Should I try park run?

[afromom]

I’m pondering whether I should join park run! I started taking WLI in February 2025 and have lost just over 7 stone. I’m now in the 14stone bracket so feeling like I need to up my exercise and gain some stamina. I joined the gym in July and have been going perhaps 2 or 3 times a week every other week or so, so not really in a good routine. That’s my first resolution this year to achieve at least 2 trips a week consistently. I also often take myself off for a walk and can walk an hour or 2 with no problem.

The issue comes when I tackle a hill or attempt anything more strenuous than a walk! I find myself out of breath so quickly and it’s really frustrating! I’ve never been a runner, always found the stamina and breathing a challenge. But this year I’d like to beat it once and for all.

My weight loss is starting to slow as you would expect after such rapid loss and I really need to work on strength and fitness this year, now I'm more confident to be seen out in public.
park run seems like a good place to start, but as I know I can’t run 5k, I’m worried I’ll be last and keep going back in my head to the mortified unfit 22stone person I was this time last year.

Is it really ok to walk in park run, is this a good place to start? Also would it help to try couch to 5k alongside it?

Thank you in advance for any tips!

You should definitely join parkrun! Walking is encouraged, not just accepted. And it’s friendly, fun…all the best things about exercise.

Sign up - you won’t regret it!

I started parkrun when I was doing couch to 5k so was partly running and partly walking and it was fine. Plenty of people walk it and you are never last as there is always a volunteer (park walker) who ensures they are the last one to finish. It is a good atmosphere and free to do. I would walk it to start with to see if you like it and get used to the route then maybe look at doing couch to 5k if you do want to start running

I'd recommend doing couch to 5k for at least the first three weeks of the program before doing the parkrun.
In our local parkrun, it's generally over by about 45 minutes. If you can walk/run in that time, you won't be last.
Th couch to 5k is great and I highly recommend it. It works and you'll do 5k fully running in a few weeks without even realising.
If you start and can get to about 5minutes running by about week 3,you could do a combination of running/ walking in the parkrun. Or do what I did and save the parkrun for the completion of the c25k,as a sort of reward.
Join a group for c25k, I found the group very motivational as everyone had the same aim.

Thank you for all of the advice @winkywanky@Scarydinosaursand @Blankname22

It sounds like I will be fine to try it at a walk. I might do a couple of practice routes before I try it out to boost my confidence first as suggested.

I would really love to be able to run the full 5k within the next few months. It’s my birthday at the end of March, that would be a nice present to myself, but possibly optimistic!

@Blankname22 c25k sounds terrifying! Is that to run 25k? 😳 maybe something to work toward after the c5k? If I am running for 5 minutes in 3 weeks I’ll be delighted!

I'm so cross with myself at how low my confidence has gotten whilst I was so overweight. I am determined to build it back up this year and believe I can achieve these things.

Thank you everyone for your encouragement it really helps! I may post again on the thread with my progress and for tips. If anyone else in a similar situation wants to join me it would be nice to have company with others starting out during a weight loss journey.

Absolutely do it - I've just done a couple but am planning to go regularly this year. It is a lovely atmosphere!

@ZaraCCthe atmosphere and chance to meet people was another reason I was thinking park run would be a good option, so that’s great to hear!

I’d suggest looking up your local parkrun and having a look at their results page. At my closest one, plenty of people walk it, and the tail walkers often finish in just over an hour. So if you came to that one, you wouldn’t feel out of place at all. Some parkruns don’t have so many walkers though. But they all publish their results, so you could try to find one that includes people going at your pace already.

My local parkrun has such a good atmosphere. I’m not particularly fast and have never felt like it wasn’t for me.

C25k just means couch ‘2’ 5k

You will surprise yourself at how quickly it gets easier. Good luck!

Thanks @ProfessorGambol I’ve just googled my local one, which is just around the corner from us. The slower times seem to be between 45-55 minutes, so perhaps I’ll have a practice run and see how long it takes me. I found the course route on the website too, so I can try the actual route out and see how I go.

100% go to parkrun. There is zero pressure to be finished within any specific timeframe, and you do as much or as little running as you want.

I'm a regular volunteer at my local parkrun, often as a designated parkwalker (light blue hi-vis, purely there to show that it's okay to walk, and to chat with other walkers if they want to the company) or as the tailwalker (orange hi-vis - role is literally to be the last participant on the course, usually following behind the slowest walker, but never putting pressure on them to speed up!).

We've had events that are finished in 40 minutes, and events that are finished in well over an hour, and we're happy to be out there, cheering every participant on regardless.

