Parkrun - has anyone walked it?

[Sofiria]

Hi! I'm looking for ways to be more active and shift a bit of weight this year. Parkrun looks like good fun, and on their website it says that it's fine to jog or walk the course, but I'm curious as to whether many people actually do this.

I'm very unfit and can't run or jog but I've got a steady walking pace and usually walk 5k in 55 minutes or thereabouts. I know I wouldn't be stopped from doing this but I'd feel very embarrassed about finishing last, on my own after having been lapped a few times by all the serious runners (memories of school cross-country, ugh) and would be put off trying again.

If it makes a difference I'd be looking at one of the courses in London - probably Highbury Fields, but I'd travel a bit further if there's a course that's particularly walker-friendly.

Anyone have any experiences to share, positive or negative?

[TheSecondOfHerName]

I'm resurrecting this thread to share my experience of being a walker at a parkrun, in case it's useful to anyone searching in the future.

I'm not yet fit enough to do the first week of C25K, as I can only jog for about 20 seconds at the moment. I checked the times of my local parkrun and noticed that there were always people finishing around the 50 minute mark, so I did a couple of brisk practice walks and then went for it.

The first week I walked the whole thing. The second week I walked with some short periods of jogging, and very quickly realised that I needed a sports bra and some better trainers The third week I did the walking with bits of jogging thing again and brought a first timer and encouraged her around. My time is under 50 minutes, but not by much. Each time there have been a few behind me, not including the tail runner.

There's a 5-10 minute gap between the slowest runners (40 minutes) and the small group of us who are not running yet, so I always thank the marshalls for waiting for us. I also stay to cheer and congratulate the few who finish after me.

Saturday will be my fourth. I hope to be able to finish in under 45 minutes, maybe not this week or next, but soon.

[FiftyNineOhEight]

I'm a regular (100+) parkrunner and volunteer. My absolute favourite volunteer role is tail running - it's great meeting new runners. I've always walked when I've been tail runner - some people have been coming back from injury, some are with small children, some are just starting to run. Even if I'm doing a different volunteer role e.g. barcode scanning I don't begrudge the people who finish well after the crowd

[JackandDiane]

i asked my mate who is a volunteer - GOD YES she said - no problem

the fastest is 18 m and the last is an hour

[FlightlessBird]

I'm going to be another one jumping in to defend parkrun and the amazing volunteers. My local is endlessly supportive of everyone who takes part.

Sofiria give C25k a go - I used the NHS one. It took me 9 months to complete the programme as my confidence and fitness levels were so low (it's meant to take 9 weeks!) The key was I didn't get discouraged and give up. For the first time in my life I can exercise and I bloody love it.

I waited until I knew I could run 5k before I tried parkrun, but now that I have been I know I didn't need to wait. Honestly if you want to go and walk the course, they will welcome you.

[WhoKn0wsWhereTheMistletoes]

I checked and the nearest junior one is too far away for us to do regularly, and with the best will in the world I'm not about to start to try organising one when I've never eve been to one, but thanks anyway. DS is 11 so he could do the adult ones, but it's the same problem, he does other sport on a Saturday morning.

[steppemum]

just to be clear (sorry feet)

a child can run at normal Saturday parkrun, but they must be accompanied by an adult until they are 11. In this case, accompanied means within arms length of your adult.

We have quite a few kids who 'adopt' an adult for their run, because their mothers/fathers are just TOO SLOW

[feetheart]

Whoknows - you can run with your child at Junior parkrun but the child has to be agreeable to it :) Volunteering is a great way to be involved whilst the children run (and the organisers will love you :))
The age range is 4-14 at the Junior events - we haven't made one yet but DS wants to as he is desperate to run on his own and still has 10 months until he can do it at the main parkrun (you have to be 11)
rookie - I was left behind after about 6 weeks running together :) DS now has a selection of people to run with depending on whether he wants a fast one or a pottering-around-chatting one. Saturday's was done with a posse of adults and his mate plus a light sabre each - the time wasn't important but apparently the chat was great :o

[steppemum]

Ah Melanie - I knew there was someone out there with the 9:30 answer

[WhoKn0wsWhereTheMistletoes]

I might look into the junior ones for DS if they are on Sundays (he is also comitted elsewhere on Saturdays).

[MelanieCheeks]

In Scotland and NI they are 9.30 starts, to allow for the darker mornings during winter. In other parts of the world they may be earlier start times to avoid too high temperatures.

[rookiemere]

Hi steppemum - I'm in Scotland, I'm not sure if all the Scottish parkruns start at 9.30 or not, but that time start is certainly helpful for me as it takes 20 mins for me to drive to the destination.

I wasn't suggesting that adults join the junior parkrun - just making people aware that it exists as it's a super way for DCs to get into running and much more accessible than the full 5k which I can't run with DS now as he's a good 9 mins faster than me.

[WhoKn0wsWhereTheMistletoes]

I'm definitely not a junior

[steppemum]

whoops wrong thread, I learned it from the long running parkrun thread on here - to which you are all welcome!

[steppemum]

rookie - are you in NI? I had heard that you guys like a lie in....

seriously don't all the NI ones start at 9:30 (a fact I think I learned from thsi thread a few months ago..)

