First Parkrun! 😊👍🏃‍♀️

[Jools2020]

When I first started Couch to 5K in the lockdown, my sole ambition was to run in a Parkrun; but of course all the parkruns closed.

I thought I’d run for 10K instead. The parkruns were still closed. So I ran for 10 miles. Then a half marathon! By the time Parkruns started up again I was probably occupied with trying to hold my life together and Parkrun disappeared off my radar - never totally forgotten, though!

I’ve been thinking about Parkrun lately, especially with some of my VRBs having such a good time with theirs! (Yes SueAppleRun you are definitely partly responsible!)

So after a visit last week with my partner just to scope it out, I was thinking last night that there was nothing to stop me going today! Should I go? Should I leave it until I’m fully fit? (I then answered ‘why’ to that!) I reasoned that I would be going running anyway today and it might just as well be there at the Parkrun!

I made sure to get there early as the car park is quite small, but it wasn’t until I actually found myself in the line up that I admitted I was actually going to do it! Before I realised what was happening, we were (slowly) off! I had positioned myself at the back. Round the park first of all. Slightly uphill, then through the woods and a little more uphill. I didn’t go too fast (pleased about that!) but I was struggling a little on the inclines. After a short while in the woods (which I loved!), there was a slight downhill so I could recover a little. Slightly uphill to where we started, flat as we went through more woods on the other side and back to the start for the second lap. There is a short, but steep hill here, with a big sign saying “What Hill?” Caused some laughs! I managed this hill just fine on the first lap but was flagging a bit on the second!

I took 3/4 short walking breaks. I was excited and nervous, probably still suffering from the after effects of Covid and had an elevated heart rate. I spent 80% of the run in heartrate zone 5! I did not know at the time, I didn’t dare look, I knew I was working a bit hard.

I managed a very short sprint finish, mainly because of the cheers of the volunteers as I was approaching the funnel! Interestingly, I spent a lot of the run running along by myself. I was ahead of about 18 people the first of whom was a couple of minutes behind me. Some of these were walking.

So glad I did this. I won’t be so nervous next time. Yes, I finished near the back, but I really didn’t mind. I will mind more about my time than my position (time today was 45:09) but for this first time Parkrun I’m just glad that I made myself go, it was so worth it!

Coffee afterwards where I chatted to a few people, all men, such a tart 🤣

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Remembering how i felt for my first Parkrun, that was really brave of you Jools, a good time too and sounds as if you enjoyed it, you'll definitely get a PB when you run here, its pretty flat. 😀

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

When I woke up this morning, I thought “no, I’m not in the mood, I’ll go another time!” But as I put my running clothes on, I realised I was being daft and forced myself to drive there. It’s just 10 minutes away 😊. Also thought of you and your first Parkrun.

Bracknell is a little bit of a tricky course, but so beautiful in the woods. I’m pleased it’s a little tricky, it will make the flatter courses seem much easier!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Jools2020]

Sounds like you are hooked already, i still wonder why I'm going or if im going but while my brain is working that out my hands are showering and dressing. It was touch and go this morning, i got half way there when i realised i didnt have my barcode, turned round, collected it and off again, only had time to quickly take the beach photos and off.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

I’ve put my barcode underneath my phone in my phone case!

Yes, I could be hooked. I’ll have to rework my running schedule and do my slow run in the week instead 😊

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Jools2020]

I got a band and noticed it wasn't on my wrist when i indicated in the car 😂I need to find a day for a longer run, ive not run more than 6k since June,

I'm so pleased you went, it's daunting the first time.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Yes, it’s good to do longer runs. I did an 8K shortly before I got Covid.

Perhaps you should keep an emergency printed barcode in the car 😀

Oh, my email from parkrun said I’d finished 2nd in my age category! Got excited until I had a closer look. There are only 2 in that category. That woman who came first needs to know that I’m after her! 🤣

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Jools2020]

Thats good Jools, i finished 8th in mine and there were probably 8 of us. Some days i get fed up being so slow.

Ive just checked, yup age group 8 out of 8 but age grade 119 out of 177

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Is that info all in the email? Age grade result is pretty good!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Jools2020]

I think its in the email, or you can go to results page and click your name and its all there

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

If you have most Garmin watches, you can put an app on it with your barcode:

apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/...

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to nowster]

So i dont need my wristband? I read somewhere they only scan physical varcodes, not ones on phones

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

I thought that, too - but i thought I saw them scanning someone’s phone today

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

That was with the old scanners. Since things restarted after lockdown, scanning has been done using a smartphone app, and that copes equally well with the linear barcodes on paper and QR codes on phones or watch screens.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to nowster]

Thank you, now that makes sense

[nowster Graduate10]

Well done! My local parkrun is just 10 minutes drive away too, and pretty hilly.

I did my first parkrun with great apprehension. It wasn't my most local one as that didn't re-open until the week after.

I turned up way too early. I had no idea what I was doing. It was busy (about as busy as yours today). There were even a few runners in superhero costumes. There were a lot of regulars meeting up again for the first time since lockdown. It all felt a bit alien.

I set off far too fast. The course was pretty flat but very stony. I had to walk twice as I'd overdone it. And that one was my parkrun PB for about six months!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Mine felt alien, too. I didn’t know a soul. Although my new running club leader was running a hills rep workshop at the edge of the park and called out encouragement to me!

