I spent all week thinking about how much I'd enjoyed parkrun and how I couldn't wait to go again. Then last night I started wondering if this is what I wanted to do.I set my alarm anyway and started feeling a bit down about it all.
Got about 4hiurs sleep last night and about 2am I decided I definitely wasn't going to run today.
The phone started playing music at 7am and my watch started buzzing, took me a minute to turn both alarm off, then I lay there wondering if I'd fall back asleep, I didn't so went and made a cup of tea.
I don't have any change for parking, which means if I'm going to Worthing I have to get some. I had another look at Lancing, part of the course is narrow, what if I get run over by a bike? Or trip over a dog? I'm not usually this negative. While all this gloom and doom was going on in my head, my body went for a shower and got dressed.
So.... Let's be brave and go to Lancing, I can park for free in a side road and walk across the green.
And that's what I did, there was a young man taking photos of a couple by the sign and I asked if he'd take one of me, which he did, then I asked a couple of if questions and it turns out he and his wife had come from miles away and it was their first time too.
The talk and we are off.
I started walking and set off NRC 5k run, music, sand watch, messed up the watch because with everything else I'd started it and stopped it, but I walked briskly round the green an a lady started chatting to me so we chatted, I glanced at my watch and we were walking faster than my steady running pace. It was nice to chat.
Once we got to the path I said goodbye to my new chatty friend and took off running, way too fast of course but needing to get going and settle in.
First k was 9.21, the wind was behind us and I settled in behind a man who was running a steady 7.30kpm this was too fast for me but I found I can run longer distances at that pace, I took walk breaks and started to enjoy.
2nd k was faster at 8.07 and I was no longer puffing. I was enjoying myself and took a couple of photos in a walking break, coach B babbled in, the music played but I wasn't taking much notice, just looking at the sea and smiling when the sun broke through the clouds and the sea glittered.
We turned and 3k was 8.44.
Oh but the wind was suddenly in our faces, what is it with Lancing and wind? Last week in Worthing it was way stronger but not right in our faces. On we went, the end not so far away and at least the wind was cooling 4th k was 9.21 which isn't bad considering the wind.
Past the beach huts, running along the narrow path that doesn't feel half so narrow as I remember it.
Back to beach green and I'm trying to speed up but it's more open now and the wind is pushing me back but there's a grin in my face as I follow the man I've followed all the way and get to the funnel, then I stopped thinking that was where the timed bit was and a marshall said don't stop keep running. 5k was 10.10 and it's done.
Got my chip, had my hat code scanned, chatted to the man I'd now caught up.
I've found my new favourite running route.
Email came, time 45:22 I finished 118th our of 134. Yup I love Lancing Parkrun 😀
And a huge thank you to all the volunteers who cheered us on our way and clapped and smiled, I'm going to sign up to volunteer.
Run happy or rest well everyone.
The photo I took as the sun on the sea looked perfect, it's for PeggySusi as I promised one
Written by
SueAppleRun
Graduate10
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It's great that you overcame your negativity and got to that Park Run. I've had my wristband for years now and never been. I haven't run for ages. I should take a leaf out of your book and Just Do It - Hmmm, where have I heard that phrase before?🤔
Taking the plunge and going to Lancing has clearly 'made your day'. You deserve to take it easy for the rest of it. Whatever you do - enjoy! 😉
Well done SueAppleRun, good perseverance shown there. I, unfortunately bottled it when I saw horizontal trees and rain. The balance between the achievement of completing it and the misery I get from being windswept, cold and wet is won by the latter these days. If I had invested money in entering I would have got on with it but...
Brilliant! Really well done for overcoming all that negative gumf to get out there ... and enjoy it too. I dunno, the barriers we put up to try and stop ourselves!
I'm waiting for my email, then I'll post too . . .
