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Original poster

Parkrun failure

93 replies

MyGastIsFlabbered · 08/04/2019 12:49

I stupidly signed up to Parkrun and did my first on Saturday. I just wanted to die of shame, I walked the whole way round, was so far behind everyone else (bar a couple) and just feel defeated about the whole thing. I came 454th out of 457 and it took me 54 minutes. My boyfriend is a very keen runner which just made it so much worse. I want to hide my head and never go back. To make things worse I can only go every other week so I'm never going to get any better. And I can't go at all for the next 3 weeks.

I don't really know why I'm posting, I just feel so embarrassed about how unfit and fat I am.

OP posts:
citychick · 08/04/2019 13:13

Keep going, OP!

I have never done a Parkrun. DH has done them for years...so I did my first C25K this morning! Definitely try the NHS C25K podcast. You are guided and encouraged the whole way through.

I have never been a runner, so this is a huge challenge for me and I want to join DH in the summer for Parkrun.

You can do it. Do it for you and nevermind what you think others think.

👍🏃

EleanorOalike · 08/04/2019 13:15

It’s amazing how quickly C25K or any exercise at all starts to become easier and your stamina builds up.

It’s 30 minutes 3 times a week for C25k. Do your kids have hobbies or anything that leave them at? Or if you work, can you run in your lunch break?

In the meantime there are LOADS of free workouts on YouTube that are really helpful.

Weepingwillows12 · 08/04/2019 13:16

Well I am still impressed. I have been needing to start exercise again for a while again. Have looked at park run and been too scared to even turn up. You turned up and completed it. Who gives a monkeys what time you got. Now you can tell people you do park run. And your partner probably doesn't get it. So train until you can beat him :-)

Kungfupanda67 · 08/04/2019 13:16

If you can, get them some scooters - my 6 year old’s was only £15, then run/scoot to the park or to school a few times a week

Well done for doing it, you’re much braver than me!

Original poster
MyGastIsFlabbered · 08/04/2019 13:17

I only get a half hour for lunch and definitely don't fancy running then, especially as I can't shower afterwards. I can't find the NHS app.

OP posts:
BlueChampagne · 08/04/2019 13:19

If your boys have bikes, that would do instead of scooters. Or can you do laps of the park while they play?

CutSomeRug · 08/04/2019 13:20

The NHS app is in iTunes. There is a link to it on the NHS c25k page

www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/couch-to-5k-week-by-week/#

Scroll down the page and the link is there

Original poster
MyGastIsFlabbered · 08/04/2019 13:22

Scrap that, I think I've found the app

OP posts:
Spudina · 08/04/2019 13:24

I did a junior park run with my 4 and 7 year old DDs a couple of weeks ago. That was only 2 km was perfect for a non runner like me! maybe you could persuade them to join you on a junior one then all work up to the 5km together? The junior ones are awesome. Everyone is very encouraging. Can't remember what are they stop though.

nomorenightmares · 08/04/2019 13:25

Good luck with couch to 5k. That is also how I started running. I love it now.

Lalallama · 08/04/2019 13:26

Well done on your first Parkrun! As others have said you're certainly not a failure, you went there and you completed 5k, which is a great achievement. It's so easy to talk yourself out of even trying it, so you're already one step ahead. In our Parkrun there are many people who walk, and people's finish times vary from 17 mins (ridiculously fast people who are just a dot on the horizon!) to over an hour. That's the beauty of Parkrun, that it's for all abilities, and you can try to improve your time or you can happily pootle around in your own time every week having a nice chat, it doesn't matter.

If you do want to try to C25k could you go to a park where you can do short laps in a circuit? Around a field or something. So your children can play in the middle and you'll never be too far away to keep an eye on them. My kids hate running but when they see me doing it they have started to join in, so yours may surprise you.

Good luck, keep going.

Bringbackthestripes · 08/04/2019 13:27

Good on you for doing it!
I sat in the sofa all day. Hold your head high and keep going, you will be jogging it in no time.

IToldYouIWasFreaky · 08/04/2019 13:28

Or can you do laps of the park while they play?
I started running when DS was 7 and he used to run with me. Whe he got tired, I would install him on a bench with a snack and carry on running laps round him! He used to quite like riding his bike alongside and shouting encouraging things at me too! Grin

Anyway, Gast going from nothing to completing a 5k is a massive achievement, no matter how slowly you did it. Well done! C25k is brilliant - I started with the NHS app too. I could only ever do it about once a week due to childcare etc but even then I made progress.

