First parkrun

[MrsSparkle]

I did my first parkrun this morning. What a beautiful day for it and what a lovely setting it was in. I was 18th from last and happy with my time of 33:43 but it is amazing to think that 165 people ran faster, some of them just 17 minutes something, truly brilliant for them!

It said in the course description there was a wee hill, but oh my goodness, it was never ending! My legs feel it now. My normal route is along a river and back so no hills at all, just very subtle inclines up and down about 15 feet at most.

Still, a great adventurer, it's not very near to home and I don't know how often I'll manage again, but well done to anyone who is involved in these events and helps out.

[LadyP33]

Huge well done! Those hills are b###ers when you are not used to them!

[TurboTortoise Graduate]

Congratulations on your first parkun! It's fun, isn't it. And addictive.

I'd be interested to know which parkrun... is it by any chance Falkirk? They have what they advertise as a 'wee hill' - but they are clearly having a wee giggle, because it's like a flippin' mountain and goes on forever! The setting is really lovely though.

[MrsSparkle Graduate in reply to TurboTortoise]

Ha! How did you guess, yes, it was Falkirk. Beautiful setting, but I suppose you have to pay for it somehow!

[TurboTortoise Graduate in reply to MrsSparkle]

How brilliant! I live in London but Mr TT comes from near Falkirk so we've been visiting recently. I've done the parkrun twice, love the Callender Park setting, but that hill is a beast. The first time I did it I stopped and walked for a bit, but the second time I made myself run all the way to the top. But it made me so out of breath and wobbly I could hardly run at all on final the downhill stretch, so my time was actually 15 seconds slower than the first time! Coming up to Scotland again next weekend so might have another crack at it...

[no-excuse Graduate]

Well done, sounds like you had a good run and what a great time too! At least the hill is good training! I hope you get to do some more parkruns, I find them addictive x

[Mobo40runner Graduate]

Wow! Fantastic stuff. I'm planned to do my first Park run in about four weeks time. Thanks for the inspiration.

[hydrogirl]

im worried now! falkirk park run is what im aiming for after i graduate! hills are not so good!

[MrsSparkle Graduate in reply to hydrogirl]

Hi hydro girl,

You should still go for it. It is a lovely setting for a run. From what I remember, (I've only done it once) it is a long steady uphill, then the same downhill, flat for a wee bit, then the 'wee hill' which is very steep, then thankfully a long steady downhill (the reverse of the first section) and a final fairly level bit to the finish. By the time I got to the hill I would say about half the I people on it were walking, having run as far as they could, so no worries if you have to. Also the marshals were great support as you can imagine.