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?

Last is better than did not finish. DNF is better than did not start.

And people who finish in 20 minutes do 20 minutes of exercise. You do 45, which is better.

You wouldn’t be last in my local parkrun if you did it in 45 minutes because the numbers are better. Try to remember you are not running with a cross section of the general population. You are running only alongside people who are committed to running enough that they are doing it a 9am on a Saturday in all weathers!!! Which explains why a lot of them are fast runners. I think in 6 weeks time, when it’s spring, the course will be so much nicer and the numbers will be better. I would persevere and see how you feel then.

Well done! 👏👏👏
I used to do a lot of running but was never particularly good and fast, I kept hoping I'd get 'the bug' or get addicted but it never happened. I have neither a competitive or addictive streak in me at all!

I keep thinking about getting back into it as the local runners round my way were some of the loveliest supportive people I've ever met. Quite a lot of clubs have super competitive snobby runners in them though, or rather just oblivious and lacking in understanding or other people's abilities.

Still, like so many others have said youve lapped the rest of us slumped on the sofa! 👏👏

Side note - what on earth does jeffing mean?!

@KarriTreeSullivan Jeffing refers to the run/walk/run method of running developed by Jeff Galloway. He's got a table where you take your mile pace and it gives you a recommendation for how many seconds/minutes to run and walk. I prefer continuous running at a slower pace but people have completed marathons using his method. I'd recommend that everyone new to running try it and see how they find it.

I think 45 mins is really good! Keep at it

The one and only time i did park run, i cheated and ran across the middle of the park to the finish line

I regularly come last at events and races.
We are still beating every one who didn’t show up!
No judgment from anyone- just respect!

Who gives a toss! Everyone was last at the beginning, keep going. Making the effort to trim and run is a massive commitment.

well done and don’t you dare give up. Keep going your time will get shorter and you won’t even notice

I’ve just checked the results of our parkrun, there would have been 20 people after you on Saturday, including my DH… you’d be right in the mix!
The mud is a bugger, if you can get trail shoes they will give you so much more confidence.
Every one of the people there who came in faster than you knows what it takes to do what you did. They know it’s hard to start out, they’re running their run and they’re genuine when they encourage you to run yours.
So please come on Saturday, if it was just a bunch of elite athletes running it in 20 minutes the rest of us wouldn’t go!

At my one and only park run, I was so slow, the tail runner asked me if I was participating and should they wait for me. Never mind the time, the fact you're out there doing it is amazing.

I used to attempt to run to try and improve fitness for horse riding. I hated it and was useless at it. So I’m super impressed that you can complete a park run. I’d probably be still out on the course now. Give yourself a massive round of cheers for getting up and achieving it.

Congratulations to you for showing up and finishing! Who cares about the time? You’re doing infinitely better than the gazillions of people who didn’t do anything at all!

I feel pretty proud of you and I don’t even know you, so you should definitely be proud of yourself. 🥳

45 minutes is not that slow, especially with mud and hills. My local has hills but no mud and the tailwalker usually comes in at 1 hr or 1 hr 5 mins ish. You are out there and doing it despite the weather. You are amazing. Have you got the 5k app to track things like stopwatch bingo etc? That motivates me. Your times will go down if you keep going and when the mud dries up. If you really don’t want to do the course could you volunteer a bit for a change alongside your DS?

Please say thank you to your mum for this lovely message.

im so grateful for all of the support and encouragement I’ve had this weekend on here!

I do parkrun, a bit of gentle jogging but mainly walking and come in around 55 minutes. Generally in the last ten but never last as volunteers always come last. Always clapped over the line and I love it. Keep it up you’re doing fabulous .

Well, if you ever see me running it’s because someone is chasing me - I’m in awe of people who run at all, please don’t be so hard on yourself. At least you are turning up. Could you find a local running club for people just starting out? We have one my friend runs and it’s all about being slow and turning up anyway. I still don’t go and run 🤣 - well done for getting out there, don’t give up x

You showed up, which means you are lapping at least 70% of the population.

Not trying to put you off running by suggesting volunteering but suggesting it for its own sake too. It helps you feel part of things, get to know people and a see the big picture at parkrun which will stop you worrying so much about what other people think about your speed because you will have been out there supporting everyone at all speeds.

well done on getting out there doing the running.

Your DS can work round you, surely? you are nice enough to give him a lift? then he can volunteer at a parkrun you want to do.

At my local parkrun there is a guy in a wheelchair who takes over an hour. He's not always last either. No one is made to feel bad because they're slow and that's how it should be. Please don't worry about being last - especially in the time you are running it - maybe try a bit of parkrun tourism (with your DS) and see how varied the attendees are!

That sounds fast to me. My fastest ever 5k is 40 minutes but it usually takes me 45. Everyone else on your park run must be a proper runner. Well done and keep going!

@slet download the 5k app. It has all sorts of parkrun challenges to keep you motivated. Eg doing a parkrun each month of the year/letter of alphabet/stopwatch bingo

You are a STAR! Smashing it! Unlike all the millions of people sat on their arses. Keep going, OP. Speed does not matter, it’s turning out that counts.

Paul Sinton-Hewitt says that anyone who finishes in 50 mins or under - is a RUNNER

So you carry on and you run at your speed and remember , most of your peers are lying in their beds , possibly dying with the hangover - and yet there you are

Be proud

You’d not be the slowest at all at our local run with those times. Keep going 💪 you’re doing brilliantly!