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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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gruber · 15/05/2016 09:12

Thank you Geoffery! Quite excited now, DS may even run a lap with me as its laps- he can't do the course at home as its 2.5k there and 2.5k back, just too far for little legs (he's only 3).

GeoffreysGoat · 15/05/2016 11:29

So is mine, he did 40:08 up there yesterday and 41 something last forest one. There's loads of kids (older) and it's a really encouraging vibe for them because everyone's in view at all times. He is an odd one though, was able to walk (for fun, and lots of puddle jumping) the entire forest course before he was 2 and is extremely active generally. I don't expect ds2 will manage it for years yet.

Oh, and dh reckons it's a great idea for me to volunteer and is going to check it out for me. I can sling the baby on my back so he doesn't get in the way :o

chutneypig · 16/05/2016 06:23

It's amazing he can do it at all Geoffrey and wonderful he keeps wanting to come back. Like you said, I think the encouragement is a great thing and the overall atmosphere. We have terrible trouble with DS shoelaces too, I don't know what he does with them, you'd think at his age he'd be beyond that. I made him fish his own shoe out of the mud at the mini mudder on Saturday,

GeoffreysGoat · 16/05/2016 09:58

It's just who he is, he adores his daddy and adores running around so grown up running with Daddy and the other grown ups is a good focus for him. He's also very competitive (like dh) so it's handy to focus that on beating his own time rather than the nasty 3yo thing where they boast about being better nah nah nah Angry I might have issues with the attitude of some of his "friends" from school

I'd love him to do a mini mudder! Dh will be running the local half later this year for the stroke association (he had one when ds1 was tiny) so if ds1 runs consistently I might see if he wants to do something for charity too. Not a half though!!!

feetheart · 16/05/2016 10:26

Volunteered again this week as had a hilly 10k trail race yesterday.
Got to be Funnel Manager (and wear my lovely 25 t-shirt that I have waited for AGES to get) - our new role as we are now consistently over 230 runners and have had a few issues with results. 244 runners on Saturday Shock) and still had a few issues but at least I had most of them noted and the GoPro camera-on-a-stick at the finish was a Godsend again!
DS and his mate were the photographers - it's brilliant seeing the run through the eyes of 9 and 10 year old boys :o
No parkrun next week as we are off camping but DS's 49th the week after (at either Fritton Lake, Gorleston or Lowestoft - camping again) and then his 50th on 4th June with the above mentioned mate and his mate's mum (who is one of our RDs) Cake Cake Cake:o

HalleLouja · 16/05/2016 10:44

Feet a few of us are coming on 4th June to celebrate some people's 50th runs....

feetheart · 16/05/2016 12:14

Yeah :o

MelanieCheeks · 17/05/2016 07:08

I'm hoping to do Heaton Park in Manchester this weekend. Though my back is giving me problems at the minute.

NewBallsPlease00 · 17/05/2016 07:14

I'm a new park runner, or more specifically parent of child who won't do junior one on own runner...
I know it's pathetic for most but I'm proud running 2k as I've never been a jogger, sprint yes, walking - miles, running- no
It's getting more comfortable having done 4, but no idea how I'll stretch it to 5 to actually do adult one without embarrassing myself 😳

MelanieCheeks · 17/05/2016 19:22

Not pathetic at all, we all started somewhere, many of us doing a couch to 5k programme! Welcome along Smile

GeoffreysGoat · 17/05/2016 20:29

I can barely make the end of the street Blush

NewBallsPlease00 · 18/05/2016 06:09

Thanks... Did 2k at gym last night and it was ok! A few weeks ago I would have needed to rest so getting there I guess!!

chutneypig · 18/05/2016 07:06

I'd definitely recommend c25k too NewBalls - two k is a gr at base to work from for that, you'll be there in no time.

Hope you're backs better for Saturday Melanie, don't want to miss a tourism opportunity.

I'd never realised cake planning was such a big part of being RD feet Cake Smile

Original poster
cinnamongreyhound · 19/05/2016 07:31

Welcome NewBallsPlease00! You'll get to 5k with no problems I'm sure.

