Parkrun, as a walker, with even slower DH

[SpongeBobJudgeyPants]

Just signed up for Parkrun. I would expect to finish in just under an hour, but DH is waiting for a joint OP, which doesn't stop him walking, but will slow him down. I've read tips about being early for the Newbie Briefing. Anything else I should know from regulars please, that maybe you'd have liked to know first? Tips? TIA.

I'd be interested in responses too as I didn't know you could take part as a walker.

Don’t forget your barcodes, and only go through the finish funnel once - so if you finish before your DH and decide to go and find him and walk with him for a bit, once you get to the finish you peel off and go around the finish funnel. Otherwise it messes up the timings. And although it’s not a race, if you know you’re going to be walking then hang back a little at the start, let the faster ones go then you won’t have to worry about them diving past you.

You’ll be fine - enjoy it! I volunteered at my local one last week, and no matter how fast or slow someone was, everyone was supported and applauded and everyone was doing their best.

You can walk, run, walk/run, hop… it’s open to all. Doesn’t matter if you’re slower or faster - there’s a volunteer who tailwalks at every Parkrun so there’s always someone at the back for company and no need to worry about taking ‘too long’ or anything like that 😊

I'd say it depends on the parkrun. I'd read that they are open to all, people will be slow, it's very friendly, etc. so that was my expectation. That wasn't my experience with my local one. I was very much one of the stragglers at around 35 minutes. I didn't find it friendly. There were no walkers. Hopefully others are more open to all comers.

You can walk but be aware that the volunteers do want to pack up. The walkers normally finish in about 50 mins. Perhaps do one lap at first or try a gentle jog?

My local parkrun requires them to pack up the signage by 10am as there's other users

Was coming to say the same thing. They vary.

There are no walkers at mine and the volunteers would want to get going and have to pack up the gear.

Plenty of walkers at mine, and every week we go over the hour.
A good idea might be to look at the results- each week they are published on the website- then you can see where you might be coming in.

There’s a volunteer led walking group at mine which is well attended and very welcome. All sorts of paces of walking.

Honestly I'd go for a walk/run yourselves.

Yes, there's a tailwalker, but it's still very clear who is at the back!

I didn't find the one I went to particularly welcoming either - even the kids one I volunteered at for about a year was cliquey as fuck.

Also, who needs to run at 9am on a weekend? Pick a time that suits you.

Our final finisher this week was well over an hour, and the week before that had taken even longer. We all waited, clapped them over the line, and were happy for them that they’d achieved the distance.

Not all will be like that, but our local one is genuinely open to all.

If you wanted to find out more you could look at the results times as a pp said, and then also contact the parkrun Run Director via a Facebook page or email to say you are hoping to come as a first timer, you will be walking.
The vast vast majority of events are friendly and welcome to every participant, no matter what pace.
I'd also say don't worry if you don't feel you can complete the whole 5k your first time! It's not a short distance. So even if you go for a few times to get a feel for how it works and what the event is like and only do a couple of km, that's not a problem at all, you won't get told off or anything.

I think you can look up finishing times online, maybe look up your nearest one and see what sort of parkrun it is? If it’s a fast one maybe just go out for some walks together till you’re confident you’ll be in ballpark. Alternatively councils or your local NHS might run healthy walking groups nearby…

We have quite a few walkers too and the support they get is lovely. Just do your best, pick a parkrun with solve longer finish times, and worry case you can always drop out if you're worried you're taking too long. Don't forget to scout out a cafe for after 😊

My friend volunteers and finds the walkers frustrating. She wants to get home! Just go for a walk somewhere instead. Or you could do Couch to 5k and work up to running it. The Parkrun I go to does have some people who do a mix of running and walking, but no one who walks the whole thing.

It doesn’t sounds like someone waiting for a joint replacement is really suited to park run.
Surely there are better less stressful options to keep moving but at his own pace?

What do you mean by that?

Should people not enjoy going to parkrun because they don't need to do it? Are we only allowed to do necessary things now?

The walkers at my local one take about an hour, I've not noticed them beig hurried, there are hot drinks available so lots of people are still there at that time. Could you go along on a recce before you do your first one?

Check the stats online of the times for yours. There are two near me and one has around 700 people, some who walk it in about an hour. The other is smaller and only has runners.

Id probably practice you both walking the course a few times before it to see your time and if it is manageable.

This is a good idea - if you have more than one parkrun accessible to you, then check which has more stragglers.

Also, who needs to run at 9am on a weekend? Pick a time that suits you.

No one needs to run, or walk, at any specific point but its sociable (hopefully!) safe and already measured. And good for gauging improvement if that's what your aim is.
I went away for a weekend recently and looked up the local parkrun. Saved me mapping out a route in an unfamiliar area.

I hope you find a supportive parkrun OP, and enjoy it.The parkruns I know of, welcome walkers but would reiterate what pp have said and check recent results from local parkruns to be sure.

@baxterstockman As a volunteer, I
prefer walkers to the runners, especially the faster runners. I find that the faster ones are far more likely to be demanding and even rude to volunteers, whereas the walkers all just seem to be having a good time. If you’re going to volunteer, you have to accept that you are going to be there for as long as it takes. 🤷‍♀️

I have really enjoyed parkrun over the years, mainly as a runner, but a few times as a walker. I'm up to about 170 since 2013. My 2 most regular parkruns have 150- 700 participants (one is a really big and busy park) and definitely have some walkers and usually a tail walker. They will also have fast runners, slow runners, people running with kids, running with prams, with dogs...

If I'm walking I can take roughly 53 minutes (brisk pace) to an hour or so. Some courses are hillier than others (and slower). All the ones I've been to are generally friendly, and I've been to about 12 around the country (and one in the USA).

Some tips:
Say hi or thank you to the marshals as you go around, stay in order in the finish funnel, remember to give back the finish token that they hand you at the end. You go up to a scanner volunteer, scan your barcode then their barcode and give theirs back, in order to get your time by email/text/on the website. Also what someone else said, please start towards the back of the group to allow the faster runners past. Unless it's a single lap course (I haven't found any of those yet, usually courses are 2-5 laps) you will get lapped/passed, so be aware and stay to one side of the path. Sometimes the super speedy folks are a bit intense.

There is normally a cafe nearby where people can gather afterwards for a chat. Volunteering is also a great way to get out and meet the organisers, runners, walkers and other volunteers.

Welcome to the parkrun community!

Your friend should be ashamed of herself. The whole point of parkrun is that it's accessible to everyone. Its free. I'm guessing your friend is one of the serious running types who now dominate /overrun a lot of parkruns tutting at slower runners who dont rapidly move out of their way as they lap them. If your friend doesn't like the walkers she should go and pay race entry fees for organised 5 and 10k runs intended for more serious runners looking to improve their times etc.
I used to quite like parkrun but sadly the running club types have basically taken it over.

Ours has plenty of walkers/ slower joggers. It's a single lap with a bit of cross over so you aren't being overtaken constantly. Maybe try volunteering as well, it's quite sociable.