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?

[rookiemere]

Ours is 930

[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.

[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..)

[steppemum]

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

[WhoKn0wsWhereTheMistletoes]

I'm definitely not a junior

[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.

[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.

[WhoKn0wsWhereTheMistletoes]

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

[steppemum]

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

[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]

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

[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.

[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.

[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

[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

[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.