First park run

[Augustwedding]

I am keen to try park run for the first tine but in very unfit. Will I look like a complete unfit idiot or are there generally a range of abilities and encouragement for the exerciserly challenged!?

Park run say they expect you to complete in 45mins. Have you heard of / thought about doing NHS C25k podcast. It gets you from not running (Couch) to running 5k in 9 weeks!

It's awesome. You just download podcasts and do 3 20-30 min runs a week and hey presto. I highly recommend it! I started in Jan 2012, and combined with weight watches led to me getting for and losing a few stone! Hurrah!

Google NHS Couch to 5 k. It will give you confidence to do park run and there's a great c25k forum too!

Great thanks!

Also, have a look at your local parkrun's results page and you can see what times people finish in.
I second the couch to 5k idea. It builds you up slowly.

If you prefer to run with others google RunBritain and you can use their search tool to find beginners groups local to you. They are generally free.

Good luck!

I don't run, OP, but my husband is completely obsessed with running does, and is a regular at Parkrun. He says yes, most people do it in 45 minutes but not everybody manages that, it's not obligatory to do that ( so you won't be disqualified or anything like that) and it is quite acceptable to walk for part of it if that's what you need to do. He has been a marshal as well as taking part and tells me that the atmosphere is very supportive and encouraging for all abilities. On his usual Parkrun there are always some people who fall well behind everyone else and nobody minds. I second the idea of having a look at the runners' times for all the Parkruns you could get to. You might prefer to go for one of the bigger ones so you blend into the crowd more. Ours always has 75-100 participating but some others in SE London have far smaller numbers. Good luck!

Sorry to jump in, but I'm also considering doing my first parkrun and I was wondering whether Parkrunners chat as they run, or listen to music?

I can run 3 miles in about 30 mins but would struggle to talk while doing so. I've been running alone, so not really sure what the etiquette is for running with others.

Most people seem to run without headphones, some chat, but I don't as I'd struggle to get a good time if I was running at a speed I could talk at : ).

We have upwards of 300 runners at our park run so plenty of other runners to detract from me! There is one on New Year's Day so might check it out before trying! I'll look at couch to 5k as well. They have a FB page as well so I'll look for times!

Getting married in August abd doing WW as well but need to exercise abd friends all say park run is great!

I did couch25k starting in September and did my first Parkrun in November. Before September I hadn't run for about 20 years (since I was at school) and there's no way I could have managed 5k.

It's a lovely and very friendly environment. The runners at the front may be racing, but for the majority it's just a run that happens to be timed.

Give it a go!

All geared up to go but on antibiotics for painful ear infection so missed today :(

Possibly no bad thing, August! My husband and son came back from our local Parkrun yesterday looking as if they had been mud wrestling. Hope you feel better very soon.

We have people finishing in anything up to an hour. There is usually a tail runner bringing up the rear so nobody gets left behind.

Some people chat, some wear headphones, some race, some run with dogs or buggies, some pootle along in their own little world...it's what you want to make of it really!

I want to go sat but gone deaf in that ear now so might have to delay again!

I'm thinking of doing my first one on Saturday

If I'm better I'm going for it!

Parkrun is for all.

There are two near me. The one I have been goimg to the most is now huge. Over 400 most weeks. Bad if you don't like crowds, but good as there is a wide range of abilities. Plenty of runners come in after 40/45 mins.

The other one I have been to is newer, and only has about 100 runners. I come almost last every time, they seem to be more club runners, than those like me who are just pleased to get round.

It is great for motivation. Knowing that you have a time to smash each week. Also many have a meet up in the park cafe after (if there is one)

I don't like to use ear phones. It's hard to know if someone is behind/to the side of you, and wanting to overtake. I do like to chat though.

I didn't go this morning, because yesterday evening I went out in a 55-knot storm with lashing wind and lightning, and ruined myself trying to get round quickly before I dissolved. Another day!

Parkrun is great. Some people chat while they run, but most don't. Don't worry - there are always plenty of red-faced, panting runners who go slowly (I'm one of them ).

That'll be me! I'm still deaf in one ear though so missed it again today but fingers crossed for next week!