EleanorOalike · 08/04/2019 13:30

I only had 30 minutes for my lunch too but I used to have a big breakfast, skip food at lunch and use wet wipes after. I was running outdoors so didn’t get that sweaty anyway and it was only twice a week as I ran on a weekend for the 3rd run.

caughtinanet · 08/04/2019 13:37

If they are old enough to scoot, you can take them to the park with you and get them to scoot with you as you run

Do you mean for the actual run? I've been looking at local ones to me and you wouldn't be able to do that. The two nearest aren't actually in parks and I'd previously asked a friend who goes and he said you can't take children who aren't running - are they not all the same?

CMOTDibbler · 08/04/2019 13:54

Not for parkrun, but to do c25k

Original poster
MyGastIsFlabbered · 08/04/2019 13:55

I think the PP just meant going to run in my local park. Which is a 2 minute walk from me. It's only little so I imagine I'll have to run hundreds of laps 😀

OP posts:
boniobiscuit · 08/04/2019 14:03

The beauty of Parkrun is that nobody fails and nobody will look at you as a failure.

The tail walker is there to be last and even if you chatted to the tail walker all the way around they would be your biggest supporter and cheer you across the line.

Honestly, the Parkrun community is so supportive, everyone there is pleased to see people turn out and have a go.

Next time you'll be faster and you'll get a PB and they'll keep coming as you get fitter and faster. As previous posters have said couch to 5k is an amazing app to get you started and before you know it you'll be looking forward to Saturday mornings Smile

CMOTDibbler · 08/04/2019 14:17

Nothing wrong with hundreds of laps! I read somewhere about a lady who wanted to run a marathon, but didn't have any childcare (I think she had a son with autism) - so she trained by running up and down her small garden. And she ran her marathon in the end!

screamifyouwant · 08/04/2019 14:22

Well done at least you did it .
And why won't you get better if you go every other week ?
Next time you go you'll be prepared and if you knock a few seconds off your pb you'll feel great .
Listen I'm no runner but I like running I put my headphones on and off I go . I feel great afterwards if I've had a bad day it makes me feel tons better .
I think park runs are brilliant I really think exercise is the best medicine.
I too can't go every week due to childcare I try and go alternate weeks . Honestly don't worry about coming last you should be proud of yourself.

Bigsighall · 08/04/2019 14:29

You went AND you finished it, how is that failing?! Good on you

BikeRunSki · 08/04/2019 14:35

You went
You finished

I manage not to go, every week

Connieston · 08/04/2019 14:39

54 minutes really isn't awful for a first attempt. I'm pretty fit and have never got it under 40 and so maybe I'm just a slow runner... Try again and see if you can peel.a few minutes off. That's alot easier for beginners than for experienced runners and the sense of satisfaction is immense. Well done!

evilharpy · 08/04/2019 14:46

Good lord. This is the opposite of a failure, you can get the notion of having failed out of your head immediately Grin you completed 5k when half the country won’t walk to the shop. Fair play.

I know loads of people who started off with C25K, many of whom were very unfit or overweight to start off with, and have gone on to run a whole 5k and beyond. Definitely give it a go. But stop beating yourself up, if you did parkrun every week and it took an hour every time you’d still be achieving something.

SmarmyMrMime · 08/04/2019 22:09

I was 668th recently in 49 mins with the tail walker about 5 mins behind Grin

Admittedly when I'm right at the back, it's because I'm with my 6yo and he gets stiches and plods slowly for the middle third of it, but it's still a great experience and the people are lovely. When I'm running it in my middle of the pack speed, I don't get time to apprciate it so much as it's so busy as my head's pumping and half the world and their dogs are coming in too Grin

Stick with it. The improvements will come with practice.
I've been known to do beep tests on my drive, or laps of playgrounds when the DCs are off school Grin

I second junior parkrun if there is one nearby. My DCs love it as they are able to do it at their own pace as it is more thouroughly marshalled (all in sight of eachother). Adults don't log a result but are welcome to join in, just don't enter the finish funnel.

You suceeded in completing it. 🏆

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