Park Run - is it possible with no training?

[Thisismyusernamefornow]

I know it's 5k and not a marathon but I've been invited to run this weekend and I'm worried it will be awful.

I have general fitness but I don't train for anything and I don't do any running.

Will this be a really bad idea?

Yeah it's fine. My husband started off doing it for his training and goes most weeks - he does about 30 now but he says people walk it and there's always a volunteer at the back who makes sure everyone has got round.

I’m contemplating starting Park Run so this thread is really helpful and encouraging. I just need to get some new trainers!

@Scarydinosaurs thanks

Lots of people walk and jog they are always friendly events

Go for it OP! love parkrun, it’s a great start to saturday. Energises me for the day. I’m far from fast. I’m 7 months pregnant and struggling with pelvic pain so I’ve had to stop for now unfortunately but the last time I did it was about a month ago, I walked the whole thing and took about 44 minutes. I miss it loads. hope you enjoy it

Have a look at the results in the website. Loads of people walk and take as long as you need.
I LOVE Parkrun! So inclusive.
Have fun!

There is a Face Book group called ‘Walking at Parkrun’ - look at that for inspiration. Enjoy and Don’t Forget Your Barcode.

This is all really useful info. Thank you for your input. I just don't want to cry lol

Every possible combination is a winner at parkrun, run flat out, steady run, run/walk, walk, Nordic walking you name it. Ours is starting up a dedicated walkers volunteer role to encourage walkers. Definitely give it a go to anyone thinking about it.

I think you can jog 5km without any specific training assuming you're not a total couch potato. And if you can't just walk for a bit.

Very jealous of the people who do 5 k at a slow jog in 32 minutes... I’ve been running for a year now, and my best time is 37.5 :-(

Ignore the time of others. It's about what feels good to you.

Yup! I rocked up one day and did it with no training.

Start with running a bit then walking a bit. I would recommend the NHS couch to 5k app which aims to get you up to 5k without injuring yourself. Even walking a Parkrun is a good way to start exercising.

Don’t start off too fast! That’s my usual mistake and it’s so easy to do with lots of other people around you.

Do it!

As others have said, there's a dedicated tail walking whose job it is to come last, so that won't be you.

I've volunteered loads of times and was put on stop watch duty once, totally bricked that it was worse than running it. Anyway the people who come in at the end got more of a cheer than those who came first, it was really emotional or that may have been my age

All shapes, sizes, ages, buggies, dogs, walkers, runners, joggers, disabilities are welcome and in my opinion is the best thing anyone can do and it's free!

You can definitely do it without training. You'll probably need to walk a bit, but you won't be the only one.

Don't forget to sign up and print your barcode

I did 5k once without any training and managed it in about 45 minutes (I had to walk a lot). That was a few years ago.
I got back into running two months ago after a long break and a heart procedure and after 6 weeks I could do 5k comfortably but slowly in about 37 mins. I'm planning on doing my first park run tomorrow morning! I was also feeling a bit nervous that I would be the last one through the finish line but I'm going to do it anyway. Good luck!

Don't worry, they are very supportive. They only ask that you let them know if you think you'll take more than an hour, so they know to wait. Unless you're really slow, you won't take that long. I'm old and unfit and can do it in 45-50 minutes.

You'll love it. I do it most weeks and loads of people walk. I also volunteer as a tail walker sometimes and at my local park run than normally means I'm coming in in about 80 minutes. You will never be last - that is literally the tail walkers job. If you are new to running look up Jeff Galloway - he's the run/walk/run guru (Aka Jeffing). I can now run 10k because of his programme. I'm late 40s and was not sporty at school

Which parkrun are you doing? Look it up on the parkrun website and you will see how long people take! Lots of people walk it. And each parkrun has a tail walker so you won't be last! Enjoy. Parkrun is fabulous!

Yes, it's possible from a generally active position. I did a 5k with no training a year or so ago in my late 30s. I think my time was close to 40 mins - my aim was to jog all the way even if at times it was a very slow jog!

I thought the whole pint of Park run was getting people who never normally run, up and moving. It was never something you needed training to do.

I started off walking, and now add a few stints of jogging, and have done it in under 44 minutes. Last week the slowest person walked the whole way in just under an hour, with the fastest finishing in 18 minutes. It really isn’t a race and you could show up with no training if you don’t mind how fast you go, or train several times a week to aim for a faster time. It’s all about what you want from it.

Our parkrun times vary from 17 mins to over an hour and everyone is so supportive! There's a volunteer tail walker so you definitely won't be last.

I started at 45 mins and about a year later my PB is 33 mins but I did about 36 mins last week and that's fine as just completing the course is what I was there to do, as well as catching up with everyone before and after!

Don't forget to register and print off your bar code so they can scan it when you finish and you'll get an email with your time later in the day.

Let us know how you get on, hope you enjoy it!