To be upset after comment from friend?

[SlowStarters]

For context, I used to be very overweight and unfit, mostly due to MH issues. I lost 38 kilos, and I've kept it off for 6 years now. I discovered I loved hiking and enjoy 10-15k hikes around the Brecon Beacons, for example.

I'm not a 'natural' sportsperson in any way. I'm very short, big bust, mild asthma, but I'm proud of my achievement and want to improve my fitness more so I recently started running. My legs are strong from the hikes but I am slow.

And I say running. Well. More sweaty, breathy jogging, really.

I ran jogged my first full non-stop 5k distance yesterday. I felt elated! I met a friend for coffee this afternoon and told her I'd managed my first 5k in 39 minutes and I was hoping next time I'd knock a minute or two off the time.

She actually scoffed and said she could walk 5k quicker than that. Then she changed the subject.

I can't believe I felt, and still feel, utterly deflated. I know it's really slow and an average time is 25-30 mins but is 39 mins embarrassingly awful?

I feel like throwing my running trainers away.

Red hot 10k done with these beauties 🙂1:37 I think

Hope everyone is enjoying their running!

BTW I’m the one in the blue shorts 🙂

I would be thrilled to do a 38 minute parkrun- been hovering around 40.45 for weeks now! You are doing really well x

I didn't see the past posts, well done @swampytiggaa that was a bloody hot day too!

Well....today I have a Parkrun personal best! 33:46 - ahhhhhh!! I felt lightening-fast!

How did everyone else get on if they were Parkrunning today? :)

@WierdCatLady how did it go? Pleaseee post a photo! :)

I was very slow today 🙂 I did a 5k trail run last night that ended on sand then walked 5k home via 2 very large gins in the pub 😭😭😭

I went and I finished and that was a massive achievement today!

Well done @slowstarters you are smashing this!

@WierdCatLady how was Sandwell Valley?

There are two issues here.

1. Your friend was very rude and I would have at least told her so, if not distanced myself from her.

1. 39 minutes was not a bad time at all, especially as it was your first time. I see you have now taken up parkrun and your new PB is faster than mine (34.40 today, in my 8th parkrun and with years of on-off running under my belt). I suspect I'm the slowest person in my parkrun who actually runs all the way, though there's no way of finding out that statistic. All I ever really aspire to do is not walk any of it, however tough it feels, and so far I've managed it.

OP, you have done brilliantly. I would be tempted to challenge your friend to a race...

Please ignore her and if she says anything else rude either call her out or avoid her (I am too chicken to call out people).

Most of all, enjoy your hikes.

@WeirdCatLady oh no I'm so sorry you didn't enjoy it! That doesn't sound like my local Parkrun at all; that's really awful you feel demoralised :(

You should be really, really proud of managing the whole 5k course, that's a massive achievement. It sounds like a really challenging lap, mine has one uphill bit and I find that a killer!

@WeirdCatLady I’m so sorry! That sounds horrible 😢 and I would bollock my marshals and tail walker if that happened at mine!

I know you said never again but I found Walsall Arboretum really friendly when I visited 🙂 and if you ever come to North Devon come to mine and I’ll show you what a proper parkrun is like. I’ll run it with you 💕

@WeirdCatLady was it a smaller Parkrun turn out? As in only 100 or so?

If you fancy travelling to Gloucestershire I'll walk my Parkrun with you and you'll have a totally different experience I promise! At least 500 turn up and last week and the last few finishers were well over an hour - so your 55mins is great!! You did it 💪👏

The support from this thread still spurring me on...LOOK! My first 10k!

I'll feel proud as soon as I stop feeling nauseous and headachy...I may have overdone it in this heat!

@WeirdCatLady I hope you're not put off Parkruns forever. You'd have been no where near last at mine and the trail Walker takes well over an hour, she bumbles around with her cute dog! It's a huge achievement I hope you feel proud

What an absolute cow! I do parkrun regularly, but have never been a runner before. Been doing it for about 4 months and I generally do the 5k in about 32 mins. I doubt I’ll ever be any quicker. For context I walked 1 lap of the route (5k is 4 laps in our local park run) and timed it out of curiosity and it took me 15 mins. So unless she has ridiculously long legs or is doing some serious power walking I would be surprised if she could walk it in 39 mins. Keep it up OP - you’re doing it for you, not anybody else!

I remember the first time I ran an hour without stopping on the treadmill at the gym. Just as I got off one of the personal trainers came over for a chat. When I told him my achievement he said "yeah but it doesn't count on a treadmill. You have to be outside." i ignored him and kept going with my treadmill running, and ended up running the London marathon a few months later.

Don't let anyone rain on your parade. That is a massive achievement and you are doing brilliantly.

Just wanted to pop back and say that I’ve asked for my messages to be withdrawn as I was informed they identified me in real life if anyone put 2+2 together. Thanks for the support though guys and keep on running x

Totally understand, Weird. I do hope you return to Parkrun when you're ready

Everyone is most likely bored senseless of the thread by now but I wanted to share in case anyone feels similarly that they aren't a 'proper' runner/jogger that you absolutely are and if I can do it, anyone can.

I had another PB at Parkrun this morning; 33:05! From May (and usually only running once a week) I've improved by 6 minutes. I wouldn't have ever thought that was possible.

I've never heard back from my friend and looking back now she never had been that supportive at times - but if I bump into her I'll thank her for her comment as thanks to her, and you guys, I'm fitter, more confident and my life has improved. I couldn't be more grateful you didn't let me throw my trainers away

Well done 👍

wow what an unsupportive asshole she is. i'd be keeping away from her. jealous cow!

also, well done you!! 👏🏻💖

Well done!

I managed my fastest parkrun this year today 😁 34:50 😁

Tomorrow I am going out with the c25k to do a 30 minute run then after that I’m doing my first long run for half marathon training for September 🙂

@swampytiggaa well done that's fantastic! I need to visit Devon for a spot of Parkrun tourism now I can just about keep up!

And I'm in awe about your half marathon. I've been looking up 10k races (that 5k race I registered on a few weeks ago was cancelled after all that awful rain :( ) to enter but I'm just not quite brave enough. One day...

And please update how your training is going; what date in Sept is your half marathon?

Last Sunday in September in Barnstaple 🙂 I will be running with an inflatable boob on my back to raise money and awareness for Coppafeel breast cancer charity 💕