Thank you for the beautiful photo Sue! And I’m so glad you made it past the anxiety and enjoyed the run so much in the end. The free parking would have clinched the choice for me too - I avoid paying for parking whenever possible 😂
It’s funny how the things you worry about most at two or four in the morning often just disappear when you get moving outside in the fresh air, isn’t it? But no matter how many times we are taught the lesson, there we are again at 4am..🤷🏻♀️
Enjoy the rest of your day.. it’s cold, wet and windy here - hope it stays fine for you 😊
Same here - I’ve got a good book to read. Yesterday I did a little bit of painting in my bathroom - up a ladder - which turned out not to be a great idea for my foot, as it swelled up rather. Today I’m resting it, in the hope that I can manage to hang just four short pieces of wallpaper tomorrow.. by the time I get the bathroom finished maybe the weather will be good for gardening🤞😊
Oh painting, you have to rest your foot. I should be painting the kitchen ceiling it's had one coat but a bit patchy, another coat will sort it out, maybe tomorrow, I'm not in a hurry. This rain is good for the garden.
Amazing! Beating the gremlins first and then dealing with what the run threw your way. Well done, Sue. I think maybe your Saturday mornings have changed forever!
I was babysitting last night and have just got home. I was toying with the idea of doing the local park run this morning before agreeing to babysit. Who knows whether or not I would have done it 🤣
I’ve still got a run to do this week. Unless it clears up here, it will have to be tomorrow!
I know you had doubts beforehand. Perhaps you will have for a while. But look at the rewards! You are starting to realise it’s actually *your* run, nobody else’s. I can see you being a parkrun tourist! You’ll be a seasoned park runner by the time I come down, enjoying every second! 😊
Thanks Jools, and I've been plodding on slowly hardly out of breath for months, parkrun seems to make me push a little faster, I'm hopeful to do a sub 40 minute 5k one day
You will I’m sure. Plodding on is great for stamina - and training you to be on your feet for longer periods but if you want to increase pace, too you have to do speed work/intervals, too and push yourself a bit. I’m sure with a bit of research you can come up with a training plan 😊
Well done Sue! 45:44 mine today! Last night I wasn’t sure I could get up in time as I was knackered because of 05:00 get moving all alarm as I start work at 06:30 till 14:00.
However got up this morning before park run alarm and walked down to park run this morning!
Hey I love this. It just proves that getting to your first parkrun is the hardest bit. Once there, you realise you don’t have to worry about your speed, you just run against yourself. So glad you enjoyed it , and when you’ve been there a few times you’ll get to know some regulars that run a similar pace.
It was nice chatting to people, it'll be good to run a few there before I venture farther afield. That guy in front of me ran a steady 7:30 pace until we turned into the wind, I was pleased I kept up with him even though he was running and I had walk breaks
That sounds wonderful SueAppleRun ! I really must force myself to try parkrun soon. I put my barcode out last night but a lousy nights sleep scuppered plans. Or maybe I'm finding excuses....
I’m so pleased you’re enjoying parkrun Sue and that you plan to volunteer as well, ; the run only happens because of the volunteers! A great time for you as well, you’re definitely faster than me these days! I love your photo, I’m in the Midlands at the moment and it’s poured all day!
Thank you, I'm only faster because I was trying to catch the man up in front of me, I'm sure he was a lot older and didn't look like he was putting in much effort where I was pushing hard. We will run together one day 😁.
It started raining soon after 10 am and hasn't stopped, but tomorrow looks dryer.
I wanted to volunteer before I ever ran parkrun, and it is what it's all about isn't it? Mind you if I did tailwalker I'd have to run to keep up
This is excellent news Sue. 👏👏👏😊😃You’re going great guns and I’m so glad that you overcame those nasty gremlins and got out there again! Well done and here’s to many more parkruns and I’m sure we’ll be seeing PBs before long. 👍
Thanks Brian, I can see why you compete . Being part of a group of people all heading in the same direction is powerful. I don't think entering races is where I want to go with my running, but parkrun has given me a reason to get out and run. I think that's possibly why my running plans fizzle out, there is no end point to aim for. Now my aim is to start off slow enough that I don't need to take walk breaks, my eventual goal is sub 40 min 5k and to keep turning up and running. 😃
Oh and to finish painting that flipping kitchen ceiling 😳🤣😂🤣
Thanks 😃 I think the deciding factor was stopping on the way to buy something with a fiver so I had enough change to park 😂 I couldn't think what to buy but I'm glad I went to Lancing, it was lovely and very friendly, xxx
I’m so glad you’ve found a parkrun you like 😍 well done for getting out there.
I regularly volunteer at the Brighton and Hove parkrun - that’s the one in Hove Park, not the one on the Prom - so if you ever want to do some local parkrun tourism, you should head over 👍
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