I'm rd this week and we have someone doing their 50 so they'll be cake Grin

OP posts:
HalleLouja · 19/05/2016 12:10

Feet apparently the fact that there is going to be cake is an encouraging factor for more people to come.

feetheart · 19/05/2016 15:16

chutneypig - it's not usually part of the role. Usually I just eat the cake but as it is DS's 50th cake will be required.
I'm very tempted to outsource it to the lovely lady who made the cake for her friend's 50th parkrun on her 50th birthday last week, there was enough to feed an army and it looked great and tasted delicious. There may be a request for brownies as well though so I won't get out of the creative process entirely :)

NewBalls - building up slowly is the way to go. Lets your body get used to it and reduces the chance of injury. Before you know it you will be hooked and Saturday/Sunday mornings will never be the same :)

Definitely Fritton Lake next weekend now. It is our official 'Suffolk holiday parkrun'.

feetheart · 19/05/2016 15:17

Halle - meant to add - the more the merrier :)

GettinTrimmer · 20/05/2016 07:27

I have done 5 park runs, and improved my time from 45 minutes to 39 minutes (can't remember seconds), I am very pleased!

May be a daft question, but if it's raining, do the park runs still go ahead? I can imagine they could be cancelled on the day if it's torrential rain, unless they still carry on for hard core parkrunners.

feetheart · 20/05/2016 15:15

GettinTrimmer - well done on the times, that's a great improvement over just 5 parkruns :)
We don't stop for rain, or sleet (as our birthday event proved!) and we haven't had snow yet. The only things we have cancelled for in over a year are 2 other events in the park and this year one of them is working round us and the other is incorporating us into their event :o

Have a great parkrunday tomorrow everyone. I will be on the way to Suffolk and am having withdrawal symptoms already :(

chutneypig · 20/05/2016 20:39

Excellent GettinTrimmer. I've only known one cancelled, for our juniors when it snowed over frozen puddles so was too much of a hazard. I've done them in pouring rain!

Enjoy the trip feet and the tourism next week.

Looking forward to tomorrow, missed it all last weekend.

swampytiggaa · 20/05/2016 21:15

Apparently I don't have plantar fasiilitis which is good. My hurty foot is a result of having a hurty knee. Probably down to some new shoes I bought.

Went to the doctor today for a second visit about it - he has given me a steroid injection into my knee and told me to take it easy over the weekend. So no parkrun for me :( was supposed to be tail running but have had to pull out of marshalling altogether. Going along for the end and having coffee with my friends tho.

Can't believe how grumpy I feel about having to miss it!

FiftyNineOhEight · 20/05/2016 22:54

Hello all, I'm barcode scanning tomorrow.

Welcome to new parkrunners!

We have only cancelled once on the day (that I know of), for ice. And the NT cancelled one I tried to go to on holiday last year because of bad weather and high winds.

RedOnHerHedd · 20/05/2016 23:01

I'd love to join this, but I've never done running before. My fitness isn't where it used to be at the moment either and I'm scared I'll make a complete fool of myself. Is it only established runners? Or are all abilities welcome (and more importantly, are crap runners welcomed by everyone?) I don't want to feel shit. I have anxiety issues, and exercise would greatly benefit me.

FiftyNineOhEight · 20/05/2016 23:55

Red anyone is welcome. We have runners, joggers and walkers of all ages and fitness levels. Take a look at your local parkrun's results page and you will see the spread of times for super-speedy (sub 20 mins) to walking pace (45 mins).

feetheart · 20/05/2016 23:56

Red - you will be welcomed with open arms. parkrun is for everyone - runners, run/walkers, walkers, children, buggy runners, doggy runners. We always have people who walk the whole course (including a couple in their 70s who walk the whole thing hand in hand :)) and everyone is cheered home. In fact those who come in later are often cheered far more then the speedy ones at the front. Our final people usually come through in about 55 minutes.
Don't forget that the coffee and cake afterwards are important too!
If you are really unsure go along and have a look or maybe volunteer first just to see what it's all about.