And the last shall be first!

[Davoda]

That's it! I've done it - I've completed wk9r3, by doing my first ever parkrun!

I very nearly didn't go, I didn't want to be last! I might have only started running, but my competitive gene is still very strong!! So I had to force myself and decide it didn't matter if I was slow, I would finish it.

I saw a guy & his son that I knew, when it was about to start they said they would move to the front, I knew my place was at the back of the 356 runners.

Having never run with people before, it was a weird experience - my word but people have interesting running styles! At the beginning I had to keep ducking my head to avoid a certain man's elbows, I soon decided I liked my eyes too much to stay there, so a wee overtake & thankfully never saw him again.

When they describe our parkrun as undulating, they're not kidding! Up & down & round & up & down again!

The marshalls on the route were so fantastic - the wee fella saying "keep going, you can do it, you're nearly there" was a tonic. They clapped & encouraged & supported & cheered & just gave you the boost at just the right time! I was so grateful to them.

At one point I just wanted to go straight on & come home, but I turned left with everyone else. The thick mass had thinned down to 2 or 3 astride, and was now more of a long chain snaking its way around the course. Runners to the front of me, runners to the back of me, runners to the side of me & I was a part of it!

I checked my watch & when it said 10:00, I cheered into myself, I'd just completed my C25K! And from then on, up that last long hill, I just kept saying "you can do this, you've done it before - just keep putting put one foot in front of the other - no you will not walk!!!"

200 meters to the finish line - wow! Already! Thankfully it was downhill into the funnel & the cheers of "well done" was music to my ears. Token in hand & round to the scanner.

Just ahead of me were the guy & his son - so maybe I'd done better than I expected?

I wasn't last!!!!!!!

My previous two runs this week were 35/36 mins for the 5k, so I was aiming for 35mins

Just got my time in and I'm thrilled to bits 30m25s!!!!!

We obviously didn't start bang on 9:30, so my C25K celebration was a tad premature!

[Madge50 Graduate]

Wowsers! Super well done, and you are speedy! Parkrun is fab, you'll have to keep going now.....I love, love, love parkrun.

Congratulations on graduating, plus a super debut at parkrun, what's not to like.

Happy days!

Mx 🤗

[Hidden]

Wow ! What a great time improvement for you.... that sub 30 is definitely within your grasp. Well done you.

[Millsie-J Graduate]

Fantastic well done! You are speedy too! Get your next Parkrun in your diary 👍🏼🎅🏼🎅🏼🎅🏼

[Hidden]

Brilliant well done ! Great post. Brilliant time too . I did my first park run today. Great experience. You need to take the long view with your time. Read here or indirectly that at whatever age you start running that you have probably about 7 years of improvement in performance !

So I say to myself "Only been running 9 months. Don't want to peak to soon!"

It was amazing and like yourself there is so much to get used to running with others ! My pace never stayed the same. I tried to pick someone to follow with similar pace but never worked. More like strictly come dancing Foxtrot pace was "Quick, Quick, Slow, Quick, Quick , Slow".

anyway don't take the 5K bit too seriously it is the time 30 minutes that counts ! By sound of your report you'll get there.

Again well done and happy running !

[Hidden]

What a classy way to graduate!!!

[tortoisegirl Graduate]

Well done, that is a brillIant time, and what a fantastic way to graduate! The marshals at parkrun are great - how they manage to stand around in the cold and be encouraging so early in the morning is beyond me!

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Congratulations! Graduation, 5k and first parkrun all in one go!

[Flossie22 Graduate]

That's a great time for your graduation parkrun! You must be feeling so happy, bursting with pride and rightly so. 😀👏🏻👏🏻 Mega congratulations on a job well done! 🏃🏻🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏻🏃🏼‍♀️😀😀👏🏻👏🏻🎓🎓🎓🎓🍾🍾

[Irish-John Graduate]

Hurrah for you

[Theziggy Graduate]

Brilliant PB, 4 mins off your previous best, way to go. I think that running with other people pulls you around the course a bit faster. You must be deservedly chuffed!

[Davoda Graduate in reply to Theziggy]

I think you're right, plus at week 6 I deliberately slowed down, to build my stamina & I always ran faster on my 3rd run each week. I also think I just let go & ran much closer to my natural pace, pre week 6.