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Original poster

Parkrun...talk to me

114 replies

Plantsandpuddlesuits · 10/01/2022 17:25

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!

OP posts:
Kotatsu · 11/01/2022 08:52

Now that you're definitely going to do it OP Wink

a running belt was a game-changer for me - if my phone/keys were in my trouser pockets it was just enough weight to pull them down as I ran (odd given they weren't exactly loose).

In cold weather I wore a t-shirt and arm warmers (just knitted tubes), and gloves, sometimes a woolly hat - because I found if I wore long sleeves I would get too hot and have to keep pushing my sleeves up. I have no idea why arm warmers worked better - apparently I prefer chilly elbows.

TableSetting · 14/01/2022 07:28

@Plantsandpuddlesuits hope you are all set for tomorrow. Enjoy.

fellrunner85 · 14/01/2022 07:38

Hope you love it, OP. Parkrun is brilliant, and so inclusive. And remember, most of those people at the front never used to be racing snakes, and were once much further back the field - they won't be anything but friendly and supportive Smile

I've done Parkruns all over the country, in everything from 20 mins (going all out) to 58 mins (walking with a friend), and always found it to be really fun and inclusive, wherever you are geographically and wherever you are within the pack.

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DillonPanthersTexas · 14/01/2022 07:46

Can echo other people's comments. My local park run is bushy park where it will started. It's a huge local event and local coffee shops and cafes do well out of it. Yes you will get some crazy quick runners at the front but for most people it is a fairly gentle jog. There is zero judgement so if you walk all the way round nobody cares. It's a great event to start any kind of fitness programme.

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 14/01/2022 07:54

parkrun day tomorrow everyone, have fun!

I'd add - if you have any concerns/questions, get there a bit early, see if you can have a quick chat with the Run Director, they should allay any fears! They'll be wearing the special hi vis.

Original poster
Plantsandpuddlesuits · 14/01/2022 08:29

Thanks all I was hoping to go tomorrow but covid recovery is very slow Confused day 20 now I think and still can't make it up the stairs without stopping for a rest so I think parkrun may literally be a step too far! Will definitely try another week though!

OP posts:
ArtfulPuss · 14/01/2022 09:57

Sorry to hear you're not up to it tomorrow, but if it's a nice day and you feel OK maybe consider popping along to your local one to spectate/support – could be a good way to get a feel for it, see how many people are going at your sort of pace, how the tailwalker role works, etc. so it'll be less daunting when you are ready to take part. We have quite a few spectators at ours, as it's a back and forth route along the seafront, and it's always nice to have that extra bit of support!

Also, when you're feeling better maybe consider walking/running the route on a regular day (you can see the exact route on the 'Course Description' page for each parkrun), so you get a sense of markers/distance, etc. Another option is to volunteer before running it – you will be welcomed and much appreciated, and meeting a few people involved might help to build confidence before starting too.

Our parkrun is so welcoming and inclusive, I love it. There is just as much support for those walking at the back as for those smashing course records at the front. Whenever you are ready to go for it hope you have a great experience!

I am on barcode scanning duty tomorrow so hope it's not as wet + windy as last week...

Original poster
Plantsandpuddlesuits · 14/01/2022 10:01

Thanks @ArtfulPuss hopefully next week!

OP posts:
Theyweretheworstoftimes · 15/01/2022 15:02

I pushed my 3 year old in the buggy today. We had a fab time. I really hope you enjoy it when you go.

IsaLating · 15/01/2022 16:51

well done those who made it, and theres always next week for the rest!

I'll be out of "iso", as they say down under, by Wednesday, so can do my 300th on the 22nd. I have a comedy "3" pinned over the 1 of my 100 shirt, and as its 22-01-2022 I shall be running in a tutu, and getting some of my dance chums to come along and cheer (and maybe recruit some new members of dance class)

Anyone in Norn Irn, PM me and I'll let you know where I be at!

Fuuuuuckit · 18/01/2022 06:41

I've tail-walked as a volunteer a few times, and post-injury walked the course for several weeks, never been much more than an hour, max.

There are 3 parkrun close to me, obviously all 5k but very different - one on a very very flat race course so lots of proper runners going for very best times, one on a surprisingly hilly racecourse where everyone who's already finished comes to cheer on the others for the last 1k, and one which is 3 laps of the park and much more jolly.

I agree with pp - go along to observe/nosey at your local event for your first trip. Chat to the volunteers, speak to the run director before or after. It really is incredibly inclusive - pushchairs, dogs, kids, speed demons and plodders alike?

IsaLating · 22/01/2022 07:09

Everybody ready? Weather looks OK, thank you parkrunweatherfairy!

Hereforthedramaz · 22/01/2022 08:51

I've just arrived for my first park run!

SirChenjins · 22/01/2022 08:58

I would definitely go along to a few and check them out. I did our local park run a few times - never again. It had a large number of people from running clubs who all jostled for position at the front and treated it very much like a race. The course looped back on itself half way round, so as I was huffing and puffing 2.5k in I got a great view of them all finishing or having finished - quite demoralising. Then after the race you get an email which shows you where finished in the race, and how you compared to others in your age group by sex.
I often hear others talk about their park run being a fun, non competitive, all inclusive event where you can walk round if you want - but not this one. Even the walkers were pounding the course!

jgw1 · 22/01/2022 09:04

@Hereforthedramaz

I've just arrived for my first park run!
Enjoy.
Original poster
Plantsandpuddlesuits · 22/01/2022 09:24

Thanks everyone didn't expect so many replies! I'm still recovering from covid (4 weeks and counting) so maybe next week.

