Park run number 1 done 👍

After plodding around the towpaths with only the odd narrowboat and it's occupants, perhaps a dog walker here and there....WOW where did all these early bird runners come from! And they kept coming all 296 of them.

Was perhaps a tad worried when the run director gave the newbie briefing and course news and then said, if anyone's wearing trail shoes "well done" I looked down at my trusty karrimors and thought 🤬 I'm taking a tumble in the mud.....

But nope I remained upright all the way round phew...

This running with others is pretty snazzy. Bit disconcerting when you get overtaken by a high speed dad with an off road pushchair but hey just keep going.

The starts a bit hectic but with a lot of people heading in the one direction it's always going to be, but it soon thins out and the little nudge of excitement from sneaking past someone you've been following is a nice feeling. The end of the course was a shock to the system, as the towpaths are pretty much hill free. Fancy putting the hill at the end, soooo cruel.

But I've got my time also my on as it's my first, so I've got that sub 30minutes to aim for....

Today's time 31.45 ,🙂

[Deals1 Graduate10]

Well done!! Great time for your first one. One word of warning tho..... Your Saturday mornings will now never be the same! 😂. Enjoy your weekend

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

31.45 for your first parkrun is very good, next run you might get a sub 30 minute 5k time, you don't mind being overtaken by what they call here a gazelle, that's a runner who can run a parkrun in sub 20 minutes or so, but it is strange being overtaken by a runner pushing a pram, a dog runner, a 7 year old or someone in their late 70's, anyway I am glad that you enjoyed your first parkrun this morning.

[Hidden in reply to AlMorr]

Haha gazelle is an apt term, but in general it was a mixed bag brilliant to be a part of

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

👍

[damienair Administrator]

Fantastic. Very well done on your first parkrun. You go a great time. It’s a great way to kick off the weekend.

Damien

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

Congratulations on completing your first parkrun. Hope you really enjoyed it and that an excellent time for your first. Enjoy the rest of your weekend 😊😊👏👏👏

[Hidden in reply to Buddy34]

When the hectic start was out of the way and all the Usain bolt's had zoomed off it was a super nice run

[Debston Graduate10]

Well done on your first Parkrun! And what a great time too. ☺

[Hidden in reply to Debston]

Thanks Deb's, muddy puddles on a Saturday but such a nice feeling

[Madge50 Graduate10]

Wow! Well done, 👏, speedy! So glad you enjoyed it, yes those ‘all terrain’ buggies are amazing! I did a parkrun last week that put a sneaky up hill at the end - they had to change the course due to mud (aka swamp 😂) but didn’t tell anyone about the ‘incline’......😱

Great fun though, welcome to the parkrun family!.......and goodbye Saturday lay ins......😄🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

Mx

[Hidden]

Thanks, I've just gotta master the dressing correctly for the temperature, I seem to forget I'm gonna get warm 🥵. But all in all what a way to start a Saturday

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

You’re not alone there Imc50 - somehow I always manage to be wearing the wrong top when I go out!

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Welcome to parkrun. I hope you continue to run it as much as I do.

[Hidden in reply to Dexy5]

Oh yes and definitely, I'll for it around the working permanent nights and if u have to forego a little sleep it's only once a week

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Whoops- that should have said love it , not run it! But I guess the end result is the same.

I can’t imagine doing it after night duty, but I guess you sleep afterwards.

[JaoJao Graduate10]

Well done that is a great effort! I hope you will go back again next week

[Hidden in reply to JaoJao]

Saturday I'm there it's such a long way away like a whole week........ I'll squeeze a couple in during the week to keep the cogs whirring

[Coddfish Graduate10]

Well done on your first parkrun. Beware, it’s addictive. Before you know it, you will be chasing milestones, collecting ‘tourist’ runs, visiting Bushy Park (the birthplace of parkrun), organising holidays around them, setting off at 6am to join friends for one. I hope I am not putting you off!

[Hidden in reply to Coddfish]

Haha I best give up the day job ( or rather even the night job) permanent nights means it's gonna restrict me somewhat. But I did see at least one runner arriving from work this morning in his works uniform 🧐

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Well done on your first! Plenty more to come !👍😀

[Hidden in reply to JonathanP]

Yep I'll use them as small runs in aiming towards that magical 10 k