Bar codes at the ready, parkrunners anonymous keep going 5K at a time

[OhOneOhTwoOhThree]

New thread for park runners old and new. Who's running at home and away this weekend? Who's volunteering?

Go Melanie!

Was scanning yesterday which I think is my favourite role. I love seeing all the runners as they finish. Had one lady first timer who was very unsure about joining in but loved it! On a side note, when going around she dropped her phone holder which had money it. This was handed in untouched.

Feet shame they didn't end in the water as some of them are very inconsiderate. I have been hit by a few elbows on my way round SA. I didn't do parkrun this week as was resting for FH.

Fælledparken parkrun was a success :)

It was actually warmer there than it was back home! We had a whole 2 degrees to run in so still very chilly and it took me a while to get going as I couldn't warm up properly which meant that I didn't do an amazing time but it was nice to be running anyway. Everyone was lovely and friendly and most spoke English which helped as my Danish is pretty much non existent. I got a big, credit card sized finishing token when I finished and the photographer took a photo of me with one of the other 50 club members as their t-shirts are different to ours. One of the locals said that they get our cast offs when the sponsors change so I think they might be the old Nike ones. Someone I know in MK who got her 50 shirt years ago says that their shirts look like hers so it's likely. I chatted to the RD for a bit and she was telling me that Fælledparken is the biggest parkrun in Denmark which was a bit of a shock as there were only 62 runners on Saturday and MK had 511 and is, I think, only the 14th biggest in the UK! They don't do the cafe thing at the end which was a little disappointing but I was so cold that a hot shower back at the hotel was very much calling anyway.

It's amazing how you can arrive in a different country with nothing but a barcode and a pair of trainers and be included like that. parkrun is awesome.

You should write in to the newsletter with that end sentance, reckon you'd get in the newsletter for sure Blatherskite, you're very brave! Did they speak english or are you a linguist as well as parkrunner extroardinaire?

I wondered if I could ask some advice from you experienced parkrunners? I used to run a couple of years ago (even managed a 10k at one point), although I was never very fast. But then for one reason or another I got out of the habit and stopped running.

Anyway, I've just started up again and am thinking of maybe trying a parkrun this Saturday, but I'm not sure if I'm fast enough yet. I'm feeling a little disheartened because I ran 5k on the treadmill at the gym yesterday in 40 minutes. I was pleased with myself but then when I went to log it in myfitnesspal it refused to accept it as 'jogging', because my pace was so slow!! I had to log it as walking instead! It certainly felt like running to me

Is it a bit soon to go to a parkrun? I know I'm not going to be first over the finish line, and I wouldn't even mind being last. But I have visions of me being sooo far behind and the organisers all having to wait around for me to cross the finish line so they can finally finish up and go and get coffee

Was anyone else in my position? Should I just go for it, or would I be better off doing a bit more training on my own to get my speed up first?

please, rest assured no one at parkrun will judge you for running. Or jogging. Or run/walking

There are so many people from so many walks of life, at various stages of running confidence etc etc

...and there's a tail runner! So you'll never be last!

If I were you I'd go for it

pleaseclosethedoor We class parkrun as a run not a race for a couple of reasons, the main one being that finish times aren't important.

Like Thursday says, we get everyone at parkrun from all walks of life and yes, we have some gazelles that shoot round in no time at all but we also get very many runners who will take 40+ minutes to run the 5k at whatever pace they can manage and the whole team will be there to cheer them in at the finish. There is usually a tail runner to make sure that no one is left behind. I bet if you check your parkrun's results page for last week (go to www.parkrun.org.uk/xxxxxx/results and just add your parkrun name without spaces instead of the xs) you wouldn't be at the back with a 40 minute 5k. You certainly wouldn't at my home run. And even if you are, no one is going to be annoyed or frustrated with you. parkrun is about getting people to enjoy running and everyone has to start somewhere. We're here to support you, whatever your pace.

Go along, take a smile and a barcode and you'll be welcomed I promise :)

cinnamon, I don't speak Danish unfortunately, it's really, really hard! Luckily, most of the people I met spoke almost perfect English. It was quite embarrassing really

Thanks Thursday and blatherskite you've both made me feel a lot better. Ok, well as long as it's not snowing on Saturday I think I'll be there. Eeeek!

Please go along pleaseclosethedoor! Everyone is welcome at parkrun from beginners to pro's. We have runners from 8 to 74 years old and from 18min to 45mins regularly at our parkrun and we are friendly to all newcomers. You will not regret it, other than you will no longer have Satuday mornings for anything other than parkun

Pleaseclosethedoor, admittedly I haven't quite made a parkrun yet (!) but I am planning to - time of 38 mins here...

Definitely do it please, those at the back get the biggest cheers because everyone knows how much of an effort they have made to be there :)
Although as cinnamon hints, it is addictive - I've gone from first time park runner to potential Event director for a new parkrun in under 8 months

I mentioned to someone the other day that my parkrun has had 97 events, I have volunteered 33 and have 61 runs (although 2 of those were on New Years day at other events) so out of 97 Saturday's I've been at parkrun in one way or another for 92! She called me sad!!!!

Sad? I would be deliriously happy to have a parkrun record like yours cinnamon! I am coming up to two years as a parkrunner and it has been a brilliant way of settling into a new town, making friends and starting the weekend, not to mention the chat and support on this and other threads

SAD??????

Obviously not a parkrunners themselves...

Sad?

I'd call you dedicated

Isn't " sad /mad " what the lazy call the motivated ?

A parkrunner would have said "Brilliant" :)

She's a runner but not a parkrunner! I told Dh and he said its dedicated and he doesn't even really get parkrun

Just come back from a meeting - we have the funding and a start date :o
Keep the w/e after the WOLF run free!

[High fives Feet].

One of your running club buddies is on my FB group. Apparently you are known as ParkRun Feet! Not sure why that would be .

Hooray!!! :D

Yahoo! Brilliant feet, I am soooooo proud of you

That's great news, well done feet

Well done feetheart!