Parkrun newbies and trying a sub 30 - keeping each other motivated! 🏃‍♀️ 🎉

[Lemontreeinthecity]

Hi
Starting a new thread for those who are trying to achieve a Parkrun sub 30…and newbies to parkrun….and also experienced! Basically all! 😊

Im trying to get a sub 30. I’ve been up early and done the parkrun route before the kids get up!
Time was 31’32”
I felt like I was wearing too many tops and was getting hot 🥵
But I didn’t stop and ran the whole way.
anyway here we are!
im hoping to beat that on Saturday.

over to you….

x

A half distance seems daunting when you haven’t run it before, but it’s actually very achievable with training. What’s the furthest you’ve run so far and when is the half you’re looking at?

Wow a half is impressive! I'm still training for my 10k in October. I started early because of having a holiday in the middle!

I would have thought though that if your young and healthy and train properly, a half should be fine.

I'm old and only started running last year, so need to ease myself into things and I'm not sure if my body or mind could go that far!

I had been doing parkrun since end of March after I finished a C25k program. I was getting times between 31-33 mins depending on which course I did. I continu running with the running club I had done the C25k with. Come June work got a bit hectic and I just couldn’t face going out to run. I have now not done parkrun for a month and feel like I’ve lost all progress I made. I want to go next Saturday but am nervous of not completing it. I have a thing where I have to run it, if I walk bits it doesn’t count. I feel like my legs are so weak.

Please don’t be put off by walking some it just do it anyway. Or try a different one. Even if you walk this week you will probably walk less next week but it will be worse if you don’t go this week. My home parkrun has hills and I usually walk up them. It’s fine and definitely still a parkrun.

You won’t have lost all your fitness in a month. I had to have a month off for injury and the first time I ran after that was a 10 mile race. was I as fast as usual, no, did I finish it, yes.

juts take it steady and don’t beat yourself up if you’re a bit slower than usual. It doesn’t matter, but it won’t be like starting from scratch again.

This is a great thread, so thank you. Ive been doing parkrun for about a year. I got a PB in January and have no idea how! Other than I helped set up that day, so maybe the extra warm up did some good.

I have done a few 10k races and am doing my first HM in October. Although I run a lot each week, I have never done more than about 11k. I plan to do 12k as my long run this week and build my long run up by another k each week. I am really nervous about it too, but am taking the next 12 weeks of training very seriously.

I'm doing my first HM in October too! Have been lurking on this thread and decided to jump in. Are you doing the Royal Parks in London by any chance?

That's great. I would love to hear how your training is going. No, not in London. Its a HM in my home town.

Back home and out to track night this evening. Looking forward to some cooler weather. DD wants to do parkrun on Saturday. Very excited about that as she hasn’t done one since pre Covid.

An article in Sylist about C25K and 30 min 5ks. I guess the figures are arbitrary and running is great whatever the pace. It’s good to have something to aim for though.

Thanks for the article. I am sure I have read it before! I am determined to reach the 30 mins, even if it is very tough. I never got on with C25k because I always tried to run too fast. I think my limit was 20 mins of running. Parkrun taught me to run slower and therefore longer and further. I am still amazed that I can actually run 5k tbh. Many decades ago when I was at school, 1500m on the school field was barely doable! I have also found my 10k training has made me even slower, but now I can run 5k slowly but fairly easily. So for me, 30 mins 5k is a massive challenge, it doesn't mean I can't do it and shouldn't try!

@parkrunEnthusiast why so many layers?? I don’t think I’ve EVER run in a hoody, let alone in June! As my mum always says: BE BOLD, START COLD.

Can I join this thread as a parkrun enthusiast even though I am not a newbie (14 years and nearly 400 parkruns) and I’m not aiming for sub 30?

I love parkrun but sadly an injury has kept me from running most of the year (have been doing plenty of volunteering instead). I’m hoping to do it this Saturday if my foot/toe/ankle allows - my local is cancelled so will cycle to one of the other nearby ones. Would love to hear about all of your successes and frustrations!

