I found a parkrun :)

[Tiaralou]

I wasn't sure what everyone on here was referring to about park runs but now I've found my local one I am now very excited about graduating - well more so than I already was as I will now go along and join local runners every Saturday morning !!!! can't wait

[Peter_B Graduate]

If you haven't already done so, don't forget to register on the parkrun website and print out your barcode to take along with you.

You'll love it

[AdamB Graduate]

Go have fun at parkrun

I think that you'll find everyone very welcoming. You'll see all sorts of shapes and sizes there. Don't get put off when you first arrive by the pseudo-serious runners with all the bling. It's surprising how many of them aren't actually that fast. Most parkruns have an intro session about 10 minutes before the start for any newbies. They'll explain the route and everything else. In practice route finding isn't difficult - just follow the person in front.

At the finish you'll be given a piece of plastic with your finish number and a barcode on it. Just take that with your own barcode card (you don't need your card until this point) along to one of the people well beyond the finish tunnel scanning barcodes. They'll keep the plastic and return your card to you. That's all there is to it. You'll get an email or text later that day to tell you your official result.

I've run at three different parkrun venues now and they've all been a pleasure to go to. I could recommend each of them. I'm currently considering a "parkrun tour" just to run at all my local sites over the next few months.

[Fitfor60 Graduate]

If you post on here which one you are doing you may well find another c25ker also runs there. 4 other runners on this site run regularly at our local park run and 2 ladies have now joined running group I go to. Who would have thought running could lead to new friends virtual and face to face. Good luck Tiaralou and remember not a race but a run so try not to get carried away with crowd and dont go too fast . Bonus is you'll get a new PB first time out !

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Parkrun is the canine dangly bits..........if you know what I mean.......

[MarkyD Graduate]

You will love it. Such a friendly atmosphere - just like this happy forum. You'll get a clap during the introductory Run Director's talk, guaranteed.

[misswobble Graduate]

It's a blast Tiara! You'll love it. All sorts of folks pitch up and just run. No-one judges anyone else. it's right good fun. Ok there are some fast cats but they're cool with us slower coaches. I just try and keep left to let them whizz past. The fast uns turn up for practice as 5 k is a good distance to do if you want to increase your speed. Many at parkrun are not trying to get faster though. They just like to run in the company of others on a Saturday morning come rain or shine. I've run it in winter and it was like dancing on ice. Oooooer !

[Tiaralou Graduate]

thanks for all the tips guys, I've just finished week 7 today so I'll be going in a couple of weeks I've registered already its for the Clairrun in Haywards Heath I will remember my barcode, keep left and watch out for dangly bits!