First Park Run

[Dawnie16]

Since graduating back in the Summer I have stuck to doing small runs round my village. I am not confident in my ability and know that I am very slow. Well I turned y0 in October and had a special holiday to Singapore and Borneo unfortunately due to that, my daughter getting Married and then getting a bad chest cold, I didn't run for t week. Last Saturday I went out to attempt a run and my phone died so had no idea how I did but know I struggled and probably did about 3k and boy did I ache the following two days ! Tuesday night after work I decided to do my first run in the day, I was very nervous and more slow than usual but managed 3.5k around the roads in the village. This weekend I came up to Ripon to visit my son and daughter in law and was asked to join her and my grandkids on a park run at Fountains Abbey...Well I did it ! Despite different terrain than what I'm used to and coming in right at the back of the pack I finished it all ! My official time was 41mins but my Strava time for 5k was 38 which was my best Strava time for 5k yet ! Feeling very happy with myself, really enjoyed it now just need to find one near home.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Nice that you ran that parkrun as a family group, Dawnie16, nice that you achieved your PB at it, they say no matter what your time is when running alone, if you had been in a group such as a parkrun, your time would be even better.

[Madge50 Graduate10]

Yay! Welcome to the parkrun family! 👍🏃‍♀️ The first of many!

Mx

[O505k Graduate10]

Well done, it's great to have a confidence boost after a period of difficult runs.

[over61andstilltrying Graduate10]

Hi Dawnie16, Well done you! It does seem so good to move out of our usual comfort zones sometimes. This sounds like a super experience. I am so pleased that you enjoyed it and congratulations on your best 5k time. Definitely time to celebrate 🍾🥂🏅👏🏻😊🎉👍☀️🏃‍♀️🤸‍♀️🏃‍♀️🤸‍♀️🏃‍♀️🤸‍♀️ Belated birthday greetings of October. Not quite sure what age y0 is!?

[Dawnie16 in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Haha...oh dear...no secret just my sausage fingers.. I am now the big 60 !

[over61andstilltrying Graduate10 in reply to Dawnie16]

Ah! And I meant to type for October, but typed of October! What a pair we make! My birthday was also in October, but I became 62. I have nearly decided what my user name will become. Happy running to you!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Yay Dawnie, welcome to Parkrun! I hope you enjoyed yourself! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️👏👏👍👍

[jayval70 Graduate10]

Aw what a great confidence boost for you. Well done - I think it was brave of you to run in front of your family - you should be proud 🏃‍♀️

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Well done you.. you have had a really eventful time and you did this and enjoyed it. Speed... it does not matter... you ran and you had fun.. and icing on your cake.. got a time that was really great!

[EB43 Graduate10]

Well done on your PB.....that’s given me confidence for my first one next Saturday. Signed up months ago but never managed to get there so making a proper effort next week.

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Well done Dawnie16! A word of warning - parkrun can become a habit 😀

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Well Done Dawnie , it’s amazing what a Parkrun can do for your time. I hope you have one near you that you can try out too.

[Sandie1961 Graduate10]

Well done Dawnie16. Be careful, or you’ll get the parkrun bug and not be able to stay away. Fountains Abbey must have been a beautiful route!

[Dawnie16 in reply to Sandie1961]

It was a beautiful setting unfortunately I live in Leicestershire and new to the area so don't know any around by Me, will have to look into it 😁

[seaspaniel]

Dawnie16 it does sound like Parkrun is the answer for you. indeed the Parkrun organisers would say it was mainly for you. It also allows you to stay in touch and motivated if you volunteer when injured, ill or just not able to run.

38 mins puts you 188th out of 211th at my local parkrun, and 188th out of 60m when you consider the whole country.

Its not really about the time, its about the experience. Sliding into your Lycra, squeezing on the nice running shoes, appearing in DayGlo green, chatting, smiling, high fiving volunteers, cheering the last few home as they give it all they've got, saying hello to old and new friends, repairing to the local cafe for Coffee and CAKE, basking in that warm glow following exercise, more smiling, the trip home, the invigorating shower and then the realisation its still only 11am and the rest of the weekend is yet to come.