Lost my virginity today. Yep that's right no longer a parkrun virgin and it feels great.

[spoonierunning]

So today was the day. I was a little nervous. Would I know what to do? Where to go? Would it hurt?

So many questions.

Park run prep began yesterday:

Print barcode.

Print map and write down post code for sat nav.

Epilation of legs for maximum speed.

Big hearty dinner - chilli beef pasta yum

Relaxing evening watching Avengers Assemble

Now at that point I should have gone to bed but..

I watched the season final of Marvels Agents of Shield, I may have shed a tear or two.

Bed time to sleep, big day tomorrow. Erm brain shhh.

Sleep didn't go so well as I started to worry about the morning. Would I get lost? Will I get there in time?

5am er little early.

Snooze

6am er nope we are going out a little later today.

7am oh I give up I may as well get up and have some tea and toast.

8:15 zoo fed and a bemused Ferdinand I was in Lycra wonder outfit and heading out of the door without him.

Ok.

Garmin tel me how to get there please.

Erm garmin would have been helpful to have given me notice that I need that turn. Erm garmin I am sure you've just told me to take the 3rd exit only I know I need the first and the little map thingy on your screen agrees with me.

Get nearer the location and despite *cough* my little detour - it was garmins fault honest - I am in plenty of time.

Oh god look at all these super fit tiny people, I should just turn around and drive home now, I'm a hideous big fat blob in lyrca who am I kidding.

No you can do this, you know a friend is coming and there are new people to meet who have been lovely online.

Get out the car and follow Lycra and then I spot my friend. I happy smiling face and a lovely lovely lady yay. I can do this.

Newbie briefing done, everyone very welcoming and I make my way to the back of the crowd, I know I will be slow.

And we are off.

I am missing Ferdinand, I am missing runkeeper (my dumb phone is broken) I am missing tunes. But it's ok.

Puddles. Oh I can do these, as others choose to run round or leap over. Not me I've had extensive puddle training (will my trainers ever dry out?). Ooops that one was a bit deeper than I thought, I now have a wet bum.

Onwards. Head towards the River Trent, I've cycled round here before, a long time ago. I am not the last, wow. A lady and her dog over take me. Wait is her dog wearing a onesie? Awesome. Ummm wonder of Ferd would like one.

Onwards.

How long have I been I have no idea. Just keep going.

The volunteer lady keeping an eye on us end runners, jogs along side we chat for a bit - yes I managed to speak words - I am pleased to hear her say I have a lovely steady rhythm. Big smile.

Onwards. Huff and puff.

Oh god a man with a camera. Don't point it at me. Oh no. Smile, just smile. And I did. And that there is another achievement of the day, I do behind camera not in front, in fact I have been known to get very angry at people trying to take photos of me without permission.

On wards. How much further? I want to stop.

Onwards. Huff and puff.

Bridge, this I walk up, it's too steep for my knees.

Onwards. Huff and puff.

There is the finish, only it's not the finish, I have to run further down the path and switch back. Can't I just stop now.

But then my friend spots me, and despite having already finished she comes along for the final bit with me to cheer me on and offer much needed encouragement. In fact the last section lots of people cheer you on, which is really lovely, doesn't matter that you are slow. Really supportive.

There were another couple of small bridge related walking sections. And I can see the finish line.

I can't make it, I want to stop.

My friend much needed support, so nice to have a real person telling I can do it.

I speed up, I sprint, I then drop of pace a little as erm I could feel my leggings start to slip and I was paranoid they would fall down. They didn't.

And done.

So my official 5k time is 40.46

I am very proud of myself.

[folkieboater Graduate]

Yay. Well done you.

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to folkieboater]

Thank you

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

And so are we! Well done Spoonie!

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to Ullyrunner]

Thank you

[TurboTortoise Graduate]

Brilliant! Watch out though - parkrun is quite addictive!

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to TurboTortoise]

Yeah I'm already working out how long it will take to get to 50 runs

[Hidden]

Fantastic achievement. ! Very very well done.

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[AncientMum Graduate]

Excellent! Well done Spoonie. Sounds like fun!

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to AncientMum]

Thank you. It was fun, for my first time I think it helped that I knew someone who was going to be there, but no I feel confident to try others by myself. I'm off to clumber park next week.

[AncientMum Graduate in reply to spoonierunning]

Wow, sounds like you're on your way to a serious Parkrun addiction! Go for it!

