Went to my 2nd parkrun today . Overall, my time was only about 30 secs more than last week, but I felt like I was really struggling. The time doesn't bother me too much, what I struggle with is the fact that I felt I needed to walk (and did walk). Now , I know that I can run for 30 minutes so why do I feel the need to walk after about 20?
What is your routine before a morning run? Do you just get up and go, do you eat anything beforehand or just have a drink? I normally run in the evenings so want to make sure I do everything right not to have an excuse ready not to run next time.
Thank you!
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Zebadee1
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parkrun is well-known for breaking graduates of C25K. You’ve been running to the app/podcast and getting encouragement from the coach. Suddenly you go to parkrun and there are all these other runners and you start off too quick. Really you just follow the folks in front and accidentally run too fast. After 20 minutes you’re running out of energy.
This is where a running watch with pace alerts can be helpful. That’ll tell you if you are running too fast.
I think you might be right here. When I check the run data, my pace is a bit faster than my normal run. Didn't really put the two together, but it makes sense. Slow and steady next time. Thank you
I have found that on morning runs I need to think about hydration differently. I have plenty to drink the evening before and a glass before I go to bed so I am hydrated and ready to run.
If I don't hydrate properly the night before,I know about it in my muscles.
I eat before I go to a 9.00 run but only because I always eat breakfast at 6.00 and this gives me plenty of time before parkrun.
Hey there, sorry you felt that way. I think you might have put too much pressure on yourself. It’s easy to do that on Parkruns and I remember my Parkruns at the beginning, I was huffing and puffing because I was determined “not to walk”. I’m much better now, here is my advice.
Pace yourself, start off easy and finish strong. It’s easy to try to keep up with other people at parkrun but you don’t know where they are on their running journey.
Wake up a few hours before, have a light breakfast, my pre parkrun fuel is 2 tablespoons of plain yoghurt!
Drink a lot of water the day before.
Stretch stretch stretch! Before and after the run.
Parkrun is about enjoyment, at any point during the run ask yourself, are you still enjoying it? And if no, slow down a bit.
You’re on the right track though trying to be as best prepared as you can be, good luck xx
At parkrun I fall into one of two traps... either I get dragged along too fast and suffer later, or I’m on top of that and set off too slowly, and then there’s no chance of a 5k PB by halfway. I love parkrun though so don’t care too much.
It sounds to me that you’re simply going off too fast Zebadee1. It’s easy to do when there are quicker runners all around, but if you stick to your pace, or even slower than you normally run in training, you should find you have more in the tank later on in the 5k. 😀
Walking is fine at parkrun, I’m now on 63 and I’ve had to do some walking at nearly every parkrun this summer to help manage my asthma.
parkrun is the only time I will run in the morning, I get up at 8 and will drink a little bit of water (not too much or I can hear it sloshing whilst running!)
Yes, just watch your pace when you set off its so easy to panic and think you have to match their speed. Breakfast for me is a banana and maybe a small bowl of porridge if I'm up early enough. And a cup of tea. Don't run the day before, but you can stretch the day before. Dynamic stretches just before the run. Swinging each leg side to side, then back and fore. Brisk walk from the carpark can be enough. Don't do static stretches until afterwards, your body is not warmed up enough. Mr grumpy used to do fixed stretches first and kept suffering shin splints.
I have made that mistake, getting caught up in the moment, and the crowd, charging off, only to need to walk after about five minutes! That’s why I always run with music, so I can zone out from what everyone else is doing. I make sure I have enough left in the tank for a decent sprint at the end, which really gets the adrenaline and endorphins pumping!
I hydrate really well the day before, especially in the evening, and just have a banana and a half to one pint of water an hour before I’m due to run.
To warm up, I just do about five minutes of really brisk walking, with some leg swings just before we’re about to set off.
Best bit of advice: it’s not a race. The only person you are competing against is yourself, if you’re after a PB. Enjoy it! If you need to walk, then do so. I’ve been getting PBs even with walking! 😁 You’ve got this! 👍
I drink water and go, then go for breakfast with other Parkrunners afterwards. I also find Parkrun harder than other runs because I set off fast following the others and trying to get a better time, so I’m working harder than on my solo runs. Try starting at the back of the pack and starting slowly. If you take it easy the run will flow more and be less of a struggle. I might even follow my own advice 😁
Thank you everyone. It all makes sense really, I am probably my worst enemy. I have been starting at the back, but subconsciously been also trying not to finish there so have been pushing myself, which in general isn't a bad thing, but is in this case because it is making me grumpy.
So thank you all for your wise words. I will bear them in mind next week!
I dont eat before parkrun - I only get up at about 8:15 jump in to my kit and get there 15 mins early to stretch and have a warm up jog. Walking breaks are fine Zebadee1 - it takes us c25k'ers quite a while to build our running strength and stamina. My target was always to listen to Laura on week 9 for 30 minutes then have a walking break or two to finish the 5k. After 17 parkruns I can now run 5k confidently non stop, I feel stronger when I'm running and setting pb's - so I think it is a case to be patient, don't put any pressure on yourself - as long as you are running regularly now you will get there. Good luck and enjoy your running!
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