Park run - what to expect?

[Janie94]

Hi all,
I've not done a park run before but I want to tick it off the list!
I'm just a tiny bit reluctant to sign up in case everyone knows each other and I'm stared at. I'm not the skinniest even though I have lost some weight doing my running which I'm really proud of..
Can you talk me through it? X

I did my first one recently. It was great, and the run was an "out and back". I was at the very end ahead of the tail walker and everyone who passed me on the way back cheered me on. It was amazing. Everyone was so friendly

Hi
Please do it, you will love it.
You will need to go onto the Parkrun website and register. They will give you a barcode to print off which you need to bring with you on the day.
Arrive around 830 and there will be a first timers briefing to tell you what to do.
It's dead easy though, go round the course and through the funnel at the end. You will be given a token and you show that token and your barcode to one of the scanners so they can record your time. Hand the token back and that's it !
You will get a mail with your time on later.
And don't worry about being slow. There is a volunteer tail walker so nobody ever comes last. And feel free to walk too, loads just walk it.
Most of all, enjoy !

At everyone I’ve been to, everyone is really friendly. The volunteers will be easily visible and always happy to chat. There will be a first timers briefing where some one will talk about what happens, the course etc and what to do at the end. There will be tail walkers whose job it is to walk all the way. Never worry about being slow, you will never be last! October is park walk month so there will
likely to lots of people who don’t plan to run at all. Just turn up, give it a go and enjoy!

You could always just go along and watch the first time (or volunteer!) if it would put your mind at rest

You may start to see parkwalkers at parkruns this month.

See blog.parkrun.com/uk/2022/09/26/parkwalker-role-explained/ for more information.

parkrun HQ are having a big push to emphasise the importance of exercise and being active.

Thank you everybody for your replies. I will most definitely sign up!

Ex run and event director here!
yes sign up, it’ll be super friendly,l! If you wanted to “scope out” your local maybe marshal for the first week?
Get there early(but 8:30 is overkill - 8:45 is fine) listen to the first timers briefing and the main briefing, especially as if it’s a lapped course as there will be instructions for passing people safely.

Dont forget your barcode and remember, you can’t run every week, so if you become a regular please volunteer a couple of times a year :)

There are runners (and walkers) of every type. At one of my local ones there's a 95yo who walks it in an hour 😎

Some people will know each other either through running clubs/ friendship/ same time same place. Many people will just turn up by themselves at 8:50- 8:55 run and go. There's usually a first timer's briefing at about 8:55 before the main briefing. Place yourself somewhere appropriate in the starting pack. Some bigger runs sometimes put signs out to help with this.

You only need your barcode at the end. Stay in position in the finish funnel, get a finish token and present that and your barcode to the barcode scanners, they'll zap them, keep yours, return the timing token, job done!

Different parkruns have different atmospheres as well as courses. Some are more "touristy", some attract a more localised core. Some bigger, some smaller.
I tend to have a core of 3 regulars and a couple further out depending on what I want from a run.

I'm not a runner but my OH is and sometimes acts as Run Director for our local Parkrun. He uses me as a volunteer if he's in need of an extra.

I can honestly say I can't think of a nicer event with nicer people. Passing runners shout 'Thanks marshal!' as they go by, or thank you at the end.

Everyone claps and cheers the other finishers as they go through and chat after.

Just all-round lovely 😍

I love Parkrun, my friend tried to get me along for ages and now I go whenever I can. It keeps me on the straight and narrow on a Friday eve too!

Our local one is very friendly and chilled, before I started the one where we used to live looked to be a bit more serious and competitive, but I have no idea if that was my perception as a then non exercise person IYSWIM.

You will not be the slowest or the chubbiest, that was my main concern.

or volunteer to tail walk the first time you go and then you're not under any pressure for speed!

Have a look at what events are near you, each has a web page and you can see from results >event history how many people turn up. If you have a few close by (I have 4 I consider local with a fifth opening) you may be happier with a smaller one, or you may like a big one where you are more anonymous, or a flatter one. Really it doesn’t matter, it’s really inclusive, Run, Walk, volunteer, stay for coffee after and make new friends too.