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!

Totally delighted for you OP, well done! The first one is the hardest and takes real guts to turn up, keep at it x

Thanks everyone, loving what a supportive space this is!

I regularly volunteer as a tailwalker at different parkruns and we usually finish anywhere between 1 hour and 1 hour 20. I’m happy to stay behind them and not push them to speed up so @afromom please try it out and let us know how you find it! Where do you live?

Sorry I read this afterwards 🙈

that’s great you did it!!! Well done :)

I wouldn't bother with it for weight loss, but do it if you enjoy running, sure, being very careful.

Running and other high impact exercise can be counterproductive for weight loss and health when you are unfit. You can easily injure yourself, it raises cortisol, putting a lot of stress on the body, and actually lowers the immune response, meaning you can pick up every bug under the sun.

You have inspired me. I’ve been thinking about doing a park run for such a long time. I need to get out and do it - thanks for the inspiration

That's fantastic @afromom

As I said earlier, 50mins is classed as a runner ( that's from Paul Sinton - Hewitts mouth ) so you had a brilliant first go

The volunteers make a PR , ours are brilliant and they soon get to recognise you and cheer you on noticing your improvements. The one I go too is always finding excuses for cake as well , every other week there is cake ( so it seems )

Mine is connected to a village so there is always someone you know at it

I have to admit to not going for a few months, Im busy Saturday mornings , but Im looking to do another marathon this year so Ive made a pledge to myself this week to get my backside back at it. Ive certainly noticed this winter through this really bad weather we have experienced, my joints have been painful - because Im not out there

Again , very well done , you are now a park runner xx

Go for it, I'll look forward to your update too. I am an enormous fan of park run. It starts my weekend off perfectly.

@suki1964my neighbour was there as a Marshall! He was so excited to see me and cheer me on, which was lovely. Also lots of cake, lemon shortbread homemade this week. As I’m losing weight I didn’t partake in that bit, but a lovely addition at the end for mingling.

@eggandchipspleaseamazing! Let me know how you get on!

@DeftGoldHedgehogI must admit I am very sore in the hips this morning, so probably went at it a bit hard. I’m going to get myself out walking this week so it’s less of a shock to the system next week!

@AmusedBouched yes the ones yesterday were great like that, stayed well behind the group and picked a couple of people up along the way encouraging them then retreating once they’d checked they were ok.
I’m in Gloucestershire, I can’t find one with results slower than 1 hr around me, I’ve checked 6! We must be a run heavy area I think. Most are flat routes, in parks so probably lend themselves to a faster circuit.

Absolutely join parkrun, it’s very inclusive.

Every one I’ve been to have runners and walkers there. There are tail walkers so no one comes last (which is what some people worry about when first starting out), and there are plenty of people who don’t run the whole of the 5k. I think you’ll love it OP.

@afromomand @eggandchipsplease how did you do today?

@Hohofortherobbers thanks so much for checking in! I was 261 out of 268 so similar placing to last week, with more people this week. But this week I used the C5k app and ran for a total of 10 minutes. My time this week was 48.53, so almost a 2 minute improvement on last week (50.23).

I almost talked myself out of going, then woke up this morning and had a word with myself. My competitive spirit needed to break that 50minute barrier and I did!

I’m going to try using the C5k app this week and do 2 more runs then hopefully next week I’ll improve again.

I’m so pleased everyone on here encouraged me to give it a go, its not nearly as scary as I imagined and a really positive start to the weekend. I feel like I’ve already achieved something for the weekend and it’s only 10am on Saturday! 🎉

@eggandchipspleasehow did you get on?

Fantastic, well done!!!

Thanks @Hohofortherobbers ☺️

The thing is, once you're awake by about 7:30 on a Saturday, then you may as well do parkrun as you can be back home, showered and cosy again by 11am. It's free, fresh air and as social as you'd like it to be.

I knew you'd beat 50 mins this week!

Ah thanks @Thewonderfuleverydaythat's so lovely of you. I was really determined to get under the 50 minutes this week!

@afromom congratulations on the PB! I was ‘encouraged’ by an army PT this morning as I was walking a bit after the massive hill at our local parkrun. ‘Last km - dig deep’. He was pacing someone who I assume was new to running behind me but it got me round faster than I would otherwise have managed. I always struggle to drag myself out of bed but I’m always pleased I did.

Well done @afromom- I bet you’re glad you went now 😊

Your placement doesn’t matter @afromom I come in about 1200 out of 1600 but for my age I am doing okay. Park run issues all sorts of stats.

And just remember you are doing better than all those who can’t do 5km 💪🏻

Thanks everyone for all of the encouragement, what a lovely positive and supportive thread this is! ❤️

Have you been back again op? Hope ypu are still enjoying it.