Park run newbie - what do i need to know?

[Justme1981]

Hi All
I'm going to try parkrun this weekend, its been sometime since i last ran ( over 2 years prepregnancy with 20month old) i can definitely walk 5k & plan to add in some jog/run/wobbles! Will this be ok? Im worried about being last & looking like an idiot! Is parkrun full of v fit people? Is it ok to walk some of it? Is there anything else i need to know?
Thanks in advance

I can only answer for mine, but there are plenty of people there who walk the whole way, so if you can run even 5 yds you won't be last! Yes, there are lots of really fit people, but everyone's really friendly and encouraging and from what I've heard about other Parkruns, that sounds pretty much typical. Enjoy it!

Register beforehand and print out your barcode
I run it in about 40 minutes, I'm pretty slow, but there are a good number coming in at 45-50 minutes.
No shame anyway! You're beating everyone who is sitting on the sofa!

parkrun is a whole range of people from walkers who complete in 45+ minutes to speedy runners who complete in 16.

Regardless of speed or if they are propelled by their wheels, walk, run or indeed both, everyone is welcome.

Don’t forget your barcode!

Don't know if this applies to all parkruns but ours has a tailwalker who is a volunteer walking at the back and whose whole job is to come last! I can vouch for how friendly parkrun is to people who can't run at all, or who can only run/walk. I started doing it as a walker and have slowly progressed to being able to jog some of it. I couldn't have had a friendlier or more encouraging reception. I strongly recommend it. Good luck!

My local park run wasn’t very friendly. It’s put me off going again, the volunteers were picking up the cones before I got to them and I didn’t know where to go! I’d love to find a friendly, not super competitive one.

There were A LOT of people at mine. I hadn’t expected quite so many! But a nice crowd, lots of kids (some of whom were super speedy). Would do it again.

Take a look at ‘recent results’ to get an idea of how many people tend to turn up and the times, just to reassure yourself. Have a glance at the course page too to see how it looks. Arrive 10-15 min early to make sure you catch the briefing for newbies.

I LOVE parkrun - it really is super inclusive, there is no judgement whatsoever on who is fast, slow or in between, just a great shared experience.

Re Leaveit’s comment - looking at recent results will help you avoid any issues like that, I’ve not come across it in my local parkruns.

Don’t start too near the front if you’re nervous. Mine tends to be a bit of a scrum until we all space out and find our speed/space. I love it!

Yes, it's absolutely fine to run/walk, or just walk the whole thing.

You won't be last, there's a tailwalker who goes at the back, who will either chat to you, or leave you alone in your thoughts, whichever you prefer. But you may well not be right at the back anyhow, if you think you're going to run at least some of it.

No, it's not full of very fit people. Yes, you will get some, but that's not the typical Parkrunner. It's an inclusive movement - increasingly in partnership with NHS - not just for the walking/running, but also for the community benefits (sense of belonging, increased wellbeing through volunteering etc)

The main thing is Don't Forget Your Barcode!

There will be a briefing at the start that explains what you do (start at flag; run/jog /walk - or if you were in Fulham the other week, morris dance - your way round in your own time; cross finishing line into the funnel, take finish-token as you exit funnel; get it and your barcode scanned; give finish-token back; stay for coffee maybe;look out for results email).

Have a lovely time!

I used to run it. But now I've been diagnosed with arthritis of the hip I walk it - often chatting away with the tail walker. It takes me about 55 mins.

Its great and no matter where you come you'll be smiling at the end, I promise.

The tail walker(s) will be last so you won't be. And if you ran 2 years ago I doubt you'll be right at the back. Our tail walker usually comes in around 55 mins. Sometimes more.
FWIW I've done over 70 and even though I'm getting faster I still walk bits of it.

Try and get there around 8:40 so you can hear the first timers chat. They'll give you a heads up on the course and what to do when you finish.
Don't forget your barcode!

All the parkruns i’ve Been to have a tail runner so you’re never last!

Parkrun is great- inclusive, friendly, fabulous.

Look at the course’s results so you know how quickly people go round. Sorry about your experience, @leaveituntiltomorrow. That’s not been our experience. But how long did you take to get round?!.

I've been wondering the same thing. There's an old thread on here where someone argues that you shouldn't be too slow because the marshalls get too cold. Any truth in that?

Gosh, yes caper is right don't start at the front of the pack if you're a bit rusty. It's busy and they don't half go off fast.
I did it once and for some stupid reason I kept up with the fit 30 something blokes for a hundred meters or so before I realised I might die.

These days, Parkrun have to have a tailwalker - it's one of the volunteer positions that has to be filled or the event can't go ahead.

That might seem OTT if your course is three laps of a busy city park, but the value is more obvious when you think that some are single lap in woodland. And it's the same rule for all

gwen. Walking is fine. No one is too slow.

I took 51 minutes. It was mumsnet that convinced me to give it a go with the lovely experiences everyone else has. My experience was not positive.

Have you got somewhere to keep your barcode when running? Once you finish you’ll get a token, you take that to a scanning person. They’ll scan your barcode & the token which they keep.
Parkruns I have done have somewhere safe to leave bags etc whilst you’re running. Enjoy!

"There's an old thread on here where someone argues that you shouldn't be too slow because the marshalls get too cold. Any truth in that?"

I'm sure there are people who think like that, but they aren't representative and you could Parkrun for years without ever coming across that attitude in RL.

I saw a tweet about a Parkrun earlier this year where someone celebrated her 90th birthday by doing her first one, taking over two hours. It's really not a problem to be slow!

@leaveituntiltomorrow I guess yours was more than a year ago? All parkruns have tailwalkers now. Specifically to avoid the scenario you described.

That's horrid ☹️

No truth in marshalls and cold rumour but be aware you might get cold if dressed for running in really miserable weather and you go slower than planned. Cramp is not fun. Marshalls dress to stand around in the cold.

Definitely have a look at the results and get an idea of numbers doing the various times - I've found that town park based runs have more runners in general as well as more over 40 minutes. Also miserable weather seems to make the average time faster - my highest position was with snow on the ground, rather chilly and I was much closer to last than normal!

It was in June @OTincognito

I’m not trying to drag the thread down I promise, it bothered me at the time, but I’m happy plodding around the roads where I live and cheering DP and DS on whenever they get a new personal best.

DP thinks that maybe they assumed I wasn’t taking part as I was so far behind everyone else

1. Don't forget your barcode.
2. Walk, run and walk-run are all fine, but if you're going to walk-run, be aware of what's going on around you and don't slow without warning in the middle of the path, just as you wouldn't slam on your brakes in the middle of the motorway. If someone goes into the back of you at speed they can hurt themselves and they can hurt you.
3. They've got busier. My local one regularly gets over 500 people.

Thank you so much for all your replies.
@leaveituntiltomorrow im really sorry to hear about your experience, that sounds horrible & is exactly my fear.
Thank you everyone else for the tips, i didnt know about the beginners chat so will aim to catch that & i hadnt thought about stashing my barcode or checking out the times in advance.
Thank you again, really appreciate the tips & shared stories