Fingers crossed, first Parkrun tomorrow

[Yesletsgo]

I'd set my heart on starting Parkrun as soon as it started but have been away, not even managing to run at all, for a couple of weeks so tomorrow's the day!

I've 'trained' by doing 3k on Tuesday and 4k yesterday. The achy thighs are going away and the enthusiasm is increasing.

I've got my barcode stuck to an old train ticket, improvised lamination using Sellotape. I've got a couple of NRCs downloaded, a 5k and A Rainy Run (it lasts 45 minutes which is the speed I'm aiming at and the weather is a bit iffy).

Going to try and get a good night's sleep and be out of the door in good time. It's about a 10 minute walk so that's the warm up sorted.

My son's best friend ran it last week in about 20 minutes so he'll speed off into the distance by the time I start. I know my own abilities so am quite happy to jog along at the back.

Any other tips?

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10]

I think the hard part is not getting caught up in the starting rush and go out too fast. There will be the real speedsters who do their Olympic start and the main group right behind them. So if you’re at the back (which is a really good place to start for your first time out), just let them go. You’ll catch some people up and some may pass you, that’s fine - remember it’s not a race! And if you feel you need/want to walk a bit, that’s fine too - a lot of people walk all of it, it doesn’t matter! Say hallo to lots of people and enjoy yourself!

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to Oldgirlruns]

Thanks, I’m built for endurance not speed 😂 I think there are a couple of slopes on the course whereas my usual run is almost totally flat so I intend to take it fairly easy. I’ve heard that the thing to do is to go real slow first time so that every subsequent week is a PB?

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

That’s a very good trick OBK!

[Comfortnotspeed Graduate10]

Listen out to any announcements before the start and don’t get tripped up by dog leads. And enjoy 😃

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to Comfortnotspeed]

Start time is 9 am, how early should I get there?

[Ian5K Graduate10]

I did my first ever last Saturday and in the induction talk they advised starting off in roughly the position you’ll think you’ll finish in, amongst all the pack.

The trouble was I had no idea what the average time was - this is all available on the course website - so I went way too far back and got caught up in a bottleneck down the first section. In hindsight, I ought to have placed myself somewhere in the middle of the pack.

Remember to do the regular warm up dynamics before the start and don’t care about the funny looks you may get. Everyone’s waiting for the first one to do it (some don’t even know about it, I think).

Remember to hydrate. Go for a wee, and blow your nose because they’ll be no doing ‘snot rockets’ in polite company. 😁

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Ian5K]

It was surprising how few did any stretches before or after in either of the parkruns I've attended so far. Some of those who did were doing the wrong type of stretches before.

[Yesletsgo Graduate10]

I’m so ladylike I didn’t even know a snot rocket existed but I’ll believe you 😂😂😂 I do know what a wee is though and I certainly wouldn’t do that in polite company (at least, not intentionally 😳). I’ll do the dynamics at home then have a brisk 10 minute walk to the site. I hadn’t thought about positioning but know I’ll be near the back, not quite last but definitely among the tortoises. Thanks for this very helpful advice.

[Rennur Graduate10]

I was there miles too early. 20 minutes early to go for a wee or two, do the dynamic stretches (I wouldn't do them at home) and listen to the first time talkis plenty. And have fun.