Out of my comfort zone & into public.

[Thp42]

As juniors school is near Ormeau Park and it's parkrun is well mapped I decided to stop hiding on my back roads and head out into public for week 8 run 1. Probably because I was out of my comfort zone and the fact that there were people about I found the first km really really hard and slow even though the parkrun is much flatter than my usual run. I gave myself a rather stern talking too (silently due to the whole public place thing) and settled into it. 4.3km in the 28 minutes and I finished the 5k and the walk back to the car before the podcast had finished. So although my pace was slower than normal I am feeling rather pleased with myself. I did feel stiff after the 20 min drive home. Usually I come in and am pottering about the house, shower etc and have never felt like that before. Went for a dander up the fields and have thankfully loosened up again. Oh & my shiny new Garmin gave me a lovely New Record medal for my longest run which was a lovely surprise lol.

[Hidden]

Well done! That's a superb effort there and well done for getting out "in public"... It may seem daunting, but I bet you can't remember how many runners you saw on the drive there or back... The reason for this is that actually (usually) people don't pay much attention... you're just another runner out "doing your thing"... no-one is critiquing your technique or speed and other runners who see runners walking will only think "must be on intervals" ...

I suspect the reason you felt more stiff after this session is that you sat in the car immediately after running and drove for 20 minutes... I find if I sit down straight after a run that my joints get sore.... The worst day I had was after a long run when I then went to watch my kids in a dance show.. tiny chairs in a crowded theatre! At the end of the hour I couldn't stand up!

You seemed to have worked out that the key is to keep moving...

Great run and well done - you'll be out there soon enough on the full Parkrun I'm sure! And shiny new Garmin sounds wonderful... it's great when it gives you those medals...

[Thp42 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Aussie. My 1st ever running medal since school I have decided to wait until after I graduate to do a real parkrun (if I can locate my brave pants) but felt good about the fact I could have ran on to the end but Laura has got me this far so I am sticking with the time she tells me to run for. Still buzzing.

[Rosebery Graduate]

Sounds like you are ready to run a parkrun to me - I have only done one but everyone was so encouraging and friendly I can't wait to go again. Go for it!

[LordOberon Graduate]

Tremendous stuff. Brave to mix it up with the Park Run. Good on you!

[Thp42 Graduate in reply to LordOberon]

Thank you. Great sense of achievement today.

[Vixchile Graduate]

Well done for being brave, Aussie is right most people just ignore runners on the whole. You will get more confident in time. As for your new garmin, sounds like you are getting on great! Good luck with the rest of the week

[Thp42 Graduate in reply to Vixchile]

Gotta say I love my new bling!!

[misswobble Graduate]

Well done on getting out there. It's nice out int it! Glad you enjoyed it

You can expect to feel it afterwards, sign that you've had a good workout. I do my walk down but have a walk around the car park before driving home, so long as it's not peeing it down. It seems to help cos you can get quite cold in your damp clothes and it gets in your bones. Not very good!

New Garmin! Wowsers. You'll make good use of that in the weeks, months and years to come.

Have fun with your next few runs up to Graduation. Go very steady !

[Thp42 Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Thank you. I will. I stopped when Laura told me too even though that 5k finish line was in my sights. One day I will run past it whooping like a lunatic lol

[Irishprincess Graduate]

You must be in Belfast if you were running in the Ormeau Park?! Really well done for getting out there (literally!). You deserve to feel pleased with yourself. At the end of the day most people are so wrapped up in themselves nowadays to notice who's out walking, running or whatever but credit to you for making that change.

[Thp42 Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks. I live just outside belfast but junior goes to school in Belfast just near the park. Our roads at home are really quiet so not really used to meeting too many folk.