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Original poster

parkrunners old and new come and chat all things parkrun.

999 replies

cinnamongreyhound · 06/02/2016 11:51

Starting a new thread at FiftyNineOhEight's request. Come and get comfy and talk all things parkrun, anyone thinking of starting out on your parkrun journey we have loads of experience between us so come and ask.

OP posts:
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chutneypig · 06/04/2016 06:55

You will love volunteering swampy, it's great to feel involved but also as feet said, it's a great perspective on it all.

How frustrating blathers and painful too. How long do you think it will take - how long was yours in the end feet?

I feel your Sport Direct pain Geoffrey but it is a cheap way to kit them out. The noise makes me twitch though. They must be very cute in that size.

swampytiggaa · 06/04/2016 08:22

When I heard it was starting locally I decided to be a volunteer as well - was just planning on leaving it for a few weeks lol.

Currently knitting myself a bright pink beanie as a parkrun hat (my ears get windburn very easily and the park is right by the river) and planning on investing in a long sleeve running top :)

feetheart · 06/04/2016 15:38

tiggaa - make sure you have LOTS of layers on plus gloves and a scarf to go with your hat. If you get warm you can always take them off but being cold whilst trying to be cheerful and supportive of other hot, sweaty people is miserable. Every single one of my clothes purchases this winter have been parkrun related and usually thermal :o
Enjoy being part of an amazing community that builds up with a new parkrun. That is still the best bit for me, seeing how our community has developed over this past year

FiftyNineOhEight · 07/04/2016 07:27

Hello parkrunners old and new Smile

I'm volunteering on Saturday as I've a HM on Sunday. I second feet's advice about staying warm Smile

FiftyNineOhEight · 07/04/2016 07:30

Last time I volunteered I wore padded ski trousers over my jeans, so of course that had to be the photo of me that's in the volunteer album, looking like the michelin woman. And I hadn't bothered to brush my hair that day Grin

NoTeaForMe · 07/04/2016 07:42

Hello all, I hope you don't mind me asking a question here....I've just starting running if you can call it that and am doing week one day three of couch to 5k tonight, so I really am very early days. Anyway, at some point I'd like to do a park run, but obviously it's far too early days at the moment. So my question...does everyone run the whole thing, do some people walk it? Is it serious? Would I be in the way to jog, walk, jog, walk like the couch to 5k app?
Thanks.

feetheart · 07/04/2016 09:10

NoTea - we have runners, run/walkers and walkers at our parkrun and everyone is clapped and cheered to the end, with the last few in often getting the biggest cheers because they have put the most effort in to get there.
Maybe have a look at the results for your local parkrun and see what times people do (the real people not the speedy whippets:)) At ours we often have walkers coming in at about 55-60 minutes and we always have a Tail Runner so no-one ever comes last.
You will be welcomed with open arms whatever you pace/speed because parkrun is awesome :o

FiftyNineOhEight · 07/04/2016 09:12

NoTea beginners are welcome at my local parkrun. Some people run it really fast, some plod around, some walk/run, some walk. Often the fast runners stay on to cheer on the rest of the runners/joggers/walkers. There's usually a tail runner who jogs/walks with/behind the last person (sometimes they are happy for the tail runner to walk alongside them and chat, sometimes they want to be alone Smile )

The results are available on line so you can check your closest one and see what kind of time people finish - 45-50 mins is a walking time. My little group of parkrun friends range from 25-40 ish minutes, we all just do it in our own time and have coffee together afterwards.

You wouldn't be in the way at all, people are really welcoming, and parkrun is all about being inclusive, however good a runner you are.

You could always offer to volunteer one week, then you'd get to see all the participants and how they do Smile

FiftyNineOhEight · 07/04/2016 09:13

Phew, feet and I said the same Grin

feetheart · 07/04/2016 09:30

As if we wouldn't 59 :o

HalleLouja · 07/04/2016 10:09

Looks like I am going to Bushey this weekend does a little dance. I need to get back into parkrun but SA is soooo busy. The new Hatfield one starts next month I think.

feetheart · 07/04/2016 10:18

Halle - you know where to come!
Birthday parkrun, Mad Hatters and cake on 16th - get thee here :)

P.S. We are now getting more and more from SA as they are finding it too crowded so you may see some familiar faces.

