1st park run

[JayDee007]

Having completed C25k 3 times over the past 3 years I have always then fallen off the wagon and stopped running - wallowing in the success of completion.By my own admission I am an overweight 54 year old , heart attack suffer (2016) who is a secret eater - don’t tell the wife and kids !!!😂) who if had will power and self discipline could be pretty fit.

Regardless I decided to do my 1st park run yesterday and WOW - I loved it - what a great atmosphere and community- I am far from fast and still not accomplished 5k in 30 mins yet but am trying however yesterday in Wilmslow everyone was so encouraging and motivating that it made it fun -a sub 40 run (39.20) I felt was very respectable- helped by the fact as I completed the course with a fellow back marker he mentioned he was 82 so couldn’t let myself be beaten by him and mustered the strength to sprint the last 20 meters to beat him by 7/100 ths of a second!! Am looking forward to Park Run number 2 and may even bring my kids (still not telling them about the secret eating - which must stop !! )

[damienair Administrator]

Fantastic work and congratulations to you for completing your first parkrun. I like you had failed with running and C25K many times until I found parkrun. Honestly it has changed my life. parkrun is amazing and becomes very addictive. If not for parkrun I would have given up on running years ago. I started trying to run better and faster and soon realised that I needed to shift my extra weight. Since then I’ve lost 3 stone in weight and I am now at a healthy BMI. What has worked for me is to eat just 3 healthy meals per day and write down what you eat, and to be honest with yourself. When the weight comes off running is so much easier and more enjoyable. I’ve gone from a first parkrun finish time of 39:40 something to a PB time of 25:22. I’m no angel 😇, my weight can fluctuate but I’m working hard to keep my weight down at the moment. Good luck with your runs and enjoy parkrun next week. I’ve done 184 parkruns now and volunteered 33 times.

[GTFC Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

damienair is an absolute legend on these forums. Watching him succeed and run so well has been absolutely inspirational 🙌

[Gthants 60minGraduate in reply to damienair]

That is a fantastic PB! 👏👏

[GTFC Graduate10]

Parkrun is just brilliant isn't it?? It was new for me a few years ago and now I'm almost at 70. Everywhere is so friendly and encouraging! Keep going and then you can explore a bit of Parkrun tourism 😃

[JayDee007 in reply to GTFC]

Loved it - great community

[Neonlemon1950]

Another parkrun fan here! Well done for completing your first one. It can feel a bit daunting not knowing what to expect, but the friendliness and warmth of people sees you through!

I've knackered my knee recently but have still been going to my local one in Worcester to volunteer as I love starting my Saturday mornings with a dose of parkrun positivity!

Good luck with the rest of your running x

[drl212 Graduate10]

That's terrific. I'm just completed a sub-40 5K for the first time, too. Feels great. I don't expect to be at a 30 min 5K for some time.

Slow and steady as I move forward on a 10K programme. Its been my experience that the consistency with running three times a week will improve your pace over time.

Congratulations!! Look out #2!

[Kat332zz Graduate10]

well done on going to Parkrun, it keeps me motivated too. If I can’t run I volunteer, now done over 100 runs and 50 volunteer slots. Just knowing I am going on Saturday makes me go out during the week too. My times have plateaued at just over the 31 mins but I’m ok with that it gets my heart rate up for that run so I reckon it’s doing me good. Keep up the good work.

[00marks Graduate10]

Congratulations on your first Parkrun. They can be really addictive.

[Gthants 60minGraduate]

I am a year through C25K and have had some injury and health issues since, but have never (and will never) get near 30 minutes. The key thing is to keep running, so it's brilliant you are doing that.

I've only done one Park Run so far - soon after I graduated. I did really enjoy it, but the setbacks since then have kept me away. Hope to get back to one sooner or later, because as you say - the atmosphere and encouragement is just brilliant.