In praise of slower runners

[ChrisAllen1]

A few wise words I found about those of us who don't get round park run in 23 minutes!!.

Run happy, run safe.

catstorey.com/2019/01/14/sl...

[Wimborne]

That’s such a great read. Thank you for sharing 😊.

[Knittingrunner Graduate10]

That made me feel a whole lot better. Thank you. My dream this weekend was to achieve the Parkrun in under 45minutes! I did it! Amazing achievement for me. Older, with many health challenges past and present. I don’t think I will ever be fast. But I love the feeling after I finish and have pushed myself that little bit more. Thank you. 😊

[Equi-geek Graduate10]

I am really fortunate in that I do know some really quick runners and they treat me no differently. I get Kudos ‘likes’ on Strava from them, and they run with me when I start flagging. I cheer them up when they’ve had a ‘slow run’ of longer than 5min/km, and I challenge one of them to lap me at Parkrun (he’s missed me by a few seconds, so not quite 🤣) I work on my form, I try hills, I pay attention to whether I’m improving and push myself if I’ve been going too easy for too long. I learnt how to stretch bits of me that never needed stretching before, and what my body can do, or not. I’ve just managed to get rid of 2 black toenails I developed training for the Great South - and I ran every hard step of that 10 miles for over 2 hours. I ran in the UK heatwave, I’ve run at zero degrees, in the light and dark, and drizzle and rain. I’ve learned more about nutrition - not just dieting. I ran 2 miles to Parkrun, did it in 36 min and ran home (9min/km uphill!) yesterday. 7 miles. And I enjoyed it. Today I’m going to the National Running Show to learn even more. If people have a problem with that, then it’s their problem - nothing to do with me. I am a runner.

[ChrisAllen1 Graduate10 in reply to Equi-geek]

Agreed, I'm my experience 99 pct of quick runners are very encouraging to the rest of us, I have done a couple of organised 10ks where the guy's who finished in 40 odd minutes have been encouraging those of us over an hour or more at the finish.

[Sandie1961 Graduate10 in reply to ChrisAllen1]

Absolutely agree Chris. The first person who always gives me Strava kudos did a 10k in 42 mins this morning. His wife started following me first and we now meet up at parkrun, where she is still trying to break through 40 mins. It takes all sorts and we are all runners 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

[Deals1 Graduate10 in reply to Equi-geek]

🏃. Equi-geek good running! Enjoy the running show

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Equi-geek]

You certainly are a runner Equi - you are also an inspiration! 🏃‍♀️👏👏

[Hidden]

Great read! 🤩

Thanks for sharing! 🙌

[Interstellar Graduate10]

Fantastic read...so true!! Thanks!!

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

That's me Chris , sub 30 is my dream. It's a great piece and it applies especially at parkrun. Cheer on everyone, even if they are walking.

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

Great article... I totally agree. It doesn't matter how long it takes us to do the distance, we still did it! 👍😊xxx

[Tbae in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Love it. The article also Chris.

👊💥🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️💥👏👏

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

Hear, hear 👏👏👏👏

A great read! Thanks for sharing!

[UpTheStanley Graduate10]

The implication is that the author has been (is regularly?) disrespected (is that a word?) by faster runners , which is obviously unacceptable but not something I've ever seen, and is certainly something I'm hoping I didn't do on the one occasion I broke 23 mins 3 years ago (spooky you chose that particular number Chris - my Parkrun PB is 22'58" ).

It's a two-way thing during a run, I think, in that slower runners should try to give the flyers the chance to fly, especially when it's two-way traffic, but of course the flyers shouldn't be charging mindlessly through, crushing snails underfoot or knocking them off the prom / into the woods.

But I really don't think we have much of a problem ….. have we?

[ChrisAllen1 Graduate10 in reply to UpTheStanley]

Definitely not, as I said in an earlier reply I think 99 pct of fliers are encouraging to the slower paced and almost all slower runners are respectful of the quicker.

