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

I did a double parkrun as part of my plan to stop the knee aggravation by doing my longer run in Saturday instead of sunday. Didn’t work! Knee pain kicked in after exactly 3 miles so joined the end of parkrun very late and shuffled my way painfully to finish. Managed 7 miles in total but feel very despondent about the knee 😖

well done to everyone who got out and did it and @Ricecrispiesatsix that is crazy and impressive!!

How did we all get on this morning? I am feeling quite pleased as I got a PB (just). I still have around 90 seconds to shave off for the glorious sub 30, but I am happy I'm getting closer. All three extra running I am doing to train for the 10k is definitely helping!

Well done @NoCareNoFair. I’m impressed by the 10k training too, I couldn’t contemplate running more than 5k!

I went for the first time in two months and managed to knock 18 seconds off my PB - I was amazed! Feeling it now though…

Dd1 and I have managed to be parkrun tourists at different places for weeks now. I like to try and be 1st in my age category but today 1st lady overall was my age so didn’t manage it. Went with a group from the running club and it was a nice course, if a bit of a slog of a hill in it.

today was my 25th parkrun. I’m not the most committed park runner but have been making the effort while dd1 is home from uni as she enjoys them. Dd1’s is next week so she gets to choose where we go.

I seem to be getting slower and it wasn’t even hot this week. Had a nice time though with DD and friends so I’m not complaining (that much).

waves

I'm not sure whether I fit in here.

66 and i've done two Parkruns. First was the end of July - 54 minutes 24 seconds...

Then held up because I had to have a dental procedure which had complications. Second Parkrun a couple of weeks ago: 56 minutes 59 seconds. Oh dear.

In my defence I'd had 6 wks training after 40 plus years of no running at all before the first one. I've signed up for another block of Running Club sessions at the local gym.

I'm afraid that my current goal is try to get below 50 minutes. Apart from anything else, it's embarrassing when you know you're holding up the marshals and tail walkers.

My initial hope was to finish before 60 minutes, so I guess I've done that.

As a core team volunteer, those times are absolutely fine from a volunteer point of view and not at all unusual. Keep going back and you will chip away at the times and reach your next goal.

Thank you. That's appreciated.

Parkrun is meant to be for everyone and those times are fine. If I was marshalling and saw you I would enthusiastically cheer you on. It’s great that you’re out there doing it. I keep trying to encourage my dad to give it a go. He would have to walk it all at first and would likely take over an hour, but it doesn’t matter. It’s all good exercise! Well done

Thank you @Whataninterestinglookingpotato . I must say that the marshals were very encouraging.

@WearyAuldWummanYes! Join us! Please come back and share your progress (because you will have progress!). I am looking forward to celebrating your sub 50 with you (virtually). Your challenge is just against yourself, as is it for 99% of Parkrunners. And Parkrun is for all, so you're fine.

Thank you, @NoCareNoFair . I very much appreciate that.

Thank you @Lemontreeinthecity . I'm using the Couch to 5k app as well as starting from the beginning with the gym Running Club.

I'm hoping to use the RC early short runs to work on speed and the app for stamina. I'm on wk 7 for the app, if that makes sense (I skipped the early bits since I'd already completed the first RC and a Parkrun by then.)

Used the gym track on Monday and did a 25 minute continuous run - more of a jog, really - with a 5 minute walk at either side. Managed to get round the 400 metre track nearly 6 times, so I'm not getting any faster, but I think the stamina is maybe more important at this stage.

A friend sent me one of those basic Timex watches. I'm not sure whether it's me, but it's not giving me steps or kms. (It keeps telling me that I've done 0.) The watch works and the stopwatch works.

I went online to get the instructions, but I'm no further forward...It was an Amazon delivery and I don't want to tell the friend that I'm struggling with it.

Not sure if I fit in either but I completed my last couch to 5k run this morning and am looking forward to doing my first Parkrun in a couple of weeks time which will be on my 59th birthday! Looking at the stats on my watch, I should manage it in 40 minutes so I’m in awe of sub-30 minutes.

Parkrun eve!! I’m excited because we’re camping this weekend and the nearest parkrun is Folkestone which looks lovely, along the seafront.

Slightly gutted because I forgot my headphones but seeing as I’m supposed to be taking it easy, I guess it doesn’t matter. I ran for 11 years without music, and then tried it for the first time last year and immediately knocked a minute off my PB! It was incredible the difference it made.

The other thing I’m looking forward to as soon as my foot heals (and I can run as much and as fast as I want again) is getting back into intervals. That was the single biggest thing I did to bring my times down. Brutal (I have fond memories of lying on the grass trying not to throw up) but so so effective, especially if you don’t have much time to train.

God I miss the endorphins and adrenaline of chasing PBs. At least it’s giving me motivation to stick with my physio regime.

Running Club today. I'm starting over again with the beginners and concentrating on speed - but I'm still the slowest. On my own training days, I'm concentrating on stamina.

A bit faster today! Finally turning a corner. All those interval sessions starting to pay off.

No Parkrun today, but Running Club yesterday. Just short runs yesterday, but my puff appears to be improving.

Well done to everyone for the last couple of weeks. I had a fall this morning, but because of the embarrassment I got up and walked and then ran (slowly) soon after. I have very cut and bruised hands and feet now and I'm feeling very ouchy. I'm not sure what caused it but I felt like I had very heavy legs before I fell and I was scuffing the ground a bit. My first fall. Ouch!

Oh no @NoCareNoFair, hope you’re ok. Well done for carrying on and finishing.

I went yesterday and managed another PB so I was very pleased with that. Can’t go for the next few weeks but will keep getting out during the week, though they’re usually shorter runs.

Well done on the PB @BetsiRubble .

No running today, but attended Musical Theatre Fitness class today with lots of leg work including squats. I'm hoping that the classes I'm taking might help my leg muscles.

No parkrun for me this weekend as taking dd2 up to start uni!! Empty nest for me now as dd1 goes back tomorrow. 😢

@Lemontreeinthecity i find I run a 5k best with at least a mile warm up at base pace with a few quicker short sprints. Mind you, I rarely do this at parkrun and just sprint off cold. My 5k PBs are from when I have warmed up though. One parkrun when in London when I ran 3 miles to get there and then last nights 5k race where I did a mile of warm up and then jogged another half a mile to the start.