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to AncientMum]

I've organised a sprocker meet on the same day at clumber park and I discovered I could save myself the £6 parking charge by doing the park run so I thought why not (though it will be a bit of a shock to my husband as he will have to get up early, but then he can nap while I'm running) I know after doing a 5k run and then serious dog walking I will be totally knackered afterwards so I have already told myself that I will be having a lovely rewarding few days (week maybe) rest break afterwards

[Fitfor60 Graduate]

Fantastic It's funny how the 1st parkrun is almost the worst - the anticipation / can I do this / will I collapse / will people laugh ( arg ! / yes /no/ of course not) and the best - i did it / i did it / I DID IT !!!!!! Bet you can't wait till next Sat

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to Fitfor60]

The anxiety was more about getting there, finding it and not getting lost around the course, but then I saw all the tiny people and thought I'd just be out of place, but I wasn't

Yep already looking forwards to the next one

[Trizzy37 Graduate]

Well done!!

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to Trizzy37]

Thank you

[karlotta Graduate]

Wow congratulations!! I must get my ass in gear and get to a parkrun!

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to karlotta]

Thank you. Definitely do give it a go.

[Miles_Yonder Graduate]

Quite right you are proud of yourself! As we are too! Well done, Spoonie! Sounds like a great time you had, and a brill post too, as ever! I remain a Parkrun virgin; when I awoke I was shattered and had a teensy bit of a sore ankle and didn't wish to push my luck with it. Well done though, you did grand; makes me want to run one now!

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to Miles_Yonder]

Thank you. You did right to not push yourself, you don't want an injury now. There is always next week

[GoogleMe Graduate]

Wow. Fantastic.

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to GoogleMe]

Thank you

[PandaRunner Graduate]

Wow! An amazing description! Was there every step with you! Congratulations now you've got a time you'll be going back to get that PB!

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to PandaRunner]

Thank you. I'm not concerned with being quicker at the moment, but just to keep doing the distance. Though it would be nice to shave off those 46 seconds

[paul2014 Graduate]

Great post. Congratulations on completing your first park run and that's not a bad time at all. You should be proud of that achievement. Really well done

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to paul2014]

Thank you

[c4ts Graduate]

Well done. Are you now brave enough to take Ferdinand for his first Park Run??

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to c4ts]

I'm going to a different one next week and Ferd will be coming but won't be doing the run as we are meeting up with lots of doggies afterwards for a nice dog walk - I must be mad to combine the two but I discovered if I did the parkrun I could park for free (and with car parking at £6 that's a big incentive) but I will take Ferd with me to the local one next time I go, I'm at the back so less likely to be any one for him to trip up, other than me and he is getting good at running on the lead, plus then I can use turbo dog power (it's not cheating )

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

Are you telling us that you lost it at a Parkrun?? I knew that they are a friendly lot - but I didn't realise they were that friendly!!

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

Yeah well you know they were all just happy to help

[tomlertoos Graduate]

Blimey, felt as if I was doing it with you....brilliant narrative!

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to tomlertoos]

Thankyou

[ju-ju- Graduate]

what a wonderful blog....you did so so well to keep on going, and how wonderful to have the encouraging cheers from a friend at the end...well done you

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to ju-ju-]

Thank you

[nellmc Graduate]

Thank you for your great post and well done on you achievement. I printed off the barcode etc for my local park run but have so far chickened out of actually going. Made mistake of looking on line at pictures of previous runs and saw kids from school I work at on there - not sure I'm ready for 'Miss' to be the blob in lycra running at the back. I reckon another stone off, beginning of summer hols and I'll have run out of excuses.

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to nellmc]

Thank you. Hoping this link will work

flickr.com/photos/jonathanp...

This is me, fat wobbly bits no hiding eeek, if I can do it, go on be brave x

[Bazza1234 Graduate in reply to spoonierunning]

The next time you get a photo taken, can you please slow down just a little - otherwise the photo is a bit blurry!!

[Treemouse Graduate]

Spoonie that is AMAZING! I am so proud of you. I know how stomach churning that must have been for you, because it got to me too. Give yourself a big hug from me and when you do your next one, you will be able to enjoy it rather than fret about it! Brilliant job! xxx

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to Treemouse]

Thank you.

I'm going to fret about the next one as well, cause you know I don't like to take the easy option I'm going to a different park run

[Drummond45 Graduate]

Just caught up with this post: AMAZING! And the pic looks great, you're even smiling! Well done

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to Drummond45]

Thank you

[Hidden]

Well done! Great post and a great smile... addictive this running stuff isn't it? I can't wait for my next Parkrun...

[shivashinn Graduate]

Well done you, I will forever be a park run virgin as we don't have them here in France but I have already done the run4life race a 6.5km I did it when I was on week 7 and I did it with a friend a very speedy friend who ran off at the starting line and I didn't find her until I finished, but isn't it a great feeling once you've done it. So when is your next one???