[rookiemere]

Just as an aside there's also junior parkruns on Sunday morning DS much prefers it to main parkrun as its oy 2k.
Sadly it's a fair drive from us so we don't go too often to the junior one. I'd happily volunteer to coordinate one in our town but every week is too much to commit to.

[rookiemere]

Ours is 930

[WhoKn0wsWhereTheMistletoes]

Thanks, I don't mean they should have one in the same place on both a Saturday and a Sunday, that obviously wouldn't be fair on the volunteers but if there were two fairly nearby one could be on Sat and one on Sun. It just seems as though they are probably missing out on a lot of potential participants by sticking to one day/time.

[WiIdfire]

The original organisers decided that doing them all in the same day of the week at the same time would be easiest. It means if you are visiting elsewhere, you can still pitch up to a different parkrun, knowing it will start at 9 am. There are runs on Sunday, but they are junior parkruns for younger children. Sat at 9 seems a good time - any earlier and people wont be up, any later and it fills your day. I would think more people lie in on sunday than saturday.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Maybe getting the volunteers would be hard for two days Who?.

[WhoKn0wsWhereTheMistletoes]

For those involved in running them, is there a good reason why they are all on Saturday at 9? Surely it would make sense if some were on Sundays too. I'd love to give it a try but Saturday at 9 is majorly inconvenient.

[SaltySeaBird]

I'm so glad plenty of other people have joined this thread with positive stories about how Parkrun is inclusive of all. It really is and I hope you give it a go Sofiria.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

I only have experience of one parkrun which is extremely inclusive and welcoming to people of all abilities. I walk the course most weeks (I can't run, I have a bad knee). I'm rarely the only walker. I often have one or more others with me who either can't/won't run ever or can't run at the moment. We actually come in only a very few minutes behind the slowest runner.

My husband is a keen runner and a regular at this parkrun, which I suppose made it a lot easier for me to get involved there, but it would have been OK even if I'd gone in cold because the regulars and especially the run directors/regular marshals are so good at making people feel welcome.

I always thank the marshals and other volunteers as I go round for the last time but I have never once been left with the impression that they have been getting impatient waiting for me. I volunteer too and that has certainly never been my atttitude when I've been out on the course.

I second the idea that a good way to get over any anxiety about taking part might be to start by volunteering and getting to know people. But even if you went in cold, at the start of our parkrun the run director always asks if anybody is doing parkrun for the first time ever and those people get a huge cheer. The run director and others are looking out for them at the finish and congratulate them on getting round, or on the odd occasion that they don't, they encourage them to have another go another time.

Good luck!

[feetheart]

Oh dear, I've just found this thread but haven't read all of it, possibly a good thing as some of what I have read has made me more than a bit cross !
I set up our local parkrun and have run at about 10 others over the past 18months. What I loved about parkrun from the very first time I encountered it (and at every parkrun I've been to) was the complete inclusivity. Absolutely EVERYONE is welcomed and the very fact that they are there and doing something is celebrated.
We average about 150 and always have runners and walkers. Yesterday we had people pushing buggies, running with dogs, running with children, elderly ex-athletes with artificial hips who either run or walk as fast as they can (we have at least 2!), someone with cerebral palsy, a regular running with her autistic son for the first time and a number of people who were there for the very first time and walked most, if not all, of it. About 10% came in over 40 minutes and the tail runner (always the last to cross the line) came in just under 54 minutes with a little gang who he had accompanied, and chatted to and encouraged, all the way round. This is not unusual.

Sofira - I'm not so sure that attitudes at parkruns do vary that much. Possibly the attitudes of some of the runners do but the core teams and most of the volunteers 'get' what parkrun is all about and relish it. I know we get INFINITELY more satisfaction from a newcomer achieving their first 5k in 58 minutes than from the course record being broken.
Someone did say that this time of year is quieter, which is true, but we still get a wide range of people and times. When did you have a look at the results local to you? If it was a few weeks ago then it really would have been atypical as we went down to under 100 for the first time as the weather was rotten and lots of people were off doing their Christmas shopping.
If you do want to ask any other questions away from this thread please PM me and I will be happy to answer anything and please don't think you will be too slow - you won't, you really, really won't. parkrun really is for everyone inspite of what some people may imply.

[steppemum]

last week at our parkrun, 22 people came in slower than 40 minutes and they were spread out right through to 59 minutes.

[WiIdfire]

From the Parkrun website FAQ:

"Can I take part?

YES.

Anybody and everybody, of all ages and running abilities take part in our runs, as a runner, jogger, or walker."

I agree that the whole ethos of Parkrun is to get people outside and moving, whether that is at speed or not. Some posters here have given the impression that volunteers would get annoyed if you were too slow, but I have never found that to be the case. (I have volunteered myself). It really would not be a problem if you wanted to walk it to start off with. However, if you are worried about being self-conscious, I would recommend you found a bigger event and looked at the finishing times. My local event has 300-400 people and the last finisher is usually around 50-55 minutes, not always the same person either. Please don't think you won't be welcome, just because a few of the faster runners posting here don't think the slow joggers and walkers are making enough effort. It is just completely untrue. Hope to see you at my local Parkrun.