Return to Parkrun

[YvetteK]

Well, having built up my confidence by increasing the distance of my runs I decided to return to Parkrun. At my first Parkrun I set off too fast and ended up walking several parts of the course. This time I had one goal - to run the entire course.

My nerves were in overdrive again, as was my digestive system so I found it very hard going. I overtook a few people and ran most of the race behind a lady who was running with her two dogs. I reckoned that if those tiny 8 legs could keep up the pace for 5k surely I could too. I fell back a little in the final 1k but finished with an official time of 32.59.

Great to have the PB text and email - plenty of room for improvement but at last I have an official non-stop 5k time - yay!

[goonkeepgoing Graduate]

Fab time well done

[YvetteK Graduate in reply to goonkeepgoing]

Thanks. Just pleased to have made it all the way round this time

[Steve_L Graduate]

That's a good time - well done!

[YvetteK Graduate in reply to Steve_L]

Cheers!

[goonkeepgoing Graduate]

Forgot to say. .... Don't think of it as nerves - I tell myself I am "buzzing with adrenaline"

[YvetteK Graduate in reply to goonkeepgoing]

Yep. I know that's the case but I'm still working on getting my emotions switched from fear and dread to excited anticipation. It will happen over time though

[goonkeepgoing Graduate in reply to YvetteK]

Google "TED make stress your friend" and there is a great TED talk on coping with stress. I love it

[old_git Graduate]

Well done Yvette! Great run and a great PB.

[YvetteK Graduate in reply to old_git]

Thanks old_git

[ddmm]

Oh what a great milestone. Cant wait until I get there. Fantastico

[YvetteK Graduate in reply to ddmm]

Keep going ddmm. If I can do it anyone can

[Hidden]

Well done, that's great! I feel a bit like that beforehand too

[YvetteK Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Gludwig. Glad it's not just me who gets anxious before a parkrun

[dawncoates34 Graduate]

Brilliant x😊

[YvetteK Graduate in reply to dawncoates34]

Cheers

[Hidden]

Not a bad time either ! Well done.

[YvetteK Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks henpen. Any sense of speed was dashed when I saw the fastest runner finish the race as I was just finishing my first lap. He must have skipped a corner or two!

[Hidden]

really well done I was upto 12 loved running at parkruns , great atmosphere and such friendly supportive peeps

[YvetteK Graduate in reply to Hidden]

The dogs were very helpful!

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

That is a great time - especially for a first timer Much better than my 40 minutes -- although that was Run/walk!! Sounds like you will have lots of improvement ahead of you -- but BEWARE!!! - Parkrun is a trap just lying in wait for the (too) willing.

I am seeing a real increase in injuries at my local Parkrun - among runners far younger and more capable than me. I believe that this is because of an unwritten ethos within Parkrun of trying to beat PB's all the time - like every week. Officially, Parkrun is merely a weekly timed 5K run -- not a race. But many/most are treating it as a weekly race and although they may be fast, they are undertrained!!

[YvetteK Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

At the moment my aim is to keep going slow at Parkrun - just so I get used to running alongside others without being caught up with their faster pace - unless you look behind you all you see are people speeding ahead of you!

[Frank-ntj]

Great stuff and a good time to go with it, you deserve to feel pleased with yourself, enjoy your achievement. 😊 Well done.

[YvetteK Graduate in reply to Frank-ntj]

Thanks. Feeling happy here with achieving my non-stop goal