Slowest Parkrunner, feeling demoralised

I used to attempt to run to try and improve fitness for horse riding. I hated it and was useless at it. So I’m super impressed that you can complete a park run. I’d probably be still out on the course now. Give yourself a massive round of cheers for getting up and achieving it.

At my one and only park run, I was so slow, the tail runner asked me if I was participating and should they wait for me. Never mind the time, the fact you're out there doing it is amazing.

I’ve just checked the results of our parkrun, there would have been 20 people after you on Saturday, including my DH… you’d be right in the mix!
The mud is a bugger, if you can get trail shoes they will give you so much more confidence.
Every one of the people there who came in faster than you knows what it takes to do what you did. They know it’s hard to start out, they’re running their run and they’re genuine when they encourage you to run yours.
So please come on Saturday, if it was just a bunch of elite athletes running it in 20 minutes the rest of us wouldn’t go!

Who gives a toss! Everyone was last at the beginning, keep going. Making the effort to trim and run is a massive commitment.

well done and don’t you dare give up. Keep going your time will get shorter and you won’t even notice

I regularly come last at events and races.
We are still beating every one who didn’t show up!
No judgment from anyone- just respect!

The one and only time i did park run, i cheated and ran across the middle of the park to the finish line

I think 45 mins is really good! Keep at it

@KarriTreeSullivan Jeffing refers to the run/walk/run method of running developed by Jeff Galloway. He's got a table where you take your mile pace and it gives you a recommendation for how many seconds/minutes to run and walk. I prefer continuous running at a slower pace but people have completed marathons using his method. I'd recommend that everyone new to running try it and see how they find it.

Well done! 👏👏👏
I used to do a lot of running but was never particularly good and fast, I kept hoping I'd get 'the bug' or get addicted but it never happened. I have neither a competitive or addictive streak in me at all!

I keep thinking about getting back into it as the local runners round my way were some of the loveliest supportive people I've ever met. Quite a lot of clubs have super competitive snobby runners in them though, or rather just oblivious and lacking in understanding or other people's abilities.

Still, like so many others have said youve lapped the rest of us slumped on the sofa! 👏👏

Side note - what on earth does jeffing mean?!

You wouldn’t be last in my local parkrun if you did it in 45 minutes because the numbers are better. Try to remember you are not running with a cross section of the general population. You are running only alongside people who are committed to running enough that they are doing it a 9am on a Saturday in all weathers!!! Which explains why a lot of them are fast runners. I think in 6 weeks time, when it’s spring, the course will be so much nicer and the numbers will be better. I would persevere and see how you feel then.

Last is better than did not finish. DNF is better than did not start.

And people who finish in 20 minutes do 20 minutes of exercise. You do 45, which is better.

You’re still faster than everyone who is still in bed!

Cross country running is a sport where when you are first starting out, you should only be competing against your best time. This is where you are with only 3 under your belt. As you get better, then measure your place from last. Celebrate for example being 4th from last. Then celebrate when you’re in the middle of the pack (adjusted for age and sex).

You got up, got there, took part and were faster than last week. I call that a good result.
I did this once - walked much of the way - running is not my thing - and was one of the last - and got a few claps. I reckon for persevering.

If you were doing the same run (same conditions, same pace, same distance) and there was literally not one single person able to see you, how would you feel then, would you enjoy it? If yes then you need to tell yourself that everyone is too busy thinking about what they are doing to dedicate any headspace to thinking about what you're doing, then repeat it until it starts to sink in. I've been there and it's easier said than done but is worth persisting with if you would otherwise like running.

If no, then I think the 'advice' my PT gave me is worth repeating: "if you're only running once or twice a week of course it's going to feel hard!". That was a game changer for me as I didn't enjoy my runs until I forced myself to go out consistently three times per week. The enjoyment snuck in while I wasn't looking. The other option is to focus on other ways to exercise, which is also a valid choice. You could consider park walking or volunteering alongside your son as alternate methods of taking part in the parkrun.

Smaller PRs are hard for this. It's an event for you as much as everyone else, if you look up the times for the big ones like Bushy Park etc you'll see literally dozens of people finishing in the same kind of time as you, which is a very respectable time.

The whole point of parkrun is that no-one, however slow, is ever the last. 44minutes in horrible mud is about right I'd say. It's an amazing initiative, and well done for getting started. Keep going.
Disclaimer: I am something of a parkrun evangelist. I think it's done so much to help the physical and mental health of the nation.

A) you’re doing it
B) you’re running?
C) you’re finishing.
Having asthma I can’t run but can walk forever, and that’s what I do. I’m frequently last (apart from the designated last person) and that’s just how it is.
I love the Parkrun ethos and am just happy to take part 😍

@slet i can guarantee that next week you will feel 100 times better doing it, than taking your son to volunteer and then not doing it!

Massive well done for going at all, it’s such a positive achievement - especially in this shitty weather we’ve been having.
Ive just checked results from our local one, there were 701 finishers and about 50 of them would have come in after you.
Park run is for EVERYONE, fast, slow, everything inbetween. Keep showing up.

OP. Well done for taking up Parkrun. As you said it is early days so don't be too hard on yourself. I was the slowest Parkrunner at ours yesterday. I did it in 52 mins which is slower than normal, but like yours, our course was very muddy and slippery in parts. You are out there doing it whilst loads of other people are still in bed. I love Parkrun, everyone is so friendly and encouraging. Please keep going and welcome to the Parkrun community

That’s a great time and you’d be no where near the back at my local park run.
keep going and maybe find a bigger run where you wouldn’t be at the back? ❤️

This is a message from my mother, who is 80. I showed her your message and she wanted to reply, but doesn't have a Mumsnet account.

When I started to Parkrun in 2011, it was really all Club runners, serious runners, so I was always at the rear. It sounds like you have found yourself at that sort of Parkrun, really unusual these days. It’s true what other people have said to you, you will get quicker, but honestly you don’t want to get into that mindset. Parkrun is for fun, it’s a run, not a race as they say every week.

Personally I wouldn’t go to your second Parkrun. It’s upsetting for you. Go back to the one you started at which sounds much more friendly. Or volunteer to tail run at the second.

I had an ulcer last year, and couldn’t run for months. Now I am always last by at least two or three minutes. Passed by elderly men and women, babies in buggies. But it gets me up and out whatever the weather, and honestly, in the best company.

I have a 50 run T-shirt and have never done parkrun in less than 55 minutes. We had a back runner at ours who walked round with the slowest ones and other runners would wait to cheer me (or any other ‘last’ people) on at the end and encourage me to finish on a run. If you enjoy it, don’t worry about coming last - the ethos of parkrun is to encourage people to run ans you will get quicker over time.

But you did it which is more than most people. 42min is respectable finishing time - the average time for women! The slowest ones at my local park run take a hour (which stills beats the majority of people!!)

just keep turning up and it will get easier