HalleLouja · 07/04/2016 10:49

I know some faces who go to Luton. My friend marshalled for you last week and her DH was very happy to make it under 20 minutes this week. If we aren't away I will try and make 16th. We still haven't decided what we are doing next week.

chutneypig · 07/04/2016 19:05

Ooh Bushey - exciting! Enjoy Halle

Our home run is getting very crowded, so we've pretty much decamped to another local one. The first km is very squished and it's a real challenge when you've got the DC with you to keep an eye on them. DS has got knocked over before. How many is SA getting now?

HM for me too on Sunday so no parkrun, not even volunteering as family thing on that morning. Hoping to get the kids to juniors but I will feel bereft because I'll miss that too.

I ran walked my first twenty odd parkruns NoTea, still do fairly often. It's very supportive, I'd definitely recommend giving it a go.

MelanieCheeks · 07/04/2016 20:50

Notea, you'll be made very welcome wherever you want to run, jog, walk, mixture of all of the above.
Halle how wonderful, have fun!
Running at my home event this week: there were 3 of us on the female points podium in year 1, then I broke an ankle bone and the other 2 went on to run their 50th before me. Then they both suffered injuries and I managed to be the first of us to make 100. One of the others did her 100 a fortnight ago, and the other will do hers this week. I'll be there, with flowers!

GeoffreysGoat · 07/04/2016 21:11

NoTea my 3yo runs it (with daddy) and while we're very proud of him, 39 minutes is not exactly quick compared to the grown ups - he still gets a big cheer across the line! Ours is a very rural off road course, so the majority walk at some point up the fecking massive hill

lastqueenofscotland · 07/04/2016 22:11

I was hoping I'd get to make Andover this weekend but doesn't look like it. volunteering in two weeks but not sure il get to actually parkrun until after :(

Anyone touristing this weekend

Original poster
cinnamongreyhound · 08/04/2016 07:58

If you want less busy I'm guessing bushey isn't the place to go HalleLouja Wink no idea of local parkruns to suggest for quieter, mines getting busier but a bit of a trek!

NoTeaForMe you can start parkrun when ever you want to. I'm trying to persuade my neighbour but she won't come until she can run better! Keep trying to say we have all sorts doing ours but I guess you have to feel comfortable. Mostly we have runners finishing in 18-40 mins although the last few weeks we've had a few walkers who've been finishing around an hour. parkrun is all about getting everyone out there and doing it no matter what speed, it's a run not a race. If you're not sure, perhaps you could register and offer to volunteer one week so you can see all the people who go to your local one?

I don't know what to do tomorrow, my boys want to see goosebumps and I've been rubbish at taking them and it's not the cheap film at 10 on Saturday. If I travel to bse, I can finish and get there in time. Or dh has been talking about visiting a farm so I could do wimpole and then visit the farm for the day or just stay home and go out later.

OP posts:
HalleLouja · 08/04/2016 09:47

I am going to do Luton soon I am just a bit of a wuss driver and getting there confused me last time even though I have been to Luton lots, will do Panshanger when the ground dries. My fave was Cassiobury but its too far for every week.

feetheart · 08/04/2016 13:46

Halle - I'll do you a map if it would help? :)

HalleLouja · 08/04/2016 22:16

I have sat nav will be brave. Blush

AnxiousAlice · 09/04/2016 10:31

Morning all, I have just finished my first parkrun! I've not run for a couple of years and have recently taken it up again and joined a club to get me going. My experience this morning was ....... ummmm hilly!! It was wet and cold but the hills kept me warm, the other runners, those far more experienced were friendly and encouraging and I made it to the end. This was Canterbury and I will be back again next week!!

MelanieCheeks · 09/04/2016 10:58

Well done Alice!

swampytiggaa · 09/04/2016 11:00

Well done Alice!

I just marshalled for the first time at the second ever Bideford parkrun :) it was interesting as none of us set the course up last week so had a few issues with that.lol lol. I got rather cold and have just eaten a second breakfast.

Got chatting to a woman I vaguely know from the school run who was in the park with her children and dog. She started by saying she could never do anything like that and ended by saying she will probably be there next week!

We had 75 turn up today - less than last week but it was rather rainy this morning, plus we are still very new and it is the school holidays.

I enjoyed it. Looking forward to running it again next week :)

AnxiousAlice · 09/04/2016 11:23

I didn't know anyone but got chatting to a chap and his ?wife who had seen me out running earlier in the week, they were far more experienced than me but stayed to watch me come in long after they had finished. Think I was 3rd from last but I feel great!