Parkrun...talk to me

[Plantsandpuddlesuits]

I'm debating doing parkrun. Never done it before. I used to go the gym and loved it but am looking for outdoor exercise at the moment.

I'm not that fit and substantially overweight (BMI 37) can I just waddle along at the back? Will everyone else be fit runners?!

I saw online you need a barcode do you just take a printout or do you need to buy one of the card or wristband things?

Bit nervous!

Any advice? Also how long can I expect it to take? It says they go for a coffee after but if everyone is miles ahead i won't be finished in time for coffee!

Also what do you wear, I presume gym clothes got plenty of those but what about layers for the top half? Also do people take a bumbag type thing for keys / phone / purse etc?

Thanks!

Sorry, I don't have anything useful to add but I'm in a similar boat. I don't want to turn up and waddle my 5k whilst everyone else is like a pro athlete!

I took a print-out
Typically some people walk nearly the whole thing (PkRun with 200+ entries usually). There are plump people.
5 km can take up to an hour to walk, but most seem to finish by 50 minutes
Wear what you would wear for 1 hr outside, moving at your speed in those conditions
Dunno about coffee, we skedaddle

The part I dislike is my time being published online.. but you can use a fake name if you're like me!

You can walk/run at whatever speed you want. They have tail walkers who deliberately walk slower than the last person to ensure it's all safe for everyone. If you are a bit unfit it'll probably take you between 30-50 minutes but you'll get quicker. Wear something comfortable. Bumbag or arm equivalent is fine for phone etc.

Don't worry about the coffee thing. Many places don't always do it. You'll get faster and be able to join them. There's no rush. A print off of your bar code is fine.

Marking. I am interested. I am not overweight (BMI 23) but am not fit and have never run. I can walk 5 km easily, but prob slowly. Will there be people like me?

I'm not going to call it waddling, but yes you absolutely can and you won't be the only one. They have a tail walker who walks behind the last "runner" so you won't be last and will probably get a friendly chat on the way.

The very fastest finishers will be quick but the vast majority of parkrunners are people out for a recreational jog or run/walk. There'll be plenty of people left to have coffee with.

IMO parkrun is one of the very best things to have happened to society in the last decade. It's about so much more than the running. Go along, have fun, you won't regret it

ps: because the times are published online you can check out any PRun you're interested in to see how slow you might be compared to next slowest, eg here.

or you can even do the event & not get results --yes honestly. Just start with the others & finish outside the finish funnel. Most PkRuns are in public parks, you don't have to actually sign up to walk/jog the same course at same time.

Barcode- Print out or have it on your phone, either is fine.

You can’t be last as the tail walker will always be behind.
Many people walk it. I would say approx 1hour-1hr20 for a 5k depending on the course.

Parkrun is for all abilities - some do just walk it to begin with. Looking at my local results some people take over an hour to get round.

Once you register you will get an individual barcode which is scannable - just take a printout or have it available on a mobile is all you need.

Depending on the weather wear what you would for the gym and maybe a fleece or light waterproof. Once you have been a few times you will get a feel what works for you.

Make sure you have a warm jacket to wear once you have finished and dry socks and shoes if it is wet.

Bumbag, pockets anything will work to hold a key etc. Leave purse in the car if you are driving there.

Coffee - great if it is still going. Usually it's just a visit to a local cafe.

You can look at the results from the previous parkruns so that would give you an idea of the number of people who may walk rather than run. I am on my 87th parkrun and am definitely not fast, I have never been made to feel uncomfortable as a result. I have always found parkruns to be a very welcoming, encouraging environment.

Oh I forgot to say I'm deaf and lipread! It says there's a talk at the start, does anyone wear masks at all yours as that would make things tricky. I'll probably email ours for more information ☺️

Well timed thread.

I've just started C25k (only on week 2) and planning on joining my local park run in the bearish future.

Just trying to decide at which stage of c25k to take the plunge and do a half run half walk park run.

It's great to hear such glowing reviews, I like the idea of getting into the routine of a Saturday morning park run and home via our local market for some sweet rewards!

You can just turn up but if you want a recorded time you need to register (free) on the parkrun website and print out a bar code. You can walk at the back if you need to!

You should 100% do parkrun! You won't be the slowest and the tailwalker is always the last and won't rush you round.

I have been doing it for around 5 years now and have to say it's great fun and I'm not a fast runner by any stretch but enjoy the company running and the challenge to knock a bit (even a second) off my time.

One thing I will say is some parkruns have sign interpretation for the briefing at the beginning. Some use a large megaphone held in front of their mouth so may be worth speaking to them at the beginning so you can stand at the front for the briefing so you can understand.

I always welcome new runners so I would say go for it!

There will be a nominated volunteer at the back - a 'tailwalker', so even if you're at the back, you'll have company.

Speed absolutely does not matter at Parkrun - plenty of people walk it.

