Parkrun newbies and trying a sub 30 - keeping each other motivated! 🏃‍♀️ 🎉

Do t know where I am going but if it is still hot then it won’t be a fast one. Quite nice to not be committed this week and have the choice on Saturday morning.

This is also my goal! I’m 45 and only started running in Feb due to spinal surgery. My first park run was 33 mins down to 31 by May - So I decided to train to be faster - this was my plan
1x intervals run 400m run (5:45 pace) 90 second walk x6.
1x 5 k at 6.00 reduced to 5:55 per km over the weeks
and one long (7k) at a 6:45 pace. I did this for 5 weeks the yesterday did a 29:05 5k!! Next step Achieving this at Park Run.

Wow, @miffedatsea a triathlon!! Many congratulations, that is massively impressive. I hope you are feeling like a goddess (albeit probably an achy one).

Sub 30 is my PR goal too. Closest I've got is just under 31 minutes, but mostly 32 mins ish.

I've been in a repeated cycle of pushing myself to go either a teeny tiny bit faster or further and then injuring myself which then takes months to fix. So frustrating! It seems the same for my friends too, so sadly, think this is what happens in your 50s.

Love the age ranking for PR as it makes me feel much better about my speed.

I completed my first triathlon last Sunday, and it’s kick started my fitness regime 😆 realise that’s the wrong way round but I was in denial even on Sunday morning that I was actually doing it! Aim was to finish and not come last, didn’t care about the time. Achieved that, and funny enough, now I do care about the time! To ready for next years event - signed up to start park-run as it’s definitely the running I need to work on!

Well done everyone on your times today in this heat!

That's an excellent and very motivating way of looking at it! And excellent motivation as you said! Loosing my half a stone overweight will, by your calculations cut 45s off my current PB of 31:30 will make me 30:45, so I'll only have to cut 45 secs more off . I am totally going to do this!

Another late start for me - disappointing but faster than last week (which was good given the heat).

Impressive !

I was at a 10k race where the winner of the 70+ women's category got 45 mins last weekend. I'm only a couple of years behind you (and no elite runner) and did 24:45 this morning. Definitely not too late.

No, not oh dear. It means you have an easy win!

I found improving my running was a much better motivator for cleaming up me diet, than fitting in to a dress or something abstract about improving my health ever was.

Well done all 21:57 for me today. The course was a bit short though so would have probably been a minute or so more if it was a whole 5k. Warm this morning and a busy course

I’d love to get sub30 but can’t seem to get under 32. Age mid 60s and fear that sub30 boat has now sailed !

How did everyone do?

I found it very hot and humid this morning, so I ran at a comfortable pace instead of going all out. I got 34:20. That would have been a PB for me in November and now I found it reasonably comfortable so even though I was slower, it's still a massive achievement.

My estimated date for my sub 30 is this November. But hopefully I can get a sub 31 in September...

@MumHowLongToGo pacers differ between parkruns. Some have them all the time, some never and some do them the first weekend of the month. So that might be your best shout to see if there are pacers if they’re not there all the time.

@Kingfisherfly I’m 52 and BMI middle of overweight category so definitely could lose some weight. Hopefully it comes off as I continue to run. I do weight training/boot camp twice a week so that should help too.

@NoCareNoFair I will check the pacer next time. I can’t remember seeing one before, not sure if they have regular ones in my local park run.

Good luck everyone running tomorrow, it might be a hot one! Unfortunately I can’t make it, hopefully I’m free the Saturday after.

@KingfisherflyOh dear! I am definitely carrying a few pounds overweight. Hopefully they'll drop off when I up my training next week!
@MumHowLongToGoYou sound like you are doing amazingly! You'll easily crush 30 mins I would have thought. My only tip is when you are having a good week, try and follow a pace maker. When I did this, I managed a slow sprint past them in the last bit and shaved about a minute off to get my PB. But mostly, just give it time.

I had mainly just been improving by running every Saturday. I have recently upped it to a shorter midweek run and will be adding another couple of runs (making 4x a week) from Monday.

I am hoping it won't be too hot on Saturday as last time it was, I found it hard to breathe. I am also hoping I have a good day. My form varies wildly, possibly due to hormones/ peri menopause...

The best tip I was given as a beginner runner is dress for the second mile. Ideally you'll feel a bit chilly when you set off, but you'll soon warm up.

What age are you and how's your weight?

If you are even a bit towards the top end of the healthy BMI range, losing weight will make a huge difference. 2 seconds per pound per mile, so half a stone = c. 45s on a parkrun.

As a beginner, consistency is all you really need and it will come. 3/4 runs a week. Don't do them all as practice parkruns though, run slower, and longer if you can and save the speedwork for Saturday.

If you can do some strength work, especially core, that will help too.

I'm glad I found this thread. Do you mind if I join in?

A little bit of background: I started C25K with a running club in January and have been running since. I had never run before and could hardly manage the 90-second intervals at the start, so I'm very proud of myself for getting this far!

I've only completed three parkruns because Saturday mornings clash with something else, but I'll try to get there now and then. My parkrun PB (and 5k best) is 34:59. I've taken five seconds off since my first parkrun and my stamina is definitely improving, so there's progress somewhere.

I run approximately three times a week: 2*5km and one longer run. I've managed to stretch that to 10K now and then, with an average pace of 8:13/km. My aim now is to work on my speed, so I'm very keen to hear about your experiences and pick up any tips. ChatGPT has given me a training plan and, based on that, it could take me another six months to get under 30 minutes. I know it's all about patience, but that feels like a very long time...

I’m looking forward to parkrun this weekend. Going with a group of running friends and then going for breakfast after. The course is a fun one and not a PB course, I also did a trail marathon last Sunday and I have a trail half this Sunday, and I’m planning a track session Friday night so I won’t be trying to go all out or anything. Just a nice trip.