it's unfair on the volunteers.

At one of our local park runs there are people that walk, DH did it in 27m15s and the last person came in at 54m51s and was female aged between 30-34.

I really recommend C25k. I started it because I was horribly unfit following stubborn pelvic problems during/after pregnancy. By the time I could finally walk without limping, my fitness was dreadful. I did look like a beetroot at first, but no one cared, and that passes as you get fitter.

I've found parkrun very friendly. Everyone is there for the same reason, and it's a lovely atmosphere.
I take my DS to a junior event where he's the smallest and youngest, so we're normally accompanied by the tail runner!

I've done over 100 Parkruns and at ours you do get people who walk or very slowly walk run it. I've had to do it at a very slow pace recently and everyone is just as supportive and encouraging as when I run it moderately quickly.

My favourite volunteer position is tail runner which means you come last and bring in the field and several times I've walked it with people who weren't running for various reasons. One of the slowest was a woman who was unfit but highly motivated - she ran every step and it took 59 minutes.

Maybe get in touch and see what they say. The most recent results might seem fast as results from today would be New Years so the more dedicated regulars - I know ours was a smaller but faster field today.

Yes to trying C25K though. That's how I started and I never thought I could be a runner - far too big and unfit with aches and pains. Within 10 weeks I was running 5k and then not long after 10k ... then 20k. If I can, really anyone can!

Just checked out my local parkrun results for yesterday, slowest was 49.48.

People always walk ours. I'm a very slow runner, probably one if the last of the actual runners, before the people who walk/run or walk.

I'd check the results page of the one you want to do and see how slow the slower finishers are.

The event director at one of my local runs encouraged his 70 year old mother and her friends to do it because he said that it encouraged more of the less speedy people to join if they can see that they won't be last.

We regularly get people with Nordic walking sticks doing it. I checked the time of the last to finish to day and it was 1 hour and 5 minutes.

For parkrun it depends very much on which one it is and how many people are attending as to what the slowest speed is. You could check the results for your local one to get an idea. It's a really good target to aim for and the people are very supportive but I think it would work best if you could jog some of it.