Advice

[Dal45]

I will be starting week 7 tomorrow and I want to give Parkrun a go but it out of my comfort zone. Shall I wait to completed week 7 and do the parkrun next Saturday or shall I do it tomorrow?

[leighbev]

Oh that's a tuff one , If you feel confident enough then why not .

[SC1472 Graduate]

Go for it - my nearest one is a drive away and not overly convenient so I haven't gone to one yet, but I gather they are more than welcoming and you can do what you want - run/walk. Week 7 is a 25 minute run so most of it you should be running - make sure you are warmed up before you start running though.

[mandy17william]

Hi I'd say go for it. I've been going to parkruns since before starting the c25k and fast walked them. I've been to one every Saturday since starting this programme and always incorporate one of the c25k runs. I'm the same as you w7r2. So last sat ran slowly for the 25mins of my program then walked and jogged what I could for the rest. My time was 37.41. Really good fun. Everyone is so friendly and there are people of all abilities there. Defo do it tommorow you won't regret it.. 😀

[davelinks Graduate]

Do it! I did my first PR at w6, incorporated c25k on it, just walk the rest..

[MarkyD Graduate]

parkrun is a 5km timed course. If you are happy to be walking some of it, then go along. You can start with your 5minute warmup walk (this allows the faster runners to get out of your way) and then you can begin the 25 minute run and go at your own pace.

Another approach would be to wait until you can run for 30 minutes (or even wait til you can run 5km) before heading to parkrun.

It all depends upon your personal view on it. I wanted to run the whole thing the first time that I went. But I take some great friends - who are in their 70s - and they walk the whole course - very, very briskly (48 minutes).

In general, I encourage anyone of any ability to get along to parkrun to enjoy the atmosphere. Old/young, fast/slow, run/walk it doesn't matter. Don't forget your barcode.

Here is my parkrun from the air:

facebook.com/cdahenderson/v...

(You'll see someone walking at 4 minutes into the video).

[Hidden in reply to MarkyD]

I found that video quite inspiring.

As an aside, I noticed lots of straight lines on the route, and clear evidence of long, straight, concrete surfaces being slowly reclaimed by nature. Is it a disused airfield by any chance?

[MarkyD Graduate in reply to Hidden]

It is the old airbase at Greenham Common. After the cruise missiles departed, the land was given to a charitable trust. The common is gradually being reclaimed by nature. The start is on the old runway - wide, concrete. But all the rest of the parkrun is on a track, dry and firm in the winter, and damp, firm with puddles in the winter.

[Hidden in reply to MarkyD]

Ah, greenham common.

When I was a young man about town, quite by chance, in the most unexpected and almost implausible way, I became friends with a lady somewhat more mature in years than me. She was on the last bus home. She was very drunk, and tried to stop me from boarding because she thought I looked like a copper. Once I convinced her I was just going home, and was not even a copper, she let me pass so I could sit down. We got chatting. I quickly established that she was a true hippy, and very anti-establishment. Being a daft youth with nothing more than a headline understanding of history, I thought it would be funny to joke to her 'ha, I bet you were at greenham common'. She seemed to sober up instantly. 'Yes', she replied simply. Then there was an awkward silence for what seemed like ages but was probably only a few seconds, before the subject was promptly changed back to silly joviality. We became quite good friends for a while, on a purely platonic level. We met for drinks a few times. Then I think she moved away. That was more than 20 years ago. It's funny how brief friendships can stick in your mind for years.

[Abergrad in reply to MarkyD]

This is great! Did you film it? I love the bright colours people wear. I wear a pink or purple top.

[Wizziewood]

Just my opinion but I say go for it!

Mr Wizzie comes with me and he's only on W3. Lots of people run/walk, there's no shame in walking if you are sticking to the programme.

Having said all that I understand how you feel because I didn't have the confidence to run till I knew I could run the distance. But there's a lovely atmosphere and everyone is very supportive, I wish I'd gone earlier.

Good luck and let us know how you get on. Happy running!

[agedsnailspace Graduate]

Definitely go for it! My only regret was that I didn'the start earlier. My advice would be to start with your 5 min warm up walk - that way you won't get pulled in to dating off too fast (it's very easy to get pulled along into doing that in the pack!). Then just enjoy it!

Which run will you be doing? You will likely find someone here more than happy to show you the ropes or even run with you.

Let us know how you get on.

[Dal45 Graduate]

Thank you for ur advices. I am going to give it a go tomorrow. Wish me luck

[MarkyD Graduate in reply to Dal45]

Good luck! Have fun. Go a bit early for the briefing.

[Dal45 Graduate in reply to MarkyD]

Thanks for the information. Is half hours before the run okay? I have printed off my barcode. Is there anything else I need to know? #nervous.com

[MarkyD Graduate in reply to Dal45]

Well, it is a balance. You don't want to get there too early and then need the loo But I think that the briefing for first-time parkrunners will be 8:45 or 8:50. But you might allow yourself a little extra time to get parked, find the start and generally not have to rush.

[MrsT82]

I have registered for my local park run, but I am only in week 1 so I don't feel I can join in just yet. The main issue for is that it is only on a Saturday, my daughter has her swimming lesson at 9:15am so it would mean my husband taking her on his own (which he doesn't mind at all) but he would need to take the 16 month old along too which makes it awkward for him. So I don't know what to do! Unless I can get a grandparent t go along to swimming too. I really would like to do the PR though.

[MarkyD Graduate in reply to MrsT82]

Have a look at the video... #RunWithBuggy.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

You can't fit too many parkruns into one life........do it.

Register your club as NHS C25k so they know you are one of us.

Enjoy.

[Abergrad in reply to IannodaTruffe]

That's really good advice, can u change the club later on, like if you join a local club?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Abergrad]

Yes, but in the meantime you can be part of this one. Good luck.

[Millsie-J Graduate]

Go for it and enjoy!

[Dimple_7]

I took inspiration from you and did the park run this morning... I competed my W8R3 and it took 41 minutes.

Hope you found it ok 👍

[Dal45 Graduate in reply to Dimple_7]

Aw well done u. Yeah it was good but push myself to much when I shouldn't have. I don't know I felt. like I had to keep running!

[mandy17william]

How did you get on dal45 ?? Did you enjoy your run ??

[mandy17william]

Sorry just read the above. Well done. Did you enjoy the atmosphere?

[Dal45 Graduate]

Yeah it was good and did really well that expected!