Slowest Parkrunner, feeling demoralised

It’s my ideal of hell, don’t do it if you hate it, but I wouldn’t be worried about speed.

As you said you are up against some competitive runners and or others more used to the site. Compare and despair!

I am a runner and I hate park run.
It is meant to be 'a bit of fun' but the atmosphere is often anything but. The compulsive nature, the watches, the obsession with Strava.
If you want to keep fit running, set yourself a 5 K route, forget the stop watch and just go.

Can really relate to your post OP as I was exactly the same at Parkrun. Definitely try some other courses occasionally, eg flatter / on tarmac / 2 laps instead of 3 etc as you’ll find ones you enjoy more and might be quicker, plus it’s nice to change route. Also some will have very large attendance & will have some people who walk the whole thing.

Ignore what everyone else is doing & focus on you. The thing I liked about parkrun was that it was timed & gradually you will see your time get better, it’s lovely to get that email and see a new PB even if it’s only a few seconds faster. You WILL gradually get quicker the more you go. One day you’ll find the weather & your clothing and the course all feel good & bam! You’ll knock a whole minute off your time & be so proud of yourself. (If you’re anything like me, on other days you’ll feel like shite, you’ll get a stitch or your keg will hurt or your leggings will annoy you, and you’ll walk loads… just forget about it… you still exercised & got fresh air, move on & next time will be better)

And finally, think of it like this: the club runner who wizzed round & came in fastest probably did it in about 15 mins. They still covered 5k, exactly the same as you, but they only exercised for 15 mins. You exercised for 3 times as long as they did!! Be proud of yourself.

Mate, you did parkrun! In a great time. I take my kid along and he’s getting his PBs etc, while I sit in the car reading 😅. Seriously impressed with everyone getting out there in the fresh air, especially those who aren’t “proper” runners. Keep going, you are in the spirit of what park run is all about!

You're faster than me! Well done

Brilliant, keep going, you will get faster

Ah I see, thank you. I always preferred to just keep going at a slower pace too, if I ever started walking (massive hills aside) I might not get going again! I could never be arsed with the science behind it all and pacing and methods, I just wanted to be vaguely fit! If I do start running again I think I'd do it tech-less. (Obviously we should all do what's best for us individually as we are all different and some people love all that and it works for them, before anyone shouts at me!).

OP, I tried to run round the block. It’s less than a mile and I had to stop twice. I’m going to keep going if you do.

Dont think this park running caper is really your thing. Sounds awful to me.

Look foe something which os more fum tnat you enjoy. That is not judgemental or competitive

Have some fun Hon.
,😻

You're there, and getting the benefit of that exercise. That's more than most of us manage.

Ne incredibly proud of yourself everytime you show up. If you must compare, make it with those of us who could hardly walk a full park run, even if we did get there!

A) I think you’re awesome!

B) Do not stop, it is a whole lot better to do something rather than nothing. I should know, I have tried and given up on couch to 5k three times over the years and now I do arse all.

C) Being overtaken by an old man with a limp is comedy gold and this is in fact what would clinch it for me. I would be dining out on that and going back each week expectantly.

You’d not be the slowest at all at our local run with those times. Keep going 💪 you’re doing brilliantly!

Paul Sinton-Hewitt says that anyone who finishes in 50 mins or under - is a RUNNER

So you carry on and you run at your speed and remember , most of your peers are lying in their beds , possibly dying with the hangover - and yet there you are

Be proud

You are a STAR! Smashing it! Unlike all the millions of people sat on their arses. Keep going, OP. Speed does not matter, it’s turning out that counts.

@slet download the 5k app. It has all sorts of parkrun challenges to keep you motivated. Eg doing a parkrun each month of the year/letter of alphabet/stopwatch bingo

That sounds fast to me. My fastest ever 5k is 40 minutes but it usually takes me 45. Everyone else on your park run must be a proper runner. Well done and keep going!

At my local parkrun there is a guy in a wheelchair who takes over an hour. He's not always last either. No one is made to feel bad because they're slow and that's how it should be. Please don't worry about being last - especially in the time you are running it - maybe try a bit of parkrun tourism (with your DS) and see how varied the attendees are!

well done on getting out there doing the running.

Your DS can work round you, surely? you are nice enough to give him a lift? then he can volunteer at a parkrun you want to do.

Not trying to put you off running by suggesting volunteering but suggesting it for its own sake too. It helps you feel part of things, get to know people and a see the big picture at parkrun which will stop you worrying so much about what other people think about your speed because you will have been out there supporting everyone at all speeds.

You showed up, which means you are lapping at least 70% of the population.

Well, if you ever see me running it’s because someone is chasing me - I’m in awe of people who run at all, please don’t be so hard on yourself. At least you are turning up. Could you find a local running club for people just starting out? We have one my friend runs and it’s all about being slow and turning up anyway. I still don’t go and run 🤣 - well done for getting out there, don’t give up x

I do parkrun, a bit of gentle jogging but mainly walking and come in around 55 minutes. Generally in the last ten but never last as volunteers always come last. Always clapped over the line and I love it. Keep it up you’re doing fabulous .

45 minutes is not that slow, especially with mud and hills. My local has hills but no mud and the tailwalker usually comes in at 1 hr or 1 hr 5 mins ish. You are out there and doing it despite the weather. You are amazing. Have you got the 5k app to track things like stopwatch bingo etc? That motivates me. Your times will go down if you keep going and when the mud dries up. If you really don’t want to do the course could you volunteer a bit for a change alongside your DS?

Congratulations to you for showing up and finishing! Who cares about the time? You’re doing infinitely better than the gazillions of people who didn’t do anything at all!

I feel pretty proud of you and I don’t even know you, so you should definitely be proud of yourself. 🥳