One thing I love about parkrun is that there’s always next week!

its a really good article and no one should be disheartened if they can’t run 5k in 30 mins as a new runner, or at any time really, but there’s also nothing wrong with wanting to get faster.

when I finished C25k 5 years ago I could do maybe just over 4k in 30 mins. I got quicker and managed to get to 5k in just over 30 mins doing a 5k 2 or 3 times and week and getting as far as 10k a few times.

over the last 2 years I have been more consistent. Started racing and aiming for long distances. I’ve done 3 marathons and an ultra so far this year. 5k isn’t my distance. I am comparatively much better running long distances and I enjoy them more. But, as I’ve got better at long distances my 5k time has improved by itself. I ran a PB of 21;23 on a random morning before work this week! I think I’m going to try and get down to 20 mins.

so just keep going, being consistent is the key and the varied training i have done for longer distances has helped my 5k time massively without thinking about it.

Thanks for all who continue to follow this thread …and for all the new followers.

Who else is doing Parkrun this Saturday morning? A show of Friday vibe hands 🙌

im still aiming for a sub 30… 😊🎉

Me! Back to it after a few weeks off. My hilly home parkrun so not expecting miracles with my time but at least I will be out there.

I will be. Not expecting a PB or anything like 30 mins - it's still so hot! But I am hoping to run round with less pain than last week when I had terrible pain in the muscles by my shins. Not sure what it was as I have been running a few times since and it hasn't reoccurred yet 🤞.

I love that @Ricecrispiesatsix - Always next week for Parkrun!

Can I join please? What a lovely thread! I think I'm on very much the same track as you @NoCareNoFair, Ive always thought I'm 'not sporty', did C25k in the winter/spring and I'm aiming for a 10k for Baby loss awareness week in October. Also trying to lose some weight to help with the running! I've yet to work up the courage and organisation to manage a park run though! (They're not very local to me, 4 kids and activities but mostly, I'm nervous). Hopefully you lot can give me some motivation!

Tried out a new parkrun today about 30 mins away! It was a very flat if stony and dusty course. Both dd1 and I came away with 5k PBs!!

I shall return to that one another day when I haven’t done a fast track session the evening before!

Hope that everyone else got out and enjoyed a run around a park this morning!

Well done @Whataninterestinglookingpotato as predicted it was not a fast one for me this morning but glad to be back to it.

@oatybiscuitsWelcome! It's sad you don't have a local Parkrun, but it's worth making an effort to go to one! They are brilliant. Kids can run too!! When I first went, I just watched it (DH wanted to run, I went as support) but it was that that showed me I could be a runner too. I would suggest that if you are able too and too nervous to run. There are all ages, shapes and speeds and it's so encouraging. Not everyone is running, some are running and walking and there are park walkers too. Mostly people are lovely there and you get a result at the end and can achieve PBs and milestones (which I find very motivating!). I definitely recommend trying it!

I did better than last week albeit still with some slight pain in my lower legs. Had a great sprint finish with two other ladies at the end which was fun! Just over 35.mins so a long way to go to get back to my PB and then under 30!

10k training is going ok. I have found I am able to fit the extra runs in and can even get up early for them, which is unheard-of for me! Good luck with your 10k Oatybiscuits for a great cause, although I wish it wasn't needed and I am sorry if it has affected you.

I have just reminded myself of this video by George Lewis (Comedian) about Parkrun. Sharing in case anyone hasn't seen it!
https://share.google/eYdIjXmtyn8y1oLkB

31’32” on Saturday…so close!!!! New trainers 👟 were awesome ☺️
Hopefully getting closer..

Excellent. Well done 👏 Can I ask what new trainers you have.

@Tinkerbellflowersnothing fancy, well I don’t know where they fall - I bought a pair of ASICS GT-1000…

Feels like I am getting slower rather than faster. Another hot one today but at least I am getting out there. How did anyone else get on?