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

Oooh can I join?? I’ve just returned to park run after a ten year break. Am older and fatter and no longer run at all. But suddenly got the urge to return to park run a couple of weeks ago! First one was 38 mins - I was SO pleased with myself. Then last week I nearly killed myself, wore a hoodie, got to hot, got the pace all wrong. Managed 34 mins but felt terrible and went puce. Was 8th out of the 9 women in my age category.

I will be back… minus the hoodie!

I will be doing some parkrun tourism as we’re away for our anniversary. Always exciting to do a new course 😊

AND I had good news at the fracture clinic this week - x-rays show continued healing and the consultant said I can run as much as I want - just take ibuprofen before and after running to manage the pain. Seems a bit sketchy to me - I’m sure that much ibuprofen can’t be good for you… but who am I to argue with the consultant?

My warm up routine before a PB attempt goes something like:

• 1km slow jog
• pogo jumps
• knees up jumps
• strides (a few bursts of short sprints)
• various stretches including calf raises, sweeps, open and close the gate and others I don’t know the names of but focussing on ham strings, hips and and calfs

There are some really good running accounts of Instagram with some nice warm up routines for inspiration. I particularly like runspace_cat (northern no nonsense running advice for all levels) dailyrunnergirl, trackclubbabe (very fast runners but also very practical advice) iamsarahayes, alicemack.physio but there are so many out there.

I have Running Club tomorrow.

Went along to a new Ladies' Walking/Running Club today. Only two of us were there - the other was the lady who told me about it.

She just wanted to walk, so walked round the circuit once and that was it. I might go back myself to try to have a run, but it's only available on Thursday morning - it's primarily a cycle track.

I will be running on Saturday at a new to me parkrun. I went to my first body pump session in over a year yesterday and feeling it in my core today. Extra run on Monday so a three run week this week.

my first parkrun was 4 July, which I completed in 35mins, have managed to get it down to 33mins. Have now joined a running club and the different sessions have really helped with my overall stamina - still struggle towards the end of the 5K though!

Think I need to do a better warm up though as it took me a while to get into a nice rhythm this morning as my legs adjusted - so will try some of those suggestions!

Interesting warm up information! I warm up by walking about a mile to Parkrun and then doing a little stretching when I get there. I am worried that too much warm up will tire me out before I start! And couch to 5k said a brisk 5 mins walk to warm up so I have always stuck with that!

Not so good for me today- just over 34 mins, mostly because my knee is still sore from my fall lady week. Some poor lady did the same thing this week 😞

Can I join in please?

Today I completed my first ever parkrun (33.36), having been encouraged by my couch to 5k course coordinator

Stupid question alert, but is it ok to do my post run stretch after I get home (half hour drive away) or should it be done immediately?

Thx

Congratulations that’s a very respectable time and especially for a first parkrun!

Re stretching, not a stupid question at all! Personally I am terrible at stretching post run but I think the right answer is to stretch immediately. Our local parkrun has a group stretch led by a PT which is so fun but I’m always too busy chatting to join in.

My other tip for parkrun is to pay more attention to your age grade than your time. Age grades are a beautiful thing. I took great joy in pointing out to my competitive younger brother that even with his 20 minute PB, our mum in her sixties has a better age grade. Ha.