If it's anything like any of the parkruns I've done (3 local to me, and 3 as a 'tourist', you'll be welcomed with open arms. Most do a first-timers' briefing just before the main run brief, so get there in time to listen to that (probably by 8.45). It will let you know what to expect from the course, and explain all the mechanics to you. The main run briefing will include a bit of H&S, but also celebrate milestones such as 50th/100th Parkruns, birthdays etc.

You just need to register online and print off your barcode. I believe that barcodes on phones are now technically allowed (they didn't used to be), but my local parkrun very strongly prefers you to have a paper copy if at all possible (for a number of very valid reasons).

Wear whatever you'll be comfortable to run in. Maybe with a top layer you can tie round your waist if you need to. I'd keep your key in your pocket. You could probably leave your phone/purse in your car. Some parkruns have places you can leave things, but I'd work on the assumption that you can't, and if there are hundreds of people you might not want to anyway (they range in size from less than 100 people to several hundred!).

As to coffee afterwards - everywhere is different...
One of my local ones has coffee available but you have to take your own cup (which people just leave at football pavilion at the start), another one just gives out water and a mini Celebration chocolate. Another often has homemade cake. One I've been to sells coffee and bacon rolls. If I was you, I'd just go along to your first and see what the lie of the land is. Or check out their facebook page - pretty much all parkruns have their own page. That might give you more of an idea of what happens.

Hopefully that's helpful?

Thank you for all the reassuring messages. I don't really care if they publish my time:) Maybe I can persuade DH to come. Sounds like a good thing to do.

Pah - in the time it took me to type all that, all your questions have been answered!

Be brave, go do it. It may change your life. It changed mine.

Have a look at the results page of your local parkrun to gauge where you will be. Every park run I've been to has had people walking near the back. You can wear what you want. What would you usually wear for a brisk walk? Also lots of parkruns are laps so if you get too warm you can always remove a layer and leave it on a bench/hedge tree to collect later.
One park run I went to had a large plastic crate which people could put in hoodie, small bags, keys etc and a Marshall would keep it safe and bring to the finish funnel at the end.
Pre covid our parkrun couldn't scan bar codes from phones, and needed a printed one. You can just print on a piece of paper and put in a sandwich bag to stop it getting torn or sweaty if you don't want to commit to buying a wristband or keyring.
Good luck

I’ve volunteered at several different parkruns recently and, as everyone has said, there are always people walking. Timewise I’d say 60-70 minutes would be typical for the tail walker to come in. I’ve walked with the tailwalker a few times with my dog to get her used to parkrun and it’s usually a chatty stroll pace.

As for coffee, the volunteers will be there until everyone is in, so there’s usually plenty of people to have coffee with after.

Give it a go, you won’t look back.

@Plantsandpuddlesuits

Oh I forgot to say I'm deaf and lipread! It says there's a talk at the start, does anyone wear masks at all yours as that would make things tricky. I'll probably email ours for more information ☺️

People aren't wearing masks at ours. Most will have a first timer's briefing just before the main "talk" (which really just repeats what you've read on the website). If you make yourself known or let them know in advance that you have hearing difficulties, they'll make sure they arrange things so you can lipread easily . It really is very inclusive and friendly. We have a couple of visually impaired runners come to ours and there are always loads of volunteers to lead them.

Dh is diabetic and slightly overweight. I really want to help him exercise more and exercise more myself.

Just seen your update. At my local parkrun, the briefing has a BSL interpretation alongside the spoken briefing. But don't know if that's the norm - it might just be that she happens to be a regular runner and is happy to sign along.

Having your time published is not a bad thing, even (especially?) if you're very slow. The slowest runners make the quickest progress and people will notice and congratulate/encourage your achievements.

Typically the tailwalker comes in at around an hour but has been more. I've generally found the tail is fastest at muddy hilly parkruns especially in rubbish weather - so I would not necessarily go for your first if it's chucking it down... If nothing else it's less fun walking 5k in torrential rain...

@Plantsandpuddlesuits

Oh I forgot to say I'm deaf and lipread! It says there's a talk at the start, does anyone wear masks at all yours as that would make things tricky. I'll probably email ours for more information ☺️

As others have said.

a) Register at parkrun.org.uk
b) print off the resulting barcode, or have it available on your phone
c) turn up, follow the route others are going
d) enjoy, repeat the following Saturday, without the need to register again of course.

Don't worry about the speed you are go at. One of the volunteers walks round at the back. Often on the 20 times I have tail walked I have chatted to whoever is at the back. Walking is fine. In fact the only time when I was tail walking I had a problem was when the child and parent at the back decided they were going to run, rather leaving me behind. Oh well.

If you emailed my local parkrun beforehand they would probably arrange for someone to meet you before the start and make sure that you knew exactly what you are doing. In fact they have a new runners briefing before the main briefing for that purpose.

At the parkruns I have been to recently mask wearing hasn't been a thing, but they can be quite large events, so you may be far enough away to make lip reading tricky.