I've been doing parkrun as a walker for 3 years now, and it's honestly one of the best decisions I ever made. I've made some really good friends from it, and it's often a highlight in my week. 🥰

Definitely check the resukts for the one you're planning on doing. The one I go to is the one all the fast runners go to so as a walker you'd be way off the back (but you have a tailwalker with you). Some have quite a few walkers so you want to look for one of those.

Oh gosh, what a wally! See I said I was new to this 😂 I thought 25k seemed extreme! Thank you ☺️

Thanks @StarlaBell79 that’s reassuring. I think I’m going to have to just be brave and give it a go!

Be prepared to try a few. I tried one and it was very busy with a great number of runners from local running clubs - they all took it very seriously. The route looped back on itself at the halfway point, so as they were all finishing and checking their times, I was still wheezing at 2.5km. Some of them stopped to cheer us slowcoaches on, and I have never felt more like telling someone to fuck off. It felt very much like a competition, and I gave up after a few attempts - fun it was not. Now I go for a long dog walk with friends, which is much more enjoyable!

Others have a very different experience though, and I have heard people saying theirs is very mixed with as many walking it as running it - so you may need to try a few to find your tribe.

People are very friendly and when I went, they noticed that I was new. In my one, people also often go for coffee after - there is a local meetup coffee shop.

Go for it, op. parkrun is not a competition or a race at all and it’s a shame pp have felt this was the case and be assured not all parkruns are like this. As others have said you will NEVER be last as that’s why they have tailwalkers to be the last (they also get a parkrun time). You can start as a walk-jog-walk-jog then build up as you feel more comfortable. It’s a great community and a really great way to get fit, meet people and have fun. There’s also volunteering opportunities which are worth getting involved in.

Good luck. Once you start you will become addicted and never look back.

Its great. I used to run it but also used to walk with my friend who is very overweight (no idea exatcly but over 20 stone), at first she struggled to finish but after a few weeks could and we used to do it jn about 50 mins. We weren't the slowest and it wouldn't matter if we were.

I love parkrun and the community of it. I think some attract faster runners than others, so its worth looking at the results of a few that are nearest. Flat courses on tarmac will attract people wanting a fast time, more hilly or off road courses will possibly have more walkers (I would also recommend reading the course description as normal trainers might not be suitable for some off road courses in the winter, they can tend to get very muddy - although in sub zero temps theyll be frozen)
Lots of parkruns are laps so even if you dont follow an official programme you could potentially walk one lap, run the next one etc to work up to the full distance.

Agree with this. Fine to walk at any but if you want others walkingbthen this would be how to tell would be likely.

Def go. parkrun is fab.

Park Run is brilliant, really supportive community, you should definitely go, the first will be tough but it gets easier every week 👍

If you go to the gym. Try running on the treadmill.

I’ve lost 5 stone on WLI over the past few years and started the gym as I realised I lost all muscle and need to wean myself off the jab.

I started running on the treadmill and found it far far easier than I thought.

I wear headphones with music or podcasts and just plodded along at about 7.3km per hour. After 2 attempts I did a 5k in 40 mins. I was so pleased and am now working on making it faster and also adding in a small incline.

I will then feel more confident when it comes to a park run or just running out and about.

Good luck with whatever you decide to try. You’ve got this!!

Id email your local one, explain you are new to parkrun and see what the RD says. They might suggest being a parkwalker or you could volunteer to be tail walker with someome else and then theres.no pressure, you learn the course and feel supported too. ive done loads of parkruns and some are more friendly than others. Ultimately you want to go somewhere you feel comfortable and supported. Good luck.

Walkers are encouraged and welcomed to Park Run

I walk it, Im not a runner , I might have a wee jog on the grass flat areas , but not every time - depends on the weather, what shoes Im walking in

Each park run has a tail walker, so you are never last

Park Run recognises anyone finishing under 50 minutes as a runner, over 50 mins they are walkers. I can usually finish at 48 without any attempts of jogging, 42 if I hoof it in parts

My local one is circuits around a playing field and walking trails , as a hiker this one suits me. There's another on a beach - causes me pain in the hips , and one that's on asphalt - kills my knees.

Just take a look around your area and see what's out there - every single park run has a different vibe . And just go have fun

Thanks for starting this thread OP as it has encouraged me too.

Let us know how you get on!

@suki1964thats reassuring thanks. The one local to me is around a playing field 4 laps, so flat and not too taxing. I’ve decided I’m going to try it in a couple of weeks. We are away for the next 2 weekends. I may do a trial go before then one day.

@MylipstickiscalledHugMei will certainly update when I have tried it out. Would love to hear how you get on too! Good luck!