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?

@ThomCruise, that does sounds awful yes, as I understand the Parkrun ethos to be inclusive of all abilities. Surely there are plenty of more competitive events for the more serious runners. Round where I live there are loads of running clubs who I see out and about all the time- they do lots of events through the year- lots of them more competitive than Parkrun. Why don’t you look for something like that?

I've been a member of a running club for many years, thanks 😅
If we're being terribly patronising, in a similar vein, why don't you just...got for a walk.

I do go for lots of walks @ThomCruise- I’m not a runner but into weight training and yoga. I thought you probably were in a running club- in which case you go for a lot of runs, some of which will be more competitive than others. I don’t think the Parkrun’s primary purpose is as a competition opportunity for faster runners. I hope it remains an informal and fun event so that it continues to attract people who are total beginners, and keen to make a healthy difference to their lives in an environment that is accepting.

I have done a parkrun in under 19 minutes ( when I was a lot fitter) and I did one in 38 minutes the other week, socialising with friends. Both experiences are valid and enjoyable. Parkrun is for everyone and it's the slower runners and walkers who are the most important because a fast runner can always do a UKA event instead. My mum did parkrun in her 70s right up the end of her life., it was a transformational experience for her socially and physical.

I have marshalled at a lot of parkruns and our two local ones are extremely supportive of walkers and individuals of all abilities. When I used to run/walk it myself I was in the 40 mins region typically. I'm really glad you had a good experience OP. The people bringing up the rear tend to apologise as they pass me and I always try and deflect it and be super cheerful about my job - we are there for everyone.

Please stay away from ParkRun with that attitude.It is not competitive, that's the whole point. It is not being diluted by having walkers. I find people turning up and treating it as a race annoying.

And I say that as someone who is regularly first in age class, has been first female finisher etc.

Well done OP, don't let people like ThomCruise put you off. Most of us are much nicer.

"diluted"? Seriously? What nonsense.

Well done OP!

And going to parkrun would be a way in which op can improve her time and get it down to 35 minutes if that is her goal.

There are plenty of participants who finish well past 35 minutes, sometimes close to an hour. They have just as much right to be there as you do. I

At the parkrun I volunteered at today, 20% of participants were at 35-55 mins.

I volunteered knowing that it would be roughly an hour before the tailwalker came in.

I love that parkrun has a whole spread from super-speedy club runners to gentle walkers, and none of them invalidates the effort that anyone else puts in. My co-volunteer was saying that parkrun gave them a lot of confidence because there were so many different paces and different effort levels.

Sometimes I run hard to test myself, sometimes I run steady. I'm also known to run-walk or walk. All outcomes are the same credit on my record.

I also got several chats out of it with various runners/ volunteers that I see on Saturday mornings.

I'll do whatever I like thanks, random internet stranger!
If ParkRun is inclusive of all, it's inclusive of people with differing views, isn't it 😉

Not if they piss on other people's efforts and deter people from participating an event where they are eligible and welcome to participate at.

My PE teacher hated "slow" runners. It's a wonder I ever did take up running after years of his ridicule and taunting. I wonder how many people he put off sport for life with his narrow-minded stinking attitude.
It's ironic that a mobile phone taught me how to run and the first lesson was actually slow down, then walk to recover rather than wondering why I was burned out in the first 45 seconds. Totally opposite to the "teachings" of the PE teachers!

It is a very good organisation if only it was later than 9.30 on a Saturday. Do any start at a different time?

This makes me very sad!! Have you got another one local to you?!

My local is inclusive of runners but when volunteering it’s rather bloody cliquey

Yes, in most countries they start at 9am .

Do other countries not get hangovers after Friday night?

They start at 7 or 8 in hot countries.

Essentially everyone is doing their own thing at parkrun - nothing wrong with ‘PB bores’ or chatters or walkers or people aiming for a course record (not published any more). Or stats chasers hoping for a stopwatch bingo time or a parkrun whose name begins with a Q. It’s all fun or hard or relaxing or whatever you want it to be and most parkrunners and volunteers welcome everyone and encourage each other.

There are some people who get annoyed with the fast runners and others who get annoyed about walkers or people with dogs or children or their official time not matching their Garmin or other people out in the park - and some of the people in the park get annoyed with us. But I guess there is always someone who finds something to complain about wherever you go and they are very much the minority.

It depends if they want a parkrun PB in the morning. DH is nearly teetotal because there is always a run he wants to do soon and not spoil. Priorities I guess and parkrun is addictive. Other people just do it with a hangover.

Wow, the one I went to was very inclusive and had a few walkers. It was a big, non competitive, very supportive event. Those who finished earlier just got in the coffee shop first. No one felt it was “diluted”.

Well done op! The aim is to improve on your time and only compare your time with your own. Keep going. I miss going - our local one ended and is now a bit of a drive to run round a very muddy field.

At the parkrun I volunteered at today, 20% of participants were at 35-55 mins

What speeds were the remaining 80% doing?

I started last month so today was my 4th. Definitely agree with checking the times before you start, I really didn't want to be last despite the inclusive ethos and I have always been a slow walker. I looked up the times for my local one, did a test 5km brisk walk around town to make sure I could keep up and off I went. I walked with another woman the first week, by myself the second week and a mix of walking/running last week and this. I'd say about 20-30/500 walk at mine. I am not finding it sociable, by the time I finish there are very few people left on the field, I've never gone for the coffee after as I think the runners would all be leaving by the time I got there. Maybe it would be different at a smaller one as you'd start seeing familiar faces sooner. I am really enjoying it though.

What does the bingo thing mean? I looked at the other Parkrun thread but there were a few references I didn't understand.

They’re not all like that. Ours has plenty of fast people but lots of slow folks too, the tail walker usually finishes in about an hour

I'm assuming faster than 35 minutes.

What does the bingo thing mean? I looked at the other Parkrun thread but there were a few references I didn't understand.

it is a challenge on the 5K app (there are loads). It is getting finish times ending in each of the possible number of seconds from 0 to 59. Takes an average of 250 ish parkruns.

It gets more social over time especially if you do a bit of volunteering. There are lots of Facebook groups and things for parkrun obsessives.

Wow - that’s a fast time for the vast majority. That sounds more like a running club than a fun event where walkers and joggers are as welcome as runners.

Well done OP.
I have volunteered as a tail
walker at Parkrun. It's a very positive experience for everyone I find.