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

Know exactly who you mean Melanie!
It is some first timers brief! He is like a bairn at Christmas!

Brilliant! Well done on your first parkrun. There's a rather infamous "first timers" briefer at Edinburgh parkrun who says "welcome to the best day of your life". He might be right...

Hello. I did my first park run today after following couch 2 5k. I was incredibly slow and the last 1k nearly killed me, but I am already excited about the next one. I went because dh is a park run addict although he's really fast so he finishes and wanders back to the car to get my barcode and a bottle of water for when i finish

I'm 52 and have only been running for a couple of months after doing walking only for a few years.

Looking forward to reading everyone's reports!

How did everybody get on today? My shirt arrived, but too late for today's run. But I'll be proudly wearing it next week in Wales!

I revisted one I'd done a few months ago, and which I'd hated. But I managed to scrape off a whole 3 minutes from that previous (frankly rubbish) time!

250 shirt ordered!

40 is still a good time. Like the park run says, a 60 minute 5k is just as far as a 25minute 5k.
I think they put it a little more poetically, but you get the gist.
I thought I'd be in awful shape today but I am okay, a little tired and still so hungry, but apart from a very mild ache in my upper thigh and my calf I am okay. Hopefully i will still be okay tomorrow.

Thank you both, that is so helpful!! It completely baffled me how on earth they can figure out the finishing time for everyone, but the tokens makes sense. I hadn’t realised there would be a first timers briefing at the start, so that is really good to know. I will definitely get there early in that case.
It is the Haverhill run I am doing. I think it is a fairly new one, and I think only has around 60ish participants each week, I couldn’t believe it when I read that some have upwards of 600 participants!!

Well done on your 10k Iblinked, that’s brilliant! I suspect when I guessed at around 35 mins for a 5k for me, I probably meant nearer to 40 mins . We’ll see!

Welcome Scon. Melanie answered your question there. There should be volunteer at various points around your route. I am nearly sure you can also look up the route on the parkrun website.
It's really good fun and the first timers briefing should tell you all you need to know.

I jogged my first 10k today. Did it in 1hr 11mins. Very pleased with it. I may not be able to move tomorrow though. 😂😂

Hiya Scon, welcome to team Parkrun!

There will be a first timers briefing telling you about the course, so make sure you are there in good time for that. You will most likely not be the only one making your debut. And 35 mins is a great Time!

Everyone starts at the same time, and the timekeepers hit "click" on their stopwatch. As each runner crosses the finish line, the timekeepers hit their second button, which also notes the position number, and the token-giver-outer will give you a little token which has your finish position on it. You take that, and your personal barcode, to the scanner, who will zap the 2 barcodes, give you back yours and retain the finish token. Later that day, the Parkrun fairies will have matched up position numbers and times, and you will get a text and email giving you the results of your run.
Do you want to say which location it is?

Hi all, I have just registered with Park Run, and intend to go along for my first one next weekend. I’m not much of a runner, I suspect I will take at least 35 minutes, but it’s something to work on!

I’m sorry that I’ve not read the full thread, so this may already have been addressed... but can someone please tell me exactly what happens at the event. As in, what happens with my barcode at the start and finish? Are you scanned as you cross the finish line? Are there signs/marshals/something pointing out the route?

I am looking forward to it, but nervous! I like to know what to expect. Thanks in advance!

Look forward to seeing that 250 Shirt melanie cheeks

A bonkers windy parkrun yesterday but did not stop and was not too much slower than in the normal weather the week before...so taking that as a win!

Excellent, Blinked!

I paced to 34 mins, and got a friend a new PB - he was so chuffed to ring that bell.

Good luck with your 10k.

Another Saturday another Parkrun. I again managed to run the whole thing. Finished in 30 mins 46 seconds. Not a PB but I didn't stop running. Before this I would run steadily for 3km then I'd walk a few steps, run, walk a bit more etc. Got advice on a thread about slowing down so o did that and now I can run the whole 5km.
I do want to stop and walk at times but I push through.
Going to attempt my first 10k next Sunday.

My 250 was awesome! I could not stop smiling. Lots of my friends came along, and ave me cards, home made biscuits, and a medal engraved on the back with the date. I shall let you know how I get on with T shirt ordering....

@CatyaPurella I did my 50th in October and still haven't got my T-shirt. Kind of lost it's impact now, will anticipate the 100th arriving faster when I get there!

Oh well done everyone. Love reading all the post. Well done to your DD CatyaPurella. This was my 23rd park run....I think.

My DD11 did her 51st parkrun today and her red shirt arrived when we got home. So proud of her - Pb of 24:34 😊😊😊

First parkrun went well. A shade over 24 mins. I was 71/236, but the 4th female which has got me very chuffed.

(The fastest chap lapped me. He did it in 17 mins!)

I got my results. I did my Park run in just under 32mins. Clearly I didn't slow down too much as my PB is 29 mins and something seconds. Happy with my run today.

Well done everyone.

I was glad to not be running today as it was so hot. It was our Birthday today so a lovely morning spent celebrating with the best.

Well done standingonlego. (Ouch). That was my goal as well today. Run all the way no walking. I did it too I was delighted.

What a range of experience on this thread!

How did the first go?

And how did the 250th?