NYD Parkrun

[MaggieMagpie1]

I ran couch to 5k in 2019 and REALLY enjoyed it, after having a long time of doing no exercise. I lost a lot of weight alongside it and was really happy with weight loss as well as fitness and a massive improvement in my mental health.

Due to covid and severe anxiety(coupled with physical injury) around that time, I stopped running and healthy eating completely and have gained all the weight I lost and more.

I'm desperately trying to get back to it and I'm wondering about doing NYD Park run, even if I have to walk all of it just to set an intention for 2024.

However my head squirrels head chatter has really kicked in and it's trying to sabotage my attempt to set a precedent for next year and at least start well. Any ideas how I get past it and go? Rationally it doesn't matter if I walk or I'm hungover or that I'm fat or anything but sometimes I'm not always rational!

Many thanks xx

My advice would be: don’t think beyond the Parkrun. Just focus on that one goal. And really focus. Decide what you’re going to wear and get your kit ready. Decide what you’re going to do before and after the run. Tell people on NYE that’s what you’re going to do.
And if your brain starts nattering at you, shut it down “I’m going to do the parkrun, and then I’ll see what happens.”
It sounds a great idea - enjoy it!

It's just a 5k/ 3.1 mi walk.
The tail walker is a volunteer who is also final finisher so there will always be someone behind you.
There is often also the park walker since 2022, who walks at their own pace and is mainly encouragement for people who want to walk.

Sometimes I push myself running, sometimes I walk. I might have a reason like minding injury/ mild illness/ tapering for a race/ recovering from a run or just want a walk over a run.

Walkers increase after new year (and general numbers are up anyway) because of the focus on getting into good habits. Numbers can dip slightly in poor weather because of the discomfort of being out for 45+ mins compared to running in sub 35 mins. If you look at stats of December parkruns they are swayed by busyness and poor weather and have different patterns to January.

Walking is very much a part of the culture of parkrun. Go and enjoy getting back into it.

The biggest battle is getting up and out the door. If you can manage that, you can manage the 5k. So focus all of your attention on just getting those trainers on and out the door.

Make a plan for the morning - lay out your gear, prep a light breakfast (don't exert yourself fasted. It doesn't work for women in the same way as men), leave yourself a note by your bed, by the door etc. And keep in mind that first step out of the door AND how amazing you will feel once you're done.

Plan a nice treat for after - a bath, hot choc on the sofa and TV.

For the parkrun itself, plan to walk it and if you feel like jogging a bit then you can do that. But the main thing is commuting to showing up. And if you done manage NYD, then go the next Saturday. It's always there! Best of luck

Try and focus on how good you'll feel afterwards, like a previous poster said walking is firmly established as part of parkrun now. I'm a runner and I run and volunteer at my local parkrun, I ran today and I'm volunteering as a parkwalker on Monday. Walking it is a lovely change of rhythm for me and I chat my way around!!

My parkrun is a lovely supportive environment and everyone is welcomed and encouraged regardless of their pace or their size. Someone who comes to mine has used it as part of a weight loss and health improvement programme and people have followed her progress and celebrated with her.

Do it!!

I would say though to check results for the one you'd like to do. The one I just did this morning had only 9 people slower than 40 minutes so ideally you want to pick one where there are people at a similar time to you.

One idea would be to not think about the park run and instead set a much smaller target: to walk to an easy time or distance (e.g. 5 min or 1k) every day for the next week. Something so small it seems silly. If you do the 5 min or 1k and want to continue, do. If not, stop. Add a little bit of time or distance each week, but make it manageable without thinking. Over time, run 30 seconds then walk etc etc.

Add a park run at the weekend, but only if you feel like it. Or start doing the c25k after a couple of months or so.

You see it from amateurs to top athletes - consistency in moving is the most important factor. Or the pithy: 'excellence is mundane - accomplished through the doing of actions, ordinary in themselves, performed consistently and carefully, habitualized, compounded together, added up over time.'

Parkwalkers are now part of the volunteering options and there is often one at most parkruns. I think their hi vis is blue (with parkwalker written on the back).

If you're not up to a jog, then you may have a volunteer for company on your way around. There may even be a few of you!

I'm doing a NYD parkrun at a National Trust property. It's brutal, probably muddy and i can see myself walking some of it when i usually run. Would hate to start the new year with a broken leg🤣 (Lyme Park if anyone was wondering).

I’m not a runner (though am sporty, this might not be sound advice if you are sedentary) but have decided to do NYD Parkrun. It will be a run/walk but I did do C25K last winter/spring up to the 20min run but then got injured (not through running) and never went back to it. I’m going to start off just doing 90s run/90s walk and see how it goes til I’ve made it to 5k. I know I can easily walk 5k so I can make it round the course and will just walk if I have to, but if I’m still comfortable over half way I might try 2min/1min or similar and just see how it goes. I’ve never done a parkrun as I usually cycle on a Saturday morning but the NYD on a Monday is a good opportunity to join the buzz.

You can do it. Just have it in your head that walking is fine, and not a failure, and enjoy it.

I agree with PP - why not volunteer to be the park walker? Then you fulfil a role, put no pressure on yourself, and break yourself in gently.

@MaggieMagpie1 did you make it to Parkrun? If so how did you find it. I did my first one today and was better than I thought. I hope you went and had a good time. If you didn’t, definitely build up the confidence to go.

So many people don't even make it to the start line so if you made it out today you already have a lot to congratulate yourself about. Well done 👏

I did C25K in 2017, enjoyed it, did a 10K and then stopped running until 2019 when I restarted by going to parkruns and run walking. Hope you got there today but either way you can always go on Saturday. Lots of people walk it and it is really supportive. I am back to run walking with the emphasis on walking at the moment as I have an injury and it is absolutely fine.