Slowest Parkrunner, feeling demoralised

[slet]

I’ve done 3 park runs. I know it’s early days. The first one I did in 42 minutes jeffing. Then I have done two at an another one local to me where ds is now volunteering, so I have to take him. It’s very small, very rural, and seems to attract v hardcore runners unlike bigger ones where there is more of an ability spread. I did it last week in 46 mins and today in 45. Parts of it are so muddy and im so scared of slipping, i have to walk very slowly not run.

im just so embarrassed at how terribly slow i am, i dont enjoy it at all and i can’t understand how people actually do this for pleasure and get addicted to it. A very elderly man with a limp was faster than me today and i just feel like giving up and thinking what is the point.

please can someone encourage me to keep at it?

That’s a tiny park run and so it’s going to skew the results, especially if it’s generally frequented by a lot of fast runners.

there were about 380 finishers at the one I went to today and the last finisher did it in 58 mins. You’re honestly doing just fine OP.

I’ve also been overtaken by children too. Honestly no on is judging you, everyone is just focused on their own time.

I was the slowest by a long way and had people who ‘looked’ like they should be slower (very elderly folk!) overtake me easily. No advice but it was humbling and I never went back as I felt so demoralised.

Try to remember that someone has to come
last in any run or race, and as one of the volunteers at our Park Run likes to say- you’re still by a long shot beating all of the people sat on the sofa!

I was going to go for a walk this morning, saw the weather and flopped on the sofa 😊
You should be proud of yourself!

Wouldn't matter if it took 3 hours to do, no time would be shamefully slow.

It sounds like a great opportunity to get some more variation in running/walking/jeffing times/intervals and build better strength, stability and muscle development in areas that aren't so activated when running on a more or less flat, dry, hard surface.

Thank you to everyone for your comments.

i have got so much encouragement from this thread, much more than i expected!

i will read it again at 8am next Saturday morning when i am dreading the next one and trying to convince myself to go!

Over the last few years my running has been so stop - start. Your post has reminded me I really want to start again! You're inspiring. Keep doing it and you'll make the run welcoming for any new newbies, if the rest are largely ultra fit. And you will definitely see improvement in yourself over time.

The hardest, slowest runs count more IMO because you still did it when you easily could have not.

I had to get myself seperate trail shoes with better grips for off road in this weather. Helped quite a lot.

It is honestly a very respectable time. I think it's unusual for the last runner to be less than 50 mins, but I see yours is particularly small. Keep it up!

Btw I've watched marathons before. They're v moving (no pun intended !). I was equally in awe of the last last stragglers at the back as I was the famous elites at the front.

It’s not the only way to run! Who enjoys being last? No fun in my view.

Well someone has to be last, and if the person who finishes last each time gave up, it would soon be the end of parkrun, so I'd keep at it.

Please dont worry about your time, I volunteer regularly and massive thanks to your DS for committing to volunteer regularly. We have teens volunteering often for Duke of Edinburgh etc and quite a few who then continue to volunteer after finishing the DoE award just because they appreciate the community. And thats what parkrun is about a community of encouragement and support. You got out on a miserable day, fresh air, exercise and your son is doing a brilliant thing, be proud of you both.

You weren’t last because that’s the tailwalkers job. You got out and did it and your run has exactly the same value as the first finisher.

I’m an RD at my parkrun and we love to see people turning up and trying every week. And your time is about my usual time these days because I’m very out of condition and for personal reasons just haven’t turned up recently.

Whenever I’ve been last the lovely volunteer have always encouraged me by telling me how many millions are still in bed or sitting in their pj’s on the sofa! Please don’t be demoralised . As others have said, you’re out there and you’re doing it and that’s bloody brilliant!

Thanks for this post OP and everyone who has commented
i’m slower than you and get very red in the face when I exercise, so I have never dared do a park run. Maybe I’ll try next week…

I used to go to one where part of the coursebwas along a lane full of puddles and the rest on gravel or grass. I couldn't think about speed as mostly it was about keeping upright. It was much better in summer but I tended to avoid it in the winter as it wasn't much fun

You'd be nowhere near slowest at either of my regular ones, they tend to be 60 mins at one and 70 mins at the other. I'm usually between 50 and 60 mins, walk, jog or a combination and I love it.

