question about parkruns...

[ReyC]

I am doing w8r3 today - aiming to graduate this time next week! I have been thinking about the great 'what next' and have been considering my local parkrun.

I usually run at work in the nearby park and the one near home is quite hilly which isn;t something I have done much of - do people usually do a practise parkrun before you sign up for the group thing?

[squaremum Graduate]

I was initially very nervous about running at my local parkrun, so I volunteered at a few while working up the courage to enter myself. It was a great way of getting to know the people that run it and how it all works in general.

By all means, do a practice run on the same route beforehand to see how you go on those hills, but running with the group is so much more fun. Hope it goes well!

[ReyC Graduate]

Thanks for the advice! I have never been a social exerciser - much rather do my thing without any interaction but I thought I should give this a shot to see how I find it - would it be rude to put headphones in?!

[squaremum Graduate in reply to ReyC]

Lots of people use headphones at my local parkrun. Whatever works goes!

[Legion Graduate]

I think they tend to discourage headphones although they aren't banned. Maybe have a practice run without headphones somewhere so you can give yourself confidence to 'run naked'. You could also go along on a Parkrun morning and just walk or run the course 'off the record' so you get a feel for what it's like. There's even a place on the Parkrun site to record these runs for your personal record/goal setting. Good luck.

[notbad Graduate]

Lots of people do run with headphones at mine but I never do because I prefer the atmosphere of other runners around me and like to have a bit of a chat. It's a personal thing though, whatever you feel happiest with. Enjoy!

[MrsMozzer Graduate]

Go for it! Sign up on the parkrun site so that you've got your bar code and just join in. It doesn't matter how fast or slow you go, the other runners are usually really supportive and the marshals always give you a big hand as you pass them so it's a great boost.

The best thing is that as it's a timed run, you can keep track of your times etc and see if things like interval or hill training are paying off over a period of time.