Park run

[rammsteinqueen]

I am hoping to do my first park run a week today. What sort of time do I need to get there for first timer briefing? I will be a bit apprehensive as going alone ...

[davelinks Graduate]

RSQ.. I usually get to Parkrun about 8.45 and have a warm up, for you as a first timer, a few minutes before nine the run director has a talk to everyone over the loud haler and asks if there are any first timers, just acknowledge and listen to the briefing, it's usually simple and straightforward.Try not to get apprehensive, there will probably be some others in the same boat and it's easy, enjoy, and don't forget your barcode, let us know how you get on..😊

[rammsteinqueen Graduate in reply to davelinks]

Thanks Dave

[Pchan1 Graduate in reply to davelinks]

Hi, I went to my first today. I would say get there with enough time to do a quick warm up 8.50ish as you don't need your bar code right until the end so that you get a token and then you give the token to next person to get your result. As above quick briefing and a bit of a cheer for first timers and then everyone is off. Every one today was really encouraging the faster runners saying well done as they ran past and marshals clapping and cheering you along. I cannot wait to try and beat my time next week. Good luck.😌

[rammsteinqueen Graduate in reply to Pchan1]

Sounds great! Once the first one is out of the way it will be fine.. Someone at my local park run didn't do as they were supposed to today - took them a while to get the results in order by all accounts. I will find out next week about tunnel and tokens - haven't a clue but sure I will find out

[heavyhorse Graduate in reply to rammsteinqueen]

It will be fine. Stay at the back to start off with, and take it steady, you'll find people rush off and then you'll pass them when they are walking! At the end of the run there will be cones funnelling you into the finish, you are handed a position token(small barcode thing) , your time is noted when it is handed over, then you move up and someone will take it and scan your bar code and your results are posted later in the day or texted to you . Good luck !.

[RunaroundSue in reply to heavyhorse]

Stay at the back - this mademe laugh. I am sure I will have no choice!

[heavyhorse Graduate in reply to RunaroundSue]

You might be surprised! But it's always better for morale to start there and pass a few people than start near the front and get passed by lots! I'm not fast either !

[RunaroundSue in reply to heavyhorse]

I did pass through (walking) one of the local parks recently and realised there was a Park Run going on. I could see that not everyone was very fast. Thinking about it, it was probably nearing 10am so the fast ones would have finished by then.

[kmjbragg in reply to RunaroundSue]

My feelings exactly!😂

[davelinks Graduate]

As you come to the finish line put on a sprint which looks good, plus there maybe photos taken, so pose. You'll see the marshalls waiting at the entrance of the tunnel, they'll guide you, that's where they get your time, then walk along the tunnel, at the end of the tunnel collect your token and take it for scanning with your barcode. There's usually some water available if you want it...

[RunaroundSue in reply to davelinks]

Good point. I will get my support crew to wait with his camera. Plus water and a banana

[davelinks Graduate in reply to RunaroundSue]

There is usually a photographer around Parkrun courses, and the photos are uploaded by midweek onto the Parkrun/flickr site. But by all means take your own.. there is usually water, cake/biscuits at the finish as well...eat a banana an hour before running for energy..

[RunaroundSue in reply to davelinks]

thanks for that info

[RunaroundSue]

Thank you for asking this question, I am also hoping to do my first park run on Saturday, so the answers below have been very helpful to me.

Whether I manage to get there is dependent on a couple of other matters: how far it is from the campsite. I already know that it will be quicker to walk than pack up the Romahome and drive around, but I am not sure how much of a rush it will be to get up in time (after a late night at the Folk Festival), eat and drink something, then walk up.

We will walk over when we arrive on the Friday afternoon to assess the situation.

The other key thing is the weather. I don't mind if it is raining a bit, but in the 'van we have nowhere to dry anything if it gets totally soaked. No shower for me either, but that is a lesser concern. We have a sink.

It would be really good to do the Conkers run, but if it doesn't work out, I have a choice of Park Runs near home.

[RunaroundSue in reply to RunaroundSue]

One thing though,my warm up walk is sorted just getting to the start!

[RunaroundSue in reply to RunaroundSue]

I have just been on OS Maps to check a route from the campsite to the start of the Park Run. Two options, both about 1km, 15 minutes, so that is good.

we will walk them on the Friday so that I know the route.

[rammsteinqueen Graduate]

Thanks everyone for info. At Sherwood Pines this morning at 7.30am for my last run of week 8. Beginning to think I won't be ready for park run next week - this bloody stitch came back today. It really is making me feel miserable about running. Will see how the first couple of runs for week 9 go.. Pah.

[davelinks Graduate]

RSQ, don't worry about Parkrun, being a first timer, just walk some of it if you have to, it doesn't matter! Just treat it the first time for learning...

The stitch, keep the amount of food you have beforehand very light. For example I was running with my nephew at Parkrun yesterday who had a stitch going round, he did some slow deep breathing and it went away after a few minutes, he got a PB though. I've also had this when a new runner, anyway, when I asked him what he had for breakfast and time, it was egg & bacon about 7.30, so maybe too much too late. I now don't eat anything, just have cup of tea or water, the exception to the rule is a banana an hour before running, they're OK.. never had a stich since..😊

[RunaroundSue in reply to davelinks]

I have no problem walking longer distances than 5K, so I am not bothered if I cannot run it all. I would like to run the 30 minutes at least then see how it goes. Anyway, I can fit in two post graduate runs before next weekend so I can decide whether I will need to have Laura (week 9) with me or not!

Nervous but looking forward to it

[rammsteinqueen Graduate in reply to davelinks]

I never eat or drink anything before a run but last two runs got the stitch. I can only think it's setting off a bit too fast.. Hmm will change my next run a bit.