First Park Run tomorrow: Very excited to be... - Bridge to 10K

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First Park Run tomorrow

Wainwright22 profile image
Wainwright22Graduate10
โ€ข25 Replies

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 ๐Ÿ™‚๐Ÿท๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ

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Wainwright22 profile image
Wainwright22
Graduate10
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25 Replies
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Rsooze profile image
Rsooze

Hi wainwright22

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! Youโ€™ll love it Iโ€™m only on my 5th one after graduating and itโ€™s fab. Enjoy tomorrow ๐Ÿ˜

Runningfit profile image
RunningfitGraduate10

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.

Then look for the tea cakes or local cafe...

Couchpotato2 profile image
Couchpotato2โ€ข in reply toRunningfit

Last piece of advice being the most important one...

UpTheStanley profile image
UpTheStanleyGraduate10

Great idea to get involved :-)

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/

Good luck :-)

Coddfish profile image
CoddfishGraduate10โ€ข in reply toUpTheStanley

0855 is a Southsea thing. Most parkruns do it much earlier!

Couchpotato2 profile image
Couchpotato2โ€ข in reply toCoddfish

The ones I go to are at 8.58...

UpTheStanley profile image
UpTheStanleyGraduate10

P.S. โ€ฆ. 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 โ€ฆโ€ฆ.

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10

My advice is get there early snd let the run director or other volunteers know that itโ€™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

BarbieW profile image
BarbieWGraduate10

Agree with all the above

You will see signs โ€œdfybโ€ everywhere (donโ€™t forget your barcode) or โ€œnbntโ€ (no barcode no time) as without it being scanned at the end, you donโ€™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!

Enjoy!

Laurzmum profile image
LaurzmumGraduate10

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 ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป Or a friendly word. Remember to register before you go and take your barcode.

over61andstilltrying profile image
over61andstilltryingGraduate10

All the very best for tomorrow and just to say limberlou is running her first one tomorrow as well. Have fun! ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ˜Š

Wainwright22 profile image
Wainwright22Graduate10โ€ข in reply toover61andstilltrying

Thanks!

Coddfish profile image
CoddfishGraduate10

Good luck tomorrow. You canโ€™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 wonโ€™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 donโ€™t take your barcode you wonโ€™t get a result.

I would recommend being warmed up before it starts, itโ€™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.

Wainwright22 profile image
Wainwright22Graduate10โ€ข in reply toCoddfish

Thanks so much for all the information! Have registered and printed barcode...put it in my running belt ready...very excited now ๐Ÿคฉ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ

Debston profile image
DebstonGraduate10โ€ข in reply toWainwright22

Thanks for starting this thread - I'm doing my first Parkrun tomorrow too and all this info is very useful! Good luck with it.

Coddfish profile image
CoddfishGraduate10โ€ข in reply toDebston

Good luck to you too

ktsok profile image
ktsok

There wasnโ€™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 โ€˜marked outโ€™ as newbies and given extra โ€˜well donesโ€™ 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!

Most of all, enjoy ๐Ÿ˜Š

Runningfit profile image
RunningfitGraduate10

I haven't bern for a while as was doing long runs Saturday but going to go back for the summer starting tomorrow !

Some people go straight on to the swimming ponds ....

JonathanP profile image
JonathanPGraduate10

Enjoy! But be warned - it is addictive!๐Ÿ˜€

TuxCatLady profile image
TuxCatLady

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!

Wainwright22 profile image
Wainwright22Graduate10โ€ข in reply toTuxCatLady

Thanks! ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ

Wainwright22 profile image
Wainwright22Graduate10

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 ๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธโ˜•๏ธ๐Ÿฐ

Granspeed profile image
GranspeedGraduate10โ€ข in reply toWainwright22

What a gorgeous place to run. Congratulations and very good time, too! ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ๐ŸŽ‰

thisfishcan profile image
thisfishcanโ€ข in reply toWainwright22

post run dip sounds amazing.

Snailspeed profile image
SnailspeedGraduate10

Well done! Sounds like a great place. I still havenโ€™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 ๐Ÿค—

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