[orangeguy Graduate10]

Interesting read, thanks for sharing 👍

[Tbae]

Love Cat. Lovely story.Thanks Chris for posting it.

Respect for all runners from trotters to gallopers.

The trotters can be blessed with

more options at times because lower pace translates possibly into lower loading.🤔

The gallopers have to deal with higher loading.

The great thing is we were all born to run and what a life giving gift it is also.

Trotters, Canterers and Gallopers all making our way and getting 7 hours of life from one hours of running.

What is not to like.

👊💥🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️💥👏👏☄️🐌👊

[DebJogsOn]

Great stuff 😊

[molly1973]

I love this! I completed C25k at New Year and have signed up for a virtual run the year challenge to keep me ticking over. I am aiming for 20k per month as a minimum: I am overweight and VERY slow, but I’m getting out there and plodding round my miles, very gradually building distance. The Facebook group fit the run challenge us full of people running 100km/month and it’s so intimidating! I know people don’t mean to be, but it is stopping me from posting. I’ll stick to this forum 👍

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to molly1973]

Good idea Molly, this forum is so supportive.

[ChrisAllen1 Graduate10]

All that matters is that you improve slowly but surely, well done.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Fabulous article Chris, thanks for sharing. I’m gradually chipping away at my times, but I will never ever be quick. But like in the article, I find lots of the faster runners at parkrun are more than happy to encourage us slower ones in. It’s such a wonderful thing, this running community of ours. 😍😍😍

[Bridget007]

That is absolutely brilliant! Thank you ... from a slow runner 😃😃

[TedG Graduate10]

I’ve read the article but, tbh, I haven’t yet witnessed any fast runners disrespecting slow ones. On the contrary, it’s the other way round, I’m always getting Kudos and encouragement! The running community, as a whole, doesn’t stand in judgement of anyone, that’s why it’s so much fun!

[ChrisAllen1 Graduate10 in reply to TedG]

I agree almost completely, I have had 2 instances of quick runners being disrespectful but they are the tiny minority.

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

I get annoyed when we’re told to move to the right at ParkRun so the fast ones can lap us to get aPB! And that the faster runners start at the front, to get a PB. What about our PBs? Can’t we start at the front sometimes. Can’t we stay left and get the shorter route? Why do we have to go right? Why can’t they go around US? Don’t OUR PBs matter???

[Tbae in reply to Tasha99]

Democratic aspirations for all.🤔

Good onya Tasha.👊💥🏃‍♀️💥👏👏

[Razouski]

Great article, thanks for sharing it. I think that’s why I prefer to run alone. Our local Parkrun just has too many uber competitative fast runners who take it so so seriously and have very little respect for the slower runners, especially those of us with disabilities.

[ChrisAllen1 Graduate10 in reply to Razouski]

They are the tiny minority though.

[Tbae in reply to ChrisAllen1]

Minority does not address the very good organisational point/ issues that Tasha raises, Chris.🤔👏👏🤔

[ChrisAllen1 Graduate10]

I seem to have started a big debate here, all I can say is almost all flyers are encouraging to the rest of us, as to issues at Park Runs giving preferential treatment to quick runners, I'm sure it does happen but overall the Park run ethos is absolutely about inclusiveness.

[Tbae in reply to ChrisAllen1]

No worries Chris, but these rules highlighted by Tasha could not be described really as inclusive.🤔

Personally, not affected , but Tasha’s experienced points are well made.🤔

Thanks for posting Cat’s story.

👊💥🏃‍♂️💥👏👏

[lexi6 Graduate10]

Thanks for sharing that Chris. I hear myself apologising for being a slow runner all the time and feel the same way about some parkrunners. Its very hard to attempt a PB when stuck at the back with buggies and dogs and doing a shuffle/walk to the start line, losing precious seconds before even being able to run. Would be great to start at the front. The true spirit of Parkrun seems to have been lost for those for whom its just another race.

[ChrisAllen1 Graduate10]

I understand people are upset, all I can say is the Park Runs I have done, if I want to start at the front I have just manouvered through the crowd and done it, can only speak from personal experience.

