Parkrun failure

The beauty of Parkrun is that nobody fails and nobody will look at you as a failure.

The tail walker is there to be last and even if you chatted to the tail walker all the way around they would be your biggest supporter and cheer you across the line.

Honestly, the Parkrun community is so supportive, everyone there is pleased to see people turn out and have a go.

Next time you'll be faster and you'll get a PB and they'll keep coming as you get fitter and faster. As previous posters have said couch to 5k is an amazing app to get you started and before you know it you'll be looking forward to Saturday mornings

Not for parkrun, but to do c25k

If they are old enough to scoot, you can take them to the park with you and get them to scoot with you as you run

Do you mean for the actual run? I've been looking at local ones to me and you wouldn't be able to do that. The two nearest aren't actually in parks and I'd previously asked a friend who goes and he said you can't take children who aren't running - are they not all the same?

I only had 30 minutes for my lunch too but I used to have a big breakfast, skip food at lunch and use wet wipes after. I was running outdoors so didn’t get that sweaty anyway and it was only twice a week as I ran on a weekend for the 3rd run.

Or can you do laps of the park while they play?
I started running when DS was 7 and he used to run with me. Whe he got tired, I would install him on a bench with a snack and carry on running laps round him! He used to quite like riding his bike alongside and shouting encouraging things at me too!

Anyway, Gast going from nothing to completing a 5k is a massive achievement, no matter how slowly you did it. Well done! C25k is brilliant - I started with the NHS app too. I could only ever do it about once a week due to childcare etc but even then I made progress.

Good on you for doing it!
I sat in the sofa all day. Hold your head high and keep going, you will be jogging it in no time.

Well done on your first Parkrun! As others have said you're certainly not a failure, you went there and you completed 5k, which is a great achievement. It's so easy to talk yourself out of even trying it, so you're already one step ahead. In our Parkrun there are many people who walk, and people's finish times vary from 17 mins (ridiculously fast people who are just a dot on the horizon!) to over an hour. That's the beauty of Parkrun, that it's for all abilities, and you can try to improve your time or you can happily pootle around in your own time every week having a nice chat, it doesn't matter.

If you do want to try to C25k could you go to a park where you can do short laps in a circuit? Around a field or something. So your children can play in the middle and you'll never be too far away to keep an eye on them. My kids hate running but when they see me doing it they have started to join in, so yours may surprise you.

Good luck, keep going.

Good luck with couch to 5k. That is also how I started running. I love it now.

I did a junior park run with my 4 and 7 year old DDs a couple of weeks ago. That was only 2 km was perfect for a non runner like me! maybe you could persuade them to join you on a junior one then all work up to the 5km together? The junior ones are awesome. Everyone is very encouraging. Can't remember what are they stop though.

The NHS app is in iTunes. There is a link to it on the NHS c25k page

www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/couch-to-5k-week-by-week/#

Scroll down the page and the link is there

If your boys have bikes, that would do instead of scooters. Or can you do laps of the park while they play?

If you can, get them some scooters - my 6 year old’s was only £15, then run/scoot to the park or to school a few times a week

Well done for doing it, you’re much braver than me!

Well I am still impressed. I have been needing to start exercise again for a while again. Have looked at park run and been too scared to even turn up. You turned up and completed it. Who gives a monkeys what time you got. Now you can tell people you do park run. And your partner probably doesn't get it. So train until you can beat him :-)

It’s amazing how quickly C25K or any exercise at all starts to become easier and your stamina builds up.

It’s 30 minutes 3 times a week for C25k. Do your kids have hobbies or anything that leave them at? Or if you work, can you run in your lunch break?

In the meantime there are LOADS of free workouts on YouTube that are really helpful.

Keep going, OP!

I have never done a Parkrun. DH has done them for years...so I did my first C25K this morning! Definitely try the NHS C25K podcast. You are guided and encouraged the whole way through.

I have never been a runner, so this is a huge challenge for me and I want to join DH in the summer for Parkrun.

You can do it. Do it for you and nevermind what you think others think.

👍🏃

You’re so not a failure. I’m the failure - I’ve talked about going for years, and didn’t ever get out my bed. I then moved continents with work to avoid ever doing one! (Only half joking). You are a success.

Another one recommending the NHS c25k. app. I have Spotify on at the same time. I am now 2 weeks on from completion and have willingly gone out 3 times a week to run for 30 mins. I never thought that was possible in week 1.

I think participating in a Parkrun as a total novice is very brave. Going from nothing to running/jogging 3.2 miles/5km is a big ask and the fact that you got around the course and didn’t give up is a credit to you.

Oh god yes @milienhaus

I am regularly beaten by “pace marker man” at my local one, he’s a fecking nonagenarian.

I was beaten by a couple in their 70s on my first one and came about 5th from last. I’m thinking about trying again this week. What doesn’t break us makes us stronger!

Well done on doing your first parkrun! So what if you walked it? Next time if you jog for 1 minute and walk for 2 you'll smash your PB!

You're only competing against yourself, that's the beauty of parkrun.

You CAN do this!!