There was a guy wearing a dinosaur’s tail, heaven knows why!

I remember your run report of your first parkrun!

[Frankenfoot23]

That's so well done Jools! A parkrun was one of my goals after completing C25K. I'm glad you managed the nerves okay and got around the course without any real problems. And a sprint at the end too to finish it in style That's great. I'm sure you'll be doing them with regularity now that the first one is done

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Frankenfoot23]

Thank you! Yes, I think it will be a regular event and I might even try a few different ones, if they’re fairly flat!

[Runninggirl59 60minGraduate]

Well done Jools, glad you finally made your parkrun and the time wasn't too shabby either, there must definitely have been a few slower. I wouldn't want to be in your competitor's shoes, she will be 2 of 2 next time! Have a good evening 😊

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Runninggirl59]

Haha, thank you! 😊

Revenge might have to wait. She’s a seasoned park runner and about 7 minutes faster than me!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10]

Well done! You are braver than me. I run a large part of my local.parkrun route all the time, apart from the uphill bit by the ⁷carpark at the end , so I don't really know why I keep shying away from it. I can walk to the start line in under 10 minutesI think.maybe because I've never run with anyone else let alone 150-200 other people, some of whom are seriously fast!

Maybe if I knew someone to go with I'd have to do it!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

240 people today at my parkrun. Strange how in the woods I looked round and couldn’t see anyone, I was alone for about 5 minutes. I was a bit spooked!

I didn’t mind the people. Just had to squeeze through all of them at the start to find my way to the back 🤣. Definitely some seriously fast runners. They had coffee after the run and left long before I reached the finish! But there were also walkers who just want to amble and chat - and everyone else in between. The times varied from 18 to 58 minutes.

Maybe give it a go, just once? I actually wanted to run this first one by myself. True to my usual form I didn’t tell a soul I was doing it 😊

[Gthants 60minGraduate in reply to Birdlady64]

I did my first park run about a month ago. Almost everyone was faster than me, but only about ten were in a totally different league to the rest - and half of them were cheering us on as they ran past us in the opposite direction at the half way point!

I hadn't run with anyone before and was seriously daunted. But the stories of the warmth of the welcome are, if anything, an understatement. Everyone was incredibly friendly and supportive. And the end, with other finishers cheering you on, is a real high.

Thoroughly recommended - even for shy bods like me!

[Gthants 60minGraduate]

This sounds so like my experience! Until i was in the pack near the start, I still wasn't sure if I'd run. And I still wish I hadn't been too shy to ask someone to take a photo of me at the end. The few chats were lovely.

Your description is so vivid - I can't wait to get back in the autumn! Pleased you enjoyed this so much!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Gthants]

I wish I’d asked someone to take a photo! I was looking through all of them and I only found one after I’d finished with me in it - way off in the background sitting down on the grass. Only realised it was me because of the blue sun visor. Next time I’ll be a lot more confident - it’s just that first one, isn’t it?

[Lumaca0112 60minGraduate]

Well done Jools 👏👏👏🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️ You braved it and you did it because you knew you could! And with hills too 😉

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Lumaca0112]

Thanks! There was only one real hill. Steep but very short, but there were inclines and they certainly got me on the second lap. But I still want to do it again 😊

[CBDB Graduate10]

Well done! Yeah, it probably will take me a year longer than you to get to my first park run! 🤣🤣 So woohoo and Awesome 👏 👏👏👏👍🏽

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

I did actually ask myself “why did I leave it so long?” I now realise that your time isn’t important. It’s the taking part. I actually took my own advice! I dare say I’ll finish in the last 20 for some time until I get my fitness and stamina back. I finished 223 out of 240. Actually better than I expected 😊

[BR808]

So glad you decided to parkrun, it’s my goal too. Need my big girl pants and like you will probably not tell a soul and just go if the moment feels right! I’m soaking up all the advice on here- and will try and take it on board. I’d like to run it all- but running my own pace and trying not to get sucked into what everyone else is doing might be too much!

I love your description of the run, and makes me feel like I might give it all a go soon at my local run. Congratulations on your run, you did brilliantly. Xx

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to BR808]

It was going to have a look the previous week that made me really want to do it. Checking out the car park, toilets and where the finish funnel is! Then on the day positioning myself near the back. I’ve read so much about not getting sucked into what others are doing that it really wasn’t an issue for me at all. I just ran my own run.

I hope you try it soon! 😊

[Rennur Graduate10]

I love Parkrun. I often use it as a start for my longer runs. Don't forget you can also volunteer- some roles allow you to run as well - that way you'll chat to like-minded people who will make you realise ,we are one big family - the friendly sort, not the ones who bicker amongst each other!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Rennur]

Yes, I intend to do some volunteering! 😊

[Peter44 Graduate10]

Sounds good Jools, bet you feel chuffed to get that done, first time and all, i was like that when me and my girls, did an organised 10k run, finished near the back, but felt strange after having run a few years, even doing a 10 miler too, glad everythings going well, and a new partner too, happy for you.😃

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Peter44]

Very chuffed! Thank you, Peter. I remember when you and your girls did that run! Hope things are going well with you, too 😊