[UpTheStanley Graduate10]

Well, since our local parkrun grew to the point where there was a significant time between "3-2-1-go" and me getting to the start line, I've always timed myself from start line to finish for my personal records. "Official" times are a bit of a lottery anyway due to the myriad of things that can go wrong at the finish (and I say that having got my volunteers' t-shirt, so fully understand how and why they go wrong). I've had a published time 20 secs slower than Dexy5 despite running beside her all the way, and the results correctly showing us finishing one place apart. And she's had one faster than her watch time after starting nearly at the back (which for us means 20-30 secs delay, or thereabouts). She took it

The idea of knowingly slow runners starting at the front is, frankly, dangerous. The first 500 metres at Southsea already includes enough side-stepping round people who are slower than they genuinely (he said generously ) think they are to turn us all into fly-halves / quarterbacks / insert relevant position from other sports here. Respect is a two-way street.

I've never lapped or been lapped during parkrun, so no direct experience of that point, but in the good old days of amateur track athletics, runners being lapped always stepped out to let the leaders through on the inside - this doesn't seem to happen any more, which I think is regrettable. Does keeping wide on the bends really make so much difference?

Mid-field parkrun defence counsel steps down …...

[Sqkr in reply to UpTheStanley]

I have to agree—races are staggered for safety as much as for ambition! It just doesn't make sense to position yourself at the front unless you expect to finish in 16 minutes. All that happens is you become an obstacle, which is neither conducive to your own run nor anyone else's. You don't get PBs by being at the front, you get PBs by running your best. The running community is a predominantly friendly one, albeit with the occasional selfish competitive sort—and you get those types in every area of life! But there is accordingly an onus on people who run at parkrun to adhere to the unwritten rules to make it a brilliant event for everyone, not just for the few.

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to UpTheStanley]

While I do understand the frustration (it takes me 34 - 45s to cross the start) and it is great to have a competitive mindset to push ourselves, UTS is right about safety and other points he makes. There are greater variables in achieving a 5k PB other than which side of the path you run on, including: the terrain, weather and gradient changes, as well as avoiding the dogs, buggies, walkers and so on (some of whom are pretty decent runners, yet still have to work their through the field). Given the variable delay at the start I came to realise that it’s actually about the overall trend, what you can learn by watching others, and running in a group. As well as the social aspects. Timings and PBs are just a ‘bonus’ unless you’re aiming for a course record.

On Strava there are ‘segments’ where you can get a PB for parts of the course where you can push. Also you can see your own performance over time on the same course. I use the run to play with pace, cadence and form. Maybe I try to sprint the uphill bits one week, or do the whole 5km at the same km pace, regardless of gradient. Or do the first lap at a faster pace behind a good runner, and hang on for as long as I can in the second - allowing myself permission to walk if I push too hard. Then I’ll do a very slow first lap and bomb past everyone on the second (where I get to be on the left!). So there’s lots of ways of ‘playing’ with your run and improving, without time pressure and frustration with others. I have a few strategies for when a PB is obviously not on the cards due to numbers (recently over 650 runners - from less than 300 in December).

Freedom runs, on the same course, on your own or with a friend to pull you along, are where to apply all that experience for a 5k PB without having to move over or starting at the back.

And I’m no flier. My official Swindon parkrun PB is 32:54 and my Strava record on the same day is 31:51. But I’m currently trying to get a personal sub-35 ish Parkrun after running 2 miles there and doing 2 miles back at a slower pace. Then, I’ll try to start to increase my pace on the way there and back, aiming for a 7min/km pace over 11km in prep for a 10km Resolution Run in April. Lots of other runners do something similar and it takes away all the pressure on the actual Parkrun because you’ve already run there so you don’t start on fresh legs. It’s rather satisfying to complete it then run back. Doesn’t have to be 2 miles either. Run half a km to start with, deliberately scuppering any expectations of a PB, and just see how it affects your time. Hope that’s helpful?!