Parkrunners Assemble - the new thread that will remind you to "do not forget barcode" and that "you can walk, jog, run or volunteers"

Well done needs
That is a lovely to hear, I love little stories like this.
It’s amazing how much faster you can go surrounded by folk.

I went to my first parkrun yesterday. :) It was gorgeous weather for it, and my time was much faster than I've managed on my own thus far. It's spurred me on to join a running club, actually. My teenaged self would be shocked!

Well done on the PB just

auntie Tail is one of my least favourite jobs. I do enjoy barcode scanning, great way to put names to faces.

Somedays it’s frustratingly just like that, but well done on helping your friend to a PB lots

It was our 3rd Birthday yesterday and it was just the most amazing morning, lovely sunny day and the atmosphere was incredible.

Good to front up though Norbert nice one :)

Did my first parkrun in 8 weeks today. It's been a horrible run of illnesses, then snow, then more illness and a nice holiday (leaving on Saturday morning, coming home on Saturday morning so I couldn't even be a tourist)

I haven't kept up with the C25k because of being ill so we mainly walked it. Time of 52.30. At least the weather was lovely!

Auntie I keep thinking about volunteering as tail, would be good to still get the exercise as well as volunteering

Well done just that’s fab. I had an absolute shocker. Earlier on this week I managed my 10K pb and did a speed session so was feeling really really confident. Ran a fast 2k then couldn’t keep going. Was so disappointed that I ended up walking against the flow to find ds and jog with him and also had the massive privilege of pacing someone I know through the final km. my time the worst I have ever recorded (when I was hoping for a pb) but consolation of being a good team player!

Have to miss next week but tourism the following week which will be a treat

I volunteer as tail regularly - I really like doing that!

Every now and again (maybe three times a year) I volunteer in other roles, and my favourite (so far) is barcode scanning.

It was lovely in Oldham today! Not too warm, but warm enough. I got a PB! Cut 1:28 off my previous time.

My husband is so helpful. He times me and stands near the Lion's Den with a bottle of water for me so I can have a sip the two times I pass him. His time was only off by 1 second, so it's nice to have a preview of my results.

Well done on the PB lots

I found it too warm for running on Saturday but I much prefer that to the freezing cold and rain even if it means I tend to go slower. My PB days are over until the Autumn now.

Volunteering the next two weekends so looking forward to that.

What are everyone’s favourite volunteer roles?

Pb for me, ds and two of the pals I go with - hurray!

Oooh oooh parkrun tomorrow

Eastville sounds more appealing!

Hi JustGettingStarted - Eastville is my local but I've done Ashton Court twice.

Ashton Court: long established, it's on the estate of this stately home on the edge of Bristol, most people seem to need to drive and you have to pay to park which is a bit of a faff so get there early as the machines always have queues. The run starts on a proper tarmac path but it becomes a rather pot-holed gravel path for about third/half of the course; I've only done it after not great weather but they form decent sized puddles/lakes you have to navigate! It's an out-then-back race so dodging puddles and oncoming runners is a bit of a challenge. It's very hilly, I think number 14 in the UK parkruns in terms of vertical climb? Basically it's 2.5km uphill then 2.5km downhill so your splits look impressive!

Eastville: newer, only been going since last Autumn. It's in a proper city "park", on a tarmac path. You do a small lap, large lap including the park lake, then small lap and it involves going down a gradual incline then up a reasonable incline - not Ashton Court level hill though! Usually several hundred participants with a wide range from the speedy to the walkers, with dogs and kids and buggies and all sorts in between. There's a small car park with free parking or you can park on neighbouring streets for free if you need to.

Both are good, as I say Eastville is my local so I'd obviously recommend them!

10 minutes! And I had a lovely chat with the trip walker too.

For anyone worried about going along and walking, I did my first walking parkin this week and was great. I normally run but am injured so physio has said walking only for now. As others have said there is always a tail Walker as one of the volunteers so you'll never be on your own at the back and never finish last. It took me over 50 minutes and I didn't feel rushed despite being a good 10 mind behind the person in front. Just go for it, don't wait till you can run 5km!

Anyone from Bristol here? I'll be there next Saturday, in a hotel about equidistant from both Eastville and Ashton Manor (I think I got those right.) Which &would you recommend?

Oh and thanks justgettingstarted, will do

Thanks niceberg - don’t apologise I probably do ‘know’ it - actually getting out and doing it though...! I think I have been taking the lazy girl route of showing up and expecting to get faster - this works for a few weeks obviously when you first start. Not so much now though. Will try and get my fat ass out this week for some intervals.

Hi lotsofplanets I can relate to the pace thing. Well done on the 10k that is amazing!

The one thing I tried that seemed to work- to enable me to run faster - was hill sprints. Run as fast as you can for a set distance up a hill (a short, sprinting distance), then jog slowly back down. At first stick to say 6 or 8 repeats. I did this weekly for a while and it helps train your fast-twitch muscle fibres. My knees aren’t great though so I had to give it up as the intensity was too much.

The other option is flat speed intervals. Same idea but not on a hill. There will be lots of advice / training plans online.

Sorry if you already know all this. And here’s hoping we all have a dry one next week. 🏃🏻‍♀️👍

Join us in the weightlifting thread and we'll talk about your concerns. I believe that only the most extraordinary medical conditions rule out all weight training.

There's definitely ways to work around your particular issues.

Well done justgettingstarted-that’s great.

Jealous of your lifting, I used to love it but my core and back are shot with disc/ pelvic floor/ arthritis so I am terrified of being injured and not being able to run as I really need the mh benefits. Wondering about using weights in the gym rather than free but again a touch nervous

I think it takes experience to know your pace and its effect on your body. I generally seem to have only one speed, but I'm relatively new to running continuously for 30 minutes or longer.

I felt very tired today - I've been doing the Bridge to 10k and this has also been a heavy lifting week (I lift 3x a week at varying intensities). So, to my chagrin, I walked about 3x on the last lap during the uphill bits. My legs felt sore and glitchy.

And, to my surprise, I got the exact same time as last week/my personal best!

I must have gone too fast at the start.

How lovely niceberg. I don’t know anyone at my pace except for dd. All my friends are considerably quicker :( if I practise I might catch them but I would be very surprised if I could also talk!)

I figure I need to train. I ran 10K a couple of weeks ago at the same pace as my 5k... I was thrilled at the time but following week made no dent in my 5k time. Last Sunday I deliberately tried to run slowly in a ‘recovery run’ wasn’t at all tired afterwards and looked at my watch and had seemingly run at almost the same pace as my usual ‘trying’ pace. I think my body had learned the speed it runs at regardless of my distance or aim - if I try and run quicker I just seem to feel more tired at the end rather than see the difference on the clock. I will try some pacing apps but does anyone have any other tips?