Parkrunners anonymous keep on running

[OhOneOhTwoOhThree]

As the last thread was filling up, here's a nice new one for parkrunners old and new

All parkrunners are welcome here!

sunflowerblue - thanks, I will! I don't think it will be any time soon, though. Going to get DS1 signed up first, I think, then he can help me (he's nearly 15 so he's a big help with DS3). Likewise, do let me know if you get your DS doing it?

MelanieCheeks that's awesome! Is that your blog? I love the Brian Friel reference (one of my favourite writers).

She did ours in 17:58 so smashed female best by just over 2 mins. I'd never heard of her but apparently team gb Olympian.

She did MK in 17:45. Female course record is 17:04 but that was set in 2011. Claire is the closest anyone has gotten to that since!

As far as I know, she's been living and training in the US but is back now and running the local parkruns again. She's an Olympic marathon runner as far as I know.

Hi,

New to this parkrun thingy.

I did my first "practice" park run today, did my local course, and try to time myself, but I reckon I did it in 40/45 minutes (Interrupted by phone call on the last 1/3 so had to slow down and lost use of my app)

I have never ran before, so did a combination of jogging and walking as fast as I could.

My question:

Is there a point even going if I am taking 40 minutes? Should I wait until I am fitter/faster before I even turn up?

Hi QuintessentiallyQS Welcome to the parkrun family :)

40/45 minutes is a perfectly fine pace to go along to parkrun with. There will be loads of run/walk-ers there so you won't be alone and at a lot of courses, you won't even be at the back with that time.

parkrun is not a race, it is a social run and as long as you are trying your best, you will be more than welcome. You'll get fitter and faster the more weeks you go, you'll have the support of your fellow runners and you'll be able to see your times improve on the website. If you're worried, have a look at your local course's latest results, I'm sure you'll find other runners doing similar times to you.

Thanks Blatherskite, I just checked last weeks run times, and the last one was 46 minutes. I will be one of the last ones, but it would be worse if everybody were doing it at 20/30 minutes....

Hi QuintessentiallyQS! We had a lady who came two weeks ago when we had a massive storm and we were literally running through one giant puddle and felt guilty making the volunteers hang around so only did one lap. She's been back the last two saturdays and improved her time each week and done a lovely running finish to a cheer from everyone! She said it's not feeling easier yet but she's glad she's doing it and will never be holding anyone up while she's determined to do her best :)
The only person you're running against is yourself and volunteers are happy to be there too. We have a couple who volunteer a lot more than they run as they don't like 5k's but want to support people just taking up running.

When will it get easier?!

I did my first Parkrun this weekend. Used to run a bit a few years ago but not really ran for four years or so and just getting back into it. Did Parkrun in 28 mins (although think I went wrong and missed a tiny section so more like 30 mins really ) . I did about 4 practice runs round where I live before attempting Parkrun.

I have to say I found it really hard, felt sick and didn't really enjoy the run. When will it get easier?!

I am not totally unfit, I cycle to work etc so not a complete couch potato, just very out of shape for running

Thanks, originalpirate, that's my blog. I do a fair bit of dancing, and there's more than a little lunacy around the place, hence the title.

Showme, it DOES get easier over time, but I dont know if I can say exactly when. Keep at it, make the parkrun a Saturday morning habit, make freinds with the other runners, and volunteer some mornings to see it from a different perspective.

Over time you will get fitter and faster and running at the speed you are running now will feel easier Showme. That's when you start pushing yourself faster and going back to the feeling sick and exhausted again

These days, I try to mix up fun social runs with eyeballs out, stomach churning PB attempts.

28/30 minutes is a really good time for a new/returning runner by the way.

How old is your ds originalpiratematerial? Mine is almost 8, big enough that I can't just pick him up and make him go where I want anymore, but still very behind developmentally, so it would be difficult to reason with him to try it if he decides he doesn't want to. I need to think of some sort of bribe reward to motivate him!

My friends boy is 9. He bribes him with jelly beans on the way round :)

My boys (9 and 12) are both much fitter than me, I think I would "cramp" their style if they were to "run" with me. Ds1 said he could come for a run with me, but not a parkrun, as there is NO WAY he would want to run with me in a crowd.....

I think I will make a go of it on Saturday. I have two more boot camp style interval exercise sessions this week to kick myself into gear.

This was my first run since I was 16. I know I walked a lot of it, but I am still proud. I had such terrible spd with ds2 I was told running was completely out of the question, so have done mountain walks, cycling and zumba on and off, when my hips started improving. Now I just need to get my asthma under control!

Quint you deserve to be proud!

sunflowerblue he will be 10 in August, so it's now almost impossible for me to "make" him do anything he doesn't want to! And he is unbribeable, certainly not with sweets (he hardly eats and has never even tried a sweet of any description).

I agree with blatherskite it never gets easier as you keep pushing yourself to get faster! I find 5k a tough distance, don't like to be uncomfortable and have been told 5k's should hurt!

Hey, I'm running 46 minute parkruns and have been made very welcome at mine these past 2 weeks, so definitely give it a go! :)

I run/walk too, more walking than running atm :)

blatherskate were you the other poster who mentioned a child with autism?

We're going to go along anyway this saturday, probably not to run, but just show him what it's all about. I'm already thinking about next week when I can run again!

Yes, sunflower. He's the son of a friend. I was talking about the celebration we're going to have when he does his 10th run :)

I've spoken to ds, he's saying no to ti a lot, but we went for a quick walk in the park yesterday and I showed him where the run is. He grabbed my hand and said "quick we've got to go faster" we only ran for about 15 seconds, but I know we'll get there in the end. I've also offered every bribe that currently works

There is no Parkrun this weekend at my local park (park is being used for something else so it's cancelled) Noooooooooooo

We've had to cancel ours next week too. It's the first time it's ever been cancelled as opposed to being flooded or frozen. The ED is not pleased.

I'm using it as an excuse for some tourism :) I ran the trial of Aylesbury but have never run it 'officially' so I'll be driving over there next weekend.

Looking like another rainy parkrun for me to RD this Saturday :(

This weekend I'm doing tourism too. We're going to the inaugural (and potentially rather damp) Great Notley parkrun. It's only an hour and a half from home! Somewhere along the line, that's become a perfectly acceptable distance to travel for a 5k

I did notice that you are only an hour and a half from me too cinnamon....

Yeah not too far and lovely country park, bring your friends :)