Parkrun

[Whatatodo79]

Have been trying to get a bit fitter. Thinking of doing a parkrun on Saturday- would it be ok if i ended up walking a lot of the way?

Definitely. They introduced tail walkers specifically to support people who only walk, there's quite a gang at ours that don't run any of it. Al are welcome 🙂

What I’d suggest is doing a run/ walk strategy from the start. Say you know you can run 1km without stopping, do run/ walk 500m for the whole thing. If you get really tired just shorten the intervals. Start near the back so you don’t get crushed underfoot by the racing snakes and overconfident teenage boys 🤣

I would say check the times at the one you plan to go to. The one I go to doesn't really have walkers and there are very few people over 40 minutes.

Please don't jet this put you off!
As a PP said, there is a tail walker at all events specifically to enable slower runners, and those who may need to walk some of the course - "you're never going to be the last one across the line". Just because the current times are under 40minutes, doesn't mean that should remain the case.

IME Parkrun has always been incredibly welcoming to people of all abilities... go for it!

What @Q124 said. Most are extremely welcoming to people of all abilities, but some of the very small ones with only a couple of dozen participants will likely be very fast. Have a look at the latest results for your local one e.g. (at complete random): https://www.parkrun.org.uk/pegwellbay/results/latestresults/

So you can see on this one that despite having a reputation of being a very fast course, the results stretch from sub-17 to over an hour, with plenty of 30+ and 40+ runners.

Yep it’s fine! If you’re unsure I’d recommend instead of going to take part the first week, volunteer to Marshall instead? It will give you an idea of the vibe and also reassure you that people really do vary from literal olympians, to people who take an hour.

Definitely go along! All have tailwalkers at the back and no one volunteers to tail walk if they’re not happy to chat their way round with walkers. There is often a group of injured runners at the back of ours run/walking/chatting.

But it's not going to do ops confidence much good if she's out there 15/20 minutes after everyone else is it. There are plenty of parkruns around that do have a lot of slow people but I'd want to check first.

Yes. There are people of all abilities, young and old and some will be recovering from injuries.

I even went to one once where people were doing the whole thing with Nordic waking sticks (although I wouldn't recommend doing it with sticks because there's not usually enough space).

But it is very inclusive and not just for elite runners who bore on about personal bests.

Thank you so much all! I did it! Walk/running
a terrible time i am sure but i wasn't last, there was a walking marshall as well so if i had walked all around they would have done it with me
i am buzzing

Well done!! I have done 12 park runs in total. My first one ever was 44m last weekend I did my fastest ever at just over 35m. Its a great feeling when you’ve completed it and the best bit is it’s free!

Fantastic. It's such a brilliant thing to be part of. Well done!

Fantastic - well done!

As my name suggests, I've done quite a few parkruns

That’s great. Well done. Glad you enjoyed it.

I've been to sevrral and haven't seen people walking. I would wait until you're running 5k in 35 mins and then go along.
I'm a runner and I'm only saying this on an anonymous forum, but honestly - I'd find it annoying to have the event diluted with people walking such a short distance. I know, I know, I'm awful 😬

My local park run is very competitive. There are no walkers and I was mortified at my 47min absolute tail ender time! Never ever again

Yes awful and against the parkrun ethos

No need to wait to run a certain time

So glad you enjoyed it. Lots of parkruns have parkwalker volunteers to encourage more walkers. I love that there is such a range of speeds including the sub 18s and the walkers all in the same event. Not sure how anyone’s experience could be ‘diluted’ by having everyone there. But yes it may be worth checking previous weeks for anyone thinking about this to see the range of times and also see if the palkwalker volunteer roll is there as not all parkruns do this.

of course. Some people at ours walk the whole way round.

I’d suggest alternating between running and walking to start and enjoy getting quicker!!

If you look at Parkrun website their ethos is it is for all, runners and walkers. It is a shame some have become competitive because this is not what it is meant to be about....this is why the 'stats' were removed!

Amazing news. Watch out it’s very addictive. I have just done number #112. Please go back!

Go for it OP. My time is about 30 mins and I'm usually just below the middle, so there are lots of people considerably slower than that - of course you don't have to 'wait until you're running 35 minutes' as someone's suggested.
I'd encourage trying run/walk to build your stamina and confidence.
Getting into parkrun is one of the best things I've ever done.

I would say try a few as I believe they’re all different - or join a beginner’s running club. I went to a local one for a few weeks and gave up - it was very competitive with huge numbers turning up from running clubs and the course looped back on itself so as us slowcoaches were half way round we had the dubious pleasure of passing them all hanging about the finishing line 20-25 minutes in and had to run the gauntlet of patronising whooping and ‘you can do it’. Fuck right off. Oh, and then the stats were emailed so I could see my time of shame. It was like school PE all over again <shudder>.

Oh, missed the update. Well done!

Ditto - glad you enjoyed it 😊