First of all: super well done for going out in the grim weather and the treacherous grounds as well as finishing. 🏅

Now as for the speed: are you a bigger person? It puts a lot of pressure on joints and I wouldn’t recommend running if you’re heavy. I’d increase walking uphill at a decent pace (where you could still talk but manage the speed and burn on muscles.) Return to outright running once you get the weight down. I

s it your cardiovascular ability? Do you feel out of breath at the speed and distance you’re going? If that’s the case I’d do a walk/run regime (look up Fartlek) to play with the speed (literally the name of this kind of training) and do that for a while to increase your endurance. HTH

Good lord! You're amazing! Surely it's not about the time, it's that you're actually doing it.

It would probably take me a week to do a park run. On my hands and knees!

I've just had a friend pop in for a cuppa and we were talking about walking our dogs, mud, leaves and so on. She had a nasty fall in her garden recently. I had a mishap coming down my stairs. So you're right to be cautious. It will be different in the summer when it's dry.

For what it's worth, from a stranger on the internet, GO YOU!!

You obviously want to enjoy it otherwise you wouldn't have posted. However, you just dont. Not yet. There is no shame in not enjoying it. I know fast runners who don't enjoy parkrun. I know slow runners who also don't enjoy them. My family like them, but they don't run. They just tag along with me.

Firstly, as has been said, you did a lot better than the majority of the UK population this morning. It's grey, dull and the weather seems relentless ATM, but you still got your gear on and did a parkrun so that in itself is something to be proud of. No-one honestly cares about your time, they are too busy worrying about their own time.

The speedy ones are either hanging about supporting those slower than them (they might be with someone the same sort of time as you) or they have left. They are not hanging around to laugh at you or make you feel inadequate and even if they are then that's on them, not you.

At mine today I came 29 out of 40. Your time would have put 6 people (inc tailwalker) still behind you so not last. This one was hilly, muddy and even my trail shoes had me slipping about and I walked more than I should.

I knew today wasn't a PB day. I knew it wasn't even going to be a good time day (I was 8 mins slower than the last time I did this route back in Nov/Dec), but I just thought about the fresh air I was getting, the fact that I could still go out and there and do it. I really enjoyed it - even though I was very slow for me (nearly 40 mins when my PB is a sub 25). It doesn't matter, it's only parkrun not the olympics. It's just meant to be a bit of fun on a Saturday morning.

So go into it with a different mindset next week. Don't think about your time or that person who you feel should be slower than you. Just look at the scenery, think about those that would have loved to have been there, but can't for whatever reason (work, injury, other plans). Give it another couple of goes, but if you really hate it then accept it might not be for you. Good luck and I really hope you discover the enjoyment as I think you want to.

I was third from last at a 5km run a few years ago. There were medals for all finishers. The lovely Marshsll who gave me mine said I should get two because I’d been running longer 😊

OP it all counts and I think you’ve done brilliantly. There would be at least 50-75 people behind you with that time at my local park run which has 4-500 people every week.

68 finishers and you were one of them! As others have written, a small event and it sounds like it was challenging. It can feel intimidating. You were a winner the moment you started.

Parkrun is a community event and, once I have gotten over my shyness, I’m always amazed by how welcoming and encouraging other runners are. Nobody started that fast from day one; they’ve all had to turn up and do the work. They have your back.

Be proud of your accomplishments, of turning up and taking on the challenge, of starting something you know is hard for you.

Each run will be different, some are good, some are hard, some are faster, and some seem never ending! But each will give you something different. No such thing as a bad run 💐

i’m glad you’ve had so many lovely comments and that they’ve helped you think again. As so many people have said, getting up and going round are achievements in themselves and you are doing a lot more than a lot of people to attend to your health.
Do you have a friend who might like to go round with you? That can help as you encourage each other. Hope you enjoy next Saturday.