Very excited to be doing my first Park Run tomorrow. Just a few questions please follow runners:
Can I get there 15 mins before, is that enough time to register etc?
Do you do a 5 min warm up before the race starts or walk to start the race?
I've been consolidating last few weeks since graduating as well as starting Jojos Magic Plan but progressing slowly as also been walking part of Coast to Coast and other hill walking...but am sure I will be fine as have run for 50 mins so far....
Very excited but bit nervous too!
No wine for me tonight....well maybe just one glass as it is Friday 🙂🍷🏃♀️🏃♀️
Written by
Wainwright22
Graduate10
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Fabulous on joining parkrun, but you must go online and register and you will receive a barcode that you have to print off. Then take your barcode with you tomorrow and at the end of the 5K they will scan your barcode. I do a warm up at home before I go! You’ll love it I’m only on my 5th one after graduating and it’s fab. Enjoy tomorrow 😁
I walk there 15 minutes so.thats the warm up...otherwise get there 08.40 or 08 45 and walk a bit or do.dynamic moving stretches
You don't need to register there..you just turn up and there will be a sign saying first timers or they will.announce where to go. Or ask anyone.
Someone will do a first timer briefing and tell you about the course. E.g. how many laps or signs to follow
There may be an area to leave bags jackets etc
Register online get barcode print out but you won't need it til the end.
Follow the crowd.
There will be lots of super fast people at front ignore them. Start at back or middle. Go at your pace. Not too fast to start.
At the end you go to a marked area..funnel.. you collect a token and run past a timekerper who clicks..take token to a volunteer who scans that time token and your barcode.
It's very informal. There is no pre-race registration and no organised warm-up - you have to do your own thing. Lots of people turn up in the last two minutes! Perfectly OK to walk for the first 5 minutes if that's what you want to do - a few people will probably walk it all, and official tail-walkers (used to be called tail-runners) bring up the rear. There will be a briefing for first-time parkrunners at (probably) 0855 to explain the course and what happens at the end. As Rsooze says, you should go to the Parkrun website and register in advance, print your barcode and take it with you - here's the link: parkrun.org.uk/register/
P.S. …. which is not to say it isn't a good idea to get there 15 mins before the start, chat to some of the volunteers and get a feel for the event …….
My advice is get there early snd let the run director or other volunteers know that it’s your first one and they will guide you. Each parkrun is a bit different where organisation is concerned.
Have fun and you know that this will be a personal best time at your parkrun
You will see signs “dfyb” everywhere (don’t forget your barcode) or “nbnt” (no barcode no time) as without it being scanned at the end, you don’t get an official time. So make sure you print it off to take with you.
Have a quick look at the results page of the one you are going to, to get a feel for the sort of times at the beginning, middle and end. The last one or two of every event will be the tailwalkers, who, as well as everything else, will never let you be last!
I was really nervous too but it is so chilled and friendly. You run at your pace. When i am finished the speedy people walk past me and they all give me a 👍🏻 Or a friendly word. Remember to register before you go and take your barcode.
Good luck tomorrow. You can’t register at the actual event, but you do need to have registered on the parkrun website, and to have printed off a copy of your barcode, which you will need at the end. You won’t get a result without one. Most events run a first timers briefing, this might be anything from 15 minutes before to just ahead of the start. It will cover the general information on how parkrun works as well as the specific course and any associated information.
In general terms you run the event, cross a finish line and enter the finishing funnel. There are 2 people standing at the finish line making clicks on a device each time someone crosses it. At the far end of the funnel, you will be given a finishing token showing your rank order of finishing on the timer. You walk over to a group of people with barcode scanners, they scan your personal barcode, then your finishing token (which they retain). It all gets matched up and a little later you will be able to see the results online. When you register, you can opt for results to be emailed and/or sent by SMS to you. If you don’t take your barcode you won’t get a result.
I would recommend being warmed up before it starts, it’s quite difficult to start the event with a walk - some people do walk the whole thing, but you are likely to be swept off with runners. If you do intend to walk, please start at the back, or you will impede runners and get jostled. The same is true if you are a slower runner. Target of 34 minutes or more and you need to be towards the back. The very front is the place for those who will do it sub-20.
There wasn’t anywhere to leave bags at the one I went to - there was a little pile but no one was watching them. I parked a little way away to get a few minutes walk in, but there was quite a bit of milling around.
The first timers chat was nice - I got to meet other people in the same boat and we were kind of ‘marked out’ as newbies and given extra ‘well dones’ from the more experienced runners.
I got swept along by the crowd at the start and ran the first km a bit quicker than usual, so watch out for that!
I did my first one last week having graduated C25K the week before. I absolutely loved it! I won't repeat all the great advice that everyone else has given except the most important bit that you must register online tonight and they will email your barcode to take with you tomorrow. You only register once and that barcode stays with you and you can use it at any Parkrun. Everyone was so friendly and relaxed at the one I went to. The faster more experienced runners were so friendly and encouraging to the newbies and slower runners.
If you've got any worries at all tomorrow about where to go or what to do just speak to a volunteer. Good luck and have fun!
Smashed it!!! HUGE THANKS everyone for your great advice, so helpful. I ran with my friend and we got time of 35 mins 10 secs....really pleased and now on a high. We walked for 5-10 mins before the start then ran all the way during the run. Came 230rd out of 259 but 12th in my age group. The park run was at Fellfoot Park on the edge of Lake Windermere, beautiful views despite the grey skies and great cafe for coffee and cake afterwards...swimming stuff next time for post run dip 😀😀🏃♀️🏃♀️☕️🍰
Well done! Sounds like a great place. I still haven’t taken the plunge but I have registered. Ours is at Blickling Hall in Norfolk and I have been told already about the great atmosphere and the cafe 🤗
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