OP posts:
fellrunner85 · 22/01/2022 09:36

It had a large number of people from running clubs who all jostled for position at the front and treated it very much like a race

Perhaps, but I also think that a lot of this is down to perception. When I was much slower, I thought that the faster runners were all treating it like a race, as they looked like they were running fast and taking it seriously.

But then when I became one of those faster runners I realised that's not really the case. Very, very few fast runners will be going all-out at Parkrun as usually we're in training for something else.
Yes we might be running quick, and trying to outrun the person nearest us, but very few people are going full-on race pace (there is a massive difference between 7min mile pace and 6:45 pace, for example, which I would never have guessed when I was doing 10 min miles). And it's all extremely friendly. Most of the faster runners will know each other; many of them will be doing parkrun as part of a longer run; and it's just a bit of fun for most of them - just as it is for those running 30 or 40 mins.

Just because someone is tearing around fast doesn't mean they're any less inclusive than those who are slower. Most of us who are quick now were much slower once Smile

I also found the age grading on the results an incentive to improve, rather than being demoralising. Again, it's perspective and perception.

Hereforthedramaz · 22/01/2022 10:27

I did it!

Not well or quickly but first one done!

IsaLating · 22/01/2022 11:10

Well done Dramaz, hope it was enjoyable!

SirChenjins · 22/01/2022 11:13

Perhaps, but I also think that a lot of this is down to perception

Perhaps - but if the perception of other participants is that the large groups of runners from clubs are there as part of their training for forthcoming races (and consequently skewing the times on the emailed results) then it doesn’t feel like the fun, family oriented, all inclusive event they promote it as. Even their website features average running time (28 minutes - which is a run, not a walk) and other stats on fastest times. It felt more like a running club rather than a walking or jogging course, with the emphasise on speed and improvement, rather than fun. Maybe other park runs are different though.

Fellrunner85 · 22/01/2022 12:00

and consequently skewing the times on the emailed result

Skewing the times?! Sorry, that makes no sense.

Inclusive means including all people, not just steadier runners. Running fast can be fun. Running slow can be fun. Walking can be fun. Etc.

The joy of parkrun is that it's for everyone; from 15-min racing snakes to those who walk it in an hour. All are equally welcome, and welcomed. It's about levelling the playing field - 5k is 5k however long it takes you; everyone cheers each other on, and everyone can enjoy a brew together at the end.

And the fact that faster runners are there also gives people something to progress to. I speak as someone who used to regularly be at the back of parkrun and now I'm usually towards the front. Should I have stopped going when I got fast? Course not.

Not sure why you find it problematic that the average time is on the website. Surely the fact that the average time is 28 mins or whatever (a steady 9 min mile) is reassuring, not intimidating.

horseymum · 22/01/2022 12:15

Ours is really friendly, it's great that there is a wide range of speeds, faster as well as slower. My ds loves being able to see his progress towards the faster ones, whilst I'm steadily trying to get below 35 minutes, and the walkers are enjoying an hour's exercise with company. I think ones where you don't get lapped are better though, ours has a couple of bits where you cross over but I never see the fastest ones finish which is better! You can also look at your age grade percentage to see if that improves.
I think slotting yourself further back in the pack means less jossleing as it's only the first 20 or so who are generally trying to get a 'place'. Ours will have people who run there, do it, then run home but don't make a big thing of it. Plenty of people with club or race T shirts on but they are not trying to intimidate. Hope everyone enjoyed today's event, we were volunteering so didn't get to run.

Hereforthedramaz · 22/01/2022 12:23

@IsaLating

Well done Dramaz, hope it was enjoyable!
Thanks! I'm not sure I enjoyed it but I'm certainly happy having done it and I'll be going again and improving on my time.

I was expecting more people to walk but only two walked otherwise everyone else ran the whole time. although it is a park run attached to a sporty university so maybe I should have expected that!

As others have said I would have preferred not to have been lapped and had to run past all the people finishing while I was only starting my second lap but you can't have everything!

Overall I'm delighted I did it and would say to anyone thinking about it, just go for it!

MaxJLHardy · 22/01/2022 12:37

All human life is there. It's not a PE class. It's strangers getting together, getting outside and doing something good for themselves in their own time at their own pace.

SirChenjins · 22/01/2022 12:58

Skewing the times?! Sorry, that makes no sense

Why doesn’t it make sense to you? Average time for the course means fastest and slowest times are taken into account. If you’ve got a large number of fast runners from running clubs running the course (in comparison to the number of slow walkers) that’s going to push the average time to the faster end. Why do we even need times? Why not provide an opt in/out option?

I wish it had only been 20 or so jostling for a place - my friend’s son is in a running club and goes to our local one, he’s v competitive and one of far more than 20 at the front.

Look, it’s great you enjoy running and park run but I didn’t enjoy my local one which felt far too much like a running club. If I’d wanted that kind of atmosphere I’d have joined one of the many local running clubs. 28 minutes isn’t reassuring for those of us very new to running. Why would it be? Unless that was a dig at people who aren’t capable of running a steady speed for 3.5 miles? And no again, the fast runners on our course weren’t cheering everyone on - they were getting in their cars and heading off at the half half way point as the route lapped back on itself, they certainly weren’t hanging about for a cup of tea with the walkers or slow joggers coming in 30-40 minutes later.

I’m speaking only from my own experience - if you love the competitive element, or you really don’t care where you come compared to other runners then I’m sure you’ll love it. If, like me, you thought it would be a fun, non-competitive, friendly mix of people running, jogging, walking or ambling in equal numbers then you may need to try out a few park runs until you find one that suits you.