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

I started the post yesterday, then got distracted so finished this morning, hence the today/yesterday disparity

Did a bit of tourism for my 6th run today. Johnstown Castle in Wexford. I got a 37:10 which is a huge improvement on my home PB which is 39:44.

The course today was much flatter than ours so it'll take me a bit to beat that time.

I did think that our run was friendlier the better runners really encourage others round the course, but there was none of that yesterday.

It was a beautiful course and we did have 16 members of my husbands extended family running so that made it special.

Well, I am actually very pleased with myself. I managed my first run today, got round in 32.03, and didn't stop or walk at all. In fact, I felt fine afterwards, and think I could go faster.

Never run more than 3km before!

A new PB for me today was thrilled to bits with it considering I was once nearly 4 stone overweight.

That's awful nonibaloni x

Thanks, I honestly found it weird because I live in a city that has fun runs, marathons, triathlons, moonwalks and everything in between and generally runners are too knackered and focused to stop and lecture anyone.
And why would anyone waste their Saturday morning upsetting a bunch of strangers in the park but it felt horrible. We were suddenly overwhelmed and like we were in the way. My main fault seemed to be not having heard of ParkRun so when it popped up here I thought it must be a sign.

Ahh @AuntieStella beat me to it! I echo her sentiments to. This really isn't the normal parkrun way and I hope it was just a one off.

I'm sorry you've had that experience Nonibaloni. The majority of park run participants are friendly and respectful of other park users, but you will always get the odd one who isnt unfortunately. If you google 'name of your area' parkrun it should bring up the park run page with the contact details, there will be an email address you could contact to voice your views and experience? I'm pretty sure the event director would be horrified you've had this happen and would want to do something to make sure it doesn't happen again.

That is bloody awful, Nonibaloni and seriously atypical of Parkruns and Parkrunners. The briefing at every location at have been to reminds Runners that they have no more right to the space than any other user, and that courtesy is expected at all times (including getting out of people's way)

You need to complain - to the local event (you can find info in the Parkrun website www.parkrun.org.uk/events/events/ and/of to Parkrun itself, and/of to the landowbpner (by whose consent the Run is there).

And I'd like to apologise to you too - not because I think I was anything to do with this incident, but because the Parkrun as I know it just wouldn't be like that. There is no excuse at all for what happened to you, and I am glad you found a sympathetic marshall (rather more typical, I think)

Oh dear. This is probably not going to end well but I came on mumsnet to calm down a bit and take my mind of it.
I had never heard of park run, I am not a runner. I know what they are now. I was in the park this morning with my son, his guide dog and my mother who is recovering from an injury.
As we headed back to the car we found a park run across our path. I asked if there was a sign I missed. I was told they were there every week whether I liked it or not. I asked if a sign could be put up because we would have left earlier if we knew what was happening.
Anyway we were pushed form the path. My blind son was crying because he was shouted at and jostled. His kicked dog was separtsd from his and panicking and my mother knocked by a buggy on a wet grassy slope. She actually had to take cover behind a a man in a wheel chair.

Runners kept shouting and when I said "look I need to catch the dog and help my son" a runner was rude, racist and classist. I am sure she was a horrible exception but please please please remember people who are not running might be in your way but might not be able too move quickly.

While passing under a bridge a man yelled at me you move over for faster runners! I don't know that, it isn't a race - I don't think - in my sport more experienced participants work round the learners.
I'm not coming to your board to tell you to stop or tar you all with the same brush. But please think of other users, I wasn't trying to be difficult, I really was trying to leave the park as fast as possible.
When we got out of the path, I asked a volunteer who I could speak to and he could not have been more helpful and sympathetic. Maybe they/you are used to getting abuse from the public (I hope not) and I can't imagine running and talking but please don't shout at people who are using a public park.

35.13 is an amazing time! Well done! I'm just starting to get consistently under sub 40's and it's been hard bloody work to get to that point! I've accepted that I'm a slow runner :)
I found today tough. Just wasn't really feeling it and really struggled to get my breathing under control, my chest is actually sore now! However picked it up for the last mile or so and shaved 2 secs off my park run PB time, so not all bad.
I'm away next week but me and DP are planning on being tourists. Although it is one of the most elevated in the U.K. so I might have second thoughts, or park walk instead!

Thanks so much all. I did it and i loved it! It was hard work as it's coastal and it was blowing a gale and raining. The spray from the sea was actually very pleasant towards the end though. I ran the entire way pretty slowly - 35.13 but i'm happy with that as i couldn't run for a bus 2 months ago. Away next weekend so will have to see if i can shave some time off that in a fortnight. Hope everyone else enjoyed their parkrun.

@fikee I felt like that but I assure you you will love it once you've done it! There are all types of people there, everyone is so encouraging and supportive. Honestly you will be fine. On my first I was one of the last in but I didn't care which I was surprised about because I also have those awful PE flashbacks. I was elated I'd got up on a Saturday morning and done 5k round the park! You can run/walk/jog. I certainly still don't run the whole thing!

Home run for me. Might take it relatively slowly as I did a 5k race Wednesday night (my first proper race) and took 2 mins 10 off my Park run PB surprisingly my painful shins and calves coped quite well so I don't want to push too hard today.

I'm off to volunteer as tail walker - I wonder if they'll be an Olympian joining me!

fikee you will love it - parkrun is so friendly and welcoming, I think you will surprise yourself you can't be last as that's the job of the tail walker.

Doing my first parkrun tomorrow and i'm a mix of excitement and nerves. I'm new to running (c25k) and I really don't want to be last....horrible flashbacks to humiliating pe lessons at school. I looked at the stats for my local group and everyone seems pretty good. Still nothing ventured nothing gained. Please tell me others felt the same before they started?

Ellie Robinson is tail walking at Northampton

Does anyone know if they have any olympians at their parkrun tomorrow? I've just read on Facebook that Mo Farah is tailwalking at Cannon Hill, Birmingham.

Not heard of any are at my local run

Getting in the mood for tomorrow?

Here's a question to ponder (shamelessly nicked from Bushy Parkrun run report from the Glorious Twelfth)

"If an alien flew over Bushy Park on Saturday morning and saw more than a thousand scantily-clad creatures of all shapes and sizes running without any predators in pursuit... would it think we were crazy? And would it be right?"

Well done @totaldiva Every week I always wonder why I'm doing it and think I'll drop out. I always finish the run and 99% of the time feel mega chuffed with myself! I'm fairly new to running and not the fastest, steadily knocking down my time and the encouragement from everyone is mega. I hope you're now hooked!

Love it totaldiva - you are a legend

Ran my local course yesterday nice and steady, #97 three more until the big one

My strava logged me at 5.6km this morning on the same route I did 5 weeks ago at 5.3km. Other runners range from 4.